Autumn Dreamin

Nastrini has allowed just 1 walk and 1 hit, but they cost him. A grounder down the 1B got past Perez into the corner, allowing the walk to score. They were slow getting the ball back in and indecisive with the cutoff, so the runner got to 3rd and then scored on a sac fly. Another groundball snuck down the 3B line for a hit in the 5th, but was stranded. 8Ks through 5IP, the changeup looks very effective.

41% CSW on the fastball so far, 38% overall.

2Ks for Nick "Nasty" Nastrini in the first, though the second one took 10 pitches. 3U/3D with another K in the 2nd. Throwing a lot of strikes, hitting 95-96.

No Quero or Popeye for Bham tonight.

Batista continues to look very solid. Allowed a single in the first but Harris got the CS: 6U/6D with 3K in the second and third. Allowed a double and walk in the 4th, but stranded them with a FC to 3B and a GIDP. The game was flying by since Kanny bats weren't doing anything either, but they're on the board now. Nishida walk and Park single put runners at the corners to set up a Gonzo bloop RBI single. Still two on, no outs.

Chris Lanzilli moving from Kanny to WS. Eddie Park back from the IL. I'm guessing Nishida shifts over to LF.

Is it still an org sweep if only 3/5 games are played? ? Barons won 7-1. Other than Thompson's shaky command in the first, one of the most well rounded games they've played all season. Thompson was backed up by scoreless work out of the pen from LHPs Haylen Green and Fraser Ellard and an offense led by Popeye (2-4, HR, 4RBI), Ramos (3-4, 2B), and Veras (2-4, HR, 3RBI). Curt Bloom mentioned on the broadcast that undisclosed Rays org personnel had nice things to say about Colson. Their top prospect Junior Caminero had a rough multi-error night at the hot corner. Meanwhile...Neither team could get much going offensively in the WS game, which stayed scoreless until late. WS put up two in the 7th with the help of shoddy opposing defense (SS sailed one into the dugout). They gave one back the next inning throwing the ball away trying to cut down a runner at home. Things got a little chippy in a tight game with a lot of close calls, the Braves manager and someone else from their dugout got the boot at some point. RHP Johnny Ray loaded the bases (single, walk, HBP) with no outs trying to protect the one run lead in the 9th, but got out of it with 2Ks and a pop to short for the 2-1 win. Local product Brooks Gosswein chipped in his best work in a while, with 3.1IP scoreless behind Vera. Nastrini makes his Charlotte debut tomorrow, and Bush will be going for Bham. Kanny plays two.

Thompson hasn't allowed a baserunner since he labored through the first, really impressive recovery by him. He finally gave up another hit in the 6th after 4 perfect innings, but left him stranded. Went from 28 pitches in the first with bases loaded to finishing 6IP on 84 pitches. 1ER, 2H, 3BB (all in the first), 2K. Barons up 7-1.

Popeye grabs the lead with a 3 run shot to LF.

Barons defense bails Thompson out of a bases loaded, no outs situation in the first. Ramos and Quero team up for a force at home on a grounder, then a 5-4-3 to end it. A run had already scored in the inning unfortunately, but a perfect 6 pitch second should help keep Thomspon in the game when it looked like it might get out of hand early.

Vera hits his pitch count with 2 outs in the third. He looked pretty confident, seemed like he tried to plead his case to finish the inning. 2.2IP, 0ER, 1H, 2K, 2BB. One walk was a pretty uncompetitive 4 pitches, the other was a good sequence where he just missed with a borderline pitch and didn't get the call.

2 RBI triple for Colson, OF whiffed on a diving attempt.

Mena wiggled out of a bases loaded jam in the 5th. Fell behind 3-0 to the batter, but recovered to a 3-2 flyout to end the inning. At 91 pitches, I assume he's done. 5IP, 4H, 2ER, 3BB, 3K. The runs were on a walk > single > double steal > 2B sequence in the 4th. You could tell he was a bit amped up early with an extra tick or two on the FB. Command was a little shaky but still a solid AAA debut for a 20 year old.

6th rounder LHP Lucas Gordon making his affiliate debut for Kanny. Struck out 3 (all swinging) in the first after a leadoff single. He turned in a solid 2.1IP, 1H, 2BB, 4K. Didn't want to give up the ball, lol.

Mena gets his first AAA strikeout on the last batter of a 1-2-3 second inning.

Mena starting for Charlotte tonight ?

Gonna need Quero back in the lineup tonight for my mental health and wellbeing.

So the Barons 6 man rotation is cut down to 4...does someone from WS get promoted? Carela is R5 this year, so maybe they want to push him a bit? Last start was pretty unfortunate, but he's got over 100 innings at A+ this season (3.62ERA, 10.7 K/9). Adams has only made 3 starts in Winston, but they've been stellar and he's older... Or I guess they can just slot Schoenle or someone back in, but that would be less fun.

Barons a slam away from the HR cycle. Popeye solo, Colson 2R, Elko 3R. The latter gets them the lead.

I'm really not worried about Eder long term.

Keener headed to Kanny. The 3rd round pick threw 6IP over 4 appearances in ACL, 2H, 1ER, 2BB, 7K.

Still has faced the minimum, thanks to the DP. Might be done now though, I can't remember him ever going deeper than 80-85 pitches.