At the beginning of the day, the season opener for the Gulf Coast League Braves was more of a story about two rehabbing pitchers. But as the shadows of Kissimmee lengthened Friday, the game itself was worth talking about.
Christian Martinez, out since April 12th a sprained right shoulder, got the start and was brilliant for two innings, allowing one hit and striking out four. Gary Moran, the big 6-8 steal out of the indy leagues who was the Southern League ERA champ a year ago (2.91), made only two appearances before right shoulder inflammation shelved him.
Moran followed Martinez in Friday's game and matched his one-hit and four-strikeout numbers, but allowed an unearned run.
The game went 10 innings and the GCL Braves walked it off as Ian Hagenmiller walked with one out.
Astros pitcher Jorge Perez threw the ball away on a pickoff try to allow Hagenmiller to advance to third, where Perez cut loose a wild pitch for the game-winner.
Among those making their pro or state-side debuts, lefty hitting outfielder Victor Reyes had two hits, including a double, with an RBI and a stolen base. Touted 2012 draftee Fernelys Sanchez was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
Additional pitching news was the four-inning stint by Luis Merejo: one hit, no runs, one walk, one strikeout. But the win went to veteran Abraham Espinosa, who worked the 10th.
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The M-Braves finally moved Tommy La Stella to the disabled list with what was listed as a strained hamstring. It will be retroactive to his last appeareance, on June 9th, so he could be reinstated at any time.
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Joe Bisenius, who last pitched in the big leagues for Washington in 2010, has joined Gwinnett and started Friday's game. An original Phillies' draft choice, he reached the show for Philly in 2007 for a cup of coffee.
Other roster moves of note include SAL all-stars Levi Hyams and Eric Garcia moving up to Lynchburg from Rome -- still no Elander promotion; infielder Emerson Landoni and pitcher James Hoyt move to Class AA Mississippi from Lynchburg; Luis Nunez moves from Mississippi to Gwinnett to take Janish's roster spot; infielder Ross Heffley moves down to Rome from Lynchburg; and the trio of Maurcio Cabrera, infielder Edison Sanchez and lefty Cole Nelson have all been moved up to Rome from extended spring.
CLASS AAA
Gwinnett (32-44) 8, Syracuse 4
WP: Bisenius (1-0) 5.2 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K.
Terdoslavich 4-4, 2B (22nd), 3 R (.314); Carrithers 3-4, 2B, R; Mejia 1-4, HR (18th), 2 RBI; Pagnozzi 1-4, 2 RBI.
CLASS AA
Birmingham 5, Mississippi (40-33) 1
LP: I. Thomas 3 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 K.
Pedroza 1-3; Jones 2-3; Marrero 1-4, 2B, RBI; Gosselin 1-4, R..
ADVANCED CLASS A
Lynchburg (37-33) 5, Winston-Salem 4
WP: Ross (4-3) 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K. SP: Weber 5 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 6 K.
Hyams (promoted) 0-3, R; Hefflinger 1-4, HR (19th), 2 RBI; Skinner 2-3, HR (13th), 2 RBI;
CLASS A
Charleston 5, Rome (36-35) 1
LP: Lafreniere (3-6) 5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K.
Franco 2-4, 2B; Marte 1-2; Elander 1-4.
ROOKIE CLASS A
GCL Braves 4 Astros 3 (10)
WP: Espinosa 1 IP, 1 Hl. SP: C. Martinez (rehab) 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K. Moran (rehab) 2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K.
Livesay (CF) 1-5, R; V. Reyes 2-3, 2B, RBI, SB; Hagenmiller (3B) 1-3, RBI; Arno (1B) 0-4; F. Sanchez (RF) 0-4; Murphy (C) 1-2; Hass (C) 0-2; Dodig (DH) 0-4; Obregon (SS) 1-4, R. Monastero 1-3.
Danville (2-0) 3, Princeton 2 Walk-off RBI 1B by Justin Black
WP: Rohde (1-0) 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 K. SP: Flores 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K. Dill 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K.
Camargo 2-4; Caratini 0-3, RBI; Moranda 1-2; Alcantara 1-3; Black 1-4, RBI; Wren 903, R, RBI.
DSL Cardinals 9, DSL Braves (7-11) 7
SP: Torres 3.1 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 6 BB, 1 K. LP: Manzanares (0-3) 0.2 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 K. Jesus Jones 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K.
Cortes (PH) 1-1, HR (1st), 2 RBI; Castro 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI; Tielman 0-1, RBI; Estevez 2-3, R.