TAMPA, FL – MARCH 21: Conor Essenburg #34 of the Atlanta Braves bats during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Saturday, March 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
(43-56) Iowa Cubs 7, (52-48) Gwinnett Stripers 3
Patrick Clohisy, CF: 2-for-5, R, .488/.523/.829
Sean Murphy, DH: 2-for-4, RBI, 2B, .244/.326/.317
Ha-Seong Kim, SS: 0-for-3, BB, SB, .239/.352/.348
Jair Camargo, C: 2-for-4, HR, RBI, R, .233/.270/.365
JR Ritchie, SP: 4IP 7H 5ER 1BB 3K, 3.88 ERA
Box Score
The Stripers were unable to overcome rough starting pitching en route to their loss to the Iowa Cubs.
JR Ritchie got the start and struggled out of the gate – struggling to generate whiffs and spot his pitches in the first inning, which ultimately was too much for Gwinnett to handle. After giving up a lead off single JR was able to strikeout the next batter before giving up a two run home run. He would then surrender a triple, and hit by pitch before giving up the third run of the inning – a sacrifice fly. JR would get through the next two innings unscathed before surrendering two more runs in the fourth inning, giving Iowa five on the game. He would be replaced by Drue Hackenberg (3.1IP 5H 2ER 2BB 0K) who gave up three extra-base hits himself, as well as two walks, and two earned runs. He would come out of the game with a runner on first and be replaced by Rolddy Muñoz (0.2IP 0H 0R 0BB 0K) who needed just eight pitches to get through the rest of the 8th inning. Joel Payamps (1IP 0H 0R 1BB 1K) pitched the final inning, struggling with his command, but ultimately getting the job done.
Offensively, the Stripers were held to just six hits, going 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranding seven on base. They got two on in the first inning with zero out before Ha-Seong Kim drove in a run on a double play to put the Stripers on board. They would then be held scoreless until the seventh inning when Jair Camargo got a hold of one, driving the ball 398’ with an exit velocity of 108.9 to give the Stripers their second run of the game. Luke Williams would then walk right after it, before eventually coming into score on a roped run scoring double by Sean Murphy who scalded a ball to right-center for the Stripers third run of the game. Unfortunately the rally would promptly end with shortstop Ha-Seong Kim striking out.
(43-48) Columbus Clingstones 2, (51-44) Pensacola Blue Wahoos 4
Dalton McIntyre, CF: 1-for-2, BB, R, 2B, .257/.375/.378
Jordan Groshans, 1B: 2-for-3, 2B, RBI, .262/.335/.524
Colby Jones, 3B: 1-for-3, 3B, R, .182/.302/.455
Shay Schanaman, SP: 2IP 1H 1ER 1BB 2K, 5.44 ERA
Box Score
The Clingstones were unable to overcome a rough hitting performance on their way to a close 4-2 loss to the Blue Wahoos.
Shay Schanaman took to the mound in a bullpen game for the Clingstones and gave up a single run across two innings pitched that came via a double that brought in a runner who was on second. After pitching a scoreless second inning he was replaced by Riley Frey (2IP 1H 0R 0BB 3K) who was extremely strong, pounding the zone and attacking hitters – striking out three across his two innings of work. He would be replaced by Owen Hackman (2IP 3H 3ER 0BB 1K) who fell victim to what was a game altering three run home run that put the Blue Wahoos in the lead. Anderson Pilar (1IP 0H 0R 0BB 2K) and Blane Abeyta (1IP 2H 0R 0BB 1K) pitched the final two innings, holding the Blue Wahoos scoreless – giving the offense a chance to see if they could stage a comeback.
Unfortunately, the offense as a whole struggled against the Blue Wahoos pitching staff getting just six hits while striking out nine. Much like the Stripers, the Clingstones went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, stranding four on base. Jordan Groshans who has been one of the Clingstones, if not the entire organizations, best players was the only Clingstones player to register a multi-hit game. He drove in the first run of the game, driving in Dalton McIntyre who doubled to start the game.
Ahead Early pic.twitter.com/bAD1qDtNT2— Columbus Clingstones (@GoClingstones) July 26, 2026
The Clingstones would be held scoreless until the fifth inning when Colby Jones led off the inning with a triple. He was driven in by Matt Scannell who grounded out to first but drove in Colby to give the Clingstones their second, and final run of the game. At the time of the play this put the Clingstones up ahead 2-1, but ultimately not being able to get anything else going offensively led to their defeat.
(58-35) Fredrick Keys 2, (45-48) Rome Emperors 6
Tate Southisene, SS: 1-for-4, R, .255/.379/.428
John Gil, 2B: 0-for-1, 3 BB, 2 R, .241/.342/.372
Eric Hartman, CF: 1-for-2, R, BB, RBI, .269/.358/.517
Owen Carey, LF: 1-for-4, 3 RBI, R, .268/.333/.459
Dixon Williams, 1B: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, .216/.328/.405
Cade Kuehler, SP: 5IP 5H 2ER 4BB 2K, 5.42 ERA
Box Score
The Emperors were able to overcome a an up-and-down starting pitching performance on their way to capturing their 45th win of the season thanks to some extremely strong work by the bullpen.
Cade Kuehler got the start and was a bit up and down with his performance, walking four and surrendering five hits across his five innings of work. Cade would surrender just two runs but dealt with a lot of traffic as he struggled to consistently land in the zone. He would be replaced by Ray Kerr (1IP 1H 0R 0BB 1K), who looked strong in his third rehab appearance for the Rome Emperors. Jacob Kroeger (1IP 1H 0R 0BB 2K) would work around a single and would strike out two in his very strong inning of work. Logan Samuels (1IP 0H 0R 1BB 2K), and Tyler Schoff (1IP 1H 0R 0BB 0K) would work the games final two innings without allowing a run to score.
Offensively for the Emperors all their damage came in a pair of innings, the first and the seventh. After drawing a walk in the first John Gil would steal second and take third on an errant throw to set the tone. Eric Hartman would then walk to put two on and Owen Carey would triple them both in to put the Emperors up 2-1.
Owen Carey clears the bases and the Emperors lead! pic.twitter.com/4r35aBEMLr— Rome Emperors (@GoEmperors) July 26, 2026
Owen would then come into score when Dixon Williams would ground out to the pitcher and drive in Owen to score the Emperors third run of the game. While the offense would threaten by getting runners on second in a pair of innings, they were largely held in check until the seventh inning when they scored an additional three runs to really put the game away. After loading the bases to start the inning Eric Hartman drove in the fourth run of the game with a sacrifice fly. Owen Carey would follow that up with a ground out to second that scored Tate Southisene to give the Emperors their fifth run of the game. The final run came with the next batter, Dixon Williams, who singled in John Gil to push the lead to 6-2. The Emperors would go 1-2-3 in the eighth inning before ending the game in the top of the ninth.
(52-44) Augusta GreenJackets 13, (41-54) Salem RidgeYaks 3
Luis Guanipa, CF: 3-for-5, 3 R, RBI, R, .302/.358/.456
Conor Essenburg, RF: 3-for-5, 3 RBI, HR, 3 R, BB, .267/.407/.500
Alex Lodise, SS: 2-for-5, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB, .256/.343/.483
Austin Machado, C: 1-for-2, 2 R, RBI, 4 BB, .216/.554/.243
Junior Garcia, LF: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, R, BB, .201/.326/.296
Carter Holton, SP: 4IP 2H 2ER 6BB 1K, 5.08 ERA
Box Score
An offensive explosion, and some incredible luck on the mound helped fuel the GreenJackets massive 13-4 win on the road.
Carter Holton got the start and survived, giving up a pair of runs across four innings of work. Carter surrendered just two hits, but walked a staggering six batters as he had a rough 51% strike rate. To his credit, he navigated through all of the runners on base and surrendered just two earned runs, but it definitely wasn’t one of his best starts. Ryan Heppner (1.2IP 4H 0R 0BB 1K) replaced Carter in the fifth inning and got into some danger himself, allowing four hits across those innings pitched, but registered 1.2 clean innings. Kade Woods (1.1IP 2H 1ER 2BB 1K) relieved Heppner and gave up a pair of hits and walks in his work. Cristobal Abreu (2IP 0H 0R 2BB 2K) pitched the final two innings, walking two but giving up zero hits.
Offensively it was a massive night for the GreenJackets as they had nearly as many runs (13) as they did hits (14). The starting pitcher for the RidgeYaks had a game to forget as he gave up six earned runs in just .1 innings of work. Those six runs in the first came on two bases loaded walks, a hit by pitch with the bases loaded, a sacrifice fly, and two run single. The GreenJackets would tack on another run in the third, before bursting for six runs over the games sixth, and seventh innings. In the sixth, Luis Guanipa led it off the inning with a single, before Conor Essenburg connected on a towering home run to put the GreenJackets ahead 9-2.
Conor Essenburg into a different AREA CODE! pic.twitter.com/QBJzLZf0sr— Augusta GreenJackets (@GreenJackets) July 26, 2026
Not to be out done, Alex Lodise followed him up with a solo home run, his 21st of the season.
And Alex Lodise goes back to back! pic.twitter.com/3EjenvZyhv— Augusta GreenJackets (@GreenJackets) July 26, 2026
In the seventh it was Luis Guanipa who drove in Junior Garcia for the GreenJackets 11th run of the game, followed up by a Conor Essenburg double that drove in Guanipa for the games 12th run. After moving over to third on a single by Alex Lodise, Essenburg would come into score on a Cody Miller sacrifice fly for the games final run.