Florida Fire Frogs Game Notes: April 11, 2018
Published on April 11, 2018 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Florida Fire Frogs News Release
TODAY'S GAME: Game three of a four-game road trip to Fort Myers (MIN) for the Florida Fire Frogs. These teams will play a total of 11 games against one another and won't meet again for another series until August 3-5. Florida is 3-6 all time against the Miracle.
TODAY'S STARTING PITCHER: RHP Jeremy Walker makes his second start of the 2018, and first since Opening Night in game three. The 22-year-old product from Gardner-Webb finished his 2017 season on a four-game winning streak for the Rome Braves (A-), going 3-0 with a 1.23era (4er/29.1ip) in the month of August with two complete games, and posting 19 strikeouts compared to just three walks.
The 6'5" hurler surrendered two runs on four hits, three walks and four strikeouts over 3.2 innings of work against the Daytona Tortugas on April 5. The right-hander tossed 78 pitches, with 42 going for strikes.
Wednesday will be the Advance, N.C. native's first career start against the Miracle.
FIRE FROGS TAKE PITCHING DUEL OVER MIRACLE: For a third consecutive night, the Florida Fire Frogs were in a nail-biter, as the road team took out the Fort Myers Miracle, 1-0 at Hammond Stadium on Tuesday night. The contest was the fourth time in five games the Fire Frogs had a game decided by two runs or less to start the 2018 season.
Florida cracked the scoreboard with a run in the fifth against reliever Colton Davis. Justin Ellison reached on an error from second baseman Nelson Molina, and stole second with Anfernee Seymour at the plate. Seymour smacked a ground rule double off the batter's eye in center to bring home Ellison to give the visitors the lead.
FULL ROTATION: With Bryse Wilson completing his outing on Tuesday night, the Fire Frogs have made a full rotation through their full-time starters after six games. The five starting pitchers combined to go 0-1 with an ERA of 4.48 (9er/18.1ip). Ian Anderson has the most strikeouts with seven through his 3.2 frames on April 9 against the Miracle, and Joey Wentz has the most innings pitched with four on April 8 against the Daytona Tortugas. Wilson was the only starter to not allow any runs, but did allow five hits, which were the most of any starting pitcher.
Chad Sobotka was the one pitcher who is not a full-time starter to take the first inning against an opponent on Saturday against Daytona. The tall right-hander tossed 2.2 of shutout ball, with two hits allowed, two walks and three strikeouts.
CLEAN DEFENSE: With another errorless game on Tuesday night, the Fire Frogs have committed just two errors through their first six contests to open up the 2018 campaign (second best in the league). The Bradenton Marauders are the only team in the Florida State League that has committed just one error this season.
Through six games during their inaugural season, Florida had already committed 12 defensive miscues, and finished the month of April with 43.
REVERSAL OF FORTUNE: With another one-run game on Tuesday, Florida has now had five games decided by two runs of less to open 2018, and is 2-3 in those contests. Both of Florida's wins this season have come by one run: 3-2 over the Daytona Tortugas on Opening Night, and Tuesday night's 1-0 victory over Fort Myers.
The Atlanta Braves High-A affiliate finished their inaugural campaign 22-44 in similar games.
HIGHLY RANKED PROSPECTS: Entering the 2018 season, the Atlanta Braves have the second rated farm system in Minor League Baseball, according to MLB.com...Ian Anderson is ranked the top prospect on the Fire Frogs and 49th in Minor League Baseball by MLB.com. Cristian Pache, Joey Wentz and Bryse Wilson are also Fire Frogs players ranked in the top 15 in the Braves organization, according to MLB.com.
Florida State League Stories from April 11, 2018
- Kerrigan Leads 9-0 Rout Of Fire Frogs - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Palm Beach Splits Double-Header with Dunedin - Palm Beach Cardinals
- Strom Flies Around Bases, Sparks Mets to Victory - St. Lucie Mets
- Florida Fire Frogs Game Notes: April 11, 2018 - Florida Fire Frogs
- Seabold Strikes out Nine in 6-4 Loss - Clearwater Threshers
- Turning Points and the Bradenton Marauders Partner for "Walk a Mile in Their Shoes" at LECOM Park - Bradenton Marauders
- Tortugas to Honor Jackie Robinson Again on Sunday - Daytona Tortugas
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