Charlotte 4, Scranton/WB 5
A five hit effort (two doubles) from Carlos Sanchez was not enough for the Knights, who fell to the Yankees’ affiliate, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Sanchez raised his average to .378 (82 ABs) and has eight extra base hits (all doubles) for the season. Sanchez, 23, does have a somewhat concerning ratio of 20 strikeouts to just three walks. While the rest of the lineup had nine hits, the Knights lacked timely hitting, leaving 12 men on base and batting 3-15 with runners in scoring position. Matt Davidson had two hits in five at bats. He drove in his 15th run of the season and did not strikeout. Dan Black, 27, continues to rake and display plate discipline (8 SOs: 11BBs in 60 PAs). While Black did not register a hit on the night in three ABs, he walked twice and scored two runs. Trayce Thompson had a hit and a strikeout in five ABs. Jason Coats had two hits in four ABs with two RBIs, striking out once. Shawn Haviland started the game for the Knights (6IP, 5Hs, 4ERs, 6SOs, 1BB). Daniel Webb pitched two innings of scoreless relief, striking out three batters while walking one. Maikel Cleto pitched an inning of relief, allowing an earned run (his first of the year) and three hits (one strikeout and no walks).
Birmingham 3, Tennessee 2
The Barons opened the series with the Tennessee Smokies with a walk-off victory courtesy a Christian Marerro RBI single in the 10th. Marerro also had a two-run home run in the game, finishing with two hits in five at bats. Tim Anderson had a hit in five ABs (no BBs/SOs) – a triple, his second of the season. Jacob May had three hits in five ABs, registering a double, a run scored, and his seventh stolen base of the season. Courtney Hawkins had a hit in three ABs, striking out (29 season total) and walking once (four season total). Mark Blackmar started the game for the Barons (6IP, 4Hs, 2ERs, 4SOs, 3BBs). Cody Winiarski and Raul Fernandez each pitched two innings of perfect relief (no hits or runs allowed).
Winston-Salem 1, Wilmington 6
Adam Engel was the lone bright spot in an otherwise unremarkable Winston-Salem performance, as the Dash failed to hit an extra base hit and struck out twelve times to just one walk. Engel had the only multi-hit game, registering two singles and stealing his 12th base of the season. Engel did, however, strike out twice, but is batting .325 for the season (89PAs, yes a limited sample) and has put up encouraging plate discipline numbers (11.2 BB%, 12.4 K%). If Engel – a plus defensive CF – can continue to get on base and leverage his 70-grade speed, the 23-year-old might receive a promotion to Birmingham. His base-stealing counterpart, Keenyn Walker, had a hit in three at bats, while striking out twice. Trey Michalczewski had a hit in four at bats, a run scored, and his first stolen base of the season. Toni Bucciferro started the game for the Dash (6.1IP, 8Hs, 5ERs, 5SOs, 1BB).
Kannapolis 1, Rome 3
Thad Lowry started for the Intimidators, going six innings, while giving up two earned runs. While Lowry allowed four hits and four walks, the 20-year-old struck out six batters. His solid effort was not enough for Kannapolis, as the offense, like Winston-Salem, struggled. Toby Thomas had the lone extra base hit – a double. He had two hits and a run scored on the night. Eddy Alvarez struck out twice in four ABs, but had a hit and swiped his sixth base of the season. Louie Lechich had a hit in four ABs, striking out twice.
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