The Knights fell to Syracuse, as the offense struggled to get anything going against Syracuse’s Matthew Spann. Micah Johnson returned to the Knights after being demoted. Johnson batted leadoff and went 0-3 with a walk, stolen base, and an RBI. Matt Davidson had a double and a strikeout in four at bats. Dan Black, who has a 1.005 OPS in 115 PAs, also doubled, going 1-4 with an RBI. No longer batting in the nine-hole, Jason Coats, now in the two-hole, had a base hit in four at bats. Erik Johnson started the game for the Knights, throwing 101 pitches (59 strikes) in five innings of work. He allowed three hits, three earned runs, four walks, and struck out five batters.
Seth Lakso of the Charlotte Observer spoke with Micah Johnson after the game, revealing a bizarre development:
Lakso: What was the message from the White Sox when they reassigned you to Charlotte?
Johnson: Nothing really, they don’t tell you much. They just send you down.
Lakso: That was it? They just walked in and…
Johnson: Na, I got a phone call.
Birmingham 5, Chattanooga 7
Tyler Danish had a strong start against a talented Chattanooga lineup. The Barons’ bullpen faltered late, as the Barons fell to 16-19 on the season. Facing a lineup that features Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano, Danish excelled – a theme throughout his professional career, leading many (like Fangraphs’ Kiley McDaniel) to project him as a starting pitcher going forward. Danish went six innings, allowing eight hits, two earned runs, one walk, with four strikeouts. Miguel Chalas and J.B. Wendelken allowed three earned runs and six hits in 3.2 IP of relief.
Jacob May had two hits, two RBIs, and a walk in four ABs. The 23-year-old has strung together a nice season, posting a .725 in 152 PAs and 16 stolen bases out of the leadoff spot. Tim Anderson went 0-5 with two strikeouts. Batting third, Courtney Hawkins went 0-3 with two strikeouts.
Winston-Salem 3, Salem 6
The Dash’s bullpen wasted a brilliant start by Robin Leyer. Leyer went six stellar innings, allowing just one hit and one walk, while striking out four. While the bullpen was not particularly strong, the five errors committed in the field did not help their cause. Cleuluis Rondon had a rare throwing error – his third error of the season. Rondon went went 1-5 at the plate with a strikeout. The base-stealing duo of Keenyn Walker and Adam Engel struck again. Walker stole his 22nd base of the season – going two for five in the process with a run scored and a triple, while Engel stole his 20th base of the season – going 1-5 with a run scored and two strikeouts. Trey Michalczewski homered, his third of the season, en route to a two hit effort (the other a double) with two RBIs.
Kannapolis 1, Lakewood 0
Yency “Showtime” Almonte and the Intimidators’ bullpen shutout Lakewood as they improved to 15-18. Almonte went six innings, allowing five hits, no runs, two walks, while striking out five. Brett Austin, Almonte’s battery mate, went 1-3 with a double and a strikeout. His double was one of two XBH on the day, as Lakewood starter Ranfi Casimiro went eight innings, allowing one earned run, which was enough for the Intimidators. Ryan Leonard’s RBI double in the second inning proved to be the lone RBI of the game. Eddy Alvarez, still batting .302 (119 ABs), went 0-3 on the day.
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