Charlotte 4, Durham 2:
Jason Coats’ three-run home run in the fifth inning proved decisive, as the Knights improved to 30-22 on the season. The 25-year-old, one year removed from Winston-Salem, went 1-4 with the home run, a walk, and a strikeout . His ascension through the system speaks to both his success and also a dearth of position player talent in the system. In 37 games with Charlotte (154 PAs), Coats has a .719 OPS with four home runs, five doubles, and 31 RBIs. Batting leadoff, Micah Johnson doubled, scored a run, and struck out once in five ABs. Matt Davidson also doubled and scored a run, but struck out twice and walked in five PAs. Tyler Saladino, Johnson’s double-play-partner at short, had two hits (one double, his third of the season), a run scored, and one walk. Kevan Smith was 1-2 with a walk and a strikeout.
Chris Beck started for the Knights. He went four innings, allowing three hits, no runs, while striking out three (no walks).
Biloxi 6, Birmingham 3:
The Barons were without their formidable 1-2 punch after a scary collision involving Tim Anderson (day-to-day with bruised ribs) and Jacob May (concussion disabled list 7-10 days) in Tuesday’s game kept them out of the lineup. Batting leadoff, in his second game since being promoted from Winston-Salem, Keenyn Walker struck out four times and walked once. Brian Fletcher stayed hot, as he had two doubles in four ABs. Christian Marrero hit an inside-the-park home run, his fifth home run of the season. The 28-year-old MiLB vet has more walks (30) than strikeouts (29) on the season and is sporting a .789 OPS in 223 PAs. Danny Hayes walked twice and had a hit in four PAs.
Tony Bucciferro started for the Barons. Bucciferro went five innings, allowing 11 hits, four earned runs, and struck out one (no walks). Devon Davis, noted 2015 performer, made his Birmingham debut. He worked one inning of relief, allowing a two-run home run to Biloxi’s Nick Ramirez. Davis did not record a strikeout, walked two and allowed two hits.
Kannapolis 5, Greenville 3:
Kannapolis rallied in the eighth and ninth innings to improve to 26-27 on the season. Brett Austin’s went 1-4 with a solo home run, his second of the season. Eddy Alvarez drew a walk, but was hitless in four ABs and committed his 14th error in the field. Louie Lechich had two RBIs – 30 for the season – and a hit in four ABs. Mason Robbins struck out twice, but did have a base hit and a double with a run scored.
Yelmison Peralta went five innings, allowing four hits, one run (unearned), a walk, and struck out two batters. David Trexler worked a two-inning save (fourth save of the season). He went two perfect innings with two strikeouts.
Winston-Salem had the day off on Wednesday. Matt Heidenreich (7-0, 1.78 ERA) starts for the Dash Thursday night as they open up a series with the Lynchburg Hillcats.
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