Norfolk 6, Charlotte 3
The Knights dropped Thursday’s game in which veteran starter Brad Penny was infinitely hittable and the offense was shut down aside from a big performance from a surging Micah Johnson. Penny allowed 11 hits, but was able to limit the damage to only three runs during his six innings of work. Reliever Miguel Chalas was touched up a bit over one inning but Blake Smith closed the game with two scoreless innings. Johnson went 3-4 with a triple and a stolen base to account for half of Charlotte’s hits. Johnson has been on fire recently, hitting an eye-popping .383/.424/.650 since July 1st and may soon force the White Sox hand in bringing him back up to the big league club.
Birmingham 4, Pensacola 2
Break up the Barons! Thursday’s 4-2 victory over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos was their eighth consecutive victory and thirteenth win in their past fourteen games. However, it was a brand new addition in recently promoted starter Robin Leyer who propelled them to victory. Leyer threw five scoreless innings in his Baron debut, earning the win while striking out four. Reliever Tyler Barnette entered for Leyer and allowed two earned runs over two innings, but closer J.B. Wendelken pitched two perfect innings to earn the save.
Offensively, Tim Anderson went 1-4 and Adrian Nieto went 1-2 with a double and a walk. Brian Fletcher launched a solo home run, his sixth of the season, in the 8th inning to provide all the offense the red-hot Barons needed for the win.
Carolina 4, Winston-Salem 2
The Dash offense couldn’t get things rolling despite a couple a big night for Adam Engel and Trey Michalczewski and dropped a game to the Carolina Mudcats. Engel, who had been scuffling over the first part of the season, went 2-3 with a double and a walk and is hitting .320/.393/.440 in the month of July. Michalczewski had a perfect night at the plate as he went 3-3 with a walk to raise his season average to .272/.355/.416. It is important to remember with the success Michalczewski is having that he is only 20 years old, which is 2.6 years younger than the average of all the players in the Carolina League.
James Dykstra pitched six innings and allowed all four Carolina runs on seven hits. However, Jefferson Olacio and Euclides Leyer both pitched a scoreless inning in relief.
Lakewood 3, Kannapolis 1
The Intimidators were held to just three hits as they fell to the Lakewood BlueClaws on Thursday. Starter Luis Martinez allowed three runs over his 5.2 innings and took the loss. The bullpen was fantastic in relief, as Jose Brito and Matt Cooper combined for 3.1 scoreless innings while only allowing one hit. Eddy Alvarez went 0-1 but walked three times and a stole a bag. Ryan Leonards went 1-3 with a double and John Ziznewski went 1-2 with two walks in the loss.
Ogden 5, Great Falls 2
The normally potent Voyagers offense was held to two runs and starter Brannon Easterling allowed five runs over four innings to take the loss. Reliever Chris Freudenberg and Drew Hasler tossed two scoreless innings respectively out of the bullpen. Catcher Zach Fish went 2-4 with a double and a home run as the bright spot for the Great Falls hitters.
AZL White Sox 6, AZL Brewers 3
Third baseman Cody Daily went 3-4 with two(!) triples to lead the Arizona League White Sox to the victory. The 22 year-old Illinois native is torching the AZL, hitting an absurd .413/.471/.762 over the first sixteen games for the Sox. 2015 5th round draft pick Jordan Stephens made his professional debut by tossing one scoreless inning, allowing one hit and striking out one.
DSL Orioles 6, DSL White Sox 4
17 year-old third baseman Maiker Feliz continues his assault of Dominican League pitching, as he went 2-4 with a triple and two RBI’s to raise his season average to .393/.493/.516. However, the Sox fell to the DSL Orioles by a score of six to four.
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