Buffalo 9, Charlotte 2
The Knights pounded out 12 hits but could only drive in two runs as they fell to the Buffalo Bison. Veteran starter Brad Penny was roughed up over his six innings as he allowed six runs to score on ten hits. Catcher Rob Brantly continues to impress as he went 3-4 with a double and a walk. The former top prospect is hitting .331/.356/.515 in 33 games between Birmingham and Charlotte this season. Jason Coats also kept up his hot hitting, going 2-5 with a stolen base. Coats is hitting .364 over his last ten games and might be aligning himself for a September call-up when the rosters expand.
Birmingham 7, Tennessee 6 (10 innings)
The Barons rallied to tie the game in the 8th and then won it in the 10th by pushing across another run on an eventual game-winning hit by Keenyn Walker. Walker also had the game-tying hit in the 8th and added a stolen base to play the hero for the Barons. Starter Myles Jaye continues to pitch well as he went five innings and only allowed two runs. Reliever Zach Isler had a bit of meltdown as he allowed four runs to score over 1.1 innings but Peter Tago came on and saved the game. Tago, an off-season rule V selection, pitched 3.2 shutout innings while striking out four in route to earning the win. Tago has a 2.59 ERA with 66 strikeouts over 55.2 innings between three different affiliates this season.
Winston-Salem 3, Carolina 0
Starter Yency Almonte tossed 6.2 shutout innings as he and two Dash relievers combined on the five-hit shutout. Almonte, acquired by the Angels last season for Gordon Beckham, struck out seven while only allowing three hits and one walk. Euclides Leyer and Brad Goldberg took care of the rest of the game as the Dash won the rubber match against the Carolina Mudcats. Keon Barnum, who has been hitting very recently, hit his 7th home run of the season and Adam Engel reached base three times from the lead-off spot and stole his 49th base of the season.
Kannapolis 2, Greensboro 1 (5 innings)
In an odd but enjoyable scheduling twist, 2014 second round draft pick Spencer Adams faced off against 2014 2nd overall pick Tyler Kolek for the 4th time on Thursday night. The first time they faced off it ended in no-decisions, since then it has been all Adams and the Intimidators as they handed Kolek his third straight loss against them. Adams pitched a rain-shortened complete game, throwing all five innings, striking out a season high eight batters while allowing one run on four hits and one walk. Adams started the year off slowly (6.08 April ERA), but has been excellent recently, with an even 3.00 ERA over his last ten starts. Notably, Adams who you wouldn’t consider a strikeout pitcher, has totaled 19 punch outs over his last 17 innings.
Louie Lechich provided a RBI triple and walked while Mason Robbins added in a hit and a walk.
Orem 12, Great Falls 4
Coming off his best start of the season (6 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 8 K’s, 0 BB), Matt Ball was shelled by the Orem Olwz to the tune of nine runs (seven earned) over 2.2 innings. His defense did him no favors as they committed three errors in an overall sloppy game for the Voyagers in their first game back from the All-Star break. The offense couldn’t provide much either, but first baseman Sikes Orvis (excellent baseball name) led the way by going 2-3 with a walk. Catcher Casey Schroeder went 1-3 with a double and a walk as well.
AZL Indians 6, AZL White Sox 1
Starter Yeuris Guerrero could only manage three innings as he allowed six runs to score. However, relievers Johnathan Frebis, Victor Done, and Richard McWilliams combined to toss five shutout innings the rest of the way. Frebis was especially impressive as he went three innings and he lowered his season ERA to 0.93. The Sox only had six hits and first baseman Corey Zangari had two of them and a stolen base as he continues to play well. Catcher Seby Zavala walked and stole a base as well in otherwise a very quiet day for the AZL Sox offense.
DSL Sox 2, DSL Reds 1
The DSL Sox won a rare low scoring game down in the Dominican on Thursday night. Ramon Beltre, Maiker Feliz, and Carlos Perez each had two hits to lead the Sox to the win.
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