The theme in all four games was starters who opened strong but fell apart in the middle innings, though two of the four teams still managed to hold on for wins…
Charlotte 5, Toledo 4
The Knights won for the fourth time in five games, grabbing an early lead and holding on late. Carlos Sanchez had a big game at the plate with two doubles and a single, as well as a stolen base. He’s now hitting an even .300. Leury Garcia played the hero, with his 2-run home run part of a 2-3 day (plus a walk and a swipe). Tim Anderson had a couple base knocks along with a couple stolen bags.
On the pitching side, Terance Marin made his second start as he slides back into the rotation from the bullpen. As with his last start, he did well until the latter innings, which makes sense as he gets stretched out. After allowing a run on just two hits in five innings, he gave up a double and a home run in the 6th before being relieved by Tommy Kahnle. Kahnle had five punch-outs in 2.2 innings, and he seems to be improving with each outing.
Chris Beck is slated to start in the series finale, Monday evening.
Birmingham 14, Chattanooga 13
The Barons eeked out a win in a barn-burner, overcoming some pitching trouble with a 15-hit performance from the lineup. Nick Delmonico continues to mash Southern League pitching this season, and in this one he fell just a double short of the cycle. In his second year in the White Sox organization and returning to AA, Delmonico is sporting a .996 OPS in the early going and making contact at a much better rate than in 2015. Eddy Alvarez had probably his best offensive game of the year, going 3-for-6 with a double and knocking in 4 runs. Keenyn Walker also enjoyed his best game of 2016, contributing a double, triple and two walks. Trey Michalczewski hit his first home run of the year, and in doing so ran his hitting streak to 10 games.
The pitching side didn’t fare nearly as well. Jordan Guerrero had his first truly bad outing in AA, giving up five earned runs on seven hits in three innings. Nolan Sanburn threw gas on the fire, allowing six runs on five hits, a walk and an HBP in just one inning of work. But the other three relievers – James Dykstra, Kyle Hansen and Matt Lollis – allowed only two more runs in five innings to keep the game in reach.
David Holmberg gets the start Monday for the Barons.
Salem 3, Winston-Salem 2
After the Dash offense went ham in the first three games of this series, the Salem Red Sox were finally able to tame the beast and avoid being swept. Starter Thaddius Lowry had a rough first inning, featuring three hits, a balk, a wild pitch and his own error leading to three runs. But he turned it around nicely after that ugly frame, throwing 4.2 scoreless frames and allowing just two more hits.
Hunter Jones continues to be a spark plug at the top of the lineup, reaching base four times (one hit, three walks). Nick Basto went just 1-for-4, but he’s sporting a .414/.474/.557 line in his first 17 games of 2016. This is his third trip through Advanced A so you’d expect him to do well, but he’s still only 22 and slightly below league average age. And with numbers like that, it would be a surprise if he didn’t see AA sometime during the season.
The Dash are off on Monday.
Delmarva 13, Kannapolis 2
The Intimidators’ pitching staff had a rough go of it in this one. Starter Zachary Thompson threw 3 scoreless frames, but then allowed three runs in the 4th, and was pulled after three batters reached base in the 5th (two of whom scored). Drew Hasler bobbed and weaved around some walks to throw 2.2 scoreless in relief. But Matt Ball got beat up to the tune of six runs (four earned) in one inning. Alex Katz allowed a further 2 runs in 1.1 innings to mercifully close it out.
Tyler Sullivan just keeps rolling at the top of the Kanny lineup, booking a hit, three walks and a stolen base to balloon his OBP to .449. Speaking of OBP at the top of the lineup, Landon Lassiter drew a walk and his number is an even more ridiculous .460, and he’s still reached base in every game he’s played this season. Cody Daily has the only multi-hit game for the I’s, going 2-for-4.
The Intimidators are also off on Monday.
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