Gwinnett 7, Charlotte 5 (Game 1)
Charlotte 5, Gwinnett 1 (Game 2)
The Knights split a double header on Friday to stay just a half game back of the Gwinnett Braves for the International League Southern Division lead. Carson Fulmer made his Charlotte debut as a starter in game one and promptly gave up six runs in the first inning. The Knights coaching staff apparently had seen enough, because that was Fulmer’s only inning of the night. Blake Smith came in for the emergency long relief appearance and shined, striking out four batters over 2.2 scoreless innings. Smith has been unbelievable recently, only allowing two earned runs over his last 23.1 innings of work.
Catcher Kevan Smith hit a three run home run and Leury Garcia went 3-4 to pace the offense.
David Holmberg only allowed one run on two hits in a dominant complete game performance in game two. The 25 year-old has a 3.20 ERA over six AAA starts. Holmberg received plenty of run support from the Knights offense, most notable a grand slam from Adam Engel.
Buffalo 8, Charlotte 3
Starter Terance Marin allowed four runs over four innings, but fast-tracked 2016 draft pick Zack Burdi was filthy in relief. Burdi struck out five batters over two shutout innings and hasn’t been scored upon over his last 16.1 innings. More impressively, during that span he has only allowed 5 hits, 6 walks, while striking out 25 batters.
Adam Engel homered for the second consecutive game, but instead of a blast, it was more of a bloop. Engel reached out and poked a ball into right field and the unfortunate Buffalo outfielder overran it and Engel raced around the bases for an insider the park homer. If you would like to see what 80 grade speed looks like in action, check out the video.
Jackson 5, Birmingham 1
If you glanced at Spencer Adams box score, 7 IP, 5 R, 8 H, it looked he was roughed up. However, he was more the victim of a bad inning, as all five runs and six hits came in the 3rd. In his other six innings, Adams only allowed two hits and no walks. Matt Cooper came on in relief and tossed two perfect innings to finish the game.
Trey Michalczewski reached base twice, going 1-3 with a walk and Keon Barnum drove in Birmingham’s only run with a double.
Jackson 9, Birmingham 0
Starter James Dykstra was roughed up and Connor Walsh threw gas on the fire as the Jackson Generals routed the Barons on Saturday night. The Birmingham offense could only muster four hits and Trey Michalczewski struck out four times over four at bats.
Salem 4, Winston-Salem 2 (Game 1)
Salem 3, Winston-Salem 2 (Game 2)
Winston-Salem was swept in a doubleheader on Saturday after being rained out on Friday. Tanner Banks started game one and allowed four runs (three earned) over a seven inning complete game. Landon Lassiter doubled and Michael Suiter went 2-3.
Zach Thompson pitched five scoreless innings, but the Winston-Salem bullpen fumbled the game away. Catcher Zack Collins, who had been scuffling a bit recently, hit a mammoth home run in the sixth inning.
West Virginia 4, Kannapolis 0
The Intimidators offense was held to just two hits and starter Jimmy Lambert allowed three runs over three innings as Kannapolis dropped the contest on Friday. Outfielder Jack Fincher went 1-2 with a walk in his Kannapolis debut.
Kannapolis 4, West Virginia 0
The Intimidators flipped the script on the West Virginia Power, as four Kannapolis pitchers combined to throw a three-hit shutout. Jonathan Frebis allowed three hits and three walks over 5.1 scoreless innings and Danny Dopico, Brandon Quintero, and Ian Hamilton finished off the shutout.
Third baseman Zach Remillard went 3-4 with a double to lead the offense.
Great Falls 5, Helena 2
Brady Conlan went 2-3 with a home run and a walk and Mitch Roman had a three hit night as the Voyagers cruised over the Helena Brewers. Starter Aron McRee tossed three scoreless innings and the Great Falls bullpen took it from there for a win. 2016 20th round draft Matt Foster threw two shutout innings and has a 0.77 ERA over his first 23.1 professional innings.
Great Falls 2, Helena 0
Yosmer Solorzano fired seven no-hit innings and reliever Adam Panayotovich and Jaider Rocha took the baton and finished off first Great Falls no-hitter since 2011. Solorzano struck out eight batters and only issued one walk over his seven innings and he notched his sixth win of the year.
Corey Zangari sent a pitch into the Montana sky for his seventh home run of the season and all the run support Solorzano and the bullpen would need. Carlos Perez went 0-2 at the plate but the 19 year-old caught every inning of the no-hitter.
DSL White Sox 7, DSL D-Backs 6 (16 innings)
DSL D-Backs 11, DSL White Sox 5
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