8/30/16 Recap: Stephens and Solorzano rack up the K’s in dominant starts

Louisville 5, Charlotte 3
Starter Terance Marin was tagged for four runs in the 5th inning and Knights dropped the game to the Louisville Bats. Marin was cruising until he couldn’t finish the 5th, and ended his night with a line of 4.2 IP, 4 R, 7 H, 0 BB, and 1 K. Former position player turned reliever Blake Smith entered and threw 2.2 scoreless innings to extend his incredible run of zeroes. Smith has just allowed two runs over his last 29 innings, dating back to June 26th.
Jason Coats led the offense by blasting his 10th home run of the year (11th, if you count his time with Chicago). Coats has shown he has nothing left to prove in Charlotte, as he has a .331/.393/.520 slash line for the year.
Kameron Loe will get the start as the series continues in Lousville.
Tennessee 5, Birmingham 3
Reliever Colin Kleven blew a late lead and spoiled a great start from James Dykstra. Dykstra allowed one earned run over seven innings, striking out three and allowing seven hits and two walks.
First baseman Keon Barnum went 2-3 with a double and a walk and center fielder Hunter Jones went 3-4 with a home run.
Thad Lowry will toe the rubber on Wednesday.
Winston-Salem 4, Salem 1
Six days after setting a career high in strikeouts at 10, Jordan Stephens struck out 11 batters over five brilliant shutout innings to lead the Dash to the win. Stephens only allowed  three hits and two walks in addition to the eleven strikeouts. Stephens has now struck out 21 batters over his last ten innings and padded his Carolina League leading strikeout total at 147.
Third basemen Toby Thomas supported Stephens by hitting a two-run home run and catcher Zack Collins went 1-3 with a walk.
Tanner Banks will oppose Boston’s top pitching prospect Michael Kopech on Wednesday.
Lakewood 3, Kannapolis 2
Starter Jimmy Lambert allowed three runs over 2.2 innings but the Kanny bullpen blanked the Lakewood BlueClaws the rest of the game. Danny Dopico threw 2.1 scoreless innings and was followed by two more by Louie Lechich, then finally Ian Hamilton tossed the last frame. Former outfielder Lechich has had quite the debut to pitching and now hasn’t allowed a run over his first 12 innings.
Alex Call led the offense from the lead-off spot by going 2-4 with two doubles. Bradley strong also went 2-4 with a double and Seby Zavala went 1-4 with a double.
Great Falls 5, Billings 1
Yosmer Solorzano just needed 99 pitches to strike out ten batters and go all nine innings for the complete game win on Tuesday. Great Falls Manager Tommy Thompson hinted that Solorzano’s start was even more impressive than his seven no-hit innings a couple weeks ago. The 19 year-old has put together an impressive season together, striking out 72 batters over over 76 innings while just allowing 17 walks and one home run.
Joel Booker went 2-3 with a double and a walk and Jameson Fisher went 0-3 with a walk in his return to the Great Falls lineup after missing two weeks due to a shoulder injury.
The Voyagers are currently riding a nine game win streak and Luis Ledo will get the start on Wednesday hoping to make it ten in a row.
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