Nashville Sounds 7, Charlotte Knights 6
The Knights have fallen off since their bold start to the season. Unlike their Chicago counterparts on Friday, Charlotte lost control early.
Pitching was not on the club’s side, but in reality it rarely ever is. Duncan Davitt came out for his second start, and put the Knights behind the eight-ball quickly. He gave up a bases-loaded walk and got pummeled by a grand slam to put the Sounds up five-nil in the second. Davitt hung on to pitch through the fourth and was provided at least one run for support, courtesy of Oliver Dunn’s RBI, before he was ushered out. Chase Plymell took over for Davitt and didn’t look much sharper. He gave up three walks and two runs in two innings to set the Knights further back, though Dru Baker offset one of the runs with a triple to keep it a five-run game.
Hope wasn’t completely lost, though. Charlotte attempted to rally in the seventh, spurred by Darren Baker’s three-run single and followed by subsequent RBIs from Dustin Harris and Tanner Murray. Perhaps the Knights could’ve tied the game if Darren Baker wasn’t caught attempting to steal second, but I guess we’ll never know. Dru Baker’s third hit of the game, an RBI single, notched Charlotte’s sixth run, but the rally quickly died after that.
Knoxville Smokies 9, Birmingham Barons 6
Fully armed with some of the best and most beloved players across the SSS staff, the Barons fell short in their valiant effort against the Smokies.
Last year’s Southern League champions were humbled quickly when starter Lucas Gordon gave up five runs in the first two innings, which included a three-run blast in the first to quickly tamper the mood. Samuel Zavala tried to answer with an RBI single in the second, but Birmingham’s bats waited until the fourth to really get going. Two- and three-run dingers from Calvin Harris and Braden Montgomery put the Sox on top, 6-5. Finally, the Barons we remember and love.
But then Jared Kelley took the mound, and handed the lead back to the Smokies. A wild pitch from Kelley with the bases loaded and another one from Jairo Iriarte cost the Barons two runs, and a one-out grounder happened to be just enough to put Knoxville back on top. Two innings later, Nick Altermatt’s allowed run would be enough to put the nail in the coffin.
Bham’s errors and worse pitching couldn’t stand up to Knoxville’s slightly-better but still flawed pitching. At least the Barons weren’t shut out. But 13 strikeouts is definitely shudder-worthy. The Southern League title celebrations are officially over; time to get back to work.
Bowling Green Hot Rods 4, Winston-Salem Dash 2
Welcome back to High-A ball, where the runs are few and the talent lacking. Without Braden Montgomery, Sam Antonacci and Samuel Zavala, all of whom graduated upward in the system and won’t be looking back, the Dash offense was sparse in their season opener.
Four hits strung together with four walks were hardly enough to put two runs on the board, provided by Anthony DePino and Alec Makarewicz, who also supplied half the hits. Kyle Lodise forfeited a bases-loaded opportunity in the third to pull the Dash ahead in a game tied at one at the time, but watching two pitches down the pipe quickly set him up for failure.
When the lineup goes 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position, the pitching has no margin for error. Grant Umberger twirled a fair four-earned run, five-hit, seven-strikeout start, but Winston-Salem didn’t take advantage of his 4 ⅔ respectable innings.
Hopefully, the Dash will be more than just a feeder team to Bham and will provide some entertainment, but if we’re judging by the first game, we may see a repeat of last year.
Hill City Howlers 8, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 2
Fresh off their late collapse to the Howlers, the Cannon Ballers carried their defeated play into another loss. Only this one was written on the wall much earlier.
There’s really no way to sugarcoat five hits, two runs and three errors. On the plus side, Javier Mogollón was the clear MVP (spoiler alert) of the game, providing the first run of the game, later accompanied by three walks in what was quite a patient night for a second baseman eager to see High-A ball sometime this season. And at least second round draft pick Jaden Fauske padded his stats in his second minor league game with a hit, run and walk to offset two strikeouts. Chicago’s 10th overall pick Billy Carlson picked up his first extra-base hit while doubling his RBIs, walks and strikeouts. What a busy night for the rookies!
Jeremy Gonzalez was the only arm who didn’t allow a run. The pitching crew combined for 11 hits and 10 walks allowed, but they also managed to collect 12 strikeouts. What an oxymoronic night for a team that always struggles to stand out.