Charlotte Knights at Nashville Sounds — Postponed due to weather
The Knights and Sounds will pick back up Sunday at 1:05 p.m. CT, and Saturday’s makeup will be announced at a later date.
Birmingham Barons 6, Knoxville Smokies 2 (Gameday Box)
The Birmingham Barons (1-1) scooped up their first win of the season Saturday, defeating their north side Double-A rivals, the Knoxville Smokies, 6-2. Both teams put up seven hits, though the Barons went 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position and scored two early in the game to provide a small amount of run support for righthander Connor McCullough.
The two-run cushion came from a two-run blast from Ryan Galanie on a 3-0 count in the top of the first, driving in Caden Connor who had gotten a base hit right before that. Center fielder Braden Montgomery had walked, but was caught stealing for the second out of the inning during Connor’s at-bat. Thankfully, the lost run wouldn’t mean anything in the end, and I don’t hate the aggressive attempt to get into scoring position super early in the game with no runs on the board — especially when Montgomery was safe more 67% of the time in 2025.
Taking one back in the bottom of the inning, McCullough worked through two outs quickly enough, but a double and single from Knoxville cut the lead in half, 2-1. The Smokies loaded the based back up after another base hit and a walk, but McCullough was able to force the ground out. That would be the only run he allowed in his three innings, and he ended up with four hits given up and struck out two batters.
The Barons bullpen stepped up big, allowing just one more run in the remaining six innings, with Jarold Rosado earning the win. He pitched a smooth fourth: One Smokie got a base hit, but all three outs were strikeouts.
Both Chase Watkins and Jackson Kelley made their first appearance in the White Sox organization, and though Watkins allowed a run, each recorded a hold. Kelly tossed for 1 2/3 innings without giving up a hit, his lone baserunner a walk in the bottom of the sixth.
Finally, the Good Guys added some more run support in the top of the seventh, as Jorge Corona kicked off the rally with a walk, just for Connor to drive two in a few batters later with two outs, 5-2. Jeral Perez came up to rip his second hit of the game for a double out to center, allowing Birmingham to score their sixth run before Galanie was thrown out at the plate. Worth a shot, I guess.
Unconventionally, Riley Gowens took over for the last two innings, and was nearly flawless while recording three strikeouts. Typically Gowens is a starter for Birmingham, but he flexed his versatility tonight in the “closer” spot despite the offense already taking care of business, and held down the 6-2 win.
Winston-Salem Dash at Bowling Green Hot Rods — Postponed due to weather
The Dash will play in a doubleheader against the Hot Rods on Sunday, April 5, with the first game beginning at 12:05 p.m. CT.
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 19, Hill City Howlers 2 (Gameday Box)
Earning their first win of the season, the Cannon Ballers (1-2) absolutely dominated the Hill City Howlers (2-1), 19-2. The Kanny offense laid down the hammer right off the bat, dropping 12 runs in the bottom of the first inning. Yes, 12. You did read that right. Nearly batting all the way around the order twice in the inning, it also certainly helped that the Howlers walked six batters and hit two in the midst of the destruction.
The Ballers ultimately outhit the Howlers 15-5, but all 19 runs scored were earned, unfortunately for the Hill City pitching staff, who ended up striking out 13 but walking nine. Kannapolis put up seven extra-base hits, including four doubles and three homers, with four players driving in three runs apiece: Billy Carlson (2-for-4), Boston Smith (2-for-5), D’Angelo Tejada (1-for-5) and Ryan Galvan (2-for-3).
On the other side of the ball, the Kannapolis pitching staff allowed just five hits, two runs (one earned), three walks, and 11 strikeouts. Righthander Blaine Wynk opened the game for the Ballers, giving up one run on three hits, but by that point he really had to screw something up to blow a 12-run lead. Lefthander Trey Cooper came in for 2 1/3 innings after that and struck out four while walking two with one run scoring, but he ended up with the win as Kannapolis continued to run away with the game.