Norfolk Tides 11, Charlotte Knights 10
Despite their bats being on fire, Charlotte’s (21-23) pitching imploded and ultimately gave up 11 runs on 13 hits, which was enough for the Tides (18-26) to prevail, 11-10.
The entire Knights lineup posted at least one hit Saturday, and half of the 14 hits were for extra bases. On the other hand, though the pitchers didn’t walk anyone they allowed seven home runs and almost matched their combined strikeout total (nine). Lefthander Shane Murphy managed the first few innings without any problems, but he wound up with seven runs given up in five frames, and actually matched strikeouts to home runs: five. Send help.
The Tides tallied nine in the third, fourth, and fifth innings combined to take a four-run lead, 9-5, which really spoiled the four runs of support that the Knights offense provided. Jacob Gonzalez had kicked off the scoring in the bottom of the second with a solo bomb, his first of two this evening. Dru Baker added another with an RBI triple, and Braden Montgomery mashed a two-run shot in the fourth, 4-0.
Once Murphy fell off the wagon, the bats were quiet for a few innings. That was until Gonzalez tied the game at nine with a grand slam, marking five driven in for him on the day:
Lucas Sims was the sole Charlotte pitcher to not give up a run, and struck out two in his hitless eighth inning to keep the game tied. It was apparently a tough day for anyone named “Murphy,” because lefthander Chris Murphy entered the game in the ninth and gave up the two runs that ended up winning the game for Norfolk. The Knights rallied in the bottom of the ninth and scored one, but a ground out ended the game to confirm the L.
Rocket City Trash Pandas 14, Birmingham Barons 6
Rocket City (20-18) put up six runs in the sixth and another five in the eighth to run away with the game, taking four of five so far this series over the Barons (15-23). Dylan Cumming ended up with his second loss of the season, allowing three runs on six hits in his five frames, and walked two while striking out eight. The righty allowed a two-run homer in the first, and an RBI double in the fifth, but there was simply no run support for him, even though the bullpen was responsible for the vast majority of Norfolk’s runs.
Birmingham was down just 3-1 going into the sixth, but Eric Adler fell apart, lasting just one out but surrendering six runs and ballooning his ERA to 18.90 on the year in eight appearances (6 2/3 IP). It’s a sad situation, as Adler at one time was a Team USA reliever on the fast track to the South Side.
Phil Fox managed to shut it down and handle 1 2/3 scoreless frames, but Chase Watkins had other plans, and followed almost directly in Adler’s footsteps: five runs on six hits, three strikeouts, and a home run. Ouch.
Offensively, the Barons flashed some power with two doubles and three homers, but outside of a five-run seventh frame, they didn’t have the spark to come all the way back. Jacob Burke posted another three hits (just a triple short of the cycle), but Jeral Pérez led the Barons in RBIs in part thanks to this three-run tank:
Wilfred Veras was right behind Pérez, with a two-run dinger. That was the only rally for Birmingham, and they went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position while the bats remained silent.
Winston-Salem Dash 8, Wilmington Blue Rocks 5
The Dash (22-16) were the lone winning representation from White Sox affiliates Saturday, defeating the Blue Rocks (19-18), 8-3, for their third win in a row. Winston-Salem came out of the gates hot on offense, and scored seven in the first three innings, going 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position as a team and leaving just three on base. Kyle Lodise had a lovely 3-for-4 night, just a double short of the cycle as he tripled and blasted a solo shot for his two RBIs. Standing out for the Dash otherwise was Grant Magill, who led Winston-Salem with four batted in and either got a hit or a sac fly every time he came up to bat:
Only three runs were given up by Dash pitching, and mostly everyone had a decent day on the mound. Typically coming out of the bullpen, lefthander Liam Paddack made his first start of the season, allowing one run in his 3 2/3 frames on a solo homer, and struck out five while walking three. Those would be the only three free bases from the Dash, however, as no other pitcher recorded a walk. The Winston-Salem bullpen combined for four Ks in the process while giving up just two more runs, and Drew Conover recorded his first win of the season.
Charleston RiverDogs 4, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 3
Kanny’s pitching was efficient overall, but the offense managed to score three runs on four hits. Still, the visitors rallied to tie the game up in the ninth, only for the Cannon Ballers (17-21) to be walked off by the RiverDogs (22-16) to break a three-game win streak, 4-3. Kannapolis had taken an early two-run leader with a Rylan Galvan homer in the second, but naturally Charleston tied it up at two the next inning off of Blaine Wynk. Those were the only two runs Wynk gave up, a necessary effort given the cold bats.
The hitters remained quiet until the ninth, when the Ballers tied the game at three thanks to a Jaden Fauske RBI triple:
If only they could have added some more, because righthander Marco Barrios had one of his rare tough outings, giving up three hits — including the game-winner — while facing just three batters and receiving his second loss of the season.