Durham Bulls 7, Charlotte Knights 4 (Statcast Box)
The Knights (47-47) really can’t have nice things, can they?
First off, Noah Schultz (Saturday’s scheduled starter) left the bullpen for this first inning warmup pitches limping, and left the mound after one of his warmup pitches for the game. There’s no word yet on whether he will be sidelined, but that would be the safe guess.
Andre Lipcius and Corey Julks, both coming off the break hot, contributed three of Charlotte’s four runs with a home run apiece.
Beyond them, though, the lineup was largely silent.
What a way to start! Corey Julks with the leadoff HR and he knew it was gone! pic.twitter.com/v8RED3TahI
— Charlotte Knights (@KnightsBaseball) July 19, 2025
Deja vu! Andre Lipcius says goodbye and the Knights now lead 2-0! pic.twitter.com/dJxRs3ECy5
— Charlotte Knights (@KnightsBaseball) July 19, 2025
Yoendrys Gómez also held down the fort with his emergency start: four shutout innings on five hits to start the game. He fanned six and only allowed one walk before he handed the ball to a bullpen that seemed to have the game under control ... until the ninth.
As we know, games with the rotation, bullpen and lineup completely in sync are few and far between for the Knights, and the latter unfortunately rang true. Caleb Freeman and Garrett Schoenle allowed the Bulls (57-36) to erupt for a seven-run comeback, with six hits and three home runs.
It wouldn’t be another day in Charlotte without a blown bullpen game, now would it?
Birmingham Barons 4, Knoxville Smokies 2
The Barons (51-38) extended their win streak to eight, securely holding the Southern League North division by two games.
While each team put up six hits, Bham simply outworked Knoxville. The Barons relied on infielders William Bergolla and recently-promoted Sam Antonacci, and they got some help from Wilfred Veras to power through the game despite going 4-for-13 and stranding six on base. Hagen Smith hit some turbulence during his short outing, allowing a pair of hits and runs through three frames to notch another rough start in July. However, the bullpen bailed him out, picking up four strikeouts and limiting the Smokies to four hits to finish out a gritty game on offense and defense.
Sam Antonacci hits a line drive to score Ryan Galanie in the bottom of the 8th
— Birmingham Barons (@BhamBarons) July 20, 2025
Barons: 4 | Smokies: 2 pic.twitter.com/P4LW7wVd1I
Winston-Stalem Dash vs Greensboro Grasshoppers
Postponed due to inclement weather; makeup scheduled for July 20 as a doubleheader.
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 8, Columbia Fireflies 4
The Cannon Ballers (42-47) proved that they aren’t the worst Chicago affiliate in their victory against the Fireflies. The Ballers were cruising off Luis Reyes’ hitless start — until Manuel Veloz blew their 3-0 lead in the seventh. But Kanny fought back in the night. With an only an out to spare, the Ballers redeemed themselves when it mattered most. Mikey Kane punished Columbia’s decision to intentionally load the bases with runners on second and third with a two-run double. He capped his stellar night of three hits, four RBIs, and a run of his own.
Luis Reyes made the Saturday start for the #Ballers, and like many in the White Sox org, he is having his innings curtailed. He made the most of it. 3 hitless shutout innings, striking out 5 on 33 pitches. pic.twitter.com/dVCUt8Q4TO
— FutureSox (@FutureSox) July 19, 2025
Mikey Kane shoots a single up the middle to bring in Caleb Bonemer. 3-0 #Ballers. pic.twitter.com/vwG7sBXzeH
— FutureSox (@FutureSox) July 19, 2025
Kanny added insurance runs off a throwing error from Columbia’s Henry Ramos and Abraham Núñez’s only hit of the game to put up a last-minute five-spot.
Although they likely won’t make the playoffs, the Ballers have seen more promotions than demotions this month, which is what Sox fans want to see in an organization that still has yet to prove its capable of developing and churning out its own non-lefty pitcher prospects.
ACL White Sox 6, ACL Reds 4
The Complex Sox (31-26) are sputtering as they approach the end of their season. Ethan Hammerberg erased the Sox’s 4-0 lead in the seventh with a short one-inning outing, which included a three-run homer, knotting the game at four apiece. It was his second multi-run appearance since being activated off the 60-day IL. Hammerberg didn’t completely spoil the Complex’s game, though, as Adrian Gil and Stiven Flores (who has had a strong season including a .279/.337/.725 slash line), drove in the go-ahead runs in the eighth to lift the Sox over the Reds, reclaiming first place in ACL West.
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