Charlotte Knights 8, Omaha Storm Chasers
0 (Statcast box)
The Knights (63-81) allowed just three hits in their shutout against the Storm Chasers (60-82) to finally snap their five-game losing streak and avoid the six-game sweep with an 8-0 shutout win.
Charlotte jumped out front early in the top of the first as Omaha essentially handed the Knights a free run in each of the first two innings, on a passed ball and throwing error from a pickoff — and in fact out of their eight runs scored in the game,
only ONE was earned. The good news is that the offense still had 10 hits even with the help from their opponents, thought they went 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position, making it crucial that Omaha was so grateful to hand over seven unearned runs.
Six runs were scored in the fourth, which broke open the game for the Good Guys. Three Knights went for multi-hit days: Bryan Ramos, Ben Cowles, and Corey Julks, though Jacob Amaya accounted for the most RBIs with his two-run bomb during a six-run rally in the fourth to make it 4-0.
Later that inning, Charlotte loaded up the bases again, and poor Bobby Dalbec made a throwing error on a ball hit from Andre Lipcius that ended up bringing in three unearned runs to put the Knights up by seven. The final run was driven in by Cowles in the eighth, and the Knights bullpen was able to close it out.
Allowing just three combined hits for the final four innings, the arm barn was in control and walked two while striking out five. Garrett Schoenle was in for the sixth, Jairo Iriarte the seventh, and Peyton Pallette was there to shut things down for the final two innings confirm the Charlotte win.
Biloxi Shuckers 3, Birmingham Barons 2
It’s a good thing that the Barons (81-57) had already clinched the playoffs, as the Shuckers (74-64) took four of six in their final series tuneup for the postseason.
Birmingham took a two-run lead into the ninth, but Caleb Freeman fell apart after getting two outs and gave up three runs to hand the lead over to Biloxi. The pitching had been solid until the last inning, beginning with six beautiful innings from lefthander Lucas Gordon, who allowed just one hit and two walks against five Ks in his third start with the Barons.
Birmingham’s bats weren’t on their A-game, and they posted just five hits as team and threw salt in the wound by going 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position. They did have a two-run lead for a hot minute, but if you’re a part of the White Sox, we already know that no lead is safe. Alternatively for the Shuckers, they have the Milwaukee Brewers coursing through them, so of course they completed the comeback in the last inning of the game.
Sam Antonacci headed up the Birmingham offense Sunday, and accounted for both runs scored. The first took place in the fourth, reaching base by being hit by a pitch and subsequently putting himself into scoring position with a stolen base. Caden Connor drove him in in via fielder’s choice for the first run of the game, and Antonacci smashed a solo shot in the sixth to make it 2-0, Barons.
First out of the bullpen was Andew Dalquist, and he was on point outside of one walk. Jared Kelley handled the eighth with ease as well, giving up one hit while striking out one batter. It was up to Caleb Freeman to get through the ninth, but he wasn’t up for the task this time around. After getting two outs with a runner on first and third, Freeman threw a wild pitch to put the Shuckers within one, followed by back-to-back base RBI base hits to arrive at the eventual final, 3-2.
There was one final chance to tie it or take the lead, and Connor reached on a base hit before ending up in scoring position due to a wild pitch. Sadly, both DJ Gladney and Wilfred Veras struck out to end the game and stomping on any chance of a win.
Birmingham will face the Chattanooga Lookouts, the Double-A squad for the Cincinnati Reds, in a three-game series beginning Tuesday. The Lookouts are 73-61 and finished second, six games behind the Barons in the Southern League North. Best of luck to Birmingham as they seek back-to-back Southern League titles!
