Memphis Redbirds 2, Charlotte Knights 0 (6 innings)
The Knights (68-60) could not get anything going on offense during a rain-shortened, low-scoring loss at home against the Redbirds (70-58).
Noah Schultz, 23, had a decent outing, only allowing two runs on five hits in five innings. Schultz only needed 65 pitches (13 per inning), so he was quite efficient, but it was not enough in this game.
This game was called after the top of the sixth, which Knights pitcher Tyler Davis pitched and delivered a scoreless
frame in relief. Due to the weather, the Knights only had five innings at the plate, and although they picked up five hits, two of which were doubles, they finished 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
MVP
Korey Lee (DH): 2-for-2
Runners-Up
Joey Wiemer (LF): 1-for-2, 2B
Andy Weber (SS): 1-for-2, 2B
Noah Schultz (LHSP): 5 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 3 K
Tyler Davis (RHRP): 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Cold Cat
Jeral Perez (RF): 0-for-3, 2 K
Cold Cat Runners-Up
Riley Unroe (2B): 0-for-2, 2 K
Kyle Teel (C): 0-for-2
Tim Elko (1B): 0-for-2, 2 K
Jason Matthews (3B): 0-for-2, 2 K
Rocket City Trash Pandas 8, Birmingham Barons 0
The Barons (53-69) did not have it tonight, as they got crushed by the Trash Pandas (63-58) in Birmingham.
Rocket City was aggressive early and often against Barons starter Dylan Cumming, who did not have his best stuff. The Trash Pandas scored three runs on four hits in the top of the first, and from there, they did not look back. Rocket City picked up four more runs in the third to put the game out of reach early on.
On the bright side, the bullpen was solid, allowing only one run in five innings and picking up nine strikeouts. However, the offense had an extremely rough evening. In fact, Rocket City starter Austin Gordon was perfect through six frames. Finally, Dylan Campbell broke the ice with a single to lead off the bottom of the seventh. The scoring decision could have gone either way on Campbell’s liner, as Trash Pandas shortstop Arjun Nimmala had a decent shot at it. However, it was by no means an easy play to make, so the scoring decision was correct.
The perfect game and the no-hitter were no longer intact, but the Barons did not make anything of Campbell’s leadoff single. The only other Baron to reach base safely was Samuel Zavala, who drew a walk in the bottom of the ninth. Zavala is slashing .327/.476/.531 in August, as he has really heated up lately.
MVP
Tommy Vail (LHRP): 2 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 3 K
Runners-Up
Dylan Campbell (RF): 1-for-4
Samuel Zavala (LF): 0-for-2, BB
Phil Fox (RHRP): 1 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K
Cold Cat
Dylan Cumming (RHSP): 4 IP, 7 ER, 9 H, 1 BB, 3 K
Cold Cat Runners-Up
Caleb Bonemer (CF): 0-for-4, 3 K
Anthony DePino (DH): 0-for-3, 2 K
Ryan Burrowes (SS): 0-for-3, 2 K
Bowling Green Hot Rods 8, Winston-Salem Dash 3
It was not a day to remember for the Dash (67-54), who lost convincingly to the red-hot Hot Rods (77-43).
Right-handed starter Mason Moore, 24, walked the first batter of the game, and after a stolen base and a single, Bowling Green had a 1-0 lead. Moore limited the damage in the first, and the Dash got that run back in the second, when George Wolkow and Jeral Perez hit back-to-back singles. Kaleb Freeman grounded into a double play, but that grounder allowed Wolkow to score the tying run.
The teams traded solo homers in the third, as Jhon Diaz homered for the Hot Rods, and Kyle Lodise went deep for the Dash. After three innings, the game was tied at two. However, the Hot Rods took control from that point forward. An RBI single by Nicandro Aybar against Moore brought in the game’s go-ahead run, and Bowling Green led for the rest of the game.
The Winston-Salem bullpen failed to keep the game close, allowing five runs in 5 1/3 innings. Meanwhile, the bats got cold, and the Dash did not score again until the bottom of the ninth. With the game out of reach, James Taussig hit an RBI single to drive in Lodise, who had doubled.
MVP
Kyle Lodise (SS): 3-for-5, 2 2B, HR
Runners-Up
George Wolkow (RF): 2-for-4
James Taussig (PH): 1-for-1, RBI
Seth Keener (RHRP): 3 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 4 K
Cold Cat
Jack Young (RHRP): 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 0 K
Cold Cat Runners-Up
Derek Cerda (DH): 0-for-3, BB, K
Mason Moore (RHSP): 3 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 4 K
Javier Mogollón (2B): 0-for-5, 2 K
Ely Brown (CF): 0-for-4, BB, 1-for-1 stolen bases
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 5, Hill City Howlers 0
The Cannon Ballers (65-57) had a fantastic day, shutting out the Howlers (51-70) during a convincing victory.
Cannon Ballers starter Truman Pauley, 22, could not be solved by Hill City. Pauley only allowed two hits, and both of those were singles. In addition, Pauley did not allow any walks, and he only needed 74 pitches (12.3 pitches per inning) to make it through six shutout frames.
Meanwhile, the offense got started early on. Stiven Flores led off the top of the second with a single. Two batters later, with one out, Clay Burdette drove in the game’s first and decisive run with a triple. Steven Lancia added a run with a productive ground out to make the score 2-0.
In the sixth, the Cannon Ballers added some insurance. Jake Berkland and Jaden Fauske drew back-to-back walks to open the frame, and Matthew Boughton drove in a run with a single. Two batters later, Flores added an RBI single to extend the lead to four. An RBI triple by Christian Gonzalez in the eighth wrapped up the scoring.
MVP
Truman Pauley (RHSP): 6 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 3 K
Runners-Up
Stiven Flores (C): 2-for-4, RBI
Clay Burdette (RF): 2-for-4, 3B, RBI, 1-for-1 stolen bases
Christian Gonzalez (LF): 1-for-4, 3B, RBI
Jake Berkland (2B): 1-for-2, 2 BB, 0-for-1 stolen bases
Matthew Boughton (SS): 1-for-3, BB, RBI, 1-for-1 stolen bases
Cold Cat
Grayson Fitzwater (1B): 0-for-4, 3 K
Cold Cat Runners-Up
Alexander Albertus (3B): 0-for-4, K
Jaden Fauske (CF): 0-for-4, BB, 2 K
