Omaha Storm Chasers 10, Charlotte Knights 1 (Statcast box) The Knights (62-80) got smoked for the second straight night by the Storm Chasers (59-81), in a match where hitting and quality pitching were sparse. Only stats can truly capture how poor the offense was: 11 strikeouts, 11 left on base, and 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Jeez, Charlotte, swing the bat. It’s surprising the Knights even collected six hits with their horrific attack. Even with five walks drawn (one of which scored
their only run) the Knights just couldn’t cross home plate.
On the pitching side, the only man who lasted long was Shane Murphy, who has had a strong campaign in Birmingham to earn his trip east. Murphy kept the Storm Chasers to just two hits and a strikeout in five innings. Sadly, his hard work was quickly erased by Kyle Tyler, who immediately ended the scoreless contest by allowing a two-run homer in the sixth. It was the first home run of three in what ended in seven runs scored in 1 1/3 innings. Garrett Schoenle cleaned up Tyler’s mess to end the seventh despite inheriting a runner on second, but Luke Bell relented three more runs in the eighth to further dig Charlotte’s grave.
Knights MVP
Shane Murphy (SP): 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Other Notables
Ben Cowles (2B): 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K
Drake Logan (RF): 0-for-2, 1 R, 2 BB
Knights Cold Cat
Kyle Tyler (RP): 1 1/3 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 2 K, 3 HR
Others, Chilled
Luke Bell (RP):1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 BB
Bryan Ramos (3B): 0-for-4, 3 K
Andre Lipcius (LF): 0-for-4
Jacob Amaya (SS): 0-for-4, 1 BB, 2 K
Birmingham Barons 2, Biloxi Shuckers 1
The Barons (81-55) walked off the Shuckers (72-64) after five innings of gridlock. Connor McCullough gave up Biloxi’s only run in the first, but he quickly made up for his own pickoff attempt error and earned run by silencing the Shuckers for the rest of his start. He finished with two hits, two walks, and five strikeouts. Calvin Harris tied the contest at one apiece in the third with a sac fly, but after that, the hitting quieted down. Jake Palisch relieved McCullough with 3 1/3 beautiful frames, during which he fanned five. Adisyn Coffey tacked on two additional strikeouts in his relief inning, too, putting Bham’s pitching strikeout total at 12.
From the fourth through the eighth innings, the Barons only managed four hits. While the contest appeared to head into extras, it only took Sam Antonacci’s swing of the bat to bring the Barons back. After William Bergolla singled and stole second base, Antonacci stepped to the plate. During his at-bat, Bergolla was awarded third base after Biloxi’s Travis MacGregor balked. With a 3-1 count, Antonacci delivered his only hit of the night to win another game for Birmingham. Bham’s strong finish shows why they have the best record in the Southern League, and it’s not even close.
Barons MVP
Jake Palisch (RP): 3 1/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K
Other Notables
Connor McCullough (SP): 3 2/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K
Wilfred Veras (DH): 2-for-3, 1 R, SB
William Bergolla (): 1-for-4, 1 R, SB
Sam Antonacci (Y): 1-for-4, 1 RBI
Barons Cold Cat
Rikku Nishida (RF): 0-for-3, 1 BB, 2 K, CS
Others Chilled
DJ Gladney (CF): 0-for-3, 1 K
Ryan Galanie (1B): 0-for-3
