Charlotte Knights 3, Durham Bulls 1 (10)
-- FINAL LINE -- @MichaelKopech5 tonight vs. #Bulls in Durham:
— Charlotte Knights (@KnightsBaseball) July 15, 2018
6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 11 SO (96 pitches, 70 strikes).
: @laurawolffphoto pic.twitter.com/mFp9zAbo3m
Nicky Delmonico: 0-for-4, 1 BB, 3 K
Jose Rondon: 1-for-4, 1 RBI, 0 BB, 2 K
Matt Skole: 0-for-5, 0 BB, 2 K
Michael Kopech: 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 11 K **MVP**
Aaron Bummer: 1 2⁄3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Thyago Vieira: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
With a 74 game score, Kopech had his best start in months. His first six outs in the game came via strikeout and he finished the game with only one walk — his fewest walks since April 20. Jacob May kept his hot streak going, with a four-hit night that included two doubles. Meanwhile, Delmonico had a tough second game in Charlotte, as he struck out just as many times he recorded a hit yesterday (three). The game went into extras, as Aaron Bummer and Ricardo Pinto combined to throw three shutout innings to keep Durham stuck at one run. Thyago Vieira closed out the win for his fifth save of the year.
Birmingham Barons 3, Tennessee Smokies 0
NO-HITTER ALERT: #WhiteSox No. 28 prospect Jimmy Lambert is through six innings for @BhamBarons. Watch LIVE: https://t.co/IxY54OyhcK pic.twitter.com/1RSmg0zhN3
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) July 15, 2018
Joel Booker: 0-for-4, 1 BB, 2 K
Alex Call: 1-for-5, 1 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Danny Mendick: 3-for-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 0 K, 1 SB
Jameson Fisher: 1-for-3, 1 BB, 1 K
Jimmy Lambert: 7 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 10 K **MVP**
It was the Danny Mendick and Jimmy Lambert show in Birmingham — mostly Lambert. Going into the game, Lambert had a 4.50 ERA and a 3.01 xFIP. He closed that gap in this game, as he took a no-hitter into the seventh inning. His ERA is now down to 3.13 for Birmingham. Danny Mendick was on base five times, raising his OPS back above .700. The Barons did have trouble driving in runners, stranding 16 and scoring only three runs, but the bullpen closed out the shutout.
Buies Creek Astros 4, Winston-Salem Dash 3
.@BlakeRuth2 has been on in the second half.
— Winston-Salem Dash (@WSDashBaseball) July 14, 2018
Blake drills an RBI triple down the right field line to make it a 3-1 game against Buies Creek.
He's now 25-for-74 after All-Star Break. pic.twitter.com/Pqvaubhy69
Luis Gonzalez: 0-for-5, 0 BB, 1 K
Laz Rivera: 2-for-4, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Blake Rutherford: 3-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 0 K **MVP**
Gavin Sheets: 1-for-4, 0 BB, 0 K
Blake Hickman: 0 IP, 0 H, 3 ER, 6 BB, 0 K
The Dash were down 3-0 before the first out, as Blake Hickman self-destructed. He did not allow a single hit — but walked six batters! However, W-S’s bullpen was able to throw nine innings and allow only one run on four hits. The Dash outhit their opponents, but could not take advantage. One player who did Blake Rutherford, going 3-for-3 with two triples and an RBI. However, nobody was able to drive him in. Rutherford is now hitting better than .300 this season. Laz Rivera also added two hits, as he looks to bounce back after an elongated slump.
Kannapolis Intimidators 10, Hagerstown Suns 7
Another W! Intimidators win the series opener against Hagerstown! pic.twitter.com/pbbIYZr65i
— Kannapolis Intimidators (@Intimidators) July 15, 2018
Luis Curbelo: 1-for-5, 0 BB, 1 K
Tate Blackman: 4-for-5, 1 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, 0 BB 1 K **MVP**
Justin Yurchak: 1-for-4, 3 RBI 0 BB, 0 K
Parker Rigler: 5 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Andrew Perez: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
The Intimidators came back from a 5-0 deficit to win. Parker Rigler did not have his best stuff, as he was on the mound for all seven runs. Meanwhile, Luis Ledo and Andrew Perez threw four shutout innings to allow the offense the chance to come back. As the I’s took the lead, Perez pounced to notch his first career save. Tate Blackman’s name started disappearing after the All-Star break. He was a Home Run Derby participant, if you subscribe to that slump/curse theory. He was hitting .137 after the all-Star break until today’s game, where he had four hits, including his 11th home run.
Great Falls Voyagers 4, Grand Junction Rockies 0
Ian Dawkins: 1-for-4, 1 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Lenyn Sosa: 2-for-4, 1 HR, 2 R, 0 BB, 0 K **MVP**
Logan Sowers: 0-for-4, 0 BB, 0 K
Corey Zangari: 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 0 K
Romy Gonzalez: 0-for-3, 0 BB, 0 K
Ramon Beltre: 1-for-3, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Jason Bilous: 3 IP, 2 H,0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Another win for the Voyagers, and the second shutout today for the farm system. There was not much run production by the Voyagers, but they mustered four runs on seven hits, although two scored on errors. Lenyn Sosa provided the bomb, a solo home run in the eighth inning. His batting average is now better than .300 again. Ramon Beltre and Corey Zangari both added hits as well, to keep up their hot streaks.
AZL White Sox 1, AZL Rangers 0
Nick Madrigal: 0-for-3, 0 BB, 0 K
Cabrera Weaver: 0-for-4, 0 BB, 3 K
Steele Walker: 0-for-2, 1 BB, 0 K
Lency Delgado: 1-for-4, 1 RBI, 0 BB, 3 K
Taylor Varnell: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Hunter Kiel: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
It was Steele Walker day in Arizona, as the outfielder made his professional debut. He walked in the first inning, but the AZL Sox were not able to put up any offense until the ninth. Walker did not collect a hit in his first game, and Nick Madrigal also went O-fer, but neither will not be in Arizona for long. Lency Delgado was able to drive in the game’s first run in the ninth, giving the Sox the lead. Taylor Varnell, Hunter Kiel, and Rigo Fernandez combined for the two-hit shutout.