Minor League Recap For April 22 games
Mark J Jacobsen
Charlotte plated five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, then held on as Durham threatened in the ninth, as the Knights defeated the Bulls 5-4 in game one of a doubleheader at Knights Stadium.
The Knights were held to four hits through five innings by Durham starter Jeremi Gonzalez, but erupted for five runs in the sixth to take a 5-3 lead. Willie Harris, who earlier in the game doubled to extend his hitting streak to eight games, doubled again to lead off the inning. Second baseman Aaron Miles then doubled to right to drive in Harris, and First Baseman Ross Gload singled to left, advancing Miles to third and knocking Gonzalez out of the game. After reliever Lee Gardner (0-1) stuck out Cliff Brumbaugh, Mario Valenzuela was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Knights third baseman Tim Hummel. Hummel, who came into the game with only 3 RBI on the season, ripped a double to left center field that scored Miles and Gload to tie the score at three. Gardner then issued an intentional walk to right fielder Scott Morgan, and catcher Jamie Burke followed by working a walk of his own to drive in the go ahead run. Jorge Nunez followed with an RBI fielder’s choice to put the Knights up 5-3.
Edwin Almonte came on in relief of Gary Majewski (1-1), who allowed one earned run and walked two in two innings of work. After Almonte retired the first batter, Scott Neuberger and Hector Ortiz followed with back-to-back singles to put runners at the corners. Jason Tyner then grounded to Gload at first base, but Gload's throw to second hit pinch runner Chad Mottola in the back, scoring Neuberger. With the go ahead runner on first, Almonte got first baseman Chris Truby to fly out to right and left fielder Ryan Jackson to ground out to second to end the game and preserve the Knights sixth straight win. Almonte also picked up his league leading seventh save of the year.
Harris, Hummel, and Gload all collected multiple hits in game one, as the Knights improved to 10-2 at Knights Stadium this year.
Game Two
Cliff Brumbaugh connected for a grand slam four batters into the game, giving the Knights all the offense they would need as they knocked off the Durham Bulls 4-2 and completed a doubleheader sweep in front of 2,332 fans at Knights Stadium.
After a scoreless top of the first, Willie Harris bunted the first pitch he saw for an infield single, extending his season-long hitting streak to nine games. Aaron Miles and Ross Gload both followed with consecutive singles to right, loading the bases with none out. Brumbaugh then connected on a 1-1 fastball from Bulls starter Rob Bell (2-2) and sent it high over all three walls in left field, putting the Knights up four before the Bulls could record an out. It was the first grand slam for the Knights in 2003, and the first for the Knights since Willie Harris connected for one on July 20, 2002 vs. Pawtucket at Knights Stadium.
Bell settled down after the opening inning, allowing only four more hits and no runs in five innings of work.
Brian Cooper (3-1) was the beneficiary of the early offense, as he went six strong innings in becoming the second Knights starter to earn his third win of the season (Mike Porzio is 3-0). Cooper battled through six innings of work, allowing seven hits and one earned run while walking three and striking out four. Cooper was most effective when he needed to be, as he pitched his way out of several jams, resulting in Durham leaving ten men on base in the shortened seven-inning ballgame.
Dave Sanders struck out two in the seventh to earn his second save of the season.
Brumbaugh and Harris both went 2-3 on the evening, with both of Harris' hits perfectly executed bunt singles. Harris came into Tuesday's doubleheader leading the IL in hitting with a .418 average, and went 4-7 with two runs scored in the twin bill. The Knights finished off their eight game homestand with a 7-1 record, and are currently 11-2 at Knights Stadium. Charlotte has won seven consecutive games, the first time they have accomplished that since May 26th through June 1st of 1999.
Charlotte travels to Richmond for the start of a five game homestand Wednesday night, with Felix Diaz slated to take the hill against Ryan Glynn.
The Birmingham Barons took the first game of the four-game series from the visiting Orlando Rays with a 5-4 victory on Tuesday evening in front of 2,871 fans at the Hoover Met.
The Barons trailed three different times in the game but were able to fight back and win in the end. In the bottom of the ninth with the scored knotted at 4-4, Chad Durham led off with a walk, stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Guillermo Reyes. Jonathan Aceves then lifted a deep sacrifice fly to right field to plate Durham with the winning run.
The O-Rays had leads of 1-0, 3-2 and 4-3 but couldn’t hold onto them as the Barons scrapped to come from behind several times to pick up their second straight win. Five different Barons had RBI’s on the night and utilized sacrifices several times. Baron’s starter Dennis Ulacia threw six strong innings but got a no decision after giving up just two earned runs on seven hits.
Barons reliever Jeff Bajenaru (1-1) picked up his first win of the season after tossing a scoreless ninth and O-Rays reliever Bartolome Fortunato took the loss after surrendering two runs on one hit in 1.2 innings pitched.
The Barons continue the four-game series with game two tomorrow. Birmingham sends out RHP Enemencio Pacheco (1-0, 0.63) to face Orlando’s RHP Jim Magrane (2-1, 5.51).
The Winston-Salem Warthogs (11-4) drop game two of their three game series, 5-1 to Potomac (7-10) on Tuesday night. Wyatt Allen (0-1) was tabbed with his first loss in four decisions. Allen walked five and gave up three earned runs on four hits in four innings pitched. Clayton Andrews (1-0) pitched six scoreless innings and yielded just three hits in earning his first win.
Potomac scored two runs to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the second. Mike Calitri tripled to right and scored on a Fernando Rios single. Rios scored after two wild pitches and a RBI groundout by Travis Wong. Warthogs’ starter Wyatt Allen walked the bases loaded in the fourth and gave up a bases loaded walk to Chris Denorfia to make it 3-0. The Cannons went up 5-0 with two runs in the fifth. Jeff Bannon reached on an error. Chris Williamson and Mike Calitri both walked to load the bases. Fernando Rios singled in Bannon and Williamson with the Cannons’ final two runs.
The Warthogs scored their lone run in the seventh off Cannons’ reliever Kyle Stanton. Brian reached second on an error by the left fielder Candy Martinez. Becker would then score on Mike Morse’s RBI single. All told Winston-Salem walked a season high ten fans. The Warthogs had a season low four hits. The finale of the three game series will be Wednesday at 12noon.
Former East Carolina Pirate RHP Travis Thompson will throw for Potomac. Winston-Salem will give the ball to RHP Kris McWhirter. There will be no radio broadcast on Wednesday. The play by play will be heard live on www.warthogs.com.
The Intimidators (9-8) won the nightcap 2-1 over the Bombers to split the first two games of the four game series Tuesday night at Capital City Stadium. The Bombers took the suspended game from Monday night 8-1 taking advantage of three Intimidators errors in the eighth inning.
Tim Bittner (2-2), who started Monday’s game before the game was suspended in the third inning, took his second loss of the season giving up two runs in two and a third innings.
Trailing 8-0 in the top of the ninth, the Intimidators, Gustavo Molina doubled in Fort Mill, Sc native Charlie Lisk from first base to avoid the shutout.
Kevin Deaton (2-1) won his second game of the year with five shutout innings holding Kannapolis to four hits and striking out five.
In the second game, B.J. LaMura held Cap City to one run on four hits over five and two-third innings. Rick Hummel (1-0) retired five of the six batters he faced for his first win of the season.
Tom Brice, 2-2 (2) 2B, drove in the winning run in the top of the ninth scoring Jon Cavin from second base and giving the Intimidators a 2-1 lead. Cap City (10-7) committed errors on consecutive ground balls from Jon Cavin and Gustavo Molina with one out allowing Brice to bat with one out and two on.
