Three of four in the minors, plus a win from the big league club? They’re starting to spoil us!
Charlotte Knights 6, Lehigh Valley IronPigs 3 (10 innings) (Gameday Box) (Statcast Box)
The Knights pulled out a winner in extras today, with all five pitchers pulling their weight and holding the IronPigs at just five hits and three runs. Johan Domínguez started and laid a solid foundation for everyone to follow suit, even if Lane Ramsey DID enter the game in the bottom of the third and immediately gave up a homer. Both Dalton Roach and Fraser Ellard went on to earn a hold, Justin Anderson got the win, and Aaron McGarity held down the 10th with a save.
The defense was (mostly) on point throughout the game — with Oscar Colás making a great play at … first base?
WHATTA PLAY!
Check out this play at 1st base by Oscar Colás #SCTop10 | @SportsCenter pic.twitter.com/Jy6koyINKR
— Charlotte Knights (@KnightsBaseball) April 28, 2024
Chuckie Robinson answered right back for Charlotte in the fourth, mashing a solo shot and tying the game at one.
Heeeeere’s CHUCKIE!
Chuckie Robinson ties the game with a pic.twitter.com/xgyuIlcg9b
— Charlotte Knights (@KnightsBaseball) April 28, 2024
The Knights added a couple more runs in the fifth with an RBI-single from Wynton Bernard, followed by a Colson Montgomery RBI double to put the Knights up two.
Colson Montgomery
It’s an RBI DOUBLE! pic.twitter.com/dChj7AQG1p
— Charlotte Knights (@KnightsBaseball) April 28, 2024
Everything was smooth sailing for the Knights for a few innings, until Lehigh Valley tied the game in the eighth on a solo bomb to left, leading the game into extra innings. It was Chuckie Robinson Day, however, and he went on to kick off a three-run rally in the 10th inning to get the win for the for Charlotte, 6-3.
Birmingham Barons 5, Chattanooga Lookouts 1 (Gameday Box) (Statcast Box)
The Barons played a well rounded game today, with Ky Bush throwing five quality innings and getting the win while giving up just two hits, three walks, and striking out seven. He improved to a 1.27 ERA after four starts, and joins Barons pitchers Jairo Iriarte and Drew Thorpe among the top four pitchers in the Southern League.
The rest of the bullpen followed suit, and outside of the one unearned run that scored in the bottom of the sixth for the Lookouts, Birmingham shut them down the entire game.
Bryan Ramos got the offense going with an RBI double in the third to put the Barons up one, and a Duke Ellis home run in the next inning helped give Bush a three-run cushion.
Duke Ellis with a 2 run blast to put the Barons up 4! #bhambarons pic.twitter.com/d4OBL1wPCN
— Birmingham Barons (@BhamBarons) April 28, 2024
Wilfred Veras had himself a monster game at the plate, going 4-for-4, including a solo shot in the ninth to increase the lead to four and shut the door on Chattanooga.
Wilfred Veras with his 3rd home-run of the season to make it 5-1 Barons! #bhambarons pic.twitter.com/iPJJtg72WD
— Birmingham Barons (@BhamBarons) April 28, 2024
Winston-Salem Dash 5, Rome Emperors 2 (Gameday Box) (Statcast Box)
The Dash offense came out of the gates hot, scoring four of their five runs in the first three innings. That set the stage nicely for Riley Gowens, who threw for five strong innings and gave up just one run to the Emperors.
Outside of Weston Eberly’s RBI base hit in the bottom of the second, the other three runs scored in the first three innings were either fielder’s choice RBIs or the Emperors walking a run in during the third inning.
Dash add 2 more in the bottom of the second!
Emperors 0 | Dash 3 pic.twitter.com/7O9j8ODOKR
— Winston-Salem Dash (@WSDashBaseball) April 28, 2024
The pitching was the story once again today, and the bullpen combined for just two hits and one run in the last four innings, striking out five and walking just one. Certainly not a bad day for the White Sox minors pitching staff!
DASH WIN! pic.twitter.com/f8SICJx9bW
— Winston-Salem Dash (@WSDashBaseball) April 28, 2024
Charleston RiverDogs 6, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 4 (Gameday Box) (Statcast Box)
Jake Bockenstedt had an efficient, five-inning outing, giving up just two runs to keep the Ballers in the game, but their bats unfortunately didn’t wake up until the fifth inning. There were plenty of chances to score throughout the game, but the Cannon Ballers went 3-for-13 with RISP and failed to provide enough support for the pitchers.
The Ballers clawed back with three runs in the eighth, helped by a wild pitch from the RiverDogs to tie the game at four.
At the end of 8, your construction crew has rallied back: it’s tied 4-4
— Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (@Kcannonballers) April 28, 2024
Things were looking up, but Billy Seidl entered the game in the top of the ninth, and gave up two runs to put the Dogs in a solid position to win the game. The Ballers were unable to complete the comeback a second time, and took the only L of the farm today, losing 6-4.