Gwinnett Stripers 7, Charlotte Knights 6 (Statcast Box)
The good news in Charlotte’s game came from the Knights leading, 6-0, through four. The bad? Charlotte’s middle relief caved into a 7-6 deficit, and the busty bats that started the game faltered late. Jesse Scholtens made his first Triple-A start after beginning his rehab with two outings in Winston-Salem, and with just two earned over 4 ⅔ innings, he again acquitted himself OK. And those two runs were not scored with Scholtens pitching but Caleb Freeman, who had a wild outing that kick-started Gwinnett’s comeback. Freeman and Keone Kela, in fact, conspired to hand over this game to the packed (Ronald Acuña Jr., Jared Kelenic) Stripers lineup. The ex-Sox did all the damage with the bats, including both the rehabbing (Austin Slater and Korey Lee … uh, he’s ready, White Sox, what’s the deal here?) and demoted (Corey Julks, Triple-A superstar).

The Knights, flirting with .500, fall back to 21-22.

Poll
Who takes the MVP of Charlotte’s loss on Friday?

Austin Slater: 3-for-4, R, RBI, 2B, 2 hard hits

Korey Lee: 2-for-5, R, RBI, 2B, 0-for-1 CS, 2 hard hits

Corey Julks: 2-for-4, 2 R, RBI, BB, SB

Dominic Fletcher: 1-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, K, CF assist at 2B

Justin Anderson: IP, H, K

Dan Altavilla: IP, H, K

Andre Lipcius: 1-for-3, R, 2B, BB, K, 2 hard hits

Jesse Scholtens: 4 ⅔ IP, 3 H, 2 ER, K, HB, 14.5% WPA

Jason Matthews: 1-for-3, 2 R, K

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Austin Slater: 3-for-4, R, RBI, 2B, 2 hard hits

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Korey Lee: 2-for-5, R, RBI, 2B, 0-for-1 CS, 2 hard hits

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Corey Julks: 2-for-4, 2 R, RBI, BB, SB

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Dominic Fletcher: 1-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, K, CF assist at 2B

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Justin Anderson: IP, H, K

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Dan Altavilla: IP, H, K

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Andre Lipcius: 1-for-3, R, 2B, BB, K, 2 hard hits

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Jesse Scholtens: 4 ⅔ IP, 3 H, 2 ER, K, HB, 14.5% WPA

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Jason Matthews: 1-for-3, 2 R, K

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0 votes total

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Poll
It’s a loss, so there’s gotta be a Cold Cat.

Keone Kela: IP, 3 H, 3 ER, BB, K, WP, BLOWN SAVE (2), LOSS (0-2)

Caleb Freeman: 1⁄3 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, K, 9-of-25 strikes

Mike Tauchman: 0-for-5, 3 K

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Keone Kela: IP, 3 H, 3 ER, BB, K, WP, BLOWN SAVE (2), LOSS (0-2)

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Caleb Freeman: 1⁄3 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, K, 9-of-25 strikes

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Mike Tauchman: 0-for-5, 3 K

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0 votes total

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Birmingham Barons 4, Chattanooga Lookouts 2
Don’t look now, but the first-place Barons are on a bit of a roll, pushing their record to 19-16 with this pitching gem in Alabama. This win was mostly, if not all, Shane Murphy, proving the increasingly-accurate adage that once a pitcher fastens on the Barons-B ballcap, he puts a little extra on his stuff. Tonight the southpaw tossed six scoreless innings of four-hit, five-K ball, good enough for his second win. Among a balanced bats attack Ryan Galanie once again stood out, with two doubles.

Poll
Another win in Birmingham, let’s pick an MVP.

Shane Murphy: 6 IP, 4 H, 5 K, WIN (2-1), 26.5% WPA

Ryan Galanie: 2-for-3, R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, SF, 10.8% WPA

Wilfred Veras: 1-for-3, R, RBI, 2B, BB, 10.3% WPA

Caden Connor: 1-for-2, 2B, BB, K

Peyton Pallette: IP, BB, 2 K, SAVE (6)

DJ Gladney: 1-for-3, HBP, K

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Shane Murphy: 6 IP, 4 H, 5 K, WIN (2-1), 26.5% WPA

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Ryan Galanie: 2-for-3, R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, SF, 10.8% WPA

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Wilfred Veras: 1-for-3, R, RBI, 2B, BB, 10.3% WPA

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Caden Connor: 1-for-2, 2B, BB, K

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Peyton Pallette: IP, BB, 2 K, SAVE (6)

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DJ Gladney: 1-for-3, HBP, K

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0 votes total

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Poll
Who was Birmingham’s Cold Cat tonight?

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Jacob Gonzalez: 0-for-4

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Jake Podkul: 0-for-3, K

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Drew Dalquist: IP, H, ER, HR, 10-of-13 strikes

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Eric Adler: IP, H, ER, BB

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Brooklyn Cyclones 6, Winston-Salem Dash 0
It’s been a tough year for the Dash, and today was no different. And the hard-luck season of Lucas (José Quintana) Gordon continues as well, as Dash batters put their bats in the freezer for the southpaw’s starts; a 1-4 record against a 2.72 ERA indicates such. When your Ks (nine) outnumber hits + walks (seven), you don’t win many games. Proving the formula is Winston-Salem’s White Sox-esque 12-25 record.

Poll
Squeeze your eyes tight and pick an MVP for the Dash.

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Lucas Gordon: 5 IP, 4 H, ER, BB, 6 K, LOSS (1-4)

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Actually, that’s it, congrats Lucas

(0 votes)

0 votes total

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Poll
Let’s vote for the more robust competition, in the Cold Cats category.

Jordan Sprinkle: 0-for-3, K, HBP

Jeral Pérez: 0-for-4, K, GIDP

Arxy Hernández: 0-for-4, K

Luis Pineda: 1-for-4, 2 K, 1-for-6 CS

Mark McLaughlin: IP, 2 H, 2 R/1 ER, BB

Jake Peppers: IP, H, ER, BB, 2 K, E, WP, BALK

Joseph Yabbour: IP, H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 10-of-21 strikes

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Jordan Sprinkle: 0-for-3, K, HBP

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Jeral Pérez: 0-for-4, K, GIDP

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Arxy Hernández: 0-for-4, K

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Luis Pineda: 1-for-4, 2 K, 1-for-6 CS

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Mark McLaughlin: IP, 2 H, 2 R/1 ER, BB

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Jake Peppers: IP, H, ER, BB, 2 K, E, WP, BALK

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Joseph Yabbour: IP, H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 10-of-21 strikes

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0 votes total

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Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 5, Hickory Crawdads 2
We end on a happy note, and another terrific starting performance: Justin Sinibaldi fought the traffic of seven hits and a walk over five innings with an uppercut of eight Ks to earn his second win of the season. In fact, it was the Kanny arms that delivered this win, with great bullpen backup from Jack Young and Carlton Perkins.

Poll
Who was the MVP in Kanny’s Friday win?

Jack Young: 3 IP, 2 H, HOLD (3), 15.4% WPA

Justin Sinibaldi: 5 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, BB, 8 K, HR, pickoff at 1B, WIN (2-1)

Carlton Perkins: IP, BB, SAVE (2), 5-of-9 strikes

George Wolkow: 2-for-4, HR, R, 2 K, 2 RBI

Caleb Bonemer: 1-for-2, R, 2 BB, 2 SB, E

Lyle Miller-Green: 1-for-3, 2 R, K, HBP

Jorge Corona: 3-for-4, RBI

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Jack Young: 3 IP, 2 H, HOLD (3), 15.4% WPA

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Justin Sinibaldi: 5 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, BB, 8 K, HR, pickoff at 1B, WIN (2-1)

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Carlton Perkins: IP, BB, SAVE (2), 5-of-9 strikes

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George Wolkow: 2-for-4, HR, R, 2 K, 2 RBI

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Caleb Bonemer: 1-for-2, R, 2 BB, 2 SB, E

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Lyle Miller-Green: 1-for-3, 2 R, K, HBP

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Jorge Corona: 3-for-4, RBI

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Poll
How about a Kanny Cold Cat?

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Nathan Archer: 0-for-4, 3 K

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Ryan Burrowes: 0-for-4, 2 K

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Mikey Kane: 0-for-4, K

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