Durham Bulls 3, Charlotte Knights 2
Despite outhitting the Bulls (43-51), 11-5, the Knights (50-46) couldn’t muster up more than two runs, dropping their first series back out of the break. Lefthander Shane Murphy made his 15th start of the season and ended up with two runs allowed (one earned), struggling with three walks throughout his outing with two strikeouts and a homer, from none other than our old friend Oliver Dunn. Murphy didn’t receive the L, however — that was awarded to lefthander Hagen Smith. The lefty made his first appearance after returning from the IL and walked three batters and gave up an RBI triple that ultimately gave the Bulls the win. It was Smith’s sixth loss of the year.

The Knights also walked five times alongside their 11 hits, but they left a whopping 14 runners on base while going just 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position. Rikuu Nishida recorded three hits and an RBI to tie the game in the second, and Dru Baker ripped an RBI single in the third that took the lead before Smith allowed the go-ahead triple later in the game. Caden Connor mashed the team’s only two extra-base hits with two doubles, but Charlotte couldn’t manage to drive anyone in. Also, making his second start since coming back from the IL, Everson Pereira had a rough time and struck out in all five at-bats. He might still be a little rusty.

MVP
Rikuu Nishida (2B-RF): 3-for-4, 3 RBI, BB, SB
Dru Baker (CF): 3-for-4, RBI, K, SB

Runners-Up
Edgar Quero (C): 1-for-4, R, BB, PB
Caden Connor (RF-LF): 2-for-4, R, BB, 2 2B
Mario Camilletti (3B): 1-for-3, BB, K, E
Zach Franklin (RHRP): 1 2/3 IP, 0 H, BB, K
Tyler Davis (RHRP): 1 IP, 0 H, K

Cold Cat
Everson Pereira (DH): 0-for-5, 5 K

Runners-Up
Nolan Jones (1B): 0-for-4, BB, 2 K
Riley Unroe (SS): 0-for-4, 3 K
Shane Murphy (LHSP): 4 1/3 IP, 4 H, 2 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 2 K, HR
Hagen Smith (LHRP): 1 IP, H, R, 3 BB, 2 K, IBB, LOSS (0-6)

Birmingham Barons 7, Rocket City Trash Pandas 3
The Barons (34-56) have rebounded after their loss on Friday, winning the next two in a row to take the first series of the second half after defeating the Trash Pandas (45-44) today, 7-3. Birmingham was outhit, 11-7, but went 3-for-6 with runners in scoring position and the pitching staff navigated 11 hits and three walks to allow just three runs. Lefthander Jake Palisch tossed the first four frames and gave up two runs on six hits, but Nick Altermatt picked up his first win of the season after two decent innings with one run scored, with a walk and a strikeout.

To kick off the scoring, Caleb Bonemer drove in the first run of the game with an RBI single up the middle. It was Boston Smith who had the hot bat for the Barons, however, posting two hits with a three-run homer in the third, also walking twice for a 2-for-2 day. Brenden Dixon joined the four-bag club with a solo shot in the seventh, and the bullpen was able to shut things down with ease to end the game.

MVP
Boston Smith (LF): 2-for-2, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB, HR

Runners-Up
Caleb Bonemer (3B): 1-for-3, R, RBI, BB
Brenden Dixon (SS): 2-for-3, R, RBI, BB, HR
Nick Altermatt (RHRP): 2 IP, 3 H, R, BB, K, WIN (1-1)
Paul George (RHRP): 1 IP, 0 H, 2 K, Hold

Cold Cat
Jake Palisch (LHSP): 4 IP, 6 H, 2 R, BB, K

Runners-Up
Jacob Burke (CF): 0-for-4, R, SB, HBP
Samuel Zavala (DH): 0-for-2, BB, SAC, CS

Bowling Green Hot Rods 5, Winston-Salem Dash 4
It was a rough weekend for the Dash (50-40), who were swept by the Hot Rods (63-26) after falling short in a late comeback in Sunday’s game, 5-4. The box score was nearly even on both sides with seven hits apiece, but the offense went just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position while leaving nine on base. Winston-Salem couldn’t scrape any runs across the board until the seventh when Bryce Eblin drove the first run in on a fielder’s choice, making it 5-1, Bowling Green. The Dash took an inning off from scoring until the top of the ninth with Ryan Burrowes continued his reign from last week and blasted a three-run shot to bring his club within one, 5-4, but unfortunately the comeback would go unrequited.

On the other side of the ball, Grant Umberger couldn’t get the job done in his 4 1/3-inning start, surrendering five runs on five hits, three walks, while striking out four. The bullpen was otherwise solid, not letting in another run for the rest of the game while striking out three and giving up just two hits. Winston-Salem was set up nicely for the win if the bats had gotten going, but the rally fell short and the Dash start the second half on the wrong en of a three-game sweep.

MVP
Ryan Burrowes (SS): 2-for-5, R, 3 RBI, 2B, HR

Runners-Up
Bryce Eblin (1-for-4, R, RBI, 2 K, 2B
Ely Brown (CF): 2-for-4, R, 2 K
Seth Keener (RHRP): 1 2/3 IP, 0 H, K, WP
Jake Curtis (RHRP): 1 IP, 0 H

Cold Cat
Grant Umberger (LHSP): 4 1/3 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 4 K, WP, Balk, HB, LOSS (6-7)

Runners-Up
Kaleb Freeman (C): 0-for-4, BB, 3 K, PB
George Wolkow (DH): 0-for-4, BB, 3 K
James Taussig (LF): 0-for-4
Jeral Perez (3B): 0-for-4, 2 K, E

Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 10, Myrtle Beach Pelicans 2
Doing the exact opposite of the Dash, the Cannon Ballers (47-43) swept the Pelicans (36-52) after a 10-2 blowout Sunday to cap off the series. Kanny posted nine hits with three of them for extra bases, supported by Billy Carlson (three RBIs) and Stiven Flores (four RBIs), who each posted two hits. Carlson mashed a double and triple with five total bases on the day, and now holds a .275 batting average and .781 OPS on the season.

Rolling with a bullpen game, the Ballers used seven pitchers to get through this one, and only one earned run (of two total runs) were surrendered by Anthony Patterson III. Outside of Patterson’s three hits, everyone else was practically lights-out, giving up just two other hits while the staff combined for eight Ks. Righthander Ryan Schiefer took the first two stanzas, while Caedmon Parker received his fifth W of the season with 2 strikeouts.

MVP
Billy Carlson (SS): 2-for-3, 3 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 2B, 3B

Runners-Up
Jaden Fauske (LF): 2-for-4, 3 R, 2 BB, K, 2 SB, E
Stiven Flores (C): 2-for-2, 4 RBI, BB,
Ryan Schiefer (RHSP): 2 IP, 0 H, K
Caedmon Parker (RHRP): 1 IP, 0 H, 2 K

Cold Cat
Anthony Patterson III (RHRP): 2 2/3 IP, 3 H, 2 R (1 ER), BB, 3 K

Runners-Up
Nick McLain (CF): 0-for-2, 3 BB
Alexander Albertus (1B): 0-for-2, R, 2 BB