Charlotte Knights 5, Syracuse Mets 1 (Statcast box)
The Mets (60-54) had scored first, but the Knights (54-59) offense slowly heated up to fight back, and the pitching staff was (for once) lights-out, as Charlotte snagged the win to even out the series at three. Joining the White Sox organization from the Adrian Houser trade at the deadline, righthander Duncan Davitt made his second start for the Knights and tossed for five solid innings in the no-decision. He allowed just one run on an RBI double in the bottom of the first, and gave up four total hits and struck out six.

Dominic Fletcher tied the game at one in the top of the fourth on a solo shot out to right to get the offense going, though Blake Sabol fortified the offense with three runs driven in on his two-hit day, including a two-run base hit in the seventh and a solo homer in the top of the ninth to tack on an insurance run. Will Robertson had the only other RBI during a three-run seventh, along with Sabol’s go-ahead hit.

Pitchers from both teams racked up strikeouts, and while Charlotte batters struck out 10 times, their pitchers also punched out 13. Fraser Ellard came into the game as the first reliever for the Knights, and since Charlotte took the lead in the top of the seventh, he vultured the win with his hitless inning and struck out two. Chase Plymell and Ben Peoples accounted for the final three innings, and just Plymell gave up one hit as the two combined for five strikeouts to seal the win.

Knights MVP
Blake Sabol: 2-for-4, HR, R, 3 RBI, 2 K
Other Notable Players
Will Robertson: 1-for-5, RBI, 3 K
Dominic Fletcher: 1-for-4, HR, R, RBI
Duncan Davitt: 5 IP, 4 H, R, 6 K, 2 HBP
Fraser Ellard: 1 IP, 0 H, 2 K, WIN (2-1)
Chase Plymell: 2 IP, H, 0 R, 3 K, Hold (3)
Ben Peoples: 1 IP, 0 H, 2 K

Knights Cold Cat
Korey Lee: 0-for-4, K
Others Chilled
Vinny Capra: 0-for-4, BB
Caden Connor: 0-for-2, K

Chattanooga Lookouts 1, Birmingham Barons 0
The Barons (61-43) started the series strong, but have now lost three in a row as the Lookouts (56-47) scored the only run of the game Sunday. While Birmingham posted three more hits than Chatty, they couldn’t score a single run and fell, 1-0. Shane Murphy had the start and was solid for his five innings, outside of the unearned run that scored in the fourth that would end up winning the game. Murphy gave up just three hits and struck out four, and once again got a raw deal; this dude should have 15 wins by now. Plus, the bullpen was just as solid behind Murphy, covering four scoreless innings with no hits, but Caleb Freeman and Tyler Davis had no support behind them.

Rikuu Nishida and Braden Montgomery both had two-hit days, but both players also got caught stealing once, and no one else was able to make an impact. The Barons had just two chances with runners in scoring position, and failed both of them. Hopefully the off-day will set Birmingham back on the right track.

Barons MVP
Shane Murphy: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R / 0 ER, 4 K
Other Notable Players
Rikuu Nishida: 2-for-3, CS
Braden Montgomery: 2-for-4, K, CS
Tyler Davis: 2 IP, 0 H, BB, 3 K

Barons Cold Cat
Wilfred Veras: 0-for-4, 3 K
Others Chilled
Mario Camilletti: 0-for-3, BB
Matt Hogan: 1-for-2, BB, K

Bowling Green Hot Rods 9, Winston-Salem Dash 5
The lead flip-flopped back-and-fourth for a couple of innings, until the Hot Rods (57-49) tied it up at five in the bottom of the fourth and the Dash (42-64) pitching melted down for four runs in the bottom of the seventh to pave the way for a Bowling Green win. Lefthander Frankeli Arias made his 13th start of the season, and the first inning mostly defined his outing, as he gave up four runs on two doubles, two hits, two walks, and a sacrifice fly to give Bowling Green a three-run lead right off the bat; the Winston-Salem run that was scored in the top of the inning was moot by that point.

The Dash didn’t roll over, however, and clawed back for three runs in the third, with Alec Makarewicz mashing his 10th home run of the season to tie the game at four. Winston-Salem ended up taking the lead in the fourth after Kyle Lodise doubled to lead off the inning, and Drake Logan ripped a base hit to move him over to put runners on the corners. A disengagement violation allowed the go-ahead run to score for the Dash while Wes Kath was batting, but it ultimately wouldn’t matter, as Seth Keener gave up four runs, including a three-run home run, and earned the loss in the bottom of the seventh.

Dash MVP
Alec Makarewicz: 2-for-4, HR, R, 3 RBI
Other Notables
Samuel Zavala: 3-for-4, 2 R
Kyle Lodise: 1-for-4, 2B, R, K
Nick Altermatt: 1 1/3 IP, 2 H, 2 K
Dash Cold Cat
Seth Keener: 1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 BB, HR, LOSS (1-6)
Others Chilled
Jacob Burke: 0-for-5
Jackson Appel: 0-for-4, 2 K
Wes Kath: 0-for-4, 2 K

Salem Red Sox 8, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 7
The Cannon Ballers (52-56) were doing well earlier in the game, and had a three-run lead through five, but the pitching staff had a hard time keeping the Red Sox (45-61) at bay, and ended up losing, 8-7. Grant Umberger had the 5 2/3 -inning start, and was decent, but gave up three runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out two.

Thankfully the offense had his back and Kanny was able to score three in the third thanks to a Caleb Bonemer RBI single and two runs that were handed over by Salem (one was walked in another balked in). They tagged on two more the next inning when Ely Brown drove in a run and then he and Bryce Eblin were able to double steal to score the fifth run for the Ballers. They scored two more in the seventh on a fielder’s choice and wild pitch, so three of the seven runs were gifts from Salem … but the joke was on Kanny, as the tables turned late in the game.

Righthander Kevin Davis gave up two runs in the eighth on three hits and a walk, and Pierce George earned the blown save and the loss as he gave up three more in the bottom of the ninth, allowing the Red Sox to walk off, 8-7.

Cannon Ballers MVP
Bryce Eblin: 3-for-5, R, SB, CS
Other Notables
Caleb Bonemer: 1-for-2, R, RBI
Nathan Archer: 2-for-4, 2B, 2 K
Ely Brown: 1-for-4, 2 R, RBI, K

Cannon Ballers Cold Cat
Pierce George: 2/3 IP, 2 H, 3 R / 2 ER, 2 BB, BS (1), LOSS (1-3)
Other Notables
Grant Umberger: 5 2/3 IP, 7 H, 3 R, BB, 2 KJacob Burke: 0-for-5
Tyler Davis: 1/3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, BB
Ronny Hernandez: 0-for-4, BB, 3 K