Knights Press
(UPTOWN CHARLOTTE, NC) — RHP Michael Kopech struck-out eight batters over seven solid innings, but the Charlotte Knights lost to the Norfolk Tides by a score of 4-3 in 11 innings on Tuesday in game two of their four-game series from BB&T Ballpark in Uptown Charlotte. The Knights rallied in the bottom of the 11th inning, but fell just short in the end to the Tides.
Kopech, 22, allowed two runs on four hits but did not factor in the decision. The Chicago White Sox top pitching prospect walked two batters and threw 95 pitches on the night. Relievers Ryan Burr (1.0 IP) and Rob Scahill (1.2 IP) held the Tides scoreless over the next 2.2 innings. LHP Aaron Bummer (2-3, 3.92) allowed two runs (one earned) over 1.1 innings pitched and was saddled with the loss. The Tides rallied in the top of the 11th inning against Bummer en route to the win.
Offensively for the Knights, second baseman Jake Elmore continued his hot hitting and went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Third baseman Patrick Leonard also had a two-hit game for the Knights, who combined to record a total of eight hits on the night.
Norfolk DH Pedro Álvarez homered twice off of Kopech and paced the Norfolk offense with three hits and four RBIs. RHP Eddie Gamboa (2-0, 3.00) earned the win out of the bullpen for the Tides, who tied up the series at one win apiece
Adam Pohl
Ysla’s Strong Start Spoiled in 7-4 Defeat
Baysox Drop Series Opener in Akron on Tuesday Night
Akron, OH – Luis Ysla struck out a season-high nine batters in six strong innings but the Baysox could never grab the lead in a tough 7-4 series opening defeat in Akron Tuesday night.
Ysla was outstanding in a losing effort. After allowing a run in the third inning, he fanned Joe Sever and Bobby Bradley to minimize the damage. After Corban Joseph homered to tie the game in the fourth, Akron pushed home an unearned run aided by two Baysox errors to send Bowie to a 2-1 deficit.
In the top of the seventh inning, the Baysox threatened but could not score. Yusniel Diaz walked and with one down went to third on a ground-rule double by Jaycob Brugman. Brugman lined a shot down the line in right that bounce up off of the foul pole. The unfortunate break may have kept Diaz from scoring the tying run. Rylan Bannon followed popping up a first pitch fastball and Martin Cervenka was robbed on a leaping catch by Joe Sever at third base down the line. Akron maintained the 2-1 lead.
The Baysox bullpen struggled as Akron registered four consecutive one-out singles to score twice in the seventh and blew the game open with a bases loaded, three-run triple from Tyler Krieger in the eighth. The Baysox got a three-run home run from Bannon to cut the lead in half in the ninth but it was not enough.
Kyle Huson
BAEZ PITCHES POTOMAC TO VICTORY OVER KEYS
WINNING STREAK HALTED AT SIX GAMES
FREDERICK, MD-The Potomac Nationals (55-48, 18-18) held the Frederick Keys (51-57, 16-23) to three hits on their way to a 7-2 victory on Tuesday night at Nymeo Field. The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for the Keys while the Nationals improved their winning streak to five.
Potomac struck with two runs in the second inning. Tres Barrera and Aldrem Corredor began the frame with singles. A Nick Banks single brought in Barrera, while David Masters drove in another run with a single three batters later.
Luis Garcia added a run in the top of the third with a solo home run. It was the first home run that Keys starter Alex Wells allowed to a left-handed batter on the season.
The 3-0 score remained until the Keys got on the board in the fifth. Jomar Reyes led off with a walk. After moving to scoring position on a sacrifice bunt, Stuart Levy hit an RBI single to center field which made it 3-1.
The P-Nats scored in each of the next three innings to increase their lead. In the sixth, Telmito Agustin was hit by a pitch. Two batters later, Masters launched a two-run home run to left field.
As part of a four-hit game, Barrera hit a single with one out in the seventh, and moved to second on a Corredor single. A Banks walked loaded the bases, while Barrera scored on an RBI groundout. Ian Sagdal then improved the Nationals lead to 7-1 in the eighth on an RBI single.
In the bottom half of the eighth, the Keys scored their final run. Jake Ring led off with a walk. Then with two outs, Chris Clare dunked a ball down the right field line for an RBI double which made it 7-2 P-Nats.
Earning the victory, Joan Baez (6-8) allowed one run on just one hit. The right-hander walked three and struck out five. Wells (4-7) took the loss. He allowed five runs on nine hits while walking one and striking out four.
Will DeBoer
SALISBURY, MD – The Lakewood BlueClaws scored two runs in the top of the ninth to ease past the Delmarva Shorebirds 3-1 on Tuesday night at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.
With the game tied at 1-1, Rodolfo Duran led off the ninth with his third walk of the game. Nick Maton bunted him up to second, and Quincy Nieporte singled into shallow center to move Duran up to third. Dalton Guthrie came up next and lifted a flyball deep enough into right field to chase home Duran and put the BlueClaws (26-12, 67-40) in the driver’s seat. Jose Antequera followed with another single, then Matt Vierling placed a popup in shallow right for another base hit, scoring Nieporte to make it 3-1.
The Shorebirds (19-18, 54-50) saw their first two men reach in the bottom of the ninth as Trevor Craport singled and Seamus Curran walked, but Lakewood reliever Zach Warren froze three straight Delmarva batters for looking strikeouts to end it.
Tyler Fallwell (1-0) earned his first win since returning to the affiliated minors from independent Sioux City (American Association), pitching a pair of scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Nick Vespi (4-4) took the loss after giving up two runs on four hits in two frames, his first time giving up multiple earned runs since May 19. Warren’s save was his ninth of the season.
Neither side blinked until the Shorebirds finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth. Branden Becker punched a slow groundball back to the mound for an infield single and advanced to second on a passed ball. Zach Jarrett followed with a single into center, moving Becker up to third. Craport then flew one out toward center field to score Becker on a sac fly. Jarrett got thrown out trying to advance to second, though, and the Delmarva rally fizzled.
The BlueClaws wasted no time evening things up again. Maton led off the seventh with a walk and took second on a wild pitch. After a groundout, Guthrie laced a double to left center to plate Maton and tie it at 1-1. Antequera then hit a tough grounder to short that Mason McCoy handled cleanly, and Guthrie was thrown out at the plate with the potential go-ahead run. Guthrie eventually redeemed himself with the game-winning RBI in the ninth.
Becker finished 2-for-4 with a double and the Shorebirds’ only run.
Guthrie led the BlueClaws with a double and two RBIs, while Nieporte went 2-for-4 with a run.
Both starters made early exits with elevated pitch counts. DL Hall lasted four scoreless innings for the Shorebirds, scattering three hits and four walks while striking out five. In five July starts, Hall went 2-1 with a 0.68 ERA, 10 walks, and 39 strikeouts over 26.2 innings.
Lakewood’s Spencer Howard only lasted three frames, giving up a hit and walking two while striking out four.
