Dylan Cease had himself a helluva night against his former organization. In his finest Double-A start to date, Cease retired the first 20 batters he faced, settling for seven one-out innings with zero runs allowed and 12 strikeouts.
However, we know what Cease looks like when he's rolling -- a high-90s fastball and a wipeout curve, namely, although his changeup also did some work. Here's his 12th and final strikeout via the backwards K:
One guy we haven't seen much of is Luis Curbelo. The sixth-round draft pick back in 2016 has spent most of his career off camera, whether because he's played for low-level affiliates or because of knee surgery.
So it was cool that Our Man in Charlotte Jonathan Lee captured his best highlight to date. Curbelo went 2-for-4 in both games of Kannapolis' doubleheader against West Virginia, and he capped off Game 1 with a walk-off grand slam.
After the doubleheader, Curbelo said the pitch he belted was a hanging slider.
Birmingham 9, Tennessee 1
- Joel Booker went 1-for-4 with a double, walk and strikeout.
- Luis Alexander Basabe was 1-for-3 with a walk.
- Zack Collins, 2-for-4 with a homer.
- Ryan Cordell went 1-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout.
- Danny Mendick was 1-for-5.
- Alex Call, 2-for-3 with a walk.
- Dylan Cease dealt: 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 12 K, 1 WP
Frederick 6, Winston-Salem 5 (11 innings)
- Luis Gonzalez went 3-for-6 with a homer.
- Blake Rutherford was also 3-for-6.
- Ti'Quan Forbes went 2-for-6 with a triple.
- Gavin Sheets was 0-for-4 with two walks.
- Tyler Johnson: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K. One of the walks was intentional.
More:
*Gonzalez pushed the game into extras with a game-tying homer:
Kannapolis 6, West Virginia 2 (Game 1, 7 innings)
- Luis Curbelo went 2-for-4 with a grand slam and a strikeout.
- Nick Madrigal was 1-for-3.
- Carlos Perez, 0-for-2 with a walk.
- Will Kincanon: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Kannapolis 8, West Virginia 7 (Game 2, 7 innings)
- Luis Curbelo was 2-for-4 with a double and a strikeout.
- Justin Yurchak singled twice, walked once and was caught stealing.
- Carlos Perez and Evan Skoug both were 1-for-3.
- Andrew Perez: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 WP
AZL White Sox 3, AZL Cubs2 0
- Cabera Weaver was 1-for-3 with an HBP.
- Bryce Bush, 2-for-4 with a double.
- Luis Mieses went 1-for-4 with a double and two strikeouts.
- Lency Delgado was 1-for-2 with two walks.
- Harvin Mendoza, 0-for-3 with an HBP.
- Anthony Coronado and Kelvin Maldonado both were 1-for-4.
- Josue Guerrero, 1-for-3.
DSL Blue Jays 4, DSL White Sox 3
- Harold Diaz went 1-for-4.
- Jefferson Mendoza was 0-for-1.
