Michael Kopech seems to have stabilized, turning in another decent outing against Gwinnett on Saturday. He allowed three runs on three hits and four walks over six innings, but he struck out eight.
Afterward, he told reporters that he had to conquer his sweating to get on track. From our man in Charlotte Jonathan Lee:
"There's points where I let outside factors get to me. I just had a sweating issue tonight and I felt like I couldn't grip the ball at one point, and I let that kinda get in my head for a couple innings there. And then once I got past that I got back in my comfort zone around the fourth and fifth."
When asked what he does to try to combat the heat and humidity, Kopech said, "Dry off with about 10 pounds of rosin."
Stars: They're just like us!
Kopech retired the last seven batters he faced, striking out the side in the fifth.
Gwinnett 5, Charlotte 3
- Jose Rondon went 1-for-4 with a homer, his eighth at Triple-A.
- Eloy Jimenez went 1-for-4 with a double.
- Seby Zavala was 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts.
- Michael Kopech: 6 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 8 K, 1 HBP
- Thyago Vieira: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Birmingham 1, Jackson 0
- Joel Booker went 0-for-3 with a sac bunt.
- Luis Alexander Basabe was 1-for-4 with a triple and a strikeout.
- Zack Collins, 1-for-4 with a double and two strikeouts.
- Danny Mendick went 0-for-3 with a K.
- Jameson Fisher drew a walk and struck out twice.
- Bernardo Flores continues to perform: 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K
Winston-Salem 6, Wilmington 3 (10 innings)
- Luis Gonzalez singled four times, struck out once and was caught stealing.
- Laz Rivera went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts.
- Blake Rutherford was 0-for-5 with one strikeout.
- Gavin Sheets keeps rolling: 3-for-5 with a double and a strikeout.
- Micker Adolfo hit the game-winning blast in the 10th, capping off a 3-for-4 night. He also walked.
- Ti'Quan Forbes went 0-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout.
- Blake Battenfield: 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R< 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
- Tyler Johnson: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
Kannapolis 6, Rome 4
- Michael Hickman went 0-for-5.
- Evan Skoug doubled and struck out thrice.
Great Falls 11, Helena 7 (Game 1, 7 innings)
- Romy Gonzalez went 0-for-2 with two walks and a strikeout.
- Corey Zangari picked up his first hit since 2016, going 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Amado Nunez went 1-for-4 with a double and a strikeout.
- Jonathan Stiever finally gave upa run: 3 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 2 HR
Great Falls 8, Helena 6 (Game 2, 7 innings)
- Lenyn Sosa went 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Corey Zangari hit his first homer since 2016 while going 2-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Gunnar Troutwine went 1-for-3.
- Maiker Feliz went 1-for-2 with a homer and a walk.
AZL White Sox 4, AZL Cubs1 3
- Camilo Quinteiro went 0-for-3 with two walks and a strikeout.
- Luis Mieses went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts.
- Kleyder Sanchez entered as a pinch runner and bunted.
- Sam Abbott went 1-for-4 with a double, walk and strikeout.
- Cabera Weaver went 1-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout.
- Anderson Comas, 1-for-5.
- Josue Guerrero and Brayant Nova both were 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
DSL Blue Jays 4, DSL White Sox 1
- Jose Rodriguez went 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Jefferson Mendoza was 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base.
- The DSL White Sox are now 3-22 this season.
