I don't think that Luis Gonzalez took offense to Blake Rutherford passing him in OPS earlier last week, but the way the box scores have played out since resembles a competition of sorts. Rutherford and Gonzalez once again reached base multiple times on Saturday as the Barons won their fourth straight game, and they're both giving their season lines a cosmetic upgrade.
Rutherford:
- Last nine games: 17-for-39, with just three extra-base hits and 12 strikeouts to just one walk.
- Line after June 20: .227/.272/.322
- Line after June 29: .260/.299/.364
Gonzalez:
- Last nine games: 12-for-32, with four extra-base hits and four walks to six strikeouts.
- Line after June 20: .229/.287/.325
- Line after June 29: .244/.304/.350
Both could stand to show more power, especially since Rutherford's battling a big jump in strikeouts. Still, it's been a tough season for both of them so it's hard to take any successful stretch for granted.
Norfolk 2, Charlotte 0
- Seby Zavala walked once and struck out thrice.
- Danny Mendick went 0-for-3 with a strikeout.
- Yermin Mercedes was 2-for-3.
- Kyle Kubat: 7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 60 of 76 pitches for strikes.
- Odrisamer Despaigne: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Birmingham 5, Mobile 0
- Luis Robert went 2-for-4 with a double, two stolen bases and strikeout.
- Blake Rutherford went 2-for-4 with a strikeout, and was caught stealing.
- Gavin Sheets was 0-for-2 with a sac fly and an HBP.
- Ti'Quan Forbes was 1-for-4.
- Luis Gonzalez went 1-for-3 with a double, walk and stolen base.
- Laz Rivera went 1-for-2 with a double and a sac fly.
- Progress for Alec Hansen: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, eight of 12 pitches for strikes.
Salem 2, Winston-Salem 1
- Steele Walker went 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Carlos Perez, 0-for-4.
- Jonathan Stiever: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 6 K, 2 WP
- Tyler Johnson: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 WP
Kannapolis 6, West Virginia 4
- Lenyn Sosa went 2-for-5 with a homer, two strikeouts, and was caught stealing.
- Bryce Bush went 1-for-5 with a triple.
- Romy Gonzalez went 1-for-4 with a double.
Idaho Falls 8, Great Falls 2
- Cabera Weaver wore the golden sombrero during an 0-for-5 night.
- Kelvin Maldonado went 2-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Harvin Mendoza went 2-for-4 with a double.
- Luis Mieses was 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Lency Delgado went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk.
- Sam Abbott singled, walked and struck out twice.
- Brayan Herrera: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 1 WP
AZL Padres2 7, AZL White Sox 3
- Misael Gonzalez went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts.
- Samil Polanco was 1-for-5 with a strikeout.
- Jose Rodriguez went 0-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout.
- DJ Gladney was 1-for-2 with a homer, walk and HBP.
- Bryan Ramos went 2-for-4 with a homer, and was picked off.
- Anthony Coronado was 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts.
DSL White Sox 11, DSL Padres 4
- Wilber Sanchez went 2-for-5 with a double and two strikeouts.
- Benyamin Bailey went 1-for-3 with a double, two walks, a strikeout and a stolen base.
- Jefferson Mendoza wnt 2-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
- Anthony Espinoza went 1-for-5.
