The Charlotte Knights still sport the worst record (5-10) and run differential (-21) in the International League, but both are far more respectable after splitting a six-game series with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.
After getting shellacked 71-42 while losing five out of six to the Norfolk Tides, the Knights outscored the Shrimp 33-21, so this looks more like a fresh season, and less like a continuation of the 2023 second half in which Charlotte went 18-56.
It's also important from a face-saving perspective because after the Norfolk Tides left Charlotte generating story ideas wondering whether they could beat MLB teams with regularity, they lost all six games against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at home, which creates new story ideas about Jackson Holliday being the most important and galvanizing prospect of all time. Then again, Holliday is 1-for-15 with nine strikeouts in his first four big-league games, so maybe regression comes for us all.
Charlotte 9, Jacksonville 4
- Colson Montgomery went 0-for-3 with two walks, a strikeout and two stolen bases.
- Oscar Colás struck out four times during an 0-for-5 day.
- Zach DeLoach was 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
- Prelander Berroa: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Rocket City 5, Birmingham 3
- Terrell Tatum wore the collar and silver sombrero.
- Brooks Baldwin was 0-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base.
- Wilfred Veras, 1-for-4 with a double and two strikeouts.
- Edgar Quero was 0-for-3 with an HBP and two strikeouts.
- Bryan Ramos, 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Tim Elko was 1-for-4 with a solo shot and a strikeout.
- Jacob Burke went 2-for-4 with a stolen base.
Notes:
*Sergio Santos was ejected for arguing balls and strikes:
After this horsecrap called strike 3 on Matthews, #Barons manager, Sergio Santos and bench coach Angel Rosario are tossed. Eder was squeezed and BHam has been screwed. Love it. #WhiteSox pic.twitter.com/6emX6WwhW5
— FutureSox (@FutureSox) April 14, 2024
*And so was Elko:
Tim Elko is joining Sergio Santos in the clubhouse after another terrible call. He is just about the most respectful guy out there. It takes a lot to get this man heated. Garbage performance from the trashcan behind home plate. #Barons #WhiteSox pic.twitter.com/xXcglpP30S
— FutureSox (@FutureSox) April 14, 2024
Greensboro 6, Winston-Salem 4
- Samuel Zavala went 1-for-4 with a double, HBP and a strikeout.
- Jacob Gonzlaez doubled, singled, walked twice, struck out and stole a base.
- Riley Gowens: 4.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR
Augusta 7, Kannapolis 4
- Rikuu Nishida went 0-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts.
