The Birmingham entered their final series of the first half trailing the Chattanooga Lookouts by a half-game in the Southern League North, so you'd think that winning six games in five days against the Columbus Clingstones would have them in the driver's seat.
Instead, they'll enter the last day of the first half needing help, because Chattanooga has also won six games in five days. The Lookouts have sept a pair of doubleheaders against the Rocket City Trash Pandas, including one on Saturday, to remain in control of its destiny entering a surprisingly dramatic final day of the first half for the Southern League on Sunday.
The Barons do have something of an advantage, in the sense that their game starts an hour and a half later, so Guillermo Quiroz will have a better idea of whether his team has something to play for by the third inning or so.
Charlotte 4, Gwinnett 1
- Brooks Baldwin was 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
- Colson Montgomery, 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Tim Elko, 0-for-4 with a K.
- Dru Baker went 0-for-1 with two walks.
- Jairo Iriarte: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 6 of 15 pitches for strikes.
Birmingham 7, Columbus 3
- Rikuu Nishida went 2-for-4.
- So did William Bergolla, who doubled.
- Ryan Galanie was 1-for-4 with a double and a strikeout.
- Jacob Gonzalez was 1-for-4.
- DJ Gladney went 1-for-4 with a K.
- Shane Murphy: 6.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 63 of 95 pitches for strikes.
Winston-Salem 6, Rome 5
- Sam Antonacci was 1-for-2 with a triple, walk, sac bunt, HBP and stolen base.
- Braden Montgomery went 2-for-5 with a triple.
- Jeral Perez, 2-for-5 with a homer and a strikeout.
- Samuel Zavala singled, walked, struck out and got hit by a pitch.
Charleston 6, Kannapolis 4
- Caleb Bonemer went 3-for-5, and was caught stealing.
- Lyle Miller-Green struck out thrice during an 0-for-5 night.
- Ronny Hernandez was 1-for-4 with a walk.
- Javier Mogollón went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk.
- Ryan Burrowes went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts and a stolen base.
- Abraham Nuñez was 0-for-4 with a K.
- Luis Reyes: 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K, 55 of 85 pitches for strikes.
ACL D-backs 6, ACL White Sox 5 (9 innings)
- Alexander Albertus went 1-for-2 with a double and two walks.
- Jurdrick Profar pinch-hit for him and popped out.
- Adrian Gíl went 2-for-4.
DSL Mariners 10, DSL White Sox 5 (7 innings)
- Alejandro Cruz doubled, singled and struck out twice.
- Frank Mieses was 1-for-3 with a double, walk and strikeout.
- Eduardo Herrera was 0-for-3 with a walk and a K.
- Diego Perez: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
