The Charlotte Knights and Birmingham Barons proved to be well-rested from their unexpected off-day on Friday, as both teams ended up sweeping their doubleheaders on Saturday — including a no-hitter down in Alabama!

On the other hand, rain wiped out A-ball action, so the Dash and Cannon Ballers are set to play double headers on Sunday, weather permitting. Now let’s get to the action!

Game 1: Charlotte Knights 5, Gwinnett Stripers 4 (7 innings) (Gameday Box)
Both the Knights and the Stripers scored four in the first two innings, but Charlotte scored first thanks to Lenyn Sosa literally stealing home to go up, 1-0. Colson Montgomery added a two-run shot in the first to kick the game off to a good start. Nick Nastrini (3 IP 7 H, HR, 4R/2 ER, 2 BB, K) gave up a homer in the first, but no matter — he still had some decent run support entering the second inning. Still, errors from Colson Montgomery and Bryan Ramos allowed two unearned runs to score to allow Gwinnett to tie the game at four.

1st run of the game, Lenyn Sosa steals home! 💨 pic.twitter.com/0irqIrJT5Z

— Charlotte Knights (@KnightsBaseball) July 20, 2024

The bullpen held down the fort to keep the Knights in the game, giving up just two hits the rest of the game. Sosa’s three-hit Knight was certainly something to write home about (literally), as he had an impressive day offensively on Saturday. In the fourth, he ripped an RBI double for his third hit of the day to put the Knights up one, which was enough to take the first of a two-game set, 5-4.

Welcome back, Lenyn!

Three at-bats today, three hits! 💪 pic.twitter.com/SwLgKV8UNB

— Charlotte Knights (@KnightsBaseball) July 20, 2024

GAME 1 MVP
Lenyn Sosa (2B) 3-for-4, 2B, R, RBI, 2 SB (stole home)

RUNNERS-UP
Colson Montgomery (SS) 2-for-3, HR, R, 2 RBI, K, E
Mark Payton (DH) 1-for-3, RBI
Fraser Ellard (LHRP) 1 2/3 Innings, H, 0 R, 2 K

Game 2: Charlotte Knights 2, Gwinnett Stripers 0 (7 innings) (Gameday Box)
The nightcap was more of a pitchers’ duel as both teams struggled to get many hits (if any at all) through four innings. Davis Martin (4 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 4 K) seemed to have a hard time with his control a bit, but he still only gave up two hits in his four innings, striking out at least one per inning on average. It was Cory Abbott that would get the win, however, also allowing zero runs in his two innings while giving up three hits and striking out four.

Charlotte bats were pretty dead most of the night, until Carlos Pérez broke the tie in the top of the seventh on a line-drive RBI. Pérez would score just a couple batters later on a Wild Pitch from the Stripers.

The game two lead is OURS!!!! pic.twitter.com/lA5GMVIPPo

— Charlotte Knights (@KnightsBaseball) July 21, 2024

GAME 2 MVP
Carlos Pérez (C) 2-for-3, R, RBI

RUNNERS-UP
Colson Montgomery (SS) 1-for-2, R, BB
Cory Abbott (RHRP) 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 4 K
Davis Martin (SP) 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K

Game 1: Birmingham Barons 1, Chattanooga Lookouts 0 (7-innings) (Gameday Box)
The first game of the doubleheader was an interesting one to say the least – but let me be the first to say that seven-inning no-hitters do MATTER! Jairo Iriarte has been riding the struggle bus lately, but he ran through Chattanooga batters for five solid, no-hit innings on Saturday, striking out six and walking one.

Garrett Schoenle came in to relieve in the top of the fifth and built right off of Iriarte’s momentum as he also did not allow a hit. You read that correctly, a Birmingham no hitter! Schoenle (2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, W) has been a key piece to the Barons bullpen, and after Saturday, he improved to a 1.78 ERA, and now owns a 0.97 WHIP. (Recall that last month, Schoenle was an emergency starter call-up in Charlotte and led off the seven-pitcher no-hitter there as well! Two no-hitters in one year!)

But how did the game end, dear reader? I’m glad you asked. No, it wasn’t from a clutch hit or anything, don’t get your hopes up. The Lookouts walked Matt Hogan with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, and Jacob Burke scored to end the game, 1-0. Let’s go walk offense!

Game 1 walk-off on a walk with a no-hitter against Chattanooga today.#bhambarons pic.twitter.com/0Br9T1ixdd

— Birmingham Barons (@BhamBarons) July 21, 2024

GAME 1 MVP
Jairo Iriarte (SP) 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K

RUNNERS-UP
Garrett Schoenle (LHRP) 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 3 K, WIN
Matt Hogan (LF) 0-for-2, BB, RBI
Mario Camilletti (2B) 2-for-3, K

Game 2: Birmingham Barons 1, Chattanooga Lookouts 0 (7-innings) (Gameday Box)
For the remainder of Saturday, it was Noah Schultz Day, and he delivered once again. Schultz was dominant through four innings, extending the Barons no-hit streak to 11 innings before coming out of the game.

Saturday = Schultz Day

Game 2 is underway‼️#bhambarons pic.twitter.com/NvJT1d9Bmo

— Birmingham Barons (@BhamBarons) July 20, 2024

Dalton Roach came in to relieve for Schultz and worked his inning well, giving up the first hit of the day to the Lookouts, but keeping the rest of the basepaths clean, and would end up earning the win.

As for the offense: Shawn Goosenberg, Jacob Burke, and Michael Turner accounted for all of the Barons RBIs, with the sole extra base hit being Turner’s RBI triple to score the first run of the game.

GAME 2 MVP
Noah Schultz (SP) 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, K

RUNNERS-UP
Michael Turner (C) 1-for-2, 3B, R, RBI, BB
Jacob Burke (CF) 2-for-3, RBI, SB, K
Shawn Goosenberg (LF) 1-for-3, RBI, 2 K

High-A: Asheville Tourists v. Winston-Salem Dash (Rescheduled to July 21st, weather)
Whereas Friday Winston-Salem was one of the few teams to get a game in, that was unfortunately not the case Saturday. The Dash will now play a double header Sunday to get the makeup game in. My how the turn tables!

Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 4, Augusta GreenJackets 0 (Suspended in top of the third due to weather, to be completed July 21st)
The Ballers got off to a solid start with Jake Peppers on the mound, smashing four runs in the first inning to jump to an early lead. Thanks to an RBI single from Jhoneiker Betancourt, followed by an RBI double from George Wolkow, Peppers had plenty of run support to work with before the rain took over.

The game will pick up Sunday afternoon!

ACL D-Backs 3, ACL White Sox 2 (Gameday Box)
The ACL Sox outhit the ACL D-Backs, 5-3, but were unable to secure the win and were sadly the only farm team to get the L on Saturday. The lack of run support was the main issue for the Sox, as Jordany Chirinos (4 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 5 K) had a decent start, although Denny Lima came in to relieve and allowed another run in the bottom of the fifth.

The A-Sox tried to tie it up, but fell a run short after attempting a late-game rally, but falling just short, 3-2.

GAME MVP
Stiven Flores (C) 2-for-2, R, RBI, SF

RUNNERS-UP
Adrian Gil (3B) 1-for-3, 2B, R, SB
Javier Mogollón (SS) 0-for-2, RBI, BB, K

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Jairo Iriarte image: Birmingham Barons