Jake Burger hadn't collected a hit in an affiliated game since Aug. 29, 2017, when he homered for a team that now goes by a different name (Kannapolis Intimidators).
Now he can say his two most-recent hits have been homers. He just doesn't need to tell anybody they're almost four years apart.
Burger entered Sunday's game 0-for-7 with a strikeout, but he wasted no time giving himself firsts in multiple columns with this laser homer over Charlotte's center field wall.
Burger went hitless in his next four plate appearances, but when every single completed game represents progress in and of itself, multiple hits is just a little bit greedy.
Gwinnett 12, Charlotte 9 (10 innings)
- Brian Goodwin went 1-for-5 with a double and three strikeouts.
- Jake Burger's first hit of the season was a homer, and he finished 1-for-5.
- Gavin Sheets singled, walked and struck out thrice.
- Blake Rutherford singled after entering the game as a defensive replacement.
- Jimmy Lambert: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR
- Tyler Johnson: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 1 HR
- Zack Burdi took the loss: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 1 WP
Birmingham 10, Biloxi 4
- Alec Hansen lowered his ERA to 33.75 with a scoreless inning.
Winston-Salem 5, Rome 4 (10 innings)
- Duke Ellis went 2-for-5 with a strikeout and a stolen base.
- Bryce Bush was 0-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts. He also swiped second.
- Lenyn Sosa was 2-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Yolbert Sanchez, 0-for-4 with a K.
- Davis Martin'z second start was better: 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Down East 9, Kannapolis 2
- Cabera Weaver went 0-for-3 with a strikeout.
- José Rodriguez went 3-for-5 with a triple.
- Bryan Ramos, 2-for-3 with a walk, sac fly and a strikeout.
- DJ Gladney was 1-for-4 with a walk and a K.
- Sam Abbott homered, walked and struck out twice.
- James Beard singled his only time up.
- Benyamin Bailey replaced him and went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.
- Andrew Dalquist: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
Notes:
*Here's a first-person account of the game from FutureSox's Michael Guariglia, and here's Abbott's homer:
Here’s a look at the blast to center by Sam Abbott. ????#FutureSox pic.twitter.com/UcB8bAQC40
— Michael Guariglia (@MichaelG3424) May 9, 2021
(Photo by Laura Wolff / Charlotte Knights)
