The Birmingham Barons entered the final week of the regular season with a 2½-game lead over Pensacola for the second-best record in the Double-A South.
With two days left on the calendar, the Blue Wahoos are no longer the team they have to worry about.
Montgomery is now a half-game behind the Barons for the second postseason spot after taking the first three games of a rain-delayed series, including a doubleheader sweep in Montgomery Friday night. The Barons were in position to win Game 2, but Caleb Freeman picked a bad time for a rare blown save.
The schedule only shows one of two rainouts being postponed, but the Biscuits said the make-up date for Thursday's rainout is to be determined. That makes a difference, because if there are only two games left, the Barons only need to win one of them. If there's a third game on the schedule, then the rest of the season becomes a best-of-three.
Charlotte 5, Durham 4
- Jake Burger was 0-for-3 with an HBP and two strikeouts.
- Micker Adolfo, 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Ti'Quan Forbes came up a homer short of the cycle during a 3-for-4 night. He also stole a base, and avoided striking out when the Knights went down whiffing 17 times.
- Jimmy Lambert: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
Montgomery 9, Birmingham 6 (Game 1, 7 innings)
- Jose Rodriguez and Carlos Pérez both were 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Lenyn Sosa went 1-for-3.
- Yoelqui Céspedes was 1-for-3 with a strikeout.
- Davis Martin: 2.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Montgomery 4, Birmingham 3 (Game 2, 7 innings)
- Jose Rodriguez went 1-for-3 with a double.
- Yolbert Sanchez was 2-for-3.
- Carlos Pérez, 0-for-3.
- Same for Lenyn Sosa, who struck out.
- Yolequi Céspedes went 2-for-3 with his first Double-A homer and a strikeout, but was picked off/caught stealing.
- Caleb Freeman blew the save: 0.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
Highlights:
*Céspedes' homer:
Asheville 14, Winston-Salem 4
- Luis Mieses went 0-for-4 with a K.
- Luis Curbelo homered and struck out thrice.
- Harvin Mendoza went 1-for-4 with a double and two strikeouts.
- I missed 16th-round pick Terrell Tatum getting promoted from the ACL to High-A. He went 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout in his second game.
Kannapolis 3, Columbia 1 (Game 1, 7 innings)
- Caberea Weaver went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts, and was caught stealing.
- Bryan Ramos was 1-for-4 with a triple.
- DJ Gladney homered, struck out, and got plunked.
- Chase Krogman wet 2-for-3.
- Misael Gonzalez walked, struck out and got plunked.
- Wilber Sanchez was 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout.
- Andrew Dalquist: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K
Kannapolis 9, Columbia 3 (Game 2, 7 innings)
- Caberea Weaver went 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Bryan Ramos, 2-for-4 with another triple.
- Chase Krogman was 2-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Misael Gonzalez, 2-for-4 with a homer and a strikeout.
- Wilber Sanchez doubled, walked, struck out and got plunked.
- Brooks Gosswein: 1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 2 WP
ACL Rangers 4, ACL White Sox 0
- Colson Montgomery went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Benyamin Bailey went 1-for-2 with a walk, but was caught stealing.
- Jefferson Mendoza and Logan Glass both were 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.
- Uh-oh, Tanner McDougal: 0.1 IP, 0 R, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
- Ronaldo Guzman: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HR
DSL Blue Jays 12, DSL White Sox 0
- Manuel Guariman went 0-for-4.
- Victor Quezada was 0-for-1 with two walks and a stolen base.
- Yohemy Nolasco: 1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
(Photo of Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery, Ala. by Chris Pruitt)
