Every Triple-A team wrapped up its regular season on Wednesday, and here in Nashville, it happened to be a cloudless day in the high-60s, so I watched the Sounds close out their schedule with the Memphis Redbirds before heading on to play the Durham Bulls for the International League title. I saw Sal Frelick and Nolan Gorman play in person for the first time, and I scored a 6-8 fielder's choice at second base, which I've never recalled doing before.
Even though it might've been a product of the lockout, I liked the way the season gradually drew down across the minors, with the short-season affiliates wrapping up in late August, the A-ball teams playing through Labor Day weekend, Double-A teams going two weeks longer, and Triple-A a week after that. If Major League Baseball maintains that arrangement over the course of a normal winter, I wouldn't argue. It turns out I like my minor league seasons like I like my kitchen cabinets: slow-closing.
Durham 9, Charlotte 5
- Jake Burger went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts.
- Yolbert Sánchez, 0-for-4 with a K.
- Lenyn Sosa doubled, singled and struck out twice.
- Sean Burke: 3.1 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
- Jonathan Stiever: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
- Jason Bilous struck out the side on 16 pitches, 12 strikes.
