Spoiler alert: Heading into the weekend, Jeral Perez had been the front-runner for the next Fortnight's Finest honor on Tuesday, because he'd finally flipped the switch after a season full of fits and starts at Winston-Salem.
He came into Friday's game against Asheville hitting .387/.459/.645 with two homers, two doubles and more walks (five) than strikeouts (three) over his last nine games.
And he built upon it with his first three plate appearances on Friday, homering in his first trip ...
... and then singling his next two times up. But he attempted a steal of second after reaching in the bottom of the fourth, and ended up leaving the game due this awkward slide/fall that had him grabbing his left hip.
Perez will in all likelihood still get the nod, because that's now a .441/.500/.765 line over his last 10 games. Hopefully it doesn't come with terrible news attached.
Memphis 7, Charlotte 5
- Tim Elko went 0-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts.
- Will Robertson was 1-for-3 with two walks and a strikeout, and caught stealing.
- Bryan Ramos, 1-for-5.
- Jacob Gonzalez went 0-for-2 with a walk, strikeout and HBP.
Pensacola 2, Birmingham 1
- William Bergolla was 0-for-5 with a strikeout.
- Sam Antonacci singled, walked twice and struck out once.
- Wilfred Veras was 0-for-3 with a strikeout
- Braden Montgomery doubled, walked, got plunked and struck out.
- DJ Gladney was 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
- Riley Gowens, officially the last survivor of the Aaron Bummer trade: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K, 44 of 67 pitches for strikes.
Winston-Salem 11, Asheville 6
- Samuel Zavala was 1-for-4 with a homer, walk and strikeout.
- Jeral Perez homered and singled twice in his three trips, but left the game after an awkward slide on an unsuccessful stolen base attempt.
- Lyle Miller-Green wore the collar and silver sombrero.
- Ryan Burrowes went 1-for-2 with two stolen bases.
- Kyle Lodise replaced him and was 0-for-1 with a walk.
- Gage Ziehl: 4 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 51 of 79 pitches for strikes.
Augusta 7, Kannapolis 1
- Ronny Hernandez went 1-for-3 with a sac fly and a strikeout.
- George Wolkow wore the golden sombrero.
- Anthony DePino went 1-for-2 with a double and two walks.
- Colby Shelton wore the collar and silver sombrero.
- Adrian 'Gil was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.
DSL White Sox 3, DSL Blue Jays Red 1 (7 innings)
- Frank Mieses struck out all three trips.
- Jose Mendoza was 0-for-2 with a strikeout.
- Alejandro Cruz singled and walked in his two strips.
- Eduardo Herra went 1-for-2.
- So did Yordani Soto, but his hit was his first career homer.
