Minor League Recaps

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Minor League Recaps - April 29th Games

By Mark J. Jacobsen

April 30, 2003

SoxNet.net

 

Things cant get much better for Willie Harris right now, after being named International League player of the week, the Knights second-baseman came up with a pinch hit homerun in the bottom of the tenth leading the Knights over the Durham Bulls 4-3 and extending Charlotte's home winning streak to nine games.

 

Harris, who was originally given the day off, was called to duty in the bottom of the tenth to pinch-hit for shortstop Jorge Nunez. Harris hammered the first pitch he saw, and the rest was history as the Knights improved their record to 14-8, one game out of first place.

 

Former White Sox pitcher Jim Parque started for Durham, the AAA affiliate for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Parque was solid, giving up only one run in seven innings against his former Charlotte mates.

 

Mike Porzio was excellent as well, as he went seven innings without giving up a run, while scattering 6 hits and striking out six.

 

Felix Diaz (2-1) held the Bulls scoreless in the ninth and tenth, earning himself a win, and setting the stage for Harris' heroics.

 

After an off day on Wednesday, the Knights welcome the Rochester Red Wings into town for a four game set. Jon Adkins (1-2, 6.52) is set to take the mound for the Knights in that game, which is slated to begin at 7:15.

 

Jim Bullard struggled in his first start in over three weeks, as the Barons were up-ended by the Jacksonville Suns 6-1.

 

Bullard, who recently asked to be moved to the bullpen, scuffled in four-innings of work. Bullard (0-1) surrendered five runs -- three earned -- and seven hits over four innings to suffer the loss.

 

Bullard was not the recipient of any offensive support, as a Darron Ingram homer in the second inning was the only offense for Birmingham, which has dropped three of its last four games.

 

The Winston-Salem Warthogs, now 13-8, scored two runs in the tenth inning in their 5-3 win over the Potomac Cannons Tuesday night.

 

The tenth was wild, as the ‘Hogs scored two runs with two outs. Daylan Holt led the inning off with a single and the preceded to steal second. After a pop out and strikeout, Chris Stewart tripled to right scoring Holt. Stewart then scored on a Ruddy Yan RBI single.

 

Since Holt was demoted from AA Birmingham, he has batted .357, with three homers, and 16 RBI in 12 games.

 

Wyatt Allen started the game for Winston-Salem and made an early exit after going three innings, of which were scoreless. It appeared that Allen pulled a muscle, but the severity of the injury is unknown.

 

Josh Fields came on in relief and improved his record to 3-1 on the year, while Brandon O’Neal earned his first save.

 

Paulino Reynoso was hammered in five innings of work in a 9-5 loss to the Delmarva Shorebirds. It was the third straight win for Delmarva.

 

Reynoso (2-2) had a lot of trouble giving up seven runs and five hits in five innings, while walking three.

 

Delmarva’s pitching staff didn’t fair much better giving up 11 hits and two walks. Anthony Webster was the offensive stud for Kannapolis going 3-5 with a run and 3 RBI. One of his hits was his first home run of the season. Pedro Lopez, Edgar Valera and Gustavo Molina each had two hits a-piece.

 

Val Majewski led Delmarva’s attack with three hits and five RBI. C. Morris (2-1) started and got the win for Delmarva.

 

Kannapolis will play the second game against Delmarva tonight.