Brett Bateman – Picture by Stephanie Lynn

This much is clear – some players are starting to get worn down by the season, especially at Myrtle Beach and South Bend. A lot of guys that are in their first full season are struggling down the stretch. It does take a year to realize how much you need to take care of yourself over the season to continue to produce all year long.

Northern Indiana Happenings

The day began in South Bend and let’s just say the first paragraph proved prophetic. Michael Arias still flashes some amazing stuff, but he’s also reached a career-high in innings. He gave up four runs in three innings today. He is already at 75 innings after throwing just 40 innings the previous two years combined. There’s no doubting the talent that he has in the arm, it’s that the arm is just not strong enough just yet. Another 10 to 15 pounds of muscle this winter would really help him in 2024.

As for the offense, Not much happened again there for South Bend. They only managed four hits and Kevin Alcantara had two of them. The 7 to 1 loss pushes South Bend back to 8.5 games out of a playoff spot with 12 to go.

Down in Central Indiana

Shane Greene pitched well enough to win today. He gave up two unearned runs due to a fielding error by Alexander Canario. Greene did go four innings and struck out six, but the only help he got on offense was a home run by David Bote as they lost 2 to 1 to Indianapolis.

Web Gem of the Day

PCA. I know… shocked.

Comeback of the Day

The Smokies seem to have a penchant for being able to fall behind two or three runs, sometimes six, and come back to win. Such was the case today as they fell behind two to start, and then from 5-2. They managed to tie it at five before scoring a run in the top of the 10th on a bases loaded walk. In fact, the Smokies walked nine times on the day. Blake Whitney came in to shut Chattanooga down with the ghost runner is the Smokies are very close to clinching a playoff spot, and should do so  in the next two weeks. They are nine games up over Rocket City with 18 to play.

The Make Up Game

When the rains came yesterday, Brian Kalmer had hit a two run home and Myrtle Beach had a 3-1 lead after two innings. The Pelicans stretched that to a 5 to 1 lead early today. And then the floodgates opened as Kannapolis scored eight runs in the sixth inning to take a 9 to 5 lead and tacked on five more in the seventh to get to 14. The Pelicans tried to come back on home runs by Jefferson Rojas and Michael Carico, but fell short 14 to 10. That was Carico’s first home run as a pro.

Debut Dinger of the Day

The 3 Hit Club

Brett Bateman is clearly too advanced for Low-A. In the opener, he went 3-for-5 to raise his average to .356 and OPS to .877.

The Nightcap

The Pelicans put up a 5 spot in the first thanks to a Jonathan Long 3 run-dinger.

That would be enough for Marino Santy who is turning out to be quite the breakout in the second half. He threw 4 scoreless innings and struck out 4 in the seven inning game. The Pelicans would go on to win 7-1.

Awards for the Day

Co-Hitters of the Day – Brian Kalmer had 5 RBI on the day while going 4-for-7 in the doubleheader. Brett Bateman went 5-for-8 with 4 runs scored.

Starting Pitcher of the Day – Marino Santy

Reliever of the Day – Blake Whitney of Tennessee as he pitched two scoreless innings for the Smokies, appropriately the ninth and tenth.