· By Whitney Hunt
Ghost Peppers Overpower Dirty Birds in Offensive Showcase
Gastonia's bats came alive again, putting together consistent hitting to outpace Charleston 9-4 and secure their second consecutive win in the series.
Notable Performances:
Gastonia:
- Brian O'Grady (1B): 3-for-5, HR, 2B, 2 RBIs, 2 Runs.
- Nate Scantlin (CF): 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBIs, SB.
- Justin Wylie (2B): 2-for-4, 2 Runs, BB, raising his average to .292.
Charleston:
- Tyler Hill (DH): 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs.
- Benjamin Blackwell (3B): 2-for-4, 3B, 2 Runs, BB.
- Alsander Womack (2B): 2-for-5, RBI, SB.
Game Highlights:
- 2nd Inning: Gastonia erupted for four runs, featuring a two-RBI single from Scantlin and a bases-loaded walk to Watson Jr.
- 5th Inning: O'Grady added to the lead with a two-run homer, his 7th of the season.
- 7th Inning: Charleston mounted a rally, scoring three runs led by Hill’s two-run homer, but it wasn’t enough to bridge the gap.
- 9th Inning: Gastonia tacked on another insurance run, courtesy of disciplined at-bats and a wild pitch.
Pitching Recap:
Gastonia:
- Matt Hartman (W, 1-1): 5.0 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 8 K, HR allowed.
- Bullpen: Combined for 4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 5 K, securing the lead.
Charleston:
- Luis Romero (L, 0-2): Struggled through 4.1 IP, allowing 7 ER on 8 hits.
- Relievers: Reyes and Lusk combined for 2.2 IP of scoreless work, but the damage was already done.
Next Game:
Charleston aims to snap their losing streak in the series finale, relying on improved pitching and timely hitting to counter Gastonia’s surging offense.