SLCS Games 2-3

Game 2: Drothar Hines starts for Charlotte and Jack McDermott for Utah. Tied 1-1 in the third, Charlotte rocked McDermott for 4 runs, capped by a 3 run homer by Carlos Phillips. Utah could never get anything going, and lost 6-3. Hines pitched 7 innings for Charlotte.

Game 3: This was a matchup of the Langford brothers. Mike, who won four world series for the Utes of the 1990's, was now pitching for Charlotte. Keith, who pitched for the Charlotte team that won the 2005 series is now a Ute. Charlotte struck first with 4 runs in the bottom of the second. Santana singled in the first, and Mickey Tinsley followed with a 2 run double. After Jacen Solo singled in the fourth run of the inning, the worst was yet to come.

Brant Bowen popped up into foul ground, and Frank Lewis collided with catcher Yamil Maduro chasing the ball. The ball dropped, and both players had to leave the game. Maduro's injury was serious enough that he had to be removed from the series roster.

Mike Langford shut his old team out until the 7th, when Zamuda singles. Ballard was hit by a pitch. Carlos Merejo hits a 3 run homer to make it 4-3. Dodson struck out, Ordonez singled, Bobby Lewis popped up, and Jason Blaylock walked. Charlotte finally went to the bullpen for Tom Borgula. Gary Benedict, the backup catcher, was up. Benedict bloops a double down the right field line, and both runners score. Eddie Davis followed with a double to make it 6-4.

The score remained the same to the 9th, with Keith Langford settling down and giving Utah 8 innings. Henry Rollins, the Cy Young saving Ute, comes in:

Jefferson grounds to Zamuda
Miller lines to second
Kelso pinch hits, and strikes out.