White Sox Minor League Update: April 18, 2018

The biggest news of the day, by far, is that Eloy Jimenez (strained pectoral muscle) will join Birmingham on Thursday. Jimenez, acquired in last year’s trade with the Cubs that sent LHP Jose Quintana to the north side, is the No. 4 prospect in all of baseball.

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Charlotte Knights 9, Rochester Red Wings 2

Charlie Tilson: 2-for-5, 2B, 1 RBI, 1 R

Jacob May: 3-for-5, 2B, 3 RBI, 1 R, SB ***MVP***

Casey Gillaspie: 1-for-4, 1 RBI

Matt Skole: 1-for-3, 1 R, BB

Juan Perez: 1-for-4, 2B, 1 R

Alfredo Gonzalez: 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R

Eddy Alvarez: 2-for-2, 2B, 1 RBI, 3 R, BB

W: Donn Roach (2-0), 6 IP, 3 H, ER, 2 BB, 4 K

Jeanmar Gomez: 2 IP, 2 K

A three-hit, three RBI night from LF Jacob May led a balanced Knights offensive attack that pounded out 13 hits (five doubles) with bottom-of-the-order C Alfredo Gonzalez and 3B Eddy Alvarez proving to be a nightmare for Rochester pitching. Charlotte, who led 6-0 after three innings, cruised in this one with starter Donn Roach hurling six innings of one-run ball en route to his second win of the season. The Knights have an off-day Thursday before starting a six-game road trip with a three-game series in Indianapolis.

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Jackson Generals 8, Birmingham Barons 1

Ryan Brett: 2-for-5

Seby Zavala: 2-for-3, 2B, BB

Keon Barnum: 2-for-4, 2B, 1 R ***MVP***

Bryant Flete: 1-for-4, 2B, 1 RBI

L: Jordan Stephens (0-3), 6 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 7 K

Stephens should file suit for a lack of support in this one, as Birmingham only scored one run while committing four errors. Stephens had good enough stuff to win, striking out seven Generals in his six innings of work. C Seby Zavala added two more hits, raising his batting average to .353 with 1B Barnum and CF Brett each contributing two hits as well, but the Barons struck out 12 times. They’ll get an offensive boost on Thursday as Jimenez returns to the lineup.

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Winston-Salem Dash 14, Down East Wood Ducks 4

Joel Booker: 1-for-6, 2B, 1 R

Alex Call: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, 1 R, BB

Blake Rutherford: 3-for-5, 3 2B, 2 R, BB

Micker Adolfo: 3-for-6, 2B, 2 RBI, 1 R

Yeyson Yrizarri: 2-for-3, 2B, 1 RBI, 3 R, BB

Zach Remillard: 2-for-5, 1 RBI, 2 R

Nate Nolan: 1-for-4, HR (1), 5 RBI, BB ***CO-MVP***

Mitch Roman: 3-for-4, HR (2), 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R, BB ***CO-MVP***

W: Dylan Cease (2-1), 4 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 6 K

The Dash snapped their three-game skid in a big way, churning out a season-high 18 hits, plating a season-high 14 runs in a lopsided victory over the Wood Ducks. C Nate Nolan and 2B Mitch Roman earn co-MVP honors, as each hit a home run while combining for eight RBI on the day. RF Blake Rutherford added three doubles, as the White Sox No. 7 prospect is now second in minor league baseball with seven two-baggers on the season, and is hitting .357. Every member of the Dash lineup had at least one hit, with DH Micker Adolfo adding three, including a pair of RBI. If there was one negative, it was RHP Dylan Cease, who gave up four earned runs, five hits and two walks in four innings of work.

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Well, it could have been better ... with a win.

Augusta GreenJackets 5, Kannapolis Intimidators 1

Luis Gonzalez: 2-for-4, 2B

Tyler Frost: 1-for-3, HR (1), 1 RBI ***MVP***

L: Blake Battenfield (0-1), 3 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 K

It’s never a good day when the lineup strikes out twice as many times (12) as they muster up hits (six), but that was the story for the I’s on Wednesday. OF Tyler Frost slugged his first home run of the season, while RF Luis Gonzalez followed his grand slam on Tuesday night with a two-hit day, including a double.