White Sox Minor League Update: April 27, 2018

Another great day on the farm!

Charlotte wins, thanks to late-inning heroics by four major leaguers, including Kevan Smith. Winston-Salem pitching dominates Norfolk, along with help from Yeyson Yrizarri. And Kannapolis rounds out the affliates’ third win in ugly fashion, eking out a tight one in extra innings.

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Charlotte Knights 5, Norfolk Tides 4

Charlie Tilson: 1-for-5, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Jose Rondon: 1-for-5, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

Matt Skole: 1-for-2, 3 BB, 0 K

Kevan Smith: 2-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0 BB, 0 K **MVP**

Jake Elmore: 1-for-4, 1 HR, 0 BB, 0 K

Matt Tomshaw: 5 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

Jace Fry: 1 ¹⁄₃ IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

Thyago Vieira: 1 ²⁄₃ IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 2 K

The Knights had a rough start, down 4-0 to the Tides after two innings. But they slowly clawed back, and the pitching was able to keep opposing bats at bay. The bullpen, led by Jace Fry and Thyago Vieira, shut out Norfolk as the bats finally awoke in the ninth inning. Kevan Smith was able to hit a game-tying, two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Jacob May capped off the Knights’s 5-4 win with a walk-off, tenth-inning single.

Since Fry and Vieira pitched today, they will most likely not be the 26th man in tomorrow’s doubleheader for the White Sox. Of the 40-man roster left in Charlotte, Juan Minaya and Ricardo Pinto could be available, but most likely would not be starting options. Dylan Covey and Donn Roach would be available to start, but would need to be added to the 40-man roster. Michael Kopech could still be added to the 40-man, but would most likely not start until Tuesday in St. Louis.

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Biloxi Shuckers 5, Birmingham Barons 1

Tito Polo: 0-for-4, 0 BB, 2 K

Zack Collins: 1-for-2, 2 BB, 1 K

Eloy Jimenez: 1-for-4, 1 RBI, 0 BB, 1 K **MVP**

Seby Zavala: 1-for-4, 0 BB, 3 K

Jameson Fisher: 1-for-3, 0 BB, 0 K

Spencer Adams: 6 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 K

Birmingham was down from the get-go and could not bounce back. Wade Miley, a major league starting pitcher, was on the mound for the Shuckers and shut down the Barons’ bats. Spencer Adams continued to have problems missing opponents bats, as he allowed eight hits in six innings even though coming into the game his BABIP allowed was .448. Eventually that BABIP will fall along with his 5.82 ERA, but it was all for naught in a 5-1 loss.

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Winston-Salem Dash 5, Wilmington Sharks 0

Joel Booker: 2-for-5, 2 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2 SB

Alex Call: 1-for-5, 0 BB, 3 K

Luis Alexander Basabe: 0-for-3, 0 BB, 0 K

Micker Adolfo: 1-for-2, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K

Yermin Mercedes: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, 0 BB, 0 K

Yeyson Yrizarri: 1-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0 BB, 0 K

Jimmy Lambert: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K **MVP**

Matt Foster: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

Winston-Salem again proved that they are the deepest team in the farm system. Yeyson Yrizarri broke the Sharks with a two-run homer, officially putting the game out of reach. Jimmy Lambert had his best start of the season, throwing six shutout innings with nine punch outs. Meanwhile, the outfield continued their hot streak, led by Joel Booker and his two hits and two stolen bases in the 5-0 win. Booker quietly has the best batting average of the outfield bunch, at .375. His BABIP is more than .400, which is unsustainable, but he has put himself on the prospect map. Booker should still be among the starting outfielders once Luis Robert returns.

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Kannapolis Intimidators 6, Lakewood BlueClaws 4

Luis Gonzalez: 3-for-5, 1 BB, 1 K

Laz Rivera: 0-for-5, 1 R, 0 BB, 2 K

Justin Yurchak: 0-for-3, 2 R, 3 BB, 0 K

Craig Dedelow: 1-for-6, 1 R, 2 RBI, 0 BB, 1 K

Tate Blackman: 4-for-5, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K **MVP**

Evan Skoug: 0-for-6, 0 BB, 2 K

Lincoln Henzman: 5 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K

This was an ugly game all around for Kannapolis and Lakewood. Both teams combined for seven errors that led to six unearned runs and the contest somehow made it to extra innings because of the bullpen. Once Henzman was lifted from the game, Luis Ledo, Zach Lewis and Jose Nin shut down Lakewood hitters, as they did not allow an earned run. The I’s took advantage of an 11th inning error and scored two runs off the bats of Craig Dedelow and Tate Blackman for the win.