White Sox Minor League Update: May 14, 2018

Leading off: A good read on how Birmingham’s tandem of top prospect catchers Zack Collins and Seby Zavala are dealing with splitting time behind the plate and how they hope it works out so that they both have a productive career with the White Sox.

Mobile BayBears 9, Birmingham Barons 0

L: Brandon Brennan (2-1, 5.95 ERA), 1 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 BB

The above jinx tweet didn’t work as four BayBears pitchers threw a combined no-hitter against the Barons on Monday night. Birmingham’s offense did manage to draw seven walks, however. Barons starting pitcher Brandon Brennan only lasted one inning, and the bullpen didn’t have much more success. A forgettable night all around.

Kannapolis Intimidators 2, Asheville Tourists 1

Laz Rivera (.365): 2-for-4, 1 RBI

Tyler Frost (.248): 2-for-3, 2B, 1 R, 1 BB

Lincoln Henzman (2.47 ERA): 5 2/3 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K ***MVP***

W: Yosmer Solorzano (1-2, 5.71 ERA), 2 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

S: Tyler Johnson (6, 2.30 ERA), 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 K

The Intimidators scored both their runs with two outs in the ninth inning to steal the win. In the top of ninth, the I’s were down to their last strike with Luis Gonzalez at the plate, as the center fielder hit a dribbler in front of the plate, where Asheville catcher Austin Bernard scooped it up and threw wild to first. The error allowed Nolan Brown, who pinch ran for Carlos Perez, to score all the way from second base, tying the game at 1. That’s when SS Laz Rivera smacked a groundball through the right side, as manager Justin Jirschele waved in RF Tyler Frost from second base to give the Intimidators a 2-1 advantage.

Kannapolis wouldn’t have been in position for the victory without a masterful performance by a trio of pitchers with Henzman, Solorzano and Johnson combining to hold the Tourists to only one run on seven hits. Henzman struck out eight in just less than six full innings of work while Solorzano bridged the gap to Johnson for his sixth save of the season. A quiet night at the plate, with the Intimidators plating a pair of runs on eight hits while striking out seven times. Rivera and Frost combined for half of the I’s hits (two apiece) with Rivera being credited for the only RBI.

Prior to the game, it was announced that RHP Blake Battenfield was named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week for May 7-13. Battenfield pitched eight innings of three-hit ball while striking out a season-high 10 batters without issuing a walk against the Greenville Drive. After that performance for Battenfield, the 6-foot-3 righty lowered his ERA to 1.34 (4th among SAL starters), while also lowering his WHIP to 0.71, which leads the SAL. Also before Monday’s contest, Kannapolis placed RHP Kade McClure on the disabled list.