White Sox Minor League Update: June 14, 2018

Norfolk Tides 6, Charlotte Knights 4

Jacob May (.251): 1-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 R

Avisail Garcia (.333): 2-for-4, HR (1), 2B, 3 RBI ***MVP***

Dustin Garneau (.152): 1-for-4, 1 R

Eddy Alvarez (.285): 1-for-3, 2B, 1 R

L: Michael Kopech (2-5, 5.20 ERA), 3 IP, 2 H, 5 ER, 8 BB, 2 K

RHP Michael Kopech did an amazing impression of Ricky ‘Wild Thing’ Vaughn pre-prescription lenses in “Major League” issuing eight walks in three innings. Kopech threw 86 pitches (51 out of the strike zone) while allowing five runs and only striking out two. His record falls to 2-5 while his ERA soared to 5.20 -- maybe all the talk of a promotion to Chicago is still a bit premature? On the bright side, RF Avisail Garcia may be ready to re-join the big-league club after smacking his first home run of the rehab assignment along with a double and three RBI.

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Birmingham Barons 3, Chattanooga Lookouts 0

Zack Collins (.273): 1-for-3, 2B, 1 BB

Eloy Jimenez (.320): 2-for-3, 2B, 1 R, 1 BB

Seby Zavala (.269): 4-for-4

Trey Michalczewski (.260): 1-for-4, 1 RBI

Keon Barnum (.204): 2-for-4, 1 R

Ryan Brett (.270): 1-for-4, HR (3), 2 RBI

W: Dane Dunning (5-2, 2.78 ERA), 8 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 K ***MVP***

S: Ian Hamilton (12, 1.78 ERA), 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Dane Dunning turned in an absolutely dominant performance with eight innings of shutout ball to lead the Barons to victory on Thursday. Dunning threw 97 pitches (68 for strikes) while striking out 10 (season high) and allowing just four hits for an absurd 90 game score. Dunning was perfect through four innings, recording his fifth quality start since his promotion to Double-A. Ian Hamilton came on to close it out for his 12th save of the season. Ryan Brett belted his third home run in the fourth inning. Eloy Jimenez raised his batting average to .320 with a pair of hits, including a double and a run scored. Meanwhile, Seby Zavala was perfect at the plate with four hits in four at-bats -- all singles. Keon Barnum’s hot week continued with two more hits to get his batting average to .204. Over his last four games, Barnum is 7-for-13, and now has a six-game hitting streak.

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Winston-Salem Dash 8, Wilmington Blue Rocks 2

Alex Call (.259): 0-for-2, 2 R, 2 BB

Luis Alexander Basabe (.272): 1-for-3, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 SB (7)

Micker Adolfo (.276): 2-for-4, 2B, 1 RBI, 1 R

Yermin Mercedes (.262): 2-for-3, HR (5), 2B, 3 RBI, 1 BB

Gavin Sheets (.250): 1-for-4, 1 RBI

Yeyson Yrizarri (.256): 2-for-4, 2B

W: Dylan Cease (9-2, 2.89 ERA), 8 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K ***MVP***

The Dash win combined with Potomac’s 2-0 victory over Buies Creek gave Winston-Salem the Carolina League’s Southern Division first-half championship. RHP Dylan Cease was brilliant once again, pitching eight innings while allowing just two runs on five hits for a game score of 72. Cease threw 106 pitches (70 for strikes) while striking out four. C Yermin Mercedes brought the biggest bat in this one with two hits including his fifth home run of the season, a double and three RBI. Micker Adolfo also had a pair of hits including a double, one RBI and a run scored.

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Game 1: Delmarva Shorebirds 6, Kannapolis Intimidators 1 in 7 innings

Laz Rivera (.347): 1-for-2, 2B

Tyler Frost (.224): 1-for-2, HR (9), 1 RBI ***MVP***

L: Blake Battenfield (5-3, 2.00 ERA), 5 IP, 10 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

Delmarva jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the third inning and never looked back as I’s bats went silent. The Intimidators managed just three hits in Game 1 of Thursday’s doubleheader, with their only run coming on an inside-the-park home run by Tyler Frost in the third inning. It was a rare rough start for RHP Blake Battenfield who surrendered four runs on 10 hits in five innings as his ERA jumped to 2.00 on the season. It was the most earned runs allowed by Battenfield this season, who came into the game having allowed no more than two earned runs in any of his previous 12 starts. Battenfield entered Thursday’s start having allowed just six earned runs over his previous seven starts.

Game 2: Delmarva Shorebirds 8, Kannapolis Intimidators 4 in 7 innings

Laz Rivera (.346): 1-for-3, 2B, 1 BB

Anthony Villa (.283): 2-for-3, 2B, 1 RBI, 2 R ***MVP***

Justin Yurchak (.251): 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB

Evan Skoug (.230): 1-for-3, 1 RBI

Tyler Frost (.226): 1-for-3, 1 R

L: John Parke (6-4, 3.10 ERA), 4 IP, 7 H, 8 R (6 ER), 3 BB, 5 K

Just two days after sweeping Delmarva in a doubleheader, the Intimidators were the ones getting swept after dropping Game 2 on Thursday. After recording only three hits in Game 1, the I’s managed just six in Game 2 led by 1B Anthony Villa’s two-hit effort with a double, RBI and two runs scored. Justin Yurchak and Evan Skoug drove in the other I’s runs. Starting pitcher John Parke struggled throughout his four innings, giving up two runs in the first, another in the second and five in the fourth inning. The six earned runs allowed by Parke are the most since he gave up five on May 23. CF Luis Robert went hitless in both games (0-for-6, one walk) as his average dipped to .229 since returning from injury last week.

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DSL Padres 7, DSL White Sox 2

Johnabiell Laureano (.190): 1-for-5, 2B, 1 R

Jorgen Rosas (.191): 1-for-4, 1 RBI

Jose Rodriguez (.413): 3-for-4, 2B, 1 R, 1 SB (5) ***MVP***

Jhoneiker Betancourt (.233): 1-for-4, 2B, 1 RBI

Jesus Rondon (9.39 ERA): 3 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

L: Yoelvin Silven (0-1, 9.00 ERA), 1 IP, 3 H, 3 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K

More errors (3) than runs (2) doomed the DSL White Sox late in Thursday’s loss to the DSL Padres. Tied 2-2 in the seventh inning, the DSL Padres scored three runs but only one was earned, they then tacked on two more in the eighth inning to seal the deal. Starting pitcher Jesus Rondon pitched well for three innings, allowing just one hit and one earned run. SS Jose Rodriguez continues to impress with three more hits, including a double, to raise his batting average to .413 as well as one stolen base and one run scored.