White Sox Minor League Update: July 5, 2018

Durham Bulls 6, Charlotte Knights 3

José Rondón (.260): 1-for-3, R, HR (9), 2 RBI, 2 BB **MVP**

Casey Gillaspie (.223): 2-for-4, 2 2B (15), RBI, K

L: Michael Kopech (3-7, 4.70): 3 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 6 K, HR, 32 GS, 74 pitches/40 strikes

Tyler Danish (3.29): 3 IP, H, BB

Another disappointing Kopech start. There was a lot of scuttle online about him getting squeezed badly in the first inning, like recording six outs in the first inning or some such, but a pitcher has to deal with such adversities — and Kopech did not tonight. It seems clearer and clearer that a next merit call-up will go to Jordan Stephens, not Kopech. That’s a pretty big setback for a guy some Sox fans were clamoring to break camp with the big club. Danish continues solid work, keeping the Knights in the game after Kopech gakked. Both Durham and Charlotte were 1-for-9 with RISP.

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Birmingham Barons 3, Chattanooga Lookouts 2

Joel Booker (.268): 1-for-5, R, RBI, 3 K

Matt Rose (.196): 0-for-3, BB, 3 K, E (14)

Luis Basabe (.196): 2-for-3, 2 RBI, BB, K, CS (1)

Bryant Flete (.276): 2-for-4, R, 2 K, SB (3)

W: Bernardo Flores (2-1, 1.35): 6 IP, 4 H, ER, BB, 6 K, 69 GS, 96 pitches/63 strikes **MVP**

H: Zach Thompson (4.32): 2 IP, 3 H, 4 K

S: José Ruiz (6, 2.52): IP, 2 H, R, 3 K

Or perhaps it’s Flores who should be the first call-up to Chicago. Jeez oh pete Flores is dealing. The game started out inauspiciously, with Booker, Basabe and Zack Collins whiffing. The end was exciting, as well: Ruiz came on for the save and immediately let a runner on after a Trey Michalczewski error. Two singles later, one run was in and the game was 3-2, runners on the corners, none out. What does Ruiz do, with his back against the wall? What Joakim Soria didn’t tonight for the White Sox: He struck out the side for the save.

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Winston-Salem Dash 7, Down East Wood Ducks 3

Ti’Quan Forbes (.293): 4-for-4, 2 R, 2B (11), RBI, SB (4, 3rd base), picked off 1st base

Laz Rivera (.339): 3-for-4, R, 2 2B (7), 3B (1), RBI **MVP**

Gavin Sheets (.281): 1-for-4, 2 RBI

Mitch Roman (.284): 3-for-4, 2 R, K, SB (12)

Blake Battenfield (3.18): 3 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 2 HR, 28 GS, 72 pitches/44 strikes

W: Kyle Kubat (3-1, 1.57): 3 IP, H, BB, 2 K

Danny Dopico (4.08): IP, H, 2 K, 14 pitches/11 strikes

Forbes moved up to leadoff and stayed hot, with an adventuresome day on the basepaths to boot. Rivera continues to cruise, moving his average up to .339. Battenfield finally ran into a rough start, but Kubat picked him up just fine. The Dash won going away, up 5-1 after two innings. These guys are good.

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Hickory Crawdads 4, Kannapolis Intimidators 2

Nolan Brown (.288): 0-for-2, R, 2 BB

Tate Blackman (.268): 1-for-4, RBI, 3 K

Craig Dedelow (.266): 1-for 4, outfield assist at home, from CF **MVP**

Joe Mockbee (1.17): 2 IP, 2 H, ER, BB, 2 K

Kanny had just five hits in the game, but held the lead until the sixth inning. Hickory had four unanswered runs from there, completing a comeback against the sleepy I’s.

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Great Falls Voyagers 8, Missoula Osprey 5

Logan Sowers (.318): 2-for-4, 2B (3), 2 RBI, K, outfield assists at third base, from RF **MVP**

Adam McGinnis (.269): 1-for-4, 2 R, HR (3), RBI, K

Maiker Feliz (.214): 2-for-4, 2 R, RBI, K

Jonathan Stiever (3.27): 2 IP, H, K, 51 GS, 20 pitches/16 strikes

Great Falls put a six-spot on the board in the seventh inning to break this game open. Stiever is obviously operating on an innings/pitches limit, with a great start cut short after two frames.

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AZL White Sox 5, AZL Indians Second Team 4 (10)

Nick Madrigal (.000): 0-for-1, R, 2 HBP, picked off first base

Camilo Quinteiro (.326): 2-for-4, BB, K

Luis Mieses (.313): 2-for-5, 2 2B (7), 2 RBI, GW RBI **MVP**

Micah Coffey (.245): 2-for-3, BB, K

Austin Conway (0.90): 2 IP, 3 H, K

The long-awaited Madrigal debut took place, with nothing too earth-shattering. He’s due to play the entire game at shortstop tomorrow, then head off to Kannapolis. The Indians came up with a two-spot in the top of the 10th, but the White Sox returned volley with a walk-off win, Mieses clobbering a two-run double with the bases loaded and one out to win it.

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DSL Reds 5, DSL White Sox 4

Samil Polanco (.309): 2-for-4, R, K, SB (2)

Enrique Felix (.163): 0-for-4, 4 K, outfield assist at third base

Cristofer Melendez (2.93): 6 IP, 3 R/2 ER, BB, 4 K, 57 GS

L/BS: Erick Perez (6.48, 1-2, BS 3): ²⁄₃ innings, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB

And the now 5-24 DSL White Sox get walked off, in turn. Perez let in two runs in the bottom of the ninth to lose it for the Sox. The Reds had five errors and still won. The Sox struggled to only six hits.