White Sox Minor League Update: July 8, 2018

Gwinnett Stripers 5, Charlotte Knights 4

Jose Rondon: 1-for-4, 1 R, 0 BB, 2 K

Matt Skole: 0-for-4, 0 BB, 1 K

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

Mason Robbins: 3-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 0 BB, 1 K **MVP**

Jordan Stephens: 5 ²⁄₃ IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K

Thyago Vieira: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

Aaron Bummer: 0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Though Gwinnett’s Lucas Sims did not have a successful stint in the majors earlier this year, he was able to fool Knights hitters for seven innings. Seven of the nine hits Charlotte recorded came after Sims had left the game, including all four runs. After Jordan Stephens was hit around for almost six innings, the Knights started their comeback, led by a homer from Eddy Alvarez and Mason Robbins’ RBI single, which led to a tie game in the ninth. Thyago Vieira had a successful eighth inning, but his control wavered in the ninth (wild pitch, walk) that eventually led to the game-winning run.

---

Mississippi Braves 1, Birmingham Barons 0

Luis Basabe: 0-for-4, 0 BB, 2 K

Nick Delmonico: 0-for-4, 0 BB, 0 K

Zack Collins: 0-for-3, 0 BB, 2 K

Alec Hansen: 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K **MVP**

The offense did not click this evening in Birmingham, as the Barons were shut out. On top of that, they were only able to record four hits, and struck out 10 times. However, the offensive failures pale in comparison to the outcome of Alec Hansen’s outing. On that end, there’s great news to report: After messy starts in his previous outings, Hansen was finally able to make it through six innings, for a quality start. Hansen allowed four hits and one run (off of a homer). His command was much better, with only one walk; however, he did not force swing-and-misses, so he still was not at his best. With a game score of 62, this was Hansen’s most productive outing this season, by far.

---

Winston-Salem Dash 6, Down East Wood Ducks 2

Luis Gonzalez: 0-for-4, 0 BB, 0 K

Ti’Quan Forbes: 2-for-4, 2 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Blake Rutherford: 2-for-4, 2 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 SB **MVP**

Gavin Sheets: 1-for-4, 1 RBI, 0 BB, 1 K

Luis Martinez: 7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

Unlike Birmingham, all phases of the game were on Winston-Salem’s side in their 6-2 win. Four of the Dash’s nine hits came off the the bats of two streaking hitters, Ti’Quan Forbes and Blake Rutherford. Rutherford is hitting .299, Forbes .292, good for first and second on the team. Rutherford also stole his 10th bag this year, furthering the belief that a four- to five-tool player is his destiny. Meanwhile, on the pitching side, Luis Martinez has been much improved since last month. Martinez’s ERA fell from 4.37 to 3.98 after his quality start today.

---

Lakewood Blue Claws 4, Kannapolis Intimidators 3

Craig Dedelow: 1-for-4, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Tate Blackman: 0-for-4, 0 BB, 1 K

Justin Yurchak: 2-for-4, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Carlos Perez: 2-for-3, 1 HR, 0 BB, 0 K **MVP**

Parker Rigler: 6 ²⁄₃ IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K

Parker Rigler pitched well, leaving the game in the seventh inning with a 60 game score. After a hot start in April, Rigler faltered and started to fall behind the other top starters in Kannapolis, like Blake Battenfield and Kade McClure. Rigler is now the lone starting pitcher in Kannapolis who can still move up the minor league ladder this season. Unfortunately, Rigler did not get the win, as the offense could not muster up enough big hits. Carlos Perez had one of Kanny’s two extra-base hits, with a solo homer run in the fifth inning. Justin Yurchak had two singles, as he keeps his batting average hovering in the .250s.

---

Missoula Osprey 7, Great Falls Voyagers 6

Ramon Beltre: 3-for-5, 1 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Lenyn Sosa: 0-for-5, 0 BB, 1 K

Logan Sowers: 2-for-2, 2 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 0 K **MVP**

Travis Moniot: 0-for-4, 0 BB, 1 K

Jason Bilous: 2 ²⁄₃ IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

Nick Johnson: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

Well, there you have it, after eight innings of shutout pitching, Nick Johnson has finally allowed a run, and it came at a bad time. Great Falls had a one-run lead in the ninth when Johnson blew the save with his first earned run of his career. On the hitting side, only four Voyagers collected hits, and five came from Ramon Beltre and Logan Sowers. Both Beltre and Sowers are hitting better than .300, and both should see time in Kannapolis by season’s end.

---

AZL White Sox 8, AZL Mariners 5

Camilo Quinteiro: 1-for-3, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB

Kelvin Maldonado: 0-for-3, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Luis Mieses: 1-for-1, 0 BB, 0 K - left the game

Cabrera Weaver: 1-for-3, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 SB - entered the game when Mieses left

Lency Delgado: 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 0 BB, 2 K

Anderson Comas: 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 0 BB, 1 K

Kleyder Sanchez: 0-for-1, 1 R, 0 BB, 0 K - Pinch Runner

Taylor Varnell: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K **MVP**

Sean Williams (video above) has been covering Nick Madrigal’s debut games with the AZL Sox and spoke to Madrigal on Sunday. The update is mundane, thankfully; Madrigal is just getting some time off, is due to play his final game in Arizona sometime this week before heading to Kannapolis. He’s not injured in any way.

As for the game on Sunday, the AZL Sox have been having a tough time in the field, mostly because the roster is made up of teenagers and/or first-year professionals. The Sox committed three errors in this game, but were still able to overcome their defensive miscues with a five-run sixth inning. Only two Sox players did not record a hit in the game. Camilo Quinteiro added another hit, keeping his average at .333. He should see Great Falls, or even Kannapolis, this season, but since this is his first stateside play, it’s not a given Quinteiro will be promoted. Anthony Coronado led the way for the V’s with two hits, but the star of the evening was starting pitcher Taylor Varnell. Since being drafted, Varnell has a 2.49 ERA.