White Sox Minor League Update: August 9, 2018

Charlotte Knights 2, Syracuse Chiefs 1

(Conclusion of Wednesday’s suspended game)

Eloy Jimenez (.372): 1-for-4, HR (9, 19 overall), 1 RBI ***CO-MVP***

Jose Rondon (.248): 2-for-4, HR (15), 1 RBI ***CO-MVP***

Jake Elmore (.298): 1-for-3, 2B

Jordan Stephens (4.14 ERA): 4 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K

W: Ricardo Pinto (2-1, 4.35 ERA), 3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

S: Ian Hamilton (6, 1.96 ERA), 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

As we touched on briefly last evening, Eloy Jimenez and Jose Rondon hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning before the rain began and Knights pitchers made those two runs hold up to pick up the victory when the game continued on Thursday. For Jimenez, it was his ninth homer with Charlotte and No. 19 overall this minor-league season. Rondon’s homer was No. 15 of the season for him. Starting pitcher Jordan Stephens had a shut out working through four innings when the rain began on Wednesday night. Ricardo Pinto started Thursday where Stephens left off, allowing one run on three hits in three innings to get the win. Closer Ian Hamilton worked a scoreless ninth inning to pick up save No. 6 with the Knights. In 18 1/3 innings since being called up to the Knights, Hamilton has a 1.96 ERA with 16 hits allowed and 19 strikeouts to just four walks.

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Syracuse Chiefs 3, Charlotte Knights 2 in 7 innings

Ryan Cordell (.176): 1-for-3, 1 RBI

Eloy Jimenez (.371): 1-for-3, 1 RBI

Patrick Leonard (.236): 1-for-3, 2B, 1 R ***MVP***

Dustin Garneau (.212): 1-for-2, 1 R

L: Asher Wojciechowski (5-7, 4.10 ERA), 5 1/3 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 7 K

Can’t talk about the Knights without talking about Eloy Jimenez first and foremost. In Thursday’s second game, Jimenez came through with a RBI single in the two-run sixth inning, but also struck out twice. Ryan Cordell also had a RBI single while Patrick Leonard doubled and scored a run. Starting pitcher Asher Wojciechowski gave up three runs (all in the first inning) before settling down and striking out seven in 5 1/3 innings, but got stuck with the loss as the Knights’ comeback attempt fell just short.

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Montgomery Biscuits 10, Birmingham Barons 7

Luis Basabe (.232): 1-for-5, 1 R

Joel Booker (.243): 1-for-3, 1 BB

Trey Michalczewski (.266): 1-for-5, 2B, 1 RBI, 1 R

Alex Call (.276): 3-for-4, 2 HR (6), 2B, 3 RBI ***MVP***

Danny Mendick (.251): 1-for-4, HR (12), 1 RBI

Alfredo Gonzalez (.386): 2-for-3, HR (2), 2 RBI, 1 BB

Matt Tomshaw (6.14 ERA): 4 IP, 10 H, 7 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

L: Matt Foster (0-4, 4.24 ERA), 1 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

This was a truly wild affair, as the lead changed hands five times over the first five innings before Montgomery got some breathing room and hung on over the final few frames. The Barons hit four home runs and it still wasn’t enough to get a much-needed win over the team they are chasing in the standings for a playoff berth. Alex Call hit two homers, doubled off the fence and drove in three. Call now has six home runs with the Barons and 11 overall this season; and his slash line is .276/.355/.500 through 44 games at Double-A. Danny Mendick destroyed a ball for home run No. 12 in his campaign, while Alfredo Gonzalez stayed hot at the plate with two hits including his second home run. Unfortunately for the Barons, the pitchers couldn’t keep Montgomery off the scoreboard, especially early on as starting pitcher Matt Tomshaw struggled mightily, allowing seven runs on 10 hits in four innings that pushed his ERA up to 6.14 this season.

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Game 1: Hickory Crawdads 4, Kannapolis Intimidators 2 in 7 innings

Steele Walker (.238): 1-for-3, 2B

Craig Dedelow (.257): 2-for-3, HR (10), 1 RBI ***MVP***

Carlos Perez (.294): 1-for-3, 1 R

Johan Cruz (.216): 0-for-2, 1 RBI

L: Spencer Moran (1-2, 6.00 ERA), 4 1/3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K

In Game 1 of Thursday’s doubleheader, I’s bats simply couldn’t get going as they managed just two runs on four hits. LF Craig Dedelow provided the only fireworks with a solo blast in the sixth inning for his 10th home run of the season. Starting pitcher Spencer Moran couldn’t make it out of the fifth inning as his ERA sits at 6.00 after the loss.

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Game 2: Hickory Crawdads 1, Kannapolis Intimidators 0 in 7 innings

Luis Curbelo (.240): 1-for-3

Craig Dedelow (.257): 1-for-3

Michael Hickman (.209): 1-for-2

Ramon Beltre (.167): 1-for-2

L: Jhoan Quijada (1-4, 4.52 ERA), 5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K ***MVP***

Four singles and zero runs equals two losses in one day for the Intimidators. They managed just two runs in 14 innings of baseball on Thursday to get swept by Hickory, though they did out-hit the Crawdads in Game 2 of the doubleheader. Starting pitcher Jhoan Quijada deserved better after hurling five innings of one-run ball, allowing just two hits while striking out five. The tough-luck loss makes him 1-4 this season.

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Great Falls Voyagers 11, Idaho Falls Chukars 7

Romy Gonzalez (.270): 1-for-5, HR (4), 2 RBI, 2 R ***CO-MVP***

Amado Nunez (.322): 2-for-5, 3B, 2 RBI, 2 R

Gunnar Troutwine (.270): 1-for-2, 2 RBI, 1 R, 2 BB

Travis Moniot (.226): 3-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 R ***CO-MVP***

Jay Estes (.156): 1-for-4, 1 R

Matt Portland (4.06 ERA): 3 2/3 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 4 K

W: Jack Maynard (3-1, 2.89 ERA), 2 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K

Trailing 6-1 entering the fifth inning, the Voyagers plated seven runs and never looked back to score a win over Idaho Falls on Thursday. Following a leadoff walk by Gunnar Troutwine, Travis Moniot and Jay Estes singled to load the bases. An error plated one runner to keep the bases loaded and a couple of batters later Amado Nunez plated two runs with a single to left. Alex Destino then reached on an error and Ryan Fitzpatrick got hit by a pitch, bringing Gunnar Troutwine up for a second time in the frame. This time, he singled to right field which brought in two more runs. Then, a RBI single by Moniot in his second at-bat of the inning capped the wild frame. Romy Gonzalez padded the lead with a solo home run in the sixth inning.

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AZL White Sox 7, AZL Rangers 5

Camilo Quinteiro (.275): 1-for-3, 1 R, 2 BB

Tito Polo (.600): 2-for-3, HR (2), 1 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB ***MVP***

Ty Greene (.292): 2-for-4, 2B, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB

Lency Delgado (.233): 1-for-3, 2 RBI, 1 R

Harvin Mendoza (.330): 2-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 R

Jimmy Galusky (.429): 1-for-4, HR (1), 1 RBI

Anderson Comas (.287): 2-for-3, 1 BB

Sean Thompson (3.90 ERA): 3 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

W: Aaron Soto (2-1, 7.32 ERA), 3 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

S: Rigo Fernandez (5, 1.69 ERA), 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

DH Tito Polo homered for the second consecutive night and 3B Jimmy Galusky hit his first home run as the AZL White Sox held on to defeat AZL Rangers. Polo was one of four AZL White Sox with multiple hits including C Ty Greene, 1B Harvin Mendoza and RF Anderson Comas with Greene and Mendoza each driving in a run and scoring a run. SS Lency Delgado drove in two runs and scored a run.

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DSL White Sox 5, DSL D-Backs 3

Harold Diaz (.274): 2-for-3, 1 RBI, 2 BB

Jose Rodriguez (.284): 1-for-5, 1 R

Jefferson Mendoza (.210): 1-for-5, 1 R

Jhoneiker Betancourt (.237): 1-for-5, 1 R

Johnabiell Laureano (.212): 2-for-4

Andres Rosario (.162): 2-for-5, 1 R

Samil Polanco (.283): 1-for-3, 1 BB

Luis Rodriguez (4.50 ERA): 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K ***MVP***

W: Edgar Navarro (3-6, 6.65 ERA), 2 IP, 3 H, 3 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 3 K

S: Luis Nin (4, 1.62 ERA), 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

The tables were flipped in this one. Normally, the DSL White Sox give games away with their defense, and while they did commit three errors on Thursday, DSL D-Backs committed five leading to three unearned runs for DSL White Sox. All five DSL White Sox runs came in the sixth inning or later, but they never would have been in the game still if not for strong starting pitching by Luis Rodriguez, who tossed five shut out innings, but departed before he could earn the win. 2B Harold Diaz reached base four times via two hits and two walks and drove in one run to lead the offense. Closer Luis Nin picked up his fourth save of the season.