White Sox Minor League Update: August 23, 2018

Norfolk Tides 9, Charlotte Knights 8

Ryan Cordell (.229): 1-for-4, 2B, 1 R, 1 BB

Eloy Jimenez (.360): 4-for-5, 2B, 1 RBI, 1 R ***CO-MVP***

Seby Zavala (.255): 3-for-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 1 R ***CO-MVP***

Patrick Leonard (.237): 1-for-5, HR (10), 2 RBI ***CO-MVP***

Dustin Garneau (.234): 1-for-3, HR (6), 1 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB

Bryant Flete (.600): 2-for-3, 2B, 1 RBI

Jordan Stephens (4.58 ERA): 5 IP, 9 H, 5 R (4 ER), 4 BB, 4 K

L: Rob Scahill (2-4, 5.50 ERA), 1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Offensive fireworks galore just weren’t enough as the pitching couldn’t keep Norfolk off the scoreboard after the Knights grabbed a 6-2 lead in the fifth inning. Patrick Leonard (No. 10) and Dustin Garneau (No. 6) both hit home runs -- a two-run blast for Leonard. Eloy Jimenez had four hits, including a double, one RBI and one run scored (does a four-hit game check a box and get him closer to MLB?) Seby Zavala had a three-hit day, including two doubles and two RBI plus one run scored. Unfortunately, reliever Rob Scahill had nothing to offer. In one inning he allowed four runs on five hits which allowed Norfolk to take a 9-6 lead they would never relinquish.

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Birmingham Barons 6, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 0

(Conclusion of Wednesday’s suspended game)

Joel Booker (.276): 2-for-5, 2 RBI

Luis Basabe (.256): 3-for-5, 2 RBI

Mitch Roman (.241): 2-for-5, 1 RBI, 2 R

Danny Mendick (.251): 1-for-3, 2 R, 1 BB

Keon Barnum (.215): 2-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB

Dylan Cease (1.72 ERA): 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 11 K

W: Brian Clark (2-3, 4.97 ERA), 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K

Where was this offense last night? After being held scoreless for six innings on Wednesday night, allowing the rain to begin and more-or-less wash away Dylan Cease’s dominating 11-strikeout start, the Barons plated six runs over the final three frames after the game re-started on Thursday to score a win. Luis Basabe led the hitting charge with three hits and two RBI. Joel Booker, Mitch Roman and Keon Barnum each contributed two hits with Booker driving in a pair, Roman having one RBI and two runs scored and Barnum picking up one RBI and one run. Barons pitching was just as strong picking up where Cease left off as Brian Clark and Brandon Brennan combined for four shut out innings, striking out six. In total, three Barons pitchers beginning with Cease combined for a shut out while striking out 17 Jumbo Shrimp.

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Birmingham Barons 4, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 1

Mitch Roman (.258): 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 SB (2)

Zack Collins (.241): 1-for-4, 1 R

Trey Michalczewski (.257): 1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 1 R ***CO-MVP***

Matt Rose (.184): 1-for-4, 1 RBI

Jameson Fisher (.221): 1-for-3, HR (6), 1 RBI

Kodi Medeiros (3.55 ERA): 5 2/3 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K ***CO-MVP***

W: Zach Thompson (4-0, 1.53 ERA), 2 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K ***CO-MVP***

S: Jose Ruiz (14, 2.98 ERA), 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

All of the tweets above tell you the story of this game much better than I can. Hopefully those, the video and the stats suffice as a description of what happened in Thursday night’s regularly scheduled game.

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Winston-Salem Dash 5, Myrtle Beach Pelicans 4

Luis Robert (.263): 1-for-4, 1 RBI

Nick Madrigal (.254): 0-for-3, 0 BB, 0 K

Blake Rutherford (.292): 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 BB

Yermin Mercedes (.293): 1-for-3, 2B, 2 R, 1 BB

Gavin Sheets (.288): 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB

Ti’Quan Forbes (.275): 1-for-3, 2 RBI, 1 BB ***MVP***

Nolan Brown (.185): 1-for-2, 2 BB

Alec Hansen (3.00 ERA): 4 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 5 BB, 4 K

W: Danny Dopico (1-4, 3.42 ERA), 2 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K

The Dash have a knack for flipping a switch late in ballgames and pulling out a win from the jaws of defeat. Trailing 4-1 in the eighth inning and unable to muster much offense for the first seven frames, the Dash put up a crooked number, plating four runs and holding on for the victory. After Zach Remillard and Blake Rutherford singled, Yermin Mercedes walked to load the bases. Gavin Sheets then drew a walk to plate the first run of the inning and Ti’Quan Forbes walked to force in the second run. Laz Rivera’s sacrifice fly scored another run and Luis Robert followed a few batters later with a sacrifice fly of his own. Sure, not super exciting with hits and homers, but good fundamental baseball and plate discipline on display. The other Dash run came in the second inning when Forbes singled to left field plating Mercedes after Yermin doubled earlier in the inning.

Starting pitcher Alec Hansen allowed one run in four innings but was wild throughout, walking five batters. Hansen threw 75 pitche -- 40 for balls. Here’s a good scouting report on Hansen after his start tonight:

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Game 1: Augusta GreenJackets 3, Kannapolis Intimidators 2 in 7 innings

Luis Curbelo (.228): 1-for-3

Steele Walker (.209): 1-for-3

Michael Hickman (.217): 2-for-3, HR (2), 2 RBI ***MVP***

Justin Yurchak (.250): 1-for-3

L: Drew Harrington (8-7, 5.09 ERA), 6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 5 K

Michael Hickman’s two-run homer in the ninth inning made this one interesting, but ultimately wasn’t enough as the I’s dropped Game 1 of Thursday’s doubleheader. Starting pitcher Drew Harrington hurled a complete game, saving the bullpen for Game 2. Harrington allowed three runs on six hits in six innings while striking out five. The loss sends Harrington’s record to 8-7 while his ERA hangs slightly above 5.00 for the season.

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Game 2: Augusta GreenJackets 5, Kannapolis Intimidators 4 in 7 innings

Tyler Frost (.234): 1-for-2, 2 R, 2 BB

Luis Curbelo (.237): 3-for-3, 2B, 1 R, 1 BB ***CO-MVP***

Craig Dedelow (.255): 2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI ***CO-MVP***

L: Parker Rigler (6-8, 4.32 ERA), 5 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 0 BB, 7 K

Starting pitcher Parker Rigler barely made it out of the first inning, giving up four runs to give the I’s an uphill battle immediately. Rigler recovered to only give up one more run and give the squad five innings, but that one run proved to be the difference. The Intimidators tried to battle back, plating three runs in the third inning and another in the fifth, but falling just short. LF Craig Dedelow had two hits, including a two-run double in the third and finished with three RBI. DH Luis Curbelo had three hits, reached base four times and scored a run in the losing effort.

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Ogden Raptors 8, Great Falls Voyagers 7

Travis Moniot (.269): 2-for-5, 2B, 1 R

Logan Sowers (.307): 1-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SB (4)

Bryce Bush (.295): 1-for-4, 1 BB

Amado Nunez (.335): 1-for-5, HR (4), 2 RBI ***CO-MVP***

Gunnar Troutwine (.330): 3-for-5, 1 R

Ryan Fitzpatrick (.227): 1-for-3, HR (3), 2 RBI, 1 BB ***CO-MVP***

Maiker Feliz (.245): 2-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 R

Jason Bilous (6.25 ERA): 3 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K

L: Chris Comito (4-5, 6.31 ERA), 1 2/3 IP, 5 H, 5 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 2 K

The Voyagers appeared to have this one in hand with a 7-3 lead in the fifth inning, but that was erased quickly and permanently when Ogden plated five runs in the fifth and held the Voyagers off the scoreboard the rest of the night. Defensive miscues behind reliever Chris Comito didn’t help as two of the five runs that scored in the fifth were unearned with two errors in the frame. At the plate, 2B Amado Nunez continues to shine, hitting his fourth home run -- a two-run blast as his average stands at .335 on the season. 1B Ryan Fitzpatrick also hit a two-run homer -- his third of the season. C Gunnar Troutwine had three hits and scored a run.

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AZL White Sox 8, AZL Indians 3

Anderson Comas (.320): 2-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB

Jimmy Galusky (.429): 2-for-5, 2 R

Harvin Mendoza (.328): 1-for-5, 2 RBI

Cabera Weaver (.261): 4-for-5, 2 3B, 3 R ***CO-MVP***

Lency Delgado (.233): 2-for-5, 3 RBI, 1 R ***CO-MVP***

Camilo Quinteiro (.270): 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 BB

W: Brayan Herrera (5-2, 2.70 ERA), 5 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

S: Rigo Fernandez (8, 1.65 ERA), 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

AZL White Sox jumped out to a 5-0 lead through their half of the fourth inning and never looked back in a win over AZL Indians on Thursday. They pounded out 14 hits with five starters having at least two hits. CF Cabera Weaver had a four-hit night, with half those hits being triples and scored three runs. SS Lency Delgado had three RBI and scored a run. RF Anderson Comas, 3B Jimmy Galusky and 2B Camilo Quinteiro each had two hits. Relief pitcher Rigo Fernandez pitched three innings of one-hit ball to earn the save and his ERA now stands at 1.65 this season.

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DSL Reds 8, DSL White Sox 3

Richard Garcia (.200): 2-for-4, 3B, 1 RBI ***MVP***

L: Wilber Perez (6-3, 1.92 ERA), 5 IP, 7 H, 3 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 8 K

DSL White Sox were out-hit 12-2 and had as many hits as errors, with both coming off the same bat -- that of Richard Garcia’s. Garcia tripled and had a RBI to provide all the DSL White Sox offense. Starting pitcher Wilber Perez struck out eight, while allowing two earned runs on seven hits in five innings. Perez takes the loss, but his ERA remains under 2.00 for the season.