White Sox Minor League Update: April 14, 2019

Charlotte Knights 3, Indianapolis Indians 0

Dylan Cease: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K (W, 2-0) **CO-MVP**
Carson Fulmer: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 4 K
Danny Mendick (SS): 1-for-3, 1 BB, 0 K
Matt Skole (1B): 1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 K
Preston Tucker (DH): 1-for-3, 2B, 0 K
Brandon Guyer (LF): 0-for-1, 1 R, 2 BB, 0 K
Ryan Goins (2B): 1-for-3, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 K **CO-MVP**

The Knights brought the fire this afternoon with a three-hit shutout of Indianapolis. The pitching was obviously on the ball, with starter Dylan Cease going five solid innings, allowing no runs and pocketing four strikeouts.

Matt Skole hit his third homer of the season to get the Knights on the board in the top of the first. And it’s nice to see Carson Fulmer feeling comfortable on the mound, having two scoreless innings with four strikeouts — he’s at a 1.29 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in Charlotte, so something is clicking.

The game went into the eighth at just 1-0 Knights, when Brandon Guyer walked and Ryan Goins sent him home with a two-run homer, his first of the season, to make the score 3-0. Evan Marshall wrapped things up with a 1-2-3 inning in the ninth, for a nice end to Charlotte’s series at Indianapolis.

Tennessee Smokies 7, Birmingham Barons 6

Sean Nolin: 4 ¹⁄₃ IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 5 K , 2 HR
Danny Dopico: 2 IP, 1 ER, 1 K (L, 0-1)
Zach Thompson: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 K
Joel Booker (LF): 3-for-4, 1 R, O K, HBP
Laz Rivera (SS): 2-for-5, 1 R, 1 K
Luis Gonzalez (CF): 2-for-5, 3B, 1 RBI
Gavin Sheets (1B): 3-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI, 1 K **MVP**
Micker Adolfo (DH): 1-for-4, 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K

The Birmingham Barons had a hold on the Smokies right off, with a four-run lead in the first after RBI singles from Luis Gonzalez, Gavin Sheets, and Yermin Mercedes, as well as a Micker Adolfo RBI double that started the scoring. After a González triple in the third, Sheets doubled him in, with Sheets scoring later on a Trey Michalczewski single to right field.

With Birmingham up 6-0, everything seemed to line up for an easy win. But starter Sean Nolin, who’d allowed no runs in his first four innings, gave up two solo homers, a double, walk, and single in the top of the fifth, leaving with the sacks packed and B-ham’s lead cut to 6-2. Connor Walsh poured gasoline on the fire, allowing four runs to score on a sac fly and three doubles.

With the game tied 6-6 and Birmingham unable to score again in the game, you can see where this is heading.

González did his part to keep it close, pegging out a run at the plate in the seventh from center field.

Pitcher Danny Dopico was a hard-luck loser, pushing the deciding run home in the eight on a wild pitch. A disappointing series finale against the Smokies.

Potomac Nationals 8, Winston-Salem Dash 3

Cristian Castillo: 6 IP, 10 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, 2 HR (L, 0-1)
Kevin Escorcia: 2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 K, 1 HR
Tyler Frost (CF): 1-for-4, 1 R, 3 K
Nick Madrigal (DH): 1-for-4, 3B, 2 RBI, 0 K **MVP**
Jameson Fisher (1B): 0-for-3, 1 RBI, SAC
Tate Blackman (2B): 0-for-2, 1 BB, 1 K
JJ Muno (SS): 1-for-3, 1 R, 0 K

With Luis Robert getting a day off, would anyone step up to give the Dash that extra spark? Unfortunately, no.

Winston-Salem’s pitching started off rough, with Cristian Castillo giving up a grand slam in the first inning and another homer in the top of the third. There were no more problems for Castillo after that, as he bounced back gut out six innings and collect eight strikeouts for the afternoon.

Kevin Escorcia replaced Castillo in the top of the seventh and allowed only one run in two innings, off a homer in the eighth.

The bottom of the sixth was the Dash’s power inning. Nick Madrigal sent JJ Muno and Tyler Frost home with a two-run triple, and Jameson Fisher sent Madrigal home on a sac fly. But those three runs in the sixth were all W-S could muster for the game.

Pitcher Zach Thompson came on the mound in the ninth and allowed a sac fly and RBI double, landing the final score at 8-3, Potomac. Sparks weren’t flying this afternoon for the Dash Boys, as Winston-Salem split their home series and fall to 5-6 on the season.

Kannapolis Intimidators vs. Hickory Crawdads

Postponed: Makeup on May 30th