White Sox Minor League Update: May 3, 2019

Norfolk Tides 10, Charlotte Knights 2

Matt Tomshaw (SP): 3 ²⁄₃ IP, 6 R (6 ER), 10 H, 0 BB, 4 K, 14.73 ERA (first game with Charlotte; 1.93 ERA with Birmingham)
Colton Turner (RP): 2 ¹⁄₃ IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 4.58 ERA *MVP*
Zack Collins (C): 0-for-4, RBI, .260 AVG, .972 OPS
Daniel Palka (RF): 1-for-4, HR, .217 AVG, .836 OPS
Danny Mendick (3B): 1-for-4, SB (5), .245 AVG, .764 OPS
Joel Booker (CF): 0-for-2, BB, .136 AVG, .390 OPS
Charlie Tilson (LF): 2-for-4, .330 AVG, .868 OPS

Starter Matt Tomshaw earned a promotion with his strong performance with Birmingham in April, posting a 1.93 ERA and a 2.18 FIP. However, his first start of the year for the Knights did not go as planned. The Tides (13-16) broke through early, as they struck first in this one with an RBI single in the first. Norfolk outfielder Cedric Mullins broke it open in the second with a three-run homer to push the Tides lead to 4-0.

Zack Collins got the Knights on the board by driving in a run on a ground out in the third to make the score 4-1. But, that was as close as the Knights would get, as they did not score again until Palka’s solo homer in the ninth.

In between the Knights’ two lone runs, Tomshaw allowed two more before he was pulled. Zach Thompson had a rough day in relief, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits in just one inning. One of the few bright spots was Colton Turner, who was quite effective in his 2 ¹⁄₃ innings of work. Turner retired six of the eight batters he faced, striking out four of them. He also picked off one of the two hitters he allowed to reach.

The Knights dropped to 16-13 on the season. They will have another shot at Norfolk tomorrow at 6:05 CST, this time with Jordan Stephens (8.20 ERA) on the mound.

Chattanooga Lookouts 8, Birmingham Barons 1

Kodi Medeiros (SP): 6 IP, 6 R (3 ER), 6 H, 2 BB, 5 K, 5.79 ERA
Luis Robert (DH): 0-for-4, .000 AVG, .167 OPS
Luis Alexander Basabe (CF): 0-for-3, BB, .167 AVG, .453 OPS
Luis González (RF): 1-for-4, HR, .224 AVG, .661 OPS *MVP*
Ti’Quan Forbes (3B): 1-for-3, BB, .250 AVG, .702 OPS
Gavin Sheets (1B): 0-for-4, .196 AVG, .558 OPS

The Barons got on the board early, as Luis González hit his second home run of the season. However, it was all Chattanooga after that, as the Barons only managed three hits besides that early home run. Luis Robert is still looking for his first hit with the Barons, as he has cooled off a bit after his flaming hot start with the Dash.

Medeiros had a mediocre performance, and his defense did him no favors. The Barons made three errors, and two of them took place during Chattanooga’s five-run second inning. As a result, three of the six runs Medeiros allowed were unearned. His control was an issue, as even though two walks in six innings is a modest number, he also hit two batters. The Lookouts had a commanding lead by the time Medeiros departed, but the bullpen covered three innings and allowed two runs (one earned).

After tonight’s loss, the Barons’ record sits at 11-17. The Barons will face Chattanooga again tomorrow at 6:30 CST, and left-hander Bernardo Flores (2.77 ERA) will start.

Winston-Salem Dash 7, Potomac Nationals 3

Blake Battenfield (SP): 6 IP, 3 R (3 ER), 4 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 2.83 ERA
Alec Hansen (RP): 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 BB, 1 K, 2.13 ERA
Nick Madrigal (2B): 1-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI, .277 AVG, .738 OPS
Steele Walker (CF): 0-for-4, BB, SB (1), .188 AVG, .629 OPS
Jameson Fisher (1B): 3-for-5, RBI, .245 AVG, .725 OPS
Craig Dedelow (LF): 2-for-3, HBP, 2 RBI, OF assist, .255 AVG, .744 OPS *MVP*
Zach Remillard (SS): 1-for-4, HBP, RBI, SB (3), .260 AVG, .673 OPS

The Nationals (11-18) struck first, as outfielder Telmito Agustin homered off Blake Battenfield in the first to give Potomac a 2-0 lead. However, after that home run, the Nationals managed very little on offense against Battenfield and the bullpen.

Nick Madrigal’s double (another one?) put the Dash in front 3-2 in the top of the fifth. He has had quite a few extra base hits lately, as this is his fourth in as many games. After Potomac tied it in the bottom half, the Dash pulled away in the top of the seventh. In that inning, the Dash took advantage of an error to score three after a walk, two singles, and a sacrifice fly. The Dash had solid contributions from a variety of position players tonight, but the MVP award goes to Craig Dedelow, who reached safely three times and drove in a pair. He also cut down a runner attempting to stretch a single into a double.

The bullpen was terrific tonight, allowing zero hits and only two baserunners in three innings. Alec Hansen threw of those two scoreless innings, and he has still only allowed one hit in 12 ²⁄₃ innings this season. However, he walked two and threw only 23 of his 44 pitches (52%) for strikes. He will never be the same type of pitcher as Mark Buehrle, which is fine, but he will need more control than he has shown in his past couple of appearances.

The Dash improved to 16-13 with tonight’s victory, as they moved back into a tie for the best record among the affiliates. They will face Potomac again tomorrow at 5:35 CST, and Lincoln Henzman (3.75 ERA) is scheduled to pitch.

Kannapolis Intimidators 4, Hickory Crawdads 3

Jonathan Stiever (SP): 7 IP, 2 R (2 ER), 5 H, 1 BB, 9 K, 3.77 ERA *MVP*
Romy González (LF): 3-for-3, 2B, RBI, .467 AVG, 1.134 OPS
Bryce Bush (DH): 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, .222 AVG, .668 OPS
Ramon Beltré (2B): 2-for-3, .244 AVG, .686 OPS
Ian Dawkins (CF): 1-for-4, SB (10), .276 AVG, .701 OPS
Amado Nuñez (1B): 1-for-4, RBI, .177 AVG, .443 OPS

The Crawdads (19-8) got off to a fast start in this one, plating two runs on three hits against Jonathan Stiever in the first. However, Stiever was nearly unhittable after that inning, only allowing two hits and a walk the rest of the evening. Stiever also struck out nine, which is a new career high. His command was excellent, as he threw 65 of his 91 pitches (71%) for strikes. This was the third consecutive quality start for the former Indiana Hoosier.

Romy González quickly answered the Crawdads’ two first inning runs with an RBI single to cut the Intimidators deficit in half. Bryce Bush hit a two-run bomb in the sixth — his first home run of the year — to put the Intimidators in front.

After the Crawdads clawed back with a solo home run in the top of the eighth, Amado Nuñez drove in a run with a single in the bottom half. This time, the Intimidators would hold on, as reliever Sam Long pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

The win boosted the Intimidators record to 11-15. The Intimidators will face Hickory again tomorrow at 6:30 CST, and lefty Taylor Varnell (1.93 ERA) will start.