White Sox Minor League Update: June 16, 2019

Rochester Red Wings 11, Charlotte Knights 5 (game 1)

Donn Roach (SP): 2 ²⁄₃ IP, 7 R (7 ER), 12 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 11.03 ERA
Zach Thompson (RP): 2 ¹⁄₃ IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K, 5.17 ERA *MVP*
Daniel Palka (1B): 1-for-3, 2B, BB, RBI, .253 AVG, .894 OPS
Jon Jay (RF): 2-for-4, 2 RBI, .273 AVG, .576 OPS
Paulo Orlando (LF): 1-for-4, HR, .290 AVG, .884 OPS
Zack Collins (DH): 0-for-2, BB, RBI, .250 AVG, .856 OPS
Ryan Goins (SS): 2-for-3, .328 AVG, .941 OPS

Before the game was suspended due to the weather, the Knights got off to a fast start in this one, scoring once in the first and four times in the third to take an early 5-1 lead. Paulo Orlando homered in the first, and the Knights used four hits and an error for their big third inning. Those runs crossed the plate on a two-run single by Jon Jay, an RBI double by Daniel Palka, and a sacrifice fly by Zack Collins.

However, that 5-1 lead was short-lived, as Rochester answered with six in the bottom of the third. Donn Roach had a rough day, surrendering seven runs on 12 hits, as he was responsible for the Red Wings’ huge inning. The Red Wings got eight (!) hits and took advantage of an error during that rally, as they took a 7-5 lead just before the game was suspended.

After the game resumed, Zach Thompson took over on the mound, and he had a great performance. Thompson only allowed one baserunner in his two and one-thirds innings of work, as he allowed no runs. He also struck out two.

However, Jordan Guerrero had a rough game, as the Red Wings put this one out of reach in the seventh. Guerrero allowed two two-run home runs that inning, as the Red Wings went up by six. Meanwhile, the Knights’ bats went cold. After the Knights’ fast start to the game before the game was suspended, they could not push across any runs, as Rochester won 11-5.

Rochester Red Wings 3, Charlotte Knights 2 (7 innings, game 2)

Justin Nicolino (SP): 6 ¹⁄₃ IP, 3 R (2 ER), 7 H, 0 BB, 6 K, 4.75 ERA
Daniel Palka (1B): 0-for-3, .253 AVG, .894 OPS
Danny Mendick (SS): 2-for-3, 2B, .270 AVG, .777 OPS
Adam Engel (CF): 2-for-3, HR, .241 AVG, .792 OPS *MVP*
Zack Collins (C): 0-for-3 (2 K), .250 AVG, .856 OPS
Seby Zavala (DH): 1-for-3, .231 AVG, .752 OPS

In the second game, the Knights jumped out to an early lead again, and this time, they kept it for most of the game. In the top of the second, Seby Zavala led off with a single, and he would come around to score on a two-out single by Ryan Goins.

The score remained 1-0 until the sixth, when Adam Engel homered to give the Knights an insurance run with no outs. The home run Engel’s seventh in Charlotte this season. Danny Mendick followed with a double to give the Knights a great opportunity to add another insurance run. However, they could not take advantage.

The pitching was much better, as Justin Nicolino was outstanding for a vast majority of the game. He threw six scoreless innings, and it appeared the two runs the Knights scored would be enough. In the seventh, Jake Cave led off with a home run to cut Rochester’s deficit in half. After two singles and a sacrifice fly, the Red Wings tied it, and Nicolino was pulled from the game.

Nicolino left with one out in the seventh and the winning run at second base. Carson Fulmer took over on the mound, and he retired the first batter he faced with a flyout. However, he allowed the next batter, second baseman Luis Arraez, to hit a walkoff RBI single to left.

Today’s two losses dropped the Knights’ record to 36-32. The Knights will return home for a six-game homestand, which will start with a three-game homestand against Syracuse. The first of those games will start at 6:04 CST on Tuesday. When they play Syracuse, Zack Collins will not be in the starting lineup because he has been promoted to the majors, per Andy Slater.

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Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 1, Birmingham Barons 0

Matt Tomshaw (SP): 6 IP, 1 R (0 ER), 3 H, 1 BB, 8 K, 1.85 ERA *MVP*
Nick Madrigal (2B): 1-for-4, .417 AVG, .990 OPS
Gavin Sheets (1B): 0-for-3, BB, .246 AVG, .665 OPS
Blake Rutherford (RF): 2-for-4, 2B, .231 AVG, .600 OPS
Yermin Mercedes (C): 2-for-4, .327 AVG, .886 OPS
Luis Basabe (CF): 0-for-4 (2 K), .220 AVG, .600 OPS

This was a pitchers’ duel from start to finish. The only run of the game was scored in the top of the third, when Jacksonville took advantage of an error to score an unearned run. With one out, third baseman Ti’Quan Forbes made an error to allow a runner to reach base. With two outs, Jacksonville designated hitter Brian Miller drove in the run with a single to center.

The Barons only managed five hits this game, and just one was an extra base hit (a double by Blake Rutherford). The Barons only had a few decent opportunities to push across a run, and they could not take advantage of any of them, finishing 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

The Barons fell to 27-42 on the season. After the Southern League All-Star Game on Tuesday, the Dash will open with a five-game series on the road at Chattanooga.

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Winston-Salem Dash 6, Carolina Mudcats 2

Jorgan Cavanerio (SP): 5 IP, 1 R (0 ER), 5 H, 0 BB, 5 K, 3.31 ERA
Craig Dedelow (RF): 3-for-5, 3B, RBI, .249 AVG, .750 OPS *MVP*
Carlos Perez (C): 0-for-2, BB, RBI, .255 AVG, .663 OPS
Steele Walker (DH): 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, .254 AVG, .758 OPS
Jordan George (1B): 1-for-3, 2B, BB, .235 AVG, .778 OPS

The Dash struck early and often, jumping out to a 5-0 lead after two innings. In their three-run top of the first, Craig Dedelow drove in the first run with a triple into the right-center field gap. Dedelow scored on a wild pitch to double the lead, and the Dash used a Carolina error to push another run across. The Dash added two more in the second inning, both on a home run by Steele Walker. This was Steele Walker’s fourth home run with Winston-Salem.

The Dash did not score again until the ninth inning, but luckily, they did not need to. The pitching was outstanding, and it was led by starter Jorgan Cavanerio. Cavanerio scattered five hits across five innings, as he only allowed one unearned run. He struck out five while issuing zero walks.

Thanks to this victory, the Dash improved to 38-26. After the Carolina League All-Star Game on Tuesday, the Dash will open a seven-game homestand. That will begin on Thursday at 6:00 CST against Lynchburg.

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Greensboro Grasshoppers 5, Kannapolis Intimidators 2

Devon Perez (SP): 4 IP, 4 R (4 ER), 8 H, 1 BB, 3 K, 3.86 ERA
Bryce Bush (RF): 1-for-4, HR, .198 AVG, .654 OPS
Amado Nuñez (DH): 2-for-4, 3B, RBI, .205 AVG, .594 OPS *MVP*
Corey Zangari (1B): 1-for-4, 2B, .191 AVG, .707 OPS
Michael Hickman (C): 1-for-4, .213 AVG, .664 OPS

The Grasshoppers got off to a strong start off Intimidators starter Devon Perez and never looked back. A two-run single with two outs in the first gave Greensboro a lead they would not surrender. Amado Nuñez hit an RBI triple in the second to cut the deficit in half, but that was as close as the Intimidators got. Greensboro got that run back in the third with a double, and they added another insurance run in the fourth with another double to go up 4-1.

One of the Intimidators’ few highlights on offense was a home run by right fielder Bryce Bush. This was the fifth home run of the season for the 19-year old, who the White Sox drafted in the 33rd round last year.

The Intimidators fell to 28-40. After the All-Star Game on Tuesday, the Intimidators will open a four-game home series against Augusta, which will begin on Thursday at 6:00 CST.

Our Kanny eyes, Dan Victor, had another flash postgame:

Andrew Perez already has “liked” our retweeting of Dan’s news flash, so he’s either hoping the White Sox decide promotions by social media likes, or it’s legit that these three aces are heading to Winston-Salem after the break.

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Missoula Osprey 9, Great Falls Voyagers 0

Jason Morgan (SP): 3 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 3 K, 0.00 ERA *MVP*
Brayan Herrera (RP): 1 ¹⁄₃ IP, 3 R (3 ER), 2 H, 1 BB, 1 K, 20.25 ERA
Harvin Mendoza (1B): 1-for-3, .222 AVG, .920 OPS
Kelvin Maldonado (SS): 1-for-3, .273 AVG, .546 OPS
Caberea Weaver (CF): 1-for-2, BB, .200 AVG, .473 OPS

Starter Jason Morgan had a solid performance in his three innings of work. He scattered three hits across those three innings and only issued one walk while striking out three. Unfortunately, the bullpen could not follow Morgan’s lead, as the relievers stumbled out of the gate.

After working out of a jam in the fourth, reliever Brayan Herrera allowed three runs in the fifth while only recording one out that inning before he was removed. Jack Maynard took over, and while he recorded the last two outs of the fifth, he allowed the fourth Missoula run of the inning to score on a triple.

Those runs would be more than enough for Missoula, as the Voyagers could not do much on offense. They did not get any extra base hits, and they finished 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.

This was the conclusion of a three-game series against Missoula. The Voyagers are now 1-2 on the season and will open a six-game road trip on Tuesday at Billings. That game will start at 7:35 CST.

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The DSL doesn’t play on Sundays, so the DSL White Sox (5-8) had the day off. Their next game is Monday at 9:30 am CST, in a rematch against the dastardly DSL Reds.