White Sox Minor League Update: June 30, 2019

Norfolk Tides 6, Charlotte Knights 1

Hector Santiago (SP): 5 IP, 8 H, 4 R (4 ER), 1 BB, 5 K, 3.57 ERA

Adam Engel (CF): 0-for-4, BB, .251 AVG, .775 OPS

Danny Mendick (LF): 1-for-5, .264 AVG, .778 OPS

Yermin Mercedes (C): 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, .458 AVG, 1.375 OPS *MVP*

Ivan De Jesús Jr. (3B): 0-for-3, BB, .259 AVG, .698 OPS

The Knights got off to a fast start in this one, as Yermin Mercedes hit an RBI double in the top of the first to grab an early lead. Unfortunately, that was the only run the Knights could push across, as they only managed three hits after the Mercedes double to finish with just four on the day.

On the mound, Hector Santiago got off to a strong start, throwing two shutout innings to open the game. But, he ended up allowing four runs, and he only lasted five innings. Though he only issued one walk, he struggled to keep the ball in the park, as he allowed two home runs in his five innings of work.

The Knights fell to 45-37 and will open a three-game series at Durham. The first game of that series will start at 6:05 CST tomorrow. Dylan Cease will not be making the trip with them, as he has been promoted and is expected to make his major league debut on Wednesday.

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Birmingham Barons 6, Tennessee Smokies 2 (10)

Vince Arobio (SP): 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 3 K

Kodi Medeiros (RP): 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K, 5.86 ERA

Luis Robert (CF): 1-for-5, .320 AVG, .891 OPS

Nick Madrigal (2B): 1-for-5, 3B, 2 RBI, .372 AVG, .892 OPS *MVP*

Blake Rutherford (RF): 1-for-5, 2B, RBI, .259 AVG, .662 OPS

Luis González (LF): 0-for-3, BB, RBI, .241 AVG, .648 OPS

Gavin Sheets (DH): 1-for-3, HR, 2 BB, .261 AVG, .719 OPS

Nate Nolan (C): 1-for-3, HR, HBP, .182 AVG, .641 OPS

Runs were hard to come by in this game, as both teams’ pitching staffs had a strong performance. The Barons used an opener, Vince Arobio, to pitch two innings. Arobio allowed one run in his two innings of work, striking out three. Kodi Medeiros had an excellent game in relief, throwing five shutout innings. He was a big reason why this game went into extras.

In the first nine innings of play, both teams scored twice. The Barons got their runs on solo home runs by Gavin Sheets (his ninth of the year) and Nate Nolan (his third). In the tenth, the Barons put together the only big inning for either side, pushing four runs across the plate. Nick Madrigal had the biggest hit of the inning, as his two-run triple was the decisive blow. Blake Rutherford added an RBI double, and Luis González drove in the final run of the game with a sacrifice fly.

The Barons improved to 34-46, while the Smokies fell to 38-42. The Barons will face Tennessee again tomorrow, and that game will start at 6:00 CST.

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Winston-Salem Dash 3, Salem Red Sox 2

Kade McClure (SP): 6 IP, 7 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 4 K, 2.12 ERA

Tyler Frost (CF): 2-for-4, HBP, .256 AVG, .759 OPS

Steele Walker (DH): 2-for-3, BB, RBI, .281 AVG, .793 OPS

Zach Remillard (3B): 3-for-4, RBI, .313 AVG, .816 OPS *MVP*

Craig Dedelow (RF): 1-for-4, RBI, .260 AVG, .766 OPS

Starting pitcher Kade McClure got off to a rough start in this one, as he fell behind 2-0 in the second inning. He allowed four hits that inning before inducing a double play ground ball to stop the bleeding. Despite that rough inning, McClure made a nice recovery and finished with a quality start. He lasted six innings, only allowing those two runs, and his control was excellent. He threw 80 pitches, and 57 of those were strikes (71%).

On the other side of the ball, it took a while for the Dash to get anything noteworthy going. Salem held them scoreless through seven, led by a great performance by starter Daniel González. However, the Dash broke through by getting four hits to score three in the eighth inning. Zach Remillard put the Dash on the board with a double, and 2018 second rounder Steele Walker tied it with a single. With his three-hit performance, Remillard earned his second SSS MVP award in as many games. Finally, former Indiana University player Craig Dedelow pushed across the winning run with a single to right field with two outs.

The Dash improved to 42-33 and will begin a three-game series against Down East at 6:00 CST tomorrow.

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West Virginia Power 9, Kannapolis Intimidators 8 (10)

Davis Martin (SP): 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 7 K, 6.04 ERA

Corey Zangari (1B): 2-for-5, HR, .227 AVG, .751 OPS

Romy González (LF): 4-for-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI, .232 AVG, .687 OPS *MVP*

Bryce Bush (RF): 0-for-5, .214 AVG, .672 OPS

Johan Cruz (3B): 0-for-5, RBI, .264 AVG, .783 OPS

The Intimidators’ bats came to play this afternoon, as they hit the ball sharply early and often. Corey Zangari hit the first home run of the game, a solo shot to put the Intimidators up 2-0 early on. Romy González had a huge game, as he hit two home runs (four hits total). His second home run gave the Intimidators a 6-2 lead in the top of the eighth.

Unfortunately, that lead was not large enough, as the bullpen had an off day. West Virginia scored two in the eighth to cut the lead in half, and they tied it in the ninth on a two-run homer.

The tenth inning was quite eventful, even beyond the free runner at second base. Romy González got another big hit, driving in the go-ahead run in the tenth, and Amado Nuñez added an insurance run to put the Intimidators up 8-6. However, that was not enough, as the Power responded with three in the bottom half to win it.

The Intimidators are now 34-45 and will return home to face Rome. The first game of that series will start at 6:00 CST tomorrow.

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Idaho Falls Chukars 14, Great Falls Voyagers 6

Chase Solesky (SP): 2 IP, 3 H, 5 R (5 ER), 2 BB, 2 K

Luis Curbelo (DH): 2-for-5, .400 AVG, 1.138 OPS

Caberea Weaver (CF): 1-for-3, 2 BB, .231 AVG, .649 OPS

Camilo Quinteiro (2B): 3-for-5, 2 RBI, .355 AVG, .784 OPS *MVP*

Joshua Rivera (SS): 2-for-4, 2 RBI, .167 AVG, .544 OPS

Kleyder Sánchez (C): 1-for-4, 2 RBI, .105 AVG, .348 OPS

Lency Delgado (3B): 1-for-4, BB, .262 AVG, .659 OPS

The Voyagers’ pitching staff had a rough day across the board, with the exception of relievers Ramon Pineda and Rigo Fernandez, who combined to pitch three scoreless innings. Starter Chase Solesky ran into trouble early on, as Idaho Falls jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first. Chukars left fielder Ismaldo Rodriguez hit a grand slam to break the game open early.

The Voyagers responded by scoring two runs on three hits in the second, and Solesky pitched a scoreless second to keep the game within reach. However, 5-2 was as close as the Voyagers would get the rest of the way, as Idaho Falls scored four more times in the fifth to put this one out of hand. Camilo Quinteiro, Joshua Rivera, and Kleyder Sánchez drove in all six runs for the Voyagers.

The Voyagers fell to 5-8, while the Chukars continued their hot start, improving to 12-1. The Voyagers will travel to Billings to take on the Mustangs, and the first of those games will start at 7:35 CST tomorrow.

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AZL Rangers 7, AZL White Sox 6

Cooper Bradford (SP): 1 IP, 5 H, 5 R (5 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 11.57 ERA

Andrew Vaughn (1B): 2-for-4, HBP, .500 AVG, 1.100 OPS (first game in White Sox organization) *co-MVP*

José Rodriguez (SS): 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, .325 AVG, 1.057 OPS *co-MVP*

Harold Diaz (2B): 3-for-5, 3B, 2 2B, RBI, .385 AVG, 1.121 OPS

James Beard (CF): 2-for-6, RBI, .200 AVG, .527 OPS

Bryan Ramos (DH): 2-for-4, BB, RBI, .316 AVG, .900 OPS

DJ Gladney (3B): 2-for-4, .271 AVG, .827 OPS

The AZL White Sox were retired in order in the first, and starting pitcher Cooper Bradford put them in an early hole. Bradford allowed five runs on five hits in his only inning of work. Keyber Rodriguez capped off the big inning with a two-run homer. This was a rough outing for Bradford to say the least. On to the next one.

As for the offense, all eyes were on Andrew Vaughn, as this was the White Sox’s first round pick’s debut as a professional. Vaughn struck out in his first at-bat, but he reached base in his second plate appearance when he was hit by a pitch in the third inning. Unfortunately, the ball got him on the helmet, but he was able to stay in the game.

Vaughn got his first hit as a professional in his next plate appearance, as he singled to center field. He singled again to lead off the seventh to reach base for the third time.

Thanks to two singles, the Vaughn HBP, and a walk to Bryan Ramos with the bases loaded, the AZL White Sox got on the board in the third. However, they could not get a big inning, as Jonathan Allen lined out to strand the bases loaded. The AZL Rangers would get that run back in their half of the third on a wild pitch.

The AZL White Sox put another on the board in the fifth. José Rodriguez hit a solo shot, his third homer of the season, as the 18-year old shortstop continued his terrific start. In the sixth, a triple by Harold Diaz followed by an RBI groundout by James Beard pulled the good guys within three. They had a golden opportunity to get closer, loading the bases with nobody out in the seventh, but they failed to score.

In the following inning, the AZL White Sox continued to cut into the AZL Rangers’ lead, as they scored twice more to make the score 6-5. The first of those runs crossed the plate on a José Rodriguez single, and the second one scored on an error. However, the AZL Rangers answered with an insurance run in the eighth on another Keyber Rodriguez home run, and the AZL White Sox’s ninth inning rally fell short.

The AZL White Sox fell to 6-6 and will have a day off tomorrow. Their next game will be on Tuesday, and that one will start at 7:00 CST.

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DSL White Sox

The Dominican Summer League does not have Sunday games, so the DSL White Sox had the day off. They will have an early start tomorrow against the DSL Padres (11:30 CST).