White Sox Minor League Update: July 21, 2019

Pawtucket Red Sox 3, Charlotte Knights 1

Donn Roach (SP) L (2-6), 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 3 HR (8.23 ERA, 1.96 WHIP)
Colton Turner (RP) 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K (6.57 ERA, 1.61 WHIP) **MVP**
Juan Minaya (RP) 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K (5.19 ERA, 1.56 WHIP)
Luis Robert (CF) 0-for-4, 2 K (.326 BA, 1.142 OPS)
Daniel Palka (DH) 1-for-4, R, 2B (17), 2 K (.274 BA, .908 OPS)
Paulo Orlando (RF) 1-for-4, RBI (28) (.263 BA, .786 OPS)
Seby Zavala (1B) 0-for-3, 2 K (.233 BA, .781 OPS)
Trey Michalczewski (2B) 0-for-2, BB, 2 K (.219 BA, .744 OPS)
Danny Mendick (SS) 0-for-2, BB, K (.274 BA, .798 OPS)

Veteran hurler Donn Roach gave up solo homers in each of the first two innings, but things could’ve been much worse for him in the second as he relinquished two walks and a single after the homer. The Red Sox stranded three runners that inning, but the havoc took its toll on Roach as he labored through 54 total pitches in those two innings. Of course, the Red Sox got another solo round-tripper in the third via the bat of Rusney Castillo. All things considered, however, Roach kept his team in the game by allowing just the three earned runs over five innings.

Oh, did I forgot to mention that the duo of Erasmo Ramirez and Brian Johnson had kept the Knights hitless through six innings? Daniel Palka took matters into his own hands with a leadoff double off Johnson in the seventh, eventually coming around to score on an RBI single by Paulo Orlando to tighten the score to 3-1.

That was all the damage the Knights could muster on this day. The bullpen, consisting of Colton Turner and Juan Minaya, pitched well and kept Charlotte in the game until the bitter end. It’s hard to give an offensive player the MVP today, with 12 strikeouts to go along with a measly two hits and two walks. As a result, Turner wins the MVP as he surrendered just a hit and walk while fanning three in his two innings. With the loss, Charlotte fell to 53-47.

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Birmingham Barons 7, Tennessee Smokies 6

Tanner Banks (SP) 3 ¹⁄₃ IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 2 K (4.28 ERA, 1.21 WHIP)
Luis Martinez (RP) 2 ²⁄₃ IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K (4.78 ERA, 1.38 WHIP)
Danny Dopico (RP) 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K (2.38 ERA, 1.10 WHIP)
Vince Arobio (RP) W (2-0), 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K (3.24 ERA, 1.32 WHIP)
Luis Gonzalez (CF) 0-for-5, 3 K (.235 BA, .634 OPS)
Nick Madrigal (2B) 2-for-4, R, 2B (8), BB (.370 BA, .925 OPS)
Blake Rutherford (RF) 1-for-5, R, 2 K (.259 BA, .667 OPS)
Gavin Sheets (1B) 1-for-5, 2B (13), 2 K (.278 BA, .773 OPS)
Ti’Quan Forbes (DH) 0-for-2, R, BB, K (.255 BA, .709 OPS)
Damek Tomscha (3B) 4-for-5, R, 2 2B (4), HR (2), 4 RBI (7), K, E (3) (.306 BA, .933 OPS) **MVP**
Joel Booker (LF) 1-for-3, R, BB, E (3) (.275 BA, .656 OPS)
Alfredo Gonzalez (C) 1-for-1, R, HR (1), 2 RBI (11), 3 BB (.245 BA, .697 OPS)
Laz Rivera (SS) 0-for-2, 2 K (.246 BA, .585 OPS)

This game remained scoreless for the first three innings, thanks in part to Nick Madrigal’s defense:

Who says he doesn’t have an arm?! This is Madrigal’s 31st game for the Barons, and he’s yet to make an error in more than 120 chances. Amazing!

Madrigal actually scored the game’s first run in the third, courtesy of a wild pitch. However, Banks immediately relinquished the lead — and then some. Banks sailed through the first three innings, but the second time through the Smokies lineup proved to be his undoing. Six consecutive runners got on base (three doubles, two walks and a single) with one out as the one-run Barons lead now disintegrated into a 5-1 deficit. Unfortunately Martinez was unable to save Mr. Banks, allowing the inherited run to score via sac fly to make it 6-1.

Damek Tomscha clubbed a solo homer in the fourth to make it 6-2, and then with Joel Booker on base, Alfredo Gonzalez absolutely tattooed a pitch 499 feet into left field for his first tater of the year. Let me repeat: 499 feet!! With that bomb bursting in the Birmingham air, the Barons reduced the deficit to 6-4.

The next inning, Tomscha again wreaked havoc on the Smokies as he lined a two-run double to center evening the game at 6-6. Who know that five-run leads couldn’t last in the cavernous confines of Regions Field?

Martinez pitched 2 ²⁄₃ innings of shutout baseball, setting the stage for Danny Dopico to begin the seventh. He stifled the Smokies for two innings, ensuring the score would remain at six. It’ll be interesting to see what the Sox will do with Dopico, as he will be eligible for the Rule 5 Draft this December.

After a scoreless inning by Vince Arobio, the Barons were prepared to do some damage. Gavin Sheets doubled to right with one out, with Forbes getting hit by a pitch in the subsequent at-bat. This brought up Tomscha, today’s MVP, who pulled a double to left to score pinch-runner Ramon Torres with the game-winning run. What a day for Tomscha: 4-for-5, two doubles and four RBIs, including the game-winner! Gonzalez also deserves a shout-out with his monster home run and three walks — the Smokies just didn’t want to pitch to him after his titanic blast. Yet another shout-out goes to Torres, whose amazing slide was the game-winner. And one final shout-out goes to the Birmingham bullpen, which didn’t relinquish a run in its 5 ²⁄₃ innings of work. With this amazing come-from-behind victory, the Barons improved to 44-52 on the season.

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Winston-Salem Dash 7, Down East Wood Ducks 6, 11 innings

Kade McClure (SP) 6 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR (2.32 ERA, 1.13 WHIP)
Andrew Perez (RP) 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K (2.08 ERA, 1.54 WHIP)
Will Kincanon (RP) 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K (2.01 ERA, 1.39 WHIP)
Jake Elliott (RP) W (4-2), 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K (4.26 ERA, 1.22 WHIP)
Tyler Frost (DH) 1-for-4, BB, K (.256 BA, .760 OPS)
Mitch Roman (3B) 1-for-5, R (.282 BA, .673 OPS)
Steele Walker (CF) 1-for-4, 2 R, BB, K (.266 BA, .751 OPS)
Craig Dedelow (RF) 3-for-4, 2 R, 2 HR (13), 4 RBI (48), K (.270 BA, .812 OPS) **MVP**
Zach Remillard (SS) 0-for-5, RBI (37), K (.287 BA, .736 OPS)
Jameson Fisher (1B) 0-for-5, R, 2 K (.232 BA, .702 OPS)
Carlos Perez (C) 2-for-5, K (.247 BA, .603 OPS)
J.J. Muno (LF) 0-for-3, R, RBI (27), BB, K (.238 BA, .774 OPS)
Tate Blackman (2B) 1-for-3, 2B (8), RBI (10), BB, K (.170 BA, .563 OPS)

Texas Rangers prospect Julio Pablo Martinez initiated today’s scoring with an RBI double in the second inning off underrated prospect Kade McClure. The Wood Ducks tacked another run that inning to make it 2-0, and the score remained that way until the bottom half of the third, when Tate Blackman knocked in J.J. Muno with an opposite-field double.

McClure had been sailing along through two outs in the fifth, when Bubba Thompson hit a two-run homer to extend the Ducks lead to 4-1. The score remained that way until Craig Dedelow clubbed his 12th homer of the season, a two-run shot plating Steele Walker, which tightened the deficit to 4-3.

Andrew Perez pitched a wobbly seventh by allowing a hit and two walks, but completed it unscathed by leaving the Ducks on the pond. Will Kincanon pitched a solid eighth, keeping the Dash within a run. Then, on the bottom of the eighth, Zach Remillard scored the speedy Walker to deadlock the game, 4-4.

Jake Elliott entered the 10th and struggled out of the gate, surrendering two runs before inducing his first out. However, he did escape the inning without further damage. Then, with opening runner Mitch Roman still at second with one out, Dedelow decided he simply didn’t like trailing 6-4:

This guy’s an extra-base machine, as he now owns 15 doubles, seven triples and 13 homers to his ever-growing resume. With the score tied 6-6, Elliott pitched an exemplary 11th inning by getting his three batters out in order. Then, after Carlos Perez singled the opening runner Jameson Fisher to third with nobody out, Muno hit a sac fly to center to win the game, 7-6!

It took a real team effort to defeat the Ducks, who are an amazing 68-33. Kincanon pitched an excellent two innings in relief, including fanning the side in the ninth. But the obvious MVP of the game is Dedelow, who was 3-for-5 with two homers and four RBIs, including the game-tying homer in the 10th. It wouldn’t be too surprising to see him earn a shot in Birmingham before the end of this season. With the victory, the Dash improved their record to 52-43.

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Kannapolis Intimidators 5, Lakewood BlueClaws 4

Davis Martin (SP) W (6-8), 6 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, 1 HR (5.85 ERA, 1.37 WHIP)
Declan Cronin (RP) 1 ²⁄₃ IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K (4.76 ERA, 1.24 WHIP)
Jacob Lindgren (RP) SV (1), 1 ¹⁄₃ IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K (0.00 ERA, 0.90 WHIP)
Ian Dawkins (CF) 1-for-4, BB, K, CS (7) (.315 BA, .792 OPS)
Johan Cruz (SS) 1-for-4, BB, 2 K (.296 BA, .855 OPS)
Andrew Vaughn (1B) 0-for-2, R, BB, K (.281 BA, .864 OPS)
Alex Destino (RF) 2-for-3, 2 R, HR (12), 2 RBI (51), BB (.317 BA, .908 OPS) **MVP**
Amado Nunez (DH) 1-for-4, 3B (2), K (.225 BA, .617 OPS)
Camilo Quinteiro (3B) 1-for-1, 3 BB (.308 BA, .832 OPS)
Ramon Beltre (2B) 1-for-4, 3B (6), RBI (23), 2 K, E (17) (.222 BA, .585 OPS)

This game remained scoreless until the bottom of the second, when Ramon Beltre sliced an RBI double to right scoring Camilo Quinteiro. Alex Destino, who’s been sizzling hot this entire month, pulled a 400-foot homer to right plating Andrew Vaughn to give the Intimidators an early 3-0 lead. How hot has Destino been? Since July 1, he’s slashed .403/.469/.569 with three homers and 18 RBIs — and that’s not even including this game!

The BlueClaws were held scoreless in the first three innings, as starter Davis Martin allowed just one hit while striking out five during that span. He’s actually pitched much better lately than his numbers indicate, as he did suffer through a horrifically bad April and May (combined 7.41 ERA and 1.59 WHIP in 10 starts). The first jam he pitched through was the fourth, when he suffered through an uncharacteristic bout of wildness by walking two and hitting a batter forcing the bases loaded. Unfortunately, Martin couldn’t get through the inning unscathed, as he allowed two singles to plate a combined three runs to even the game 3-3. Martin shut the door on the BlueClaws for the next three innings.

The Intimidators received some assistance from the BlueClaws in the bottom of the fifth, as Destino and Quinteiro were given free passes. They both scored on a fly ball hit by Michael Hickman to the left fielder, who misplayed it for a two-base error giving Kannapolis a 5-3 lead. The BlueClaws narrowed their deficit thanks to a solo homer in the sixth by Cole Stobbe. Things got scary in the top of the eighth as a walk, single and hit batsman loaded the bases with two out against Declan Cronin. Hard-throwing southpaw Jacob Lindgren was summoned to quell the BlueClaw rally, which he accomplished by inducing a comeback grounder. Lindgren returned for the ninth, but aside from a leadoff bunt single that was erased by a 4-6-3 double play, it was relatively smooth sailing, earning him his first save of the season. With the victory, the Intimidators improved to 44-55. Destino, with two hits and his 12th homer, merited the MVP for the home squad. A special notice, however, goes to Quinteiro who was on base all four times — once on a single and three times with walks. He’s done nothing but impress during his two years in the Sox system.

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Missoula Osprey 6, Great Falls Voyagers 1

Avery Weems (SP) L (1-1), 4 ¹⁄₃ IP, 8 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K (2.20 ERA, 1.29 WHIP)
Rigo Fernandez (RP) 3 ²⁄₃ IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K (7.41 ERA, 1.59 WHIP) **MVP**
Allan Beer (RP) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K (15.75 ERA, 2.25 WHIP)
Luis Curbelo (3B) 1-for-4, 2B (4) (.296 BA, .876 OPS)
Harvin Mendoza (DH) 1-for-4, 2B (8) (.311 BA, .942 OPS)
Luis Mieses (RF) 1-for-3, R, HR (3), RBI (16), BB (.276 BA, .704 OPS)
Sam Abbott (1B) 0-for-3, BB, 2 K, E (4) (.242 BA, .782 OPS)
Ty Greene (C) 2-for-3, 2B (3), E (1) (.346 BA, .855 OPS)

The Osprey plated the game’s first run, courtesy of a two-out wild pitch/throwing error by Ty Greene in the first inning. An RBI triple in the second and a run-scoring single an inning later presented the Osprey with a 3-0 lead. Weems was really scuffling in this one, which has been an unusual occurrence for the recent sixth-round pick from Arizona. But are three-run leads truly safe in Great Falls? The Osprey didn’t think so, as they scored two more in the fifth thanks in large part to an error by Sam Abbott. Rigo Fernandez entered the game to try to prevent Missoula from clawing its way to more runs, and did an outstanding job at holding the Osprey at bay.

Mieses finally got the Voyagers on the board on the bottom half of the fifth with a solo homer to right-center to cut the gap to 5-1. The Osprey did add a run off of Fernandez in the eighth to increase their lead to 6-1. Other than that, the duo of Fernandez and Allan Beer did a terrific job out of the pen.

Aside from the Mieses homer, the Voyagers didn’t do much job offensively, as they accumulated just five hits. While Mieses was definitely considered for MVP honors, the honor goes to Fernandez, whose yeoman work helped save the rest of the bullpen.

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AZL Padres 2 3, AZL White Sox 2

Bernardo Flores (SP) 3 ²⁄₃ IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HR (2.25 ERA, 1.13 WHIP)
Nick Silva (RP) ¹⁄₃ IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K (5.79 ERA, 2.46 WHIP)
Justin O’Conner (RP) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K (4.50 ERA, 0.50 WHIP)
Luis Rodriguez (RP) L (0-1) 3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K. 1 (4.00 ERA, 1.44 WHIP)
Samil Polanco (SS) 1-for-4, 2 K (.267 BA, .631 OPS)
Jose Rodriguez (2B) 1-for-4, 2 K (.299 BA, .916 OPS)
D.J. Gladney (3B) 1-for-4, R, HR (6), RBI (17), 2 K (.319 BA, .906 OPS) **MVP**
Ivan Gonzalez (C) 2-for-4, R, K (.455 BA, 1.126 SP)
Anthony Coronado (LF) 1-for-4, 2B (2), RBI (4), K (.244 BA, .666 OPS)
Daniel Millwee (1B) 0-for-2, BB, K (.217 BA, .661 OPS)

Bernardo Flores, in his third rehab outing for the AZL Sox, surrendered a first-inning homer to Junior Perez. This shouldn’t be a big deal, as Flores is just trying to stretch out enough so he can return to full-season baseball shortly. The Sox fell behind 2-0 as a result of the homer, but they narrowed the gap to 2-1 thanks to an RBI groundout by Anthony Coronado in the second. Flores kept the deficit at 2-1 until his work was done after 3 ²⁄₃ innings, which is the furthest he’s pitched in his three rehab appearances.

The bullpen did its work in shutting the Padres down. Fortieth-round pick Nick Silva got one out in the fourth, catcher-turned pitcher Justin O’Conner pitched a perfect fifth inning, and Luis Rodriguez pitched a masterful three innings allowing just one walk while striking out five.

Despite the solid pitching in tonight’s game, the offense simply couldn’t muster much muscle. The White Sox had just four hits through eight innings, and none after the fifth. The AZL Sox were done for the night, right? Not if local product D.J. Gladney had anything to say about it! He clubbed a leadoff, ninth-inning homer (his sixth) to tie the game 2-2 and take Flores off the hook for the loss. While Gladney has struck out a plethora of times (as one would expect for someone so young), he’s definitely made the most of his contact, as evidenced by his lofty batting and slugging percentages. It will be really exciting to see how this young third sacker will fare going forward.

Rodriguez returned to pitch the ninth and was greeted by a walk-off homer by Angel Solarte, as the Padres won the game, 3-2. It’s a shame, as Rodriguez pitched brilliantly until that last offering. Anyway, that’s baseball. Gladney wins the MVP for his late-inning heroics which, alas, went for naught. The AZL White Sox fell to 11-17 with the loss. An extra shout-out to eighth-round selection Ivan Gonzalez, who improved his batting average to .455 with his two hits tonight.