White Sox Minor League Update: July 26, 2019

Pawtucket Red Sox 5, Charlotte Knights 3

Hector Santiago: 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K
Zach Thompson: 1 ⅔ IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Tim Anderson (SS): 0-for-5, 1 K, 1 E
Daniel Palka (RF): 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K
Luis Robert (CF): 2-for-5, 1 R, 1 3B, 1 K, 1 CS **MVP**
Zack Collins (DH): 2-for-3, 1 BB, 1 K
Alcides Escobar (3B): 1-for-3, 1 2B, 1 BB
Danny Mendick (2B): 1-for-3, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 CS

The rehabbing Tim Anderson made an error and went 0-for-5 as the Knights dropped this one to the PawSox on Friday night. Zack Collins singled twice and walked. Danny Mendick singled once and walked, stole second, was returned to first by an umpire claiming some kind of interference, tried to steal second again, and was thrown out. Daniel Palka hit a monster of a two-out, ninth-inning home run, and authorities advise those with small aircraft to avoid flying over downtown Charlotte for the next few days until it comes down. Also, Luis Robert did this:

Here’s Palka’s blast:

Hector Santiago would have looked at home in a major-league rotation tonight, going six strong, allowing just six hits and two runs, one earned. He walked zero!! batters and struck out eight. Zach Thompson’s outing did not go so well: while he cruised through his first three outs, he ended up allowing a very loud three-run home run in the eighth, putting this one out of reach for good (no walks, though). Connor Walsh threw 1 ⅓ scoreless innings, striking out one.

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Birmingham Barons 11, Chattanooga Lookouts 10

Tanner Banks: 4 ⅔ IP, 9 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Codi Heuer: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K (S, 5)
Nick Madrigal (2B): 1-for-5, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Joel Booker (LF): 3-for-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 3 RBI **MVP**
Blake Rutherford (RF): 1-for-5, 2 RBI
Gavin Sheets (1B): 2-for-5, 1 RBI, 2 K
Luis González (CF): 3-for-5, 3 R, 2 K, 1 SB
Damek Tomscha (DH): 3-for-4, 2 R, 1 BB
Laz Rivera (SS): 3-for-4, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 E

What a slugfest between the Barons and the Lookouts today, made even more impressive by the fact that at one point, the Barons held an 11-1 lead. They scored all of their runs in the first four innings, then allowed nine unanswered to lap up against their lead. Starting pitcher Tanner Banks and relievers Kodi Medeiros and Mauricio Cabrera were all complicit, Medeiros allowing two runs over one inning (walking two) and Cabrera going just two-thirds of one and giving up three runs on four hits and a walk. Both of his outs were strikeouts, though. Danny Dopico got the win and Codi Heuer the save, both with scoreless outings.

Nick Madrigal started things off with a bang, leading off the first with a fine-looking double, advancing to third on an error and scoring on Joel Booker’s groundout. The Barons put together a five-run second: Luis González singled, Damek Tomscha singled, and Alfredo González walked to load the bases with one out; Laz Rivera moved everyone forward a bag with a single, scoring one, then Madrigal lined out (sharply, says Gameday). With the bases still loaded, Booker singled in one run (still loaded), then Blake Rutherford singled (two runs, no longer loaded), then Gavin Sheets singled (one run, also not loaded). González (both, Luis singling and stealing second, and Alfredo doubling), Tomscha, Rivera, and Booker would all reach base and/or score in a four-run third. Their scoring came to a close in the fourth, after Rivera drove in González from another single.

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Winston-Salem Dash 7, Lynchburg Hillcats 3

Jonathan Stiever: 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K (W, 4-3)
Bennett Sousa: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (H, 3)
JJ Muno (LF): 3-for-5, 2 R, 1 RBI
Steele Walker (CF): 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB
Craig Dedelow (RF): 1-for-5, 2 RBI, 1 K
Jameson Fisher (1B): 1-for-3, 2 R, 2 BB
Tate Blackman (DH): 2-for-3, 1 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K **MVP**

Jonathan Stiever did it again. Actually, for a little bit, it looked like Jonathan Stiever was not going to do it again, as he gave up one run in the first and another in the third. He settled in, though, and delivered his seventh consecutive quality start, covering every game he has played in for the Dash. Stiever has walked eight batters over his 45 Winston innings, including the zero he walked today, and half of those eight came in one game (in which he still only gave up two runs over six innings). He’s good, is what I’m saying. Jonathan Stiever is a very good pitcher. Also, Bennett Sousa threw two perfect innings, striking out two. Jake Elliott allowed one run in his inning of work, but got all three outs he needed and that’s what’s important.

Two big doubles by Tate Blackman helped put the Dash on top, one in the second, scoring Jameson Fisher from a single, and the other in the eighth after Fisher walked. Steele Walker actually kicked off the doubles fun in the first, doubling in JJ Muno after a single. Muno himself would single in Blackman after his eighth inning double. Craig Dedelow hit a two-run single in the fifth.

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Greensboro Grasshoppers 7, Kannapolis Intimidators 3

Sam Long: 5 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 K (L, 4-4)
Ian Dawkins (CF): 3-for-4, 1 RBI
Lenyn Sosa (SS): 0-for-4
Andrew Vaughn (1B): 1-for-4, 2 K
Alex Destino (RF): 1-for-4, 1 K
Corey Zangari (DH): 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI **MVP**
Romy González (LF): 2-for-3, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 E
Ramón Beltre (3B): 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 K

Sam Long has now started 10 games for the Intimidators after appearing in 15 out of the bullpen before that. He was a very effective reliever, but is still getting his legs under him when starting games, although he’s clearly capable (six innings, four hits, no runs on July 4; five and ⅔, one hit, no runs on July 20). Here, he gave up one in the first on an error, then another two on a bases-loaded single in the second. He also gave up an RBI single in the fifth. Devon Perez and Declan Cronin both gave up runs in relief as well.

Corey Zangari hit his 11th home run despite only playing in 55 games so far. Ian Dawkins collected three of the Intimidators’ 10 hits. Andrew Vaughn and his 20-game slash line of .274/.400/.438 contributed to that cause as well. Despite their double-digit hit number, they only walked once and couldn’t do a lot with their baserunners, going 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and grounding into two double plays (one that scored a run, at least).

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Great Falls Voyagers 6, Idaho Chukars 1

Avery Weems: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K, 1 WP (W, 2-1) **Co-MVP**
Luis Curbelo (3B): 3-for-5, 1 R
Luis Mieses (RF): 2-for-5, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 K **Co-MVP**
Sam Abbott (1B): 2-for-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 K
Lency Delgado (SS): 2-for-5, 2 R, 1 2B
Anderson Comas (LF) 1-for-3, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
Kelvin Maldonado (2B): 2-for-4, 1 R

It’s easy to win baseball games when you have someone like Avery Weems on the mound. Weems’ Great Falls ERA is exactly one run higher than his AZL ERA, 0.69 to 1.69, but both are nice numbers, and in total on the year he’s thrown 34 ⅓ innings, allowing five earned runs, walking seven, and striking out 46. Tonight, he was untouchable. He allowed a single to the very first batter, then immediately induced a double play. He didn’t allow another hit until the fifth, a double stranded at third. He finished at 65 pitches, 44 strikes.

The Voyagers scored two each in the fourth, fifth, and sixth. Sam Abbott hit his sixth double to lead off the fifth, followed by a Lency Delgado bunt single. Ty Greene singled in Abbott, and a wild pitch scored Delgado. In the fifth, Abbott walked and Delgado doubled him to third. Anderson Comas then tripled, scoring both runners. The sixth inning saw Luis Mieses drive in both Kelvin Maldonado and Luis Curbelo from their singles with his eighth double of the year.

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AZL White Sox 10, AZL Padres 8

Bernardo Flores: 4 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
DJ Gladney (3B): 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
Tyler Osik (1B): 2-for-5, 2 R, 2 2B, 3 K, 3 E
José Rodriguez (DH): 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB
Anthony Coronado (LF): 2-for-5, 2 R, 1 3B, 3 RBI **MVP**
Harold Díaz (2B): 3-for-5, 2 RBI

It’s always nice to beat the AZL Padres, and it’s even nice when it’s by virtue of scoring five runs in the top of the ninth. Sidney Pimental walked to open the inning, then DJ Gladney hit his eighth home run. Tyler Osik followed it up with his eighth double, then José Rodriguez singled him to third. He scored on a ground ball forceout by Daniel Millwee. Anthony Coronado, who had a big day, reached on an error and advanced to second on a pop-up single by Howard Díaz that also scored Millwee. After a wild pitch advanced the runners, Misael González drew a bases-loaded walk to score the fifth and final run of the frame.

In non-ninth-inning news, Coronado hit a bases-clearing triple in the sixth inning, scoring Osik, Millwee, and Guerrero. Díaz also picked up an RBI single that inning. Tyler Osik had a good day at the plate and a horrible day in the field, making three errors at first. Only half of the runs given up by Sox pitching were earned. Padres top draft pick CJ Abrams led off and played shortstop, going 3-for-5 with a double, batting .417 with a 1.134 OPS.

No, Bernardo Flores has not been demoted all the way down to the AZL, he’s just rehabbing his oblique injury. He’s made four starts for them now, so it’s only a matter of time before he returns to “real” game action.

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DSL White Sox 5, DSL Orioles 3

Daneuris Lagrange: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Manuel Veloz: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Johnabiell Laureano (LF): 2-for-5, 1 RBI, 3 K, 1 CS
Yolbert Sánchez (SS):O 0-for-3
Benyamin Bailey (CF): 0-for-4, 1 BB, 1 K
Ruben Benavides (DH): 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 BB
Richard García (C): 1-for-2, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB **MVP**
Elijah Tatís (2B-SS): 1-for-2, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 SB

The DSL Sox have vaulted to seven games over .500, bringing their record to 27-20 with a Friday win over the DSL Orioles. The team scored five runs on just six hits, which is why walking 10 times in a game can be important. In fact, every DSL Sox walked at least once, except for Johnabiell Laureano and Yolbert Sánchez (and also Wilber Sánchez, who took over for Yolbert after a few at-bats probably because the Sox have many DSL players but just one DSL team, because it costs money to get a second team like most other MLB franchises have, and we wouldn’t want to do that, won’t somebody think of the front office salaries??). It was catcher Richard García who contributed the most to today’s victory, picking up with a hit and a walk, driving in a run and scoring one himself. Benyamin Bailey went hitless and drew just one walk. Laureano picked up two hits, but as mentioned, no walks.

Daneuris Lagrange (born post-books, pre-show) pitched one perfect inning, his first scoreless appearance out of three. Dionicio Jiménez has been mostly starting, but threw two scoreless innings. Edgar Navarro has only started once between 17 relief appearances this year, but pitched five innings here, giving up three runs. Manuel Veloz struck out the side in the ninth.