White Sox Minor League Update: July 9, 2019

Pensacola Blue Wahoos 5, Birmingham Barons 4

John Parke: 6 ⅓ IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Alec Hansen: ⅔ IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K (H, 3)
Nick Madrigal (2B): 1-for-5, 1 RBI
Welington Castillo (C): 0-for-3, 1 K
Blake Rutherford (DH): 0-for-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Gavin Sheets (1B): 0-for-3, 1 BB
Ti’Quan Forbes (3B): 2-for-4, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 1 K **MVP**
Luis González (CF): 0-for-4, 1 K
Laz Rivera (SS): 2-for-4, 1 2B, 2 K

The Barons lost a gut-wrencher in 10 innings, Alec Hansen the only pitcher to not give up a run. Proper credit to starter John Parke: he only allowed one hit, it just happened to be a home run. Danny Dopico has had a very good year out of the bullpen, but did allow a run over his two innings. Hunter Schryver, normally lights-out, gave up two runs (one earned), including the game-winner in the 10th. Fun fact, if the automatically-placed-on-second runner in extras scores, as it did here, it goes down as an unearned run. There is no similar method to avoid being hung with the loss, though.

The team was able to collect just five hits, two of those apiece coming off the bats of Ti’Quan Forbes and Laz Rivera, the final piece being supplied by Nick Madrigal in his return from the Futures Game. Blake Rutherford and Gavin Sheets both walked in the first, and Rutherford was driven in by a Forbes single. He also hit a triple. The second Barons run scored in the fifth, after Damek Tomscha walked, stole second, and scored on Madrigal’s single.

Winston-Salem Dash 2, Frederick Keys 0

Jonathan Stiever: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K (W, 2-2) **MVP**
Tyler Johnson: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K (H, 1)
Bennett Sousa: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP (S, 2)
Mitch Roman (SS): 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 BB
Steele Walker (CF): 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 K
Jameson Fisher (1B): 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 K
Jordan George (LF): 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB

Jonathan Stiever continued his indomitable run with the Dash, shutting out the Frederick Keys for seven innings on Tuesday night. He threw nothing but strikes — in fact, he didn’t throw a ball until there were two outs in the second inning — and scattered four baserunners over his time on the mound. His prior three starts with the Dash were good enough to get some recognition, and at this point, he’s solidly put himself on the radar as a name to watch. His velocity was generally between 93 and 96 mph for the fastball.

The Dash couldn’t get much going at the plate, but they didn’t need to. Mitch Roman reached on an error and scored on Jameson Fisher’s sacrifice fly to center. Steele Walker singled and scored on Jordan George’s single. The Dash turned two double plays in the field.

Tyler Johnson pitched out of a bases-loaded, one-out situation to preserve the shutout in the eighth, and Bennett Sousa slammed the door in the ninth.

Greensboro Grasshoppers 5, Kannapolis Intimidators 4

Johan Dominguez: 3 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP
Kevin Folman: 4 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
Ian Dawkins (CF): 2-for-5, 1 R, 1 PO
Lenyn Sosa (SS): 0-for-5, 1 R, 2 K
Andrew Vaughn (1B): 2-for-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 E **MVP**
Alex Destino (RF): 2-for-4, 1 2B, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 outfield assist
Bryce Bush (DH): 1-for-4, 1 H, 2 K

The Intimidators made three errors and gave up one crucial run in the top of the ninth inning in their 5-4 loss to the Greensboro Grasshoppers. One error belonged to first baseman Andrew Vaughn, his first as a professional, leading to an unearned run scoring (this run reached base in the first place on two separate errors by second baseman Ramón Torres, so at most, Vaughn splits culpability). He atoned for his sin in a big way in the third inning, homering for the first time as an Intimidator; he also singled and walked twice, because he’s good. Ian Dawkins also singled twice and is still in Low-A for some unknowable reason, despite hitting .323/.386/.428. Alex Destino has been on fire lately and picked up two more hits, stretching his hitting streak to 11 games and his 10-game average to .462. He’s batting .304/.384/.498 on the year.

Starter Johan Dominguez was a South Atlantic League All-Star this season, but hasn’t been close to as good as he was in the first half. It took him 54 pitches to get through three today, giving up four runs (but just two earned). Kevin Folman signed last season as an undrafted free agent and has been having a good year in Kannapolis, with today one of his strongest outings yet. Devon Perez, last year’s 26th-rounder who’s also having a good year, picked up the loss after giving up two straight singles and then a sacrifice fly to score a run in the ninth inning.

DSL Reds 11, DSL White Sox 6

Homer Cruz: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Anthony Espinoza (SS): 1-for-4, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 SB
Roberth Gutierrez (CF): 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 K
Benyamin Bailey (RF): 0-for-2, 1 R, 3 BB, 1 K
Matthew Mercedes (1B): 1-for-4, 2 RBI
Lazaro Leál (LF): 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Wilber Sánchez (2B): 1-for-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI **MVP**

It was a slog of a bullpen day in the DSL, with all five pitchers appearing for the Sox giving up at least one run. Homer Cruz had a short start, and still has only given up one home run all season over 32 innings. Frander Veras earned the loss with six runs given up over 1 ⅔ innings. Edgar Navarro was probably the best out of the bullpen, going two innings and giving up two hits, with both runs he allowed unearned.

Benyamin Bailey continues to be an unstoppable walk machine, which I mean pretty literally. The three he drew today combine with the two from each of the last two games to add to his third-in-the-league total of 29 (compared to 19 strikeouts). With his hitless two at-bats, his batting average does dip below .400 to .396, but his OBP rises to .541. Wilber Sánchez had the big hit, his ninth double of the year scoring Lazaro Leál from a single and Luis Pineda from a walk in the sixth inning.