Unless my calculations are way off, this update clinches the top recap record this year, as well as the only recapper to finish with more wins than losses. It’s been that kind of rough year for the White Sox system. But also, affiliates, I’m available to appear as a good-luck charm in 2022, for a nominal fee. Like, elotes. Or a cap.
Yes, the Knights failed to secure even one free pass in this game, and went just 1-for-2 with RISP (scoring four of five runs via homer), but this was a bullpen meltdown game, pure and simple. John Parke and Peter Tago, the starter and finisher tonight, combined for two earned and seven hits over 6 1⁄3 innings. It was the creamy middle — seven earned over 2 2⁄3 innings from Tanner Banks, Kodi Medeiros and Matt Foster — that moidered Charlotte.
White Sox watch: Danny Mendick batted leadoff and played first base, because why not, going 0-for-4. Adam Engel, of the ¿playoff roster? Engels, hit a solo homer in the first off of Tampa Bay blue-chipper (do the Rays have any other kind) Brent Honeywell Jr. Engel DHd, which is not something he needs practice on or rehab with, so what is the point of that?
At least the Knights could laugh, a bit:
Almost had it https://t.co/BmuKHyYbPw
— Ti'Quan Forbes⚾ (@TiquanF) September 19, 2021
Poll
Charlotte came up short against the blitzkrieg that is the Durham Bulls. Who was the MVP?
This poll is closed
-
16%
John Parke: 5 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
-
4%
Peter Tago: 1 1⁄3 IP, H, 2 K
-
79%
Mikie Mahtook: 3-for-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI
-
0%
Blake Rutherford: 2-for-4, K, E
Poll
Charlotte came up short against the blitzkrieg that is the Durham Bulls. Who was the Cold Cat?
This poll is closed
-
89%
Matt Foster: IP, 3 H, 3 ER, BB, K, HR, BLOWN SAVE, LOSS
-
2%
Tanner Banks: IP, H, 2 ER, BB, 2 K, HR
-
5%
Kodi Medeiros: 2⁄3 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, K
-
2%
Nate Nolan: 0-for-3, 2 K, LOB, 0-for-2 CS
-
0%
Matt Reynolds: 0-for-4, K, 2 LOB
Sam Burch, home plate umpire, may end up having the biggest impact on the Birmingham postseason. You see, this weather-delayed tilt was called early, with the home Montgomery Biscuits stealing a win. On a day where some eight decades earlier the White Sox literally had a game stolen from them by the Yankees, twice, it hits too close to home.
Sure, the Barons mustered just one hit, but trimming those two innings put the thumb on the scale of what has been an incredible playoff fight between the two teams. Montgomery moves a half-game ahead for the second playoff spot. The Biscuits have won six straight, while the Barons have dropped four in a row. Last week of the 2020 White Sox season, anyone?
Worst of all, it’s not a winner-take-all game on Sunday in Montgomery, for all the marbles. Birmingham and Montgomery play a doubleheader, so to preserve the playoffs the Barons have to not only win the opener to move a half-game ahead in the race, but sweep the doubleheader to preserve the lead and move on to the postseason.
Poll
Yes, it was a crushing and truncated loss for Birmingham on Saturday. Who was the MVP?
This poll is closed
-
42%
José Rodríguez: 1-for-3, CS, only Birmingham hit
-
37%
Blake Battenfield: 4 2⁄3 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, BB, 4 K, LOSS
-
20%
Luis Ledo: IP, 2 H, 2 K, 15 pitches/11 strikes
Poll
Well, that was a back-breaker. Who was the Birmingham Cold Cat?
This poll is closed
-
10%
Zach Murkenhirn: 1⁄3 IP, H, BB, K
-
42%
Joe DeCarlo: 0-for-2, 2 K
-
46%
Carlos Pérez: 0-for-3, K, LOB
Winston-Salem packed a swell counterpunch for every Asheville comeback tonight. A six-run top of the fourth to go up, 6-2? Answer with five in the bottom half to go back up, 7-6. The Tourists tie the game with one in the sixth? Throw back three in the bottom of the frame. It wasn’t the cleanest game on either end, pitching or offense, particularly with 25 men left on base, collectively. But hey, there’s something to be said for showing this sort of fight, when the season was long cashed in. Bravo, Dash.
Injury note: Luis Curbelo tripped over first on a ground out to end the first inning and was removed from the game with concussion concerns. It appears that he’s OK, but that was likely his final at-bat of 2021, and his once-promising revival season, full of power, ends at a .223 average and .754 OPS.
Poll
Among a few heroes, who stood out as the Dash MVP?
This poll is closed
-
64%
Luis Mieses: 2-for-5, 2B, R, 3 RBI, K, 2 LOB
-
0%
Alex Destino: 0-for-2, 2 R, 3 BB, 2 LOB
-
3%
Lázaro Leal: 1-for-3, RBI, BB, K
-
32%
Gunnar Troutwine: 2-for-3, 2 R, RBI, BB, K
-
0%
Ryan Williamson: 1 1⁄3 IP, K, HOLD
Poll
A nice win for the Dash. Who was their Cold Cat?
This poll is closed
-
0%
Jeremiah Burks: 1-for-5, 2 RBI, 3 K, 4 LOB
-
8%
Travis Moniot: 1-for-4, R, BB, K, 7 LOB
-
0%
Brandon Bossard: 1-for-4, R, RBI, 2 K, 5 LOB
-
82%
Dan Metzdorf: 3 2⁄3 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, HR, pickoff at 1B
-
8%
Edgar Navarro: 2⁄3 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 K, HOLD
Drew Dalquist, Jared Kelley and Matthew Thompson were the three young guns at Kanny, expected to anchor the rotation and make the Cannon Ballers a force in their first year in a new ballpark, with a new nickname. It didn’t work out for anyone, but at least Thompson finished his year with a strong kick, getting his ERA under 6.00 and doubling his win total on the season. And what a superb find Kohl Simas (undrafted free agent) has been! Kanny shoots to avoid 80 losses in 120 games in its finale on Sunday.
Poll
Another Kannapolis win! Who was the MVP?
This poll is closed
-
94%
Matthew Thompson: 5 IP, 3 H, BB, 4 K, WIN
-
0%
Garvin Alston Jr.: 2 IP, 2 BB, 2 K, HOLD
-
5%
Shawn Goosenberg: 1-for-2, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB
-
0%
Chase Krogman: 1-for-3, R, BB, K, 2 LOB
Poll
Another Kannapolis win! Who was the Cold Cat?
This poll is closed
-
26%
Caberea Weaver: 1-for-5, R, 3 K, 5 LOB
-
73%
Samil Polanco: 0-for-5, LOB
A very crooked third was all the Complex Sox would need to secure another win. It sort of looks like a bullpen game, but Johnny Ray got hit up pretty well, so appearances may deceive. That said, the five pitchers who followed Ray all acquitted themselves wonderfully. First round bonus baby Colson Montgomery was the only batter with more than one hit today, but the offense took care of business in a very unselfish manner.
Poll
Another Complex win! Which White Sox was the MVP?
This poll is closed
-
0%
Homer Cruz: 1 1⁄3 IP, 2 K, WIN
-
81%
Colson Montgomery: 2-for-4, R, RBI, K, LOB
-
15%
Victor Torres: 1-for-3, 2B, 3 RBI, K, LOB
-
3%
Wilfred Veras: 1-for-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI, K, 3 LOB, GIDP
Poll
Another Complex win! Which White Sox was the Cold Cat?
This poll is closed
-
40%
Johnny Ray: 1 2⁄3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, BB, K, HB
-
13%
Erick Bello: IP, 2 H, ER, 2 K, BALK
-
45%
Sam Abbott: 0-for-3, 3 K, LOB
Heavy favorite San Diego jumped out to a HUGE lead on Saturday, but the scrappy underdog White Sox fought back, clawed to a tie, and doubled up San Diego in runs in the extra (8th) frame, for a White Sox winner!
The theme today in the Dominican Republic was baserunning, namely four steals in four attempts by four different hitters. However, with 25 collective runners left on (it’s a theme this Saturday!), this game didn’t have to be so close.
Francisco Benitez was a game-saving arm, throwing three scoreless to set the table for the Sox comeback.
Poll
Nice job, DSL! Who was the White Sox MVP?
This poll is closed
-
66%
Francisco Benitez: 3 IP, 2 BB, 5 K
-
29%
Godwin Bennett: 1-for-2, R, 3B, 2 RBI, 3 BB, SB, LOB
-
0%
Roberth Gutierrez: 1-for-2, 2B, 2 R, BB
-
4%
Victor Quezada: 1-for-3, RBI, 2 BB, K, SB, 2 LOB
Poll
Nice job, DSL! Who was the White Sox Cold Cat?
This poll is closed
-
85%
Emerson Talavera: 2 IP, 3 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, K, 2 HR
-
10%
Fernando Vargas: 0-for-4, BB, 2 K, 5 LOB
-
5%
Manuel Guariman: 1-for-4, 2 R, K, 4 LOB, GIDP, 0-for-2 CS