It was a clean sweep for the White Sox minor league affiliates on the first Sunday of the new baseball season.
Knights 2, Norfolk 1
Dylan Axelrod 5 IP, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, 6 H
Matt Davidson 2-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI
Carlos Sanchez 0-4, 2 K
Josh Phegley 2-3, 1 2B, 1 BB
The Barons were rained out today in Montgomery, they will play at doubleheader tomorrow.
Dash 7, Wilmington 1
Jacob May 0-3, 2 BB, 1 K
Tim Anderson 0-4, 1 RBI, 1 K
Courtney Hawkins 1-4, 1 2B, 2 K
Keon Barnum 1-4, 1 2B, 3 K
Nick Basto 3-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI
Kyle Hansen 1.2 IP, 1 BB, 3 K
Intimidators 8, Greenville 5
Adam Engel 3-5, 1 HR, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 1 K
Cleuluis Rondon 2-5, 1 K
Trey Michalczewski 1-4, 1 HR (inside the park), 1 RBI, 1 K
Sean Bierman 4 IP, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 8 H
Who Is Hot: Matt Davidson and Josh Phegley had legitimate shots to make the big league club but are not letting it negatively impact their play in Charlotte. They both had two hits tonight and are off to a strong start. Courtney Hawkins had a disastrous 2013 campaign but has jumped out the gate quickly, posting a .357/.375/.929 line. There is cause for concern however, as he has struck out in six of his 14 at bats. Kyle Hansen started 20 of 21 games he pitched in last season, but has transitioned to the Dash bullpen in 2014 and the results are encouraging. Hansen has five strikeouts in 2.2 IP while only allowing one walk. The White Sox might try to put the Hansen and his 6’8” frame on the fast track through the bullpen. 2013 19th round draft pick Adam Engel is playing above his draft selection, after a strong professional debut last season, he is hitting .294/.368/.765 this year.
Who Is Not: Carlos Sanchez is repeating Charlotte with the hopes he can regain his 2012 form that shot him up prospects ranking lists, but he is doing himself no favors by going 0-4 tonight and is hitting .176/.176/.176 over the first three games. Keon Barnum has struggled to make contact thus far in his pro career and early on it’s no different. Barnum has one hit and six strikeouts in 13 at bats. 2013 3rd rounder Jacob May had a strong pro debut last year in Great Falls and earned a promotion to Kannapolis, but he has struggled early so far in Winston-Salem, hitting .063/.167/.063.