It was a mixed back in Thursday’s action for the White Sox affiliates, as the teams went an even 3-3 on the day. Eddy Alvarez just keeps pounding the baseball, Tim Anderson is handling AA just fine thank you, Andre Wheeler is rolling, and Spencer Adams further padded his gaudy peripherals.
Pensacola 6, Birmingham 5 (F/10)
With the Barons leading 5-3 going into the 9th, Nestor Molina gave up the tying runs and Pensacola won in 10 innings. Tim Anderson had a pair of singles in 5 at bats, and he’s handling AA just fine so far hitting .444 in six games. Outfielder Adam Heisler was a homer shy of the cycle with his three hits, and is hitting .300 in his 6 games at AA. Tony Bucciferro had a solid start going 7 innings, allowing a pair of runs, whiffing 5 and walking none. Joey DeMichele had a pair of doubles knocking in three runs, and Jason Coats went 2-4.
Winston-Salem 4, Myrtle Beach 3 (F/11)
The Dash broke their seven game losing skid in extras, keeping their very slim playoff hopes alive. The win came via a Pelicans error – their second baseman (Luis Mendez) booted a routine 2-out grounder badly enough that Michael Marjama was able to score from second base. Marjama was the only Dash player with two hits, and Keon Barnum added a double. James Dykstra gave up 3 runs (2 earned), walked one and struck out 6 in 5.2 innings. Adam Lopez pitched 2.1 hitless innings with 4 strikeouts (and 1 walk) in his 3rd outing since returning from injury.
Kannapolis 7, Rome 5
Olympian Eddy Alvarez just keeps hitting, going 3-5 and driving in the winning run in the 7th. Alvarez has a ridiculous .483/.524/.724 slash line in his first 14 games in A ball (this from a guy who hadn’t picked up a bat in three-plus years before this spring). Also impressive was starter Andre Wheeler, giving up one run on two hits and a walk while striking out seven in six innings of work. Wheeler has a 0.64 ERA in his last 6 games. Andrew Mitchell walked three batters in an inning of work and has issued 65 free passes in 62 innings this year.
Great Falls 11, Helena 4 (DH g1)
Continuing a previously-suspended game, the Voyagers opened the offensive flood gates with five players registering multiple hits. Hunter Jones hit two home runs among a 3-5 day and drove in four runs. Zach Fish, Zach Fisher (who even hit next to each other in the lineup), Dillon Haupt and Patrick Palmeiro had two hits each, including Palmeiro’s home run. Zach Thompson’s 3 innings of one-hit, shutout ball with 3 strikeouts became official.
Helena 2, Great Falls 0 (DH g2)
The Voyagers managed just four hits and were struck out eleven times while being shut out in this seven inning affair. Yelmison Peralta made his Pioneer League debut, giving up a pair of earned runs on four hits, walking three and striking out three in four and a third innings.
AZL Giants 6, AZL White Sox 4
Second round pick and Top 5 prospect Spencer Adams made what will likely be his last start of the season, and continues to put up strong peripherals. In this game he went 2 innings giving up 2 unearned runs, walked none and struck out 5. Adams has 59 K against just 4 BB in 41.2 IP. Speaking of strong peripherals, Brannon Easterling whiffed four in three innings, and has 34 punch-outs against just 4 walks in 33.1 IP this season. Micker Adolfo had a 2-4 day including his 5th home run (the team’s only extra base hit), as he continues to show some power. Audry Santana and Sam Macias had a pair of hits each.
***Charlotte was off Thursday