Full Season Teams Close with a Whimper – 9/1/2014 Minors Recap

September has rolled around and none of the full-season league teams (A, A+, AA, AAA) will be reaching the post-season, all of them having finished near the bottom of their divisions. Great Falls (Rookie, Pioneer League) is still playing and will be the only White Sox affiliate that is going to the post-season.
Gwinnett 9, Charlotte 2
It was dismal in Charlotte as the Knights have already lost the likes of Andy Wilkins and Marcus Semien to Chicago, leaving the offense sputtering. Jared Mitchell and Jordan Danks each went 1-3 with a walk, with Danks’ hit being a double that drove in a run. The duo will be eyeing a promotion on Tuesday to Chicago as the MLB rosters expand to 40 players. Josh Richmond had the other RBI and went 1-4 with a double.  Matt Davidson finished his nightmare season by going 0-4 with two strikeouts to finish the year with a .199 batting average and is unlikely to be called up. Andre Rienzo turned in a decent start against former Sox farm hand Zach Stewart, going six innings, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six.
Penascola 4, Birmingham 3
The Barons season also ended on a poor note as they fell to the Blue Wahoos. Tim Anderson and Rangel Ravelo finished out their seasons on high notes, with Anderson going 2-5 with a run scored and Ravelo going 1-4 with a triple and an RBI. Jason Coats and Joey DeMichele each went 2-4 and Michael Earley ended on a bang by going 3-4 with a double and two RBIs. Myles Jaye finished strong after a rough season, going seven innings of one run, six hit ball as he walked none and struck out five.
Winston-Salem 5, Carolina 2
The Dash were the only team to finish on a high note, led by starter J.B. Wendelken who, like Jaye, finished a rough season strongly. Wendelken went five innings, allowing one run on six hits with no walks and seven strikeouts. Zach Voight led the offense, going 2-4 with two doubles and three RBIs while Mike Marjama went 2-4. Keon Barnum and Courtney Hawkins each got one hit, with Barnum’s being a double and Hawkins also drawing a walk.
Greensboro 7, Kannapolis 4
The Intimidators also fell on Tuesday as the Grasshoppers were simply able to outscore them. Jordan Guerrero went five innings while allowing six runs on nine hits and only striking out three. Eddy Alvarez finished his shortened season with a .431 average after going 0-3 with a walk and run scored. Carl Thomore led the offensive attack by going 2-3 with a walk and run scored. Brett Austin went 0-3 with a sac fly.
Billings 2, Great Falls 1
The Billings Mustangs scored a pair in the bottom of the 9th to walk off on the Voyagers. Kelvis Valerio booked a solid start (6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K) and Aaron Bummer followed with 1.1 innings of shutout ball and 3 K’s. But Matt Cooper (who has been having an otherwise good season) took the the loss in that ninth inning. Center fielder Louis Lechich led the Great Falls offense with a 3-4 day including a pair of doubles, and Ryan Jones’ solo home run accouted for their only run. Ethan Gross contributed a pair of singles as well.