4/22/14 recap: Birmingham wins big, Saladino hits two homers

Charlotte’s struggles continue as team falls to 6-13 on the year. The Barons blew out the Smokies behind an 8-run 5th inning. The Intimidators held off West Virginia as Kanny’s first four hitters picked up 2 hits a piece. Winston-Salem had an off day.
Chicago White Sox affiliate scoreboard
Durham 8, Charlotte 4
Carlos Sanchez 1-4, R, 2 K
Matt Davidson 0-4, 2 K
Andy Wilkins 1-4, HR, 2 RBI, K
Tyler Saladino 3-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI
Jared Mitchell 0-3, BB, 2 K
Dylan Axelrod, 5 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, K
Tennessee 3, Birmingham 14
Micah Johnson 2-3, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB, CS
Gordon Beckham 2-4, 2 R, 2B, BB, SB
Trayce Thompson 1-5, R, RBI, 3 K
Kevan Smith 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, K
Rangel Ravelo 2-4, R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, K
Scott Snodgress 7 IP, 6 H, ER, 2 BB, 2 K
Kevin Vance 2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
Kannapolis 8, West Virgina 6
Cleluis Rondon 2-4, R, BB
Danny Hayes 2-5, 2 R, 2 K
Jacob Morris 2-5, 2 R, 3B, HR, K
Trey Michalczewski 1-4, 2 R, BB, K
James Dykstra 5.1 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 5 K
Andre Wheeler 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Jose Brito 2 IP, H, 2 K, SV
Star of the Day: Tyler Saladino, SS
Tyler Saladino has turned a hot start into a great month. The Oral Roberts’ product went 3-4 with 2 HR and 4 RBI. Unfortunately for Saladino, the White Sox have several different options up the middle who figure to be ahead of him on the depth chart.
Kannapolis’s Left Side of the Infield
Cleuluis (clay-luis) Rondon, freshly 20, and Trey Michalczewski, 19, have been on a tear lately. Rondon carries a .316/.368/.421 slash in his last seven games (40 PAs). Michalczewski has been even better with a .333/.439/.424 over his last 9 games. Both of these players carry some helium. Rondon is the defensive ace acquired in the Jake Peavy trade where Michalczewski is the over-slot 7th round draft pick from last summer’s draft.
Caveat for Micah Johnson’s Hot Start?
After a great spring with big league club, Micah Johnson has continued to have success in the Southern League.  The Baron’s second-baseman is hitting .356/.447/.507 after reaching in four of his five at bats today. However, his hot hitting comes with a .426 BABIP. While it’s only been 23 PA’s, Johnson is also hitting only .150 against southpaws despite his robust .356 overall average. It’s still too early to put weight into this sample size, but there is room for regression here.
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