Charlotte walks it off, Winston-Salem stumbles, Thorpe deals, and Baldwin stays hot
Charlotte Knights 5, Syracuse Mets 4 (Gameday box) (Statcast box)
Former major league backstop Carlos Pérez came through in a big way in the bottom of the ninth tonight against the Syracuse Mets!
Carlos Pérez walked it off tonight in the bottom of the 9th, and he caught up with @SmithKendall__ after the win! pic.twitter.com/OqG78FhkKU
— Charlotte Knights (@KnightsBaseball) April 19, 2024
Pérez put the finishing touches on an exciting game that featured yet ANOTHER longball from infielder Danny Mendick.
My name is Danny Mendick, and I hit DINGERS!
He’s now homered in 3⃣ straight games! pic.twitter.com/trFfWHEjik
— Charlotte Knights (@KnightsBaseball) April 19, 2024
Mendick went on to collect a double and a single as part of a three-hit night that left him one triple short of the cycle. So far this season, the 30-year-old is maintaining an OPS north of 1.100, setting a torrid pace that makes a convincing case for a callup to the major league ballclub sooner than later.
Other notable performances in the hard-fought win include right fielder Oscar Colás getting on base four times, twice via walk and twice by base hit. Colás was unceremoniously demoted earlier in the season despite learning first base during the offseason to add some defensive versatility to his bag of tools. Starting pitcher Chad Kuhl, who has been money to start the season, struggled a bit in this one. His final line would include five innings of four-run ball with four walks and four punchouts in a no-decision.
Birmingham Barons 2, Mississippi Braves 0 (Gameday box) (Statcast box)
The Barons claimed the shutout win in this one, courtesy of phenomenal pitching and defense. Starter Drew Thorpe, the prize piece in the Dylan Cease trade, tossed seven innings of shutout ball, striking out three and walking just two. He would exit with his third win on the young season.
Drew Thorpe is done after 7 scoreless IP on 85 pitches. He allows 4H and 2BB. He strikes out 3 on 54/85 for strikes. Nobody squared him up. #Barons #WhiteSox pic.twitter.com/7oF44KBRL2
— FutureSox (@FutureSox) April 19, 2024
Elsewhere on the diamond, third baseman and top prospect Bryan Ramos broke out of his slump to begin the year with a two-hit performance. The night’s shortstop, Brooks Baldwin, finished a perfect 4-for-4 to drive his batting average and OPS up to .436 and 1.112. On the mound, lefty Gil Luna pitched an impressive three-strikeout inning to record his first save of the year.
Drew Thorpe deflects to Brooks Baldwin who taps 2nd and throws to Elko for a double play. #Barons #WhiteSox pic.twitter.com/jY5ppapi9x
— FutureSox (@FutureSox) April 19, 2024
Despite the low-scoring affair, Birmingham managed to produce baserunners consistently all game long. As a team, the Barons tallied 11 hits and two walks while only striking out six times. It’s incumbent on our readers to decide if the offense performed well enough for a position player to take home MVP honors, or if the pitching staff deserves the hardware in this one!
Bowling Green Hot Rods 13, Winston-Salem Dash 4 (Gameday box) (Statcast box)
Would you believe me if I said I just came home from this game? And, instead of editing the photos I took during this one, I’m writing this recap story as an act of procrastination?
Fan – “You play right field for the WORST team in baseball”
DJ Gladney – “You live in Kentucky, bro”
Possibly the best comeback in the history of sports.
— Salina Silver (@HeyHeySalinaRae) April 19, 2024
Whether you believe me or not, this game was actually a bit uglier than the score suggested. Questionable defense and shaky pitching doomed the Dash in this one, leaving little room for praise or optimism. Starter Peyton Pallette only managed to make it through 3 1⁄3 innings of work, allowing five earnies on six hits while striking out four. On the season, his ERA has ballooned to an unsightly 11.37.
Peyton Pallette made the start for the #Dash today. Command was not tip top today and the Hot Rods were not forgiving. He goes 3.1 and allows 5R on 6H and 2BB. He strikes out 4 on 39/66. #WhiteSox pic.twitter.com/edeGrcywBi
— FutureSox (@FutureSox) April 19, 2024
Offensively, the Dash only managed to produce five hits on the night. Chris Lanzilli came in for DJ Gladney just as rain started to fall in Bowling Green and produced a two-RBI base hit that spared this struggling Dash team a bit of embarrassment. On the season, Winston-Salem has a 3-9 record.
Chris Lanzilli rips a blurry single into LF. Zavala and Sprinkle (1B’s) come in to score. Guillermo Quiroz stopped the umps from calling the game right before this AB, but the tarp is getting pulled out now. #Dash #WhiteSox pic.twitter.com/Gs0wXGk73q
— FutureSox (@FutureSox) April 19, 2024
Myrtle Beach Pelicans 3, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 2 (Gameday box) (Statcast box)
What goes up must come down! After a commanding 17-run (!!!) performance yesterday, the Ballers managed to only push across two here in the losing effort. Four different Myrtle Beach pitchers combined to strike out 14 Cannon Ballers in this one, with 1B Ryan Galanie and 2B Javier Mora each sporting a hat trick on the day.
Ryan Galanie singles to LF, but Wilber Sanchez is out at home on the slide. #Ballers drop the game 3-2. #WhiteSox pic.twitter.com/q4bQJXLdS4
— FutureSox (@FutureSox) April 19, 2024
The pitching effort for the Ballers was solid in this one. Starter Aldrin Batista worked through five innings on two-run ball (one earned), striking out five and walking none. The 20-year-old righty has opened some eyes in Kannapolis this year and sports a pristine 0.87 ERA on the young season.
Aldrin Batista is done for the night after 5 innings. He allows 2R/1ER on 6H and NO BB. He strikes out 5 on 52/80 for strikes. #Ballers #WhiteSox pic.twitter.com/UlqkdhEADk
— FutureSox (@FutureSox) April 19, 2024
On the offensive side of the ball, left-handed hitting catcher Ronny Hernandez recorded the only multi-hit performance for the Ballers. Kannapolis finished with six total hits on the box score to go along with six walks, indicating a degree of success with getting runners on base, but not enough clutch contact to drive those runners in.
Edrick Felix with a single to bring in Matt Hogan (BB). #Ballers all tied up at 2. #WhiteSox pic.twitter.com/7uFwW6WBKF
— FutureSox (@FutureSox) April 19, 2024