NASHVILLE -- Here's an example of your Sox Machine dollars at work, even if it doesn't end up resulting in a transaction.
While James was covering the White Sox's collapse to the Royals at Rate Field on Tuesday, I was at First Horizon Park for the start of the Charlotte Knights' series against the Nashville Sounds. During the fourth inning of the game in front of me, James texted me to let me know that I should be on the lookout for a lineup change in my vicinity, because Luis Robert Jr. left the major league game with hamstring soreness.
I'm sitting about 15 rows up behind home plate, where I can see the Knights who are perched by the dugout rail. One of them is Dru Baker, who wasn't in the starting lineup, but is on the White Sox 40-man roster. He gets tapped on the shoulder, and leaves his seat to do something out of view. Then manager Sergio Santos comes out to talk to the umpire about a lineup change, and that's my cue to head to field level in order to take inventory of the dugout.
By the time I can get there, I see Santos talking to Will Robertson and giving him a quick hug. Robertson started in right field, but he's now out of the game, with Baker taking his place. There's your on-field move, and there's your corresponding move in event of a Robert injury.
But is it only a precautionary one? Maybe, because Robertson remains in the dugout the rest of the game, miming his loading mechanism at various points. Maybe he's getting some last-minute tips from hitting coach Jim Rickon before he boards his flight, or maybe he went 0-for-3 with a strikeout before being lifted, and he's trying to work through something that didn't feel right for his next game, wherever it is. Who can say?
The answer: Not even Robertson. As I'm packing up and about to leave the park, Robertson is the last Knight on the field, talking to some family at the end of the dugout. So I catch him on his way back to the clubhouse and ask him if he's getting called up. He said he doesn't know, and we'll all find out tomorrow, including his well-wishers at the park.
Now you know the rest of the story, which might not be a story at all. Thanks for allowing us to be in two places at once. If you don't yet support us but would like us to continue this comprehensive work of incomplete machinations, subscribe today.
Charlotte 7, Nashville 3
- Will Robertson went 0-for-3 with a strikeout before being removed.
- Tim Elko, 0-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts.
- Bryan Ramos was 0-for-4 with a walk.
- Jacob Gonzalez went 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
Notes:
*Jake Amaya hit a two-run shot and walked three times, and Dominic Fletcher hit a grand slam, if you're wondering who did the damage.
Knoxville 6, Birmingham 2
- Rikuu Nishida was 1-for-3 with an HBP at the plate, and 1-for-2 on the basepaths, getting picked off/caught stealing.
- William Bergolla, 0-for-4.
- Sam Antonacci was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Wilfred Veras singled twice and struck out twice.
- Braden Montgomery was 1-for-4 with a double.
- DJ Gladney wore the collar and silver sombrero.
Notes:
*The Barons lead the division by nine games, and Knoxville by 9½. If the usual trend for White Sox affiliate pennant races hold, the lead will be down to 4½ games by the end of the week.
Winston-Salem 7, Rome 0
- Samuel Zavala was 1-for-4 with a walk.
- Jeral Perez went 2-for-5 with two strikeouts.
- Caleb Bonemer had an action-packed High-A debut: 2-for-3 with a double, two walks, a strikeout, and an error at third base.
- Kyle Lodise was 0-for-4 with an HBP.
- Christian Oppor: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HBP, 45 of 72 pitches for strikes.
Notes:
*Lodise was named South Atlantic League Player of the Week. He hit safely in all five games he played against Wilmington, finishing the series 8-for-14 with three homers, a triple, five walks and an HBP with zero strikeouts. That's good for a line of .571/.700/1.357.
Kannapolis 9, Salem 4
- Ely Brown was 1-for-5 with two strikeouts.
- George Wolkow finally reached 10 doubles, finishing 2-for-5 with two strikeouts.
- Anthony DePino went 2-for-3 with two doubles, a walk and a sac fly.
- Colby Shelton was 0-for-4 with a walk.
- Rylan Galvan, 2-for-4.
