White Sox Minor Keys: June 24, 2021

Nashville

The Charlotte Knights have scored 20 runs over the last two games in Nashville, which is the kind of production that helps make a dent in the home-road splits that often suppress enthusiasm. But they’ve also allowed 14 runs over those two games, thanks in part to leaky defense.

Poor glovework is something to be expected, as Wes Helms ran out two different infields over the two days. But while one might expect to see Jake Burger have issues at second or Gavin Sheets in right …

… there’s a little less forgiveness when it involves players at their natural positions. Between the above play and Sheets’ range on the first Nashville hit of the day in the third inning on Thursday, you get an idea of the limitations of his agility.

Blake Rutherford had a rough night on Friday night, extending this inning by dropping a pop-up down the line. Sheets and second baseman Matt Reynolds provided traffic, but Rutherford didn’t take a closing path in time to call them off and get them out of the way.

Rutherford also took a step in on a Cooper Hummel line drive that went over his head for a triple. I don’t think he would’ve been able to catch it with even a clean break, but the lost ground gave Hummel an extra 90 feet, which mattered when Burger couldn’t come up cleanly with a chopper on the next play.

It’s a slow-developing play, but he once again had a catcher running. Burger’s up to 11 errors on the season, with sub-.900 fielding percentages at third and second despite a large gap in sample sizes, and this is a reason why I think it’s better to let him continue to knock off rust in Charlotte. There’s also a chance this isn’t rust, but I imagine the three years away from professional action has to manifest itself in some form, because he continues to look perfectly capable at the plate.

Nashville 8, Charlotte 7

  • Gavin Sheets went 2-for-5 with a walk and two strikeouts.
  • Jake Burger was 3-for-6 with a K.
  • Blake Rutherford went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts.
  • Mike Wright: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K

Birmingham 3, Pensacola 2

  • Romy Gonzalez went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts.
  • Micker Adolfo walked twice and struck out twice.
  • Carlos Pérez went 0-for-4.

Asheville 7, Winston-Salem 1

  • Yoelqui Céspedes went 1-for-5 with two strikeouts.
  • Yolbert Sanchez was 1-for-5.
  • Lenyn Sosa was 2-for-4.
  • Duke Ellis went 1-for-4 with a strikeout and a stolen base.
  • Davis Martin: 4 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 WP
  • Isaiah Carranza: 3 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K

Fayetteville 6, Kannapolis 2

  • José Rodriguez and Chase Krogman both were 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
  • Bryan Ramos wore the collar and silver sombrero.
  • Luis Mieses went 2-for-4 with a homer.
  • DJ Gladney, 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
  • Harvin Mendoza doubled, singled and was hit by a pitch.
  • Caberea Weaver went 0-for-3 with a strikeout.
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GrinnellSteve

I love the scoreboard in Nashville.