Alex Call will be our guest on Monday's edition of the Sox Machine Podcast, and here's a snipped from Josh's interview:
Josh: What’s been the difference in your experience from playing Advanced-A ball in Winston-Salem to Double-A ball with Birmingham?
Alex Call: I’ve noticed that the game in Double-A is a lot cleaner, and there’s more refinement in pitcher’s ability to throw breaking balls for a strike. In High-A, you can just sit on the fastball and spit at the breaking pitches because most of the time it’s not going to be a strike. Here, it’s different where guys are throwing their breaking balls early and behind in counts. You have to be able to hit it, and I’ve always been able to hit it, but it’s now you have to swing because it might be the best pitch you are going to get.
At the start of the year, I didn’t feel like I was at that level hitting the breaking ball hard. Once I made the adjustment after getting promoted, I’m ready for the fastball every pitch but if I see a hanging breaking ball, I’m ready to snag it. That’s when I know I’m at my best.
Buffalo 14, Charlotte 5
- Charlie Tilson went 2-for-5 with a strikeout.
- Ryan Cordell, 0-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout.
- Eloy Jimenez went 1-for-4 with a double and a strikeout.
- Jose Rondon was 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Seby Zavala might be heating up, as he went 2-for-4 with a homer.
- Carson Fulmer: 1.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 1 WP
- Ryan Burr: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Birmingham 2, Tennessee 0
- Joel Booker went 1-for-4 with a triple.
- Luis Basabe was 1-for-4 with his fifth Double-A homer and a strikeout.
- Zack Collins, 1-for-3 with a walk.
- Alex Call went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.
- Danny Mendick was 0-for-2 with a walk.
Buies Creek 9, Winston-Salem 6
- Luis Robert went 1-for-5 with two strikeouts.
- Luis Gonzalez, 0-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts.
- Nick Madrigal went 1-for-4.
- So did Blake Rutherford, who tripled and struck out.
- Gavin Sheets was 0-for-2 with a walk, sac fly and strikeout.
- Laz Rivera went 1-for-4 with a double and a K.
- Ti'Quan Forbes went 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
More:
*Gonzalez and Kyle Kubat were named Carolina League Players of the Week.
Ogden 10, Great Falls 5
- Romy Gonzalez went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and a stolen bas.e
- Lenyn Sosa went 2-for-5.
- Bryce Bush was 1-for-4.
- Amado Nunez, 1-for-3 with a double and a walk.
- Jhoandro Alfaro struck out three times, committed two throwing errors and allowed a passed ball.
AZL White Sox 6, AZL Giants Orange 5 (Game 1, 7 innings)
- Anderson Comas went 2-for-4 with two doubles.
- Camilo Quinteiro singled, walked and struck out twice.
- Tito Polo went 1-for-4 with a stolen base.
- Lency Delgado was 1-for-2 with a double and an HBP.
- Harvin Mendoza was 1-for-3.
- Cabera Weaver, 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.
AZL Giants Orange 6, AZL White Sox 3 (Game 2, 7 innings)
- Kelvin Maldonado went 0-for-2 with a walk, strikeout and sac bunt.
- Luis Mieses went 1-for-3 with a double and a strikeout.
- Tito Polo went 1-for-3 with a stolen base.
- Sam Abbott was 0-for-2.
- Anthony Coronado and Josue Guerrero were both 1-for-3.
- Brayant Nova went 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout.
DSL Padres 5, DSL White Sox 0 (7 innings, rain)
- Sidney Pimentel went 0-for-3 and was caught stealing.
- Jose Rodriguez was 0-for-3 with a strikeout.
