The Birmingham Barons have been the lone bastion of respectable baseball for the White Sox farm system for the entirety of the 2021 season, and they wrapped up the home portion of their schedule with their finest work yet, sweeping the Rocket City Trash Pandas over a six-game series.
The Barons and Rocket City were tied for at the top of the Double-A South's North Division before the series. Now Birmingham leads by Double-A North by three games over Chattanooga, and they have a 2½-game lead over Pensacola for the league's second-best record, which will guarantee them a postseason best-of-5 series against Mississippi, which has already clinched its spot.
The extra games -- and the effort to secure them -- is why Jose Rodriguez appears to have one more promotion in store.
Great news for Sox fans, Jose Rodriguez has been promoted to AA Birmingham. He should be in uniform for them Tuesday. I didn’t think the Sox would do it with his winter ball status and one week left in the season. Congratulations to Jose!
— Daniel Victor (@slydanno70) September 13, 2021
Birmingham 9, Rocket City 2
- Yolbert Sanchez went 1-for-2.
- Carlos Pérez was a triple short of the cycle during a 3-for-5, five-RBI day. He struck out once.
- Lenyn Sosa went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts.
Bowling Green 9, Winston-Salem 3
- Jose Rodriguez went 1-for-5 with a strikeout.
- Luis Mieses was 0-for-3 with a walk.
- Luis Curbelo walked thrice and struck out once.
- Harvin Mendoza went 0-for-3 with an HBP and two strikeouts.
Kannapolis 6, Fayetteville 2
- Caberea Weaver went 0-for-4 with a strikeout and three stolen bases.
- Bryan Ramos doubled, singled, walked and struck out.
- Chase Krogman was 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Wilber Sanchez went 2-for-3 with a sac fly.
- Matthew Thompson: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 4 K
Notes:
*Kannapolis finished its home schedule by winning three of four, so at least the Cannon Ballers finished Atrium Health Ballpark's first season with their best play of the year.
