White Sox Minor Keys: May 23, 2024

The Birmingham Barons effectively erased their six-game losing streak earlier this month by winning seven of their next eight, including a 5-4 victory in 10 innings over Biloxi on Thursday.

In the process, they're back to having the best record in the Southern League on the strength of a pitching staff that has only allowed 119 runs over 41 games, including seven innings of one-run ball from Ky Bush against the Shuckers.

Baseball America has taken notice of the Barons' depth, placing them third among 10 teams in the early running for their Minor League Team of the Year honor.

As we detailed earlier, Birmingham is at the epicenter of the rebirth of the White Sox’s farm system. The Barons’ pitching staff is chock full of high-end arms, including Jake Eder, Jairo Iriarte, Drew Thorpe, Mason Adams and Ky Bush. The team also is about to get a boost from southpaw Noah Schultz, whose pure stuff is among the best in the sport. Birmingham also gets plenty of offense from the likes of Edgar Quero, Brooks Baldwin and Wilfred Veras.

Nashville 6, Charlotte 2 (Game 1, 7 innings)

• Colson Montgomery went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk.
• Bryan Ramos singled twice, walked and got plunked.
• Oscar Colás and Lenyn Sosa both were 1-for-4 with a strikeout.

Nashville 2, Charlotte 1 (Game 2, 7 innings)

• Colson Montgomery singled and struck out thrice.
• Oscar Colás walked, struck out and got plunked.
• Adam Hackenberg walked twice and struck out once.

Birmingham 5, Biloxi 4 (10 innings)

• Jacob Gonzalez went 1-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout.
• Brooks Baldwin played third and went 2-for-5 with a homer, double and strikeout.
• Tim Elko was 2-for-4 with a walk.
• Wilfred Veras struck out thrice during an 0-for-4 night, but hit a sac fly.
• Jacob Burke was 0-for-3 with a walk.
• Ky Bush: 7 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 45 of 80 pitches for strikes.

Highlights:

*Baldwin's homer went the other way:

Winston-Salem 3, Bowling Green 2 (10 innings)

• Loidel Chapelli went 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
• Eddie Park was 0-for-4.
• Wes Kath was 0-for-3 with a strikeout.
• Samuel Zavala perked up: 2-for-2 with a homer, double, walk and stolen base.
• Peyton Pallette: 4 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 1 HR, 1 WP, 1 HBP, 38 of 66 pitches for strikes.
• Shane Murphy: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, 42 of 70 pitches for strikes.

Notes:

*There isn't an immediately apparent reason for Pallette's quick hook, as he only threw 14 pitches in each of his last two innings.

*Zavala's homer:

Kannapolis 11, Augusta 6

• Rikuu Nishida went 2-for-4 with two walks.
• Aldrin Batista: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 HR