The Undercards: Notable Draft Picks Debut in GCL Rays Doubleheader

Really exciting to see the 2012 draft picks make their debuts. Got to experience that with a trio of Rays draftees on Thursday.

Triple-A International League: Syracuse Chiefs (WSN) 14, Durham Bulls 3

This game had to remind you of some of the Rays’ recent games. And given the nature of the Rays’ recent games, that’s not a good thing. In this game, Syracuse had 14 hits while Durham had 13. However, the Chiefs went 8 for 16 with runners in scoring position while the Bulls went just 2 for 9. Jim Paduch had a catastrophe of a start, allowing 12 runs, 10 earned, on 11 hits in 5 innings. On offense, every Bull had a hit, including a 3 for 5 day with a 2-run homer for Henry Wrigley, a 2 for 4 days for Reid Brignac and a 2 for 5 day for Matt Mangini. Tim Beckham went 1 for 4 with an RBI double.

Double-A Southern League: Montgomery Biscuits 8, Jacksonville Suns (MIA) 3

A coule of relatively unheralded players had big days as the Biscuits rolled. Jake Thompson, who has had a struggle of a season, had a nice start, going 6.1 innings allowing 3 runs on 7 hits, 2 of which were solo home runs, striking out 5 while walking 3. But he posted a 10-1 groundout to flyout ratio, so hopefully he’s making progress. On offense, Ryan Garko had a 3-run shot and Greg Sexton had a 2-run shot while Mark Thomas went 3 for 4. A mid-level prospect, Tyler Bortnick, went 1 for 4 with his 20th stolen base of the season. And the loosely-defined top prospects, Hak-Ju Lee and Ty Morrison, both had nice games as well. Lee went 2 for 4 with a double, a triple, a walk, and a run scored, while Morrison went 2 for 3 with a double, 2 walks, an RBI, and a run scored.

High-A Florida State League: Charlotte Stone Crabs 7, Fort Myers Miracle (MIN) 5

Sorry, no triple-header for the Stone Crabs today. Just a win. Victor Mateo had a run of the 4’s, allowing 4 runs on 4 hits, striking out 4, walking 4, and allowing 4 groundouts. He tossed 5 innings and forced 5 flyouts, so there’s a couple 5’s. He got the win in the game thanks to some nice offense. Luke Bailey and Stephen Tinoco each went 2 for 4 with a double and 2 RBI and Derek Dietrich, Robby Price, and Christopher Murrill all had multiple hits as well. Theron Geith, Jim Patterson, and Chris Rearick combined for 4 innings of one-run relief, with Rearick recording his 15th save of the season.

Low-A Midwest League: Lansing Lugnuts (TOR) 8, Bowling Green Hot Rods 3

One horrific inning was exactly the difference in this one. Parker Markel allowed just 1 hit in the first 2 innings before completely imploding in the third inning. Allowing 5 runs on 6 hits. The Hot Rods couldn’t muster enough offense to compensate. Drew Vettleson went 2 for 4 with his 7th homer of the season and 10th stolen base, Alejandro Torres went 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI, and Todd Glaesmann and Juniel Querecuto each went 2 for 4 with a run scored. Josh Sale and Tyler Goeddel went a combined 0 for 5 with 2 walks, one by each.

Short Season-A New York-Penn League; Hudson Valley Renegades 9, Staten Island Yankees 3

Jeff Ames was sharp and Ryan Dunn had the best day of his young career as the Renegades blew out the Yankees. Ames went 5 innings, allowing an unearned run on 3 hits, striking out 5 while walking 1 and posting a 4-2 groundout to flyout ratio. Dunn went 3 for 4 with a double, 4 RBI, and 2 runs scored. Justin O’Conner also went 2 for 5 with a double and a run scored from the two-hole. Tommy Coyle (1 for 3), Michael Williams (1 for 4 with a triple), and Leonardo Reginatto (0 for 2 with 2 RBI) had the other RBIs.

Advanced Rookie Appalachian League: Princeton Rays 9, Bristol White Sox 4

A lot of people came out of this game happy. Bruedlin Suero allowed 4 runs on 8 hits in 5 innings in his start, but he did strike out 3 while walking 1 and post a 7-1 groundout to flyout ratio. Willie Gabay followed with 2 shutout relief innings for his first professional win. Randy Davis and Jon Weaver each struck out 2 in a hitless relief appearance, although Davis walked 3. And then there was the offense. Granden Goetzman went 2 for 5 with a double, 3 stolen bases, 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored. Brandon Martin went just 1 for 5 but swiped 2 more bases, John Alexander went 3 for 4 with a double, a walk, and 3 RBI, and Oscar Hernandez went 3 for 5 with a double, an RBI, and 2 runs scored.

Rookie Gulf Coast League: Game 1: GCL Rays 4, GCL Twins 3 (7 innings)

This game alone was the pro debuts of four Rays 2012 draft picks: outfielders 5th rounder Bralin Jackson (a power-speed threat), 11th rounder Clayton Henning (a raw athlete, but with tons of potential), lefty Dayne Quist from the 28th round (underwhelming stuff but superb control), and right-hander Luke Goodgion from the 33rd round (great stuff, needs work with control). For more on those four, please see here. But how were their debuts? Carlos Cedeno showed some positive and not-so-positive signs in his second start of the season, going 4 innings allowing 3 runs on 6 hits, but striking out 4 while walking 1 and posting a 4-0 groundout to flyout ratio. The next three pitchers, Quist, Goodgion, and non-drafted free agent signee Alex Moshier, all tossed perfect innings with a strikeout each. On offense, Armando Araiza and Leopoldo Correa each had a hit and an RBI, and the other GCL Rays runs scored on errors. How about Jackson and Henning? Jackson, unfortunately, went 0 for 4, while Henning went 1 for 3 with a walk and a caught stealing (he’s fast but needs a lot of work stealing bases- see his profile at the lin above). Adderly Rosa also had a double and Yoel Araujo had a triple for their lone hits in the game.

Game 2: GCL Twins 2, GCL Rays 1 (7 innings)

Not exactly fun getting 4-hit. Stepan Havlicek got the start for the GCL Rays and wasn’t so great, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits in 3.2 innings, striking out 4 while walking 2. Nicholas Sawyer (40th round in 2012), Oscar Armenta, and lefty Jordan Harrison (25th round in 2012), did combine for 3.2 shutout relief innings. 2 of the 4 hits came from Ben Kline, who went 2 for 3, and Johnny Eierman went 1 for 2 with a walk and a stolen base.