The Undercards: Minor Leagues Have Rough Day, Going 1-5

We begin our look around the minors with the ending to last night’s suspended game between the Bowling Green Hot Rods and the Fort Wayne TinCaps.

Fort Wayne TinCaps 7, Bowling Green Hot Rods 2 (Saturday)

Ahead 2-0 when the rains came down, the TinCaps exploded for five more runs over the next three innings, holding on as they defeated the Hot Rods 7-2. Bowling Green got both of their runs in the sixth, as Drew Vittleson hit a solo home run with two outs. Alejandro Segovia followed with an infield hit, stole second, and scored on a Cameron Seitzer RBI single. Jason McEachern was roughed up in the defeat, giving up 4 runs on 7 hits over 3 innings of work. Vittleson, Seitzer, Jeff Malm, and Josh Sale each had two hits in the loss.

Now, on to today’s games.

Gwinnett Braves 6, Durham Bulls 4

On the verge of a four game sweep of the Braves, Gwinnett stormed back in the ninth to take a 6-4 victory. The Braves scored in the top of the fourth, before the game was tied by Evan Longoria‘s RBI single. Gwinnett scored twice more in the top of the fifth, and again the Bulls matched the scoring in the bottom of the inning. Durham finally took the lead in the seventh, as Cole Figueroa drove in Chris Gimenez with an RBI single. The Braves loaded the bases against Dane De La Rosa in the ninth, scoring the tying run on a passed ball, then taking the lead on a two run single by Ernesto Mejia. De la Rosa took the loss, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 2 hits and 2 walks in his inning of work. Longoria finished the night 2-3 with a walk and an RBI.

Jacksonville Suns 7, Montgomery Biscuits 1

The Biscuits scored for the first time in 22 innings, but lost to the Suns 7-1. Hak-Ju Lee provided the only run for Montgomery, hitting a solo home run on the first pitch of the game. Aside from Lee, the Biscuits were unable to get anyone else past second base. The Suns scored twice in the bottom of the first, once in the second, three times in the fifth, and tacked on another run in the eighth. Jacksonville pitchers held the Biscuits to 4 hits for the game, with Bryan Evans picking up the win, giving up only the 1 run on 3 hits and 3 walks, while striking out 8 in 5.1 innings. Jacob Thompson took the loss, getting battered for 6 runs (5 earned) on 7 hits and 4 walks over 4 innings.

Jupiter Hammerheads 2, Charlotte Stone Crabs 0

The Hammerheads defeated the Stone Crabs 2-0 for the second consecutive game on Sunday. Both runs scored in the bottom of the first inning, as leadoff hitter Noah Perio singled, and scored on a two-run home run by Marcell Ozuna. Charlotte had their best scoring opportunity in the top of the seventh, with runners on second and third with no outs. However, Cody Rogers grounded to the mound, with lead runner Philip Wunderlich being tagged out at home. Riccio Torrez and Lucas Bailey then struck out to end the threat. Victor Mateo picked up the tough loss, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits while striking out 3 in 7 innings of work.

Bowling Green Hot Rods 7, Fort Wayne TinCaps 4 (7 innings)

Following the suspended game, the Hot Rods and TinCaps played a truncated seven inning game, with the Hot Rods coming away with a 7-4 victory. Bowling Green jumped out to a 2-0 lead on RBI singles by Cameron Seitzer and Jake Hager, before exploding for five runs in the third. The Hot Rods loaded the bases with one out against Fort Wayne starter Cody Hebner. Taylor Motter singled, driving in a run and keeping the bases loaded. Tyler Goeddel followed with a three run triple, and later scored on Hager’s second RBI single of the game. The TinCaps fought back, scoring three times in the sixth and once again in the seventh, but the rally fell short. Parker Markel picked up the victory, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits and 4 walks over 6 innings, with 3 strikeouts. Goeddel and Hager each finished with 2 hits for the game.

Hudson Valley Renegades v. Jamestown Jammers

The game between the Renegades and the Jammers was postponed by rain.

Kingsport Mets 3, Princeton Rays 1

The Mets rallied in the sixth, snapping a 1-1 tie and taking a 3-1 victory over the Rays. Kingsport jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with two out in the bottom of the third inning, as Yeixon Ruiz hit his first home run of the year. Princeton tied the game in the top of the fifth, as Ismel Antunez hit a two out single, plating John Alexander. The Mets took the lead in the bottom of the sixth, as Jeyckol De Leon homered for the second consecutive night. Jacob Faria picked up the loss in relief, giving up 2 runs on 4 hits and 1 walk over 3 innings. Antunez finished the game 2-3 with an RBI.