The Undercards: Chris Gimenez Leads Bulls To Comeback Win

The Rays minor leagues had a successful night on Wednesday, going 6-1 in their games. Here is this morning’s look around the action.

Durham Bulls 9, Columbus Clippers 7

The Clippers jumped out to an early lead against Cesar Ramos, going ahead 5-0 by the end of the third. Cord Phelps doubled in a run in the bottom of the first, and scored on a base hit by Russ Canzler. Phelps struck again in the third, driving in a run on another double, and coming around to score on a home run by Jared Goedert. The Bulls trimmed the lead to 5-2 in the fourth when Chris Gimenez hit a two run home run. Columbus put another run on the board in the bottom of the fifth, as Phelps continued his monster day with a solo home run. After another run in the seventh, the Clippers held a 7-2 lead. However, the Bulls came back in the top of the eighth, sending up 12 batters, and plating 7 runs. Gimenez’s second home run of the game, a three run shot, and Will Rhymes‘ two run home run highlighted the scoring. The Bulls held on to manage a 9-7 comeback win. Gimenez finished the day 2-4 with 2 home runs, 2 runs scored, and 5 RBI. Josh Lueke picked up the win, allowing 1 run on 2 hits in an inning of work. Phelps was 4-4 with 3 runs scored, 2 doubles, a home run, and 4 RBI in the loss.

Montgomery Biscuits 9, Huntsville Stars 6

The Biscuits jumped out to a fast lead, and held on to win their fourth straight game. With the bases loaded and two out, Kyeong Kang and Michael Sheridan walked, forcing in two runs. Brett Nommensen then hit a grand slam to right, as the Biscuits jumped out to a 6-0 lead. An RBI single in the top of the second chased Stars’ starter Ariel Pena from the game. The Stars got a run back in the bottom of the third, before rallying for four runs in the fourth, highlighted by Brock Kjeldgaard‘s three run home run. Mark Thomas homered in the sixth to give the Biscuits a bit more breathing room, and they tacked on another run in the eighth. Huntsville attempted to rally, putting up another run in the bottom of the ninth, but Montgomery was able to hang on to the 9-6 victory. Kyle Lobstein picked up the win, despite allowing 5 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks over 5 innings. Pena was roughed up by the Biscuits, giving up 7 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks in 1.2 innings of work. Omar Luna was 3-4 with a run scored.

Charlotte Stone Crabs 6, Bradenton Marauders 3 (10 innings)

The Stone Crabs powered their way to a 6-3 victory over the Marauders in ten innings Wednesday night. Charlotte jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the strength of solo home runs by Todd Glaesmann and Lucas Bailey. Bradenton got a run back in the bottom of the fifth, as Andy Vasquez made it to second base on an error, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on a sacrifice fly. The Marauders took the lead in the seventh, as Dan Grovat hit a two run, two out home run. Charlotte tied the game in the top of the eighth, scoring a run on a double play. With the game heading into the tenth inning, Philip Wunderlich hit a two out, three run home run, giving Charlotte a thrilling comeback victory. Jim Patterson picked up the win in relief, giving up 1 hit in 3 innings of work. Glaesmann and Bailey each had two hits in the win.

Bowling Green Hot Rods 4, Great Lakes Loons 1

The Loons got on the board first in the bottom of the fourth, as Darnell Sweeney reached on a bunt base hit. A failed pickoff attempt moved Sweeney to second, and he scored two groundouts later to give the Loons the early 1-0 lead. Bowling Green tied the score in the top of the fifth, as Joshua Sale homered to center. Sale scored again in the seventh on Juniel Querecuto‘s groundout. The Hot Rods loaded the bases in the top of the eighth, bringing Sale up once again. Again he delivered, hitting a two run single to left, as he factored in all four runs in the 4-1 victory. Trevor Shull and two relievers combined to two hit the Loons, as Shull gave up 1 unearned run on 2 hits, striking out 2 over 6 innings. Sale finished the day 2-3 with 2 runs scored, a home run, 3 RBI, and a stolen base.

Hudson Valley Renegades 2, Connecticut Tigers 0

Eduar Quinonez and two relievers combined on a two hit shutout, as the Renegades defeated the Tigers 2-0. The Renegades scored in the top of the fourth, as Luke Maile and Michael Williams walked. Both advanced on a wild pitch, with Maile scoring on a throwing error to give Hudson Valley a 1-0 lead. Walks factored into the next run in the top of the fifth, as Marty Gantt walked, and scored on Richie Shaffer‘s two out single. Meanwhile, Renegades pitching cruised through the Connecticut lineup, as the Tigers did not get a runner past second in the game. Quinonez picked up the win, giving up 1 hit while striking out 5 in 5 innings of work. Gantt and Shaffer each had three hits.

Burlington Royals 2, Princeton Rays 0

Each team picked up only three hits, But the Royals were able to push two runs across the plate, resulting in a 2-0 victory. Scoreless through the top of the sixth, Mark Threlkeld led off the bottom of the frame with a solo home run, snapping what to that point had been a perfect game for Rays pitching. The Royals tacked on another run in the seventh, as Bubba Starling doubled, and came around to score on two groundouts. The Rays best scoring opportunity came in the top of the first, with a runner on third and two out, but they were unable to push a run across. Alex Keudell picked up the loss, giving up a run on 2 hits and a walk over an inning of work. Kevin Brandt did not allow a baserunner, striking out 8 in his 5 innings of work. James Harris was 1-2 with a double and a walk.

GCL Rays 3, GCL Twins 2

The Rays scored twice in the top of the fourth, rallying with two out in the inning. Yoel Araujo tripled, and scored on a base hit by Armando Araiza. Araiza came around to score on a triple by Leopoldo Correa, giving the Rays a 2-0 lead. Joel Licon led off the bottom of the fourth with a walk, and scored on a triple by Bryan Haar. Haar scored on a sacrifice fly, tying the game at 2-2. The Rays took the lead again in the top of the eighth, as Johnny Eierman was hit by a pitch, and scored on Araujo’s double. Alex Mosier picked up the victory in relief, giving up 3 hits while striking out a batter in 3 innings of work. Araiza was 3-4 with a run scored and an RBI.