The Undercards: Chris Gimenez Leads Durham To Victory

Despite several solid individual performances, the farm system went 2-5 last night. However, there were several highlights, as Chris Gimenez launched a three run home run, and Benjamin Kline homered on the first pitch he saw for the Bowling Green Hot Rods. Here is a look around the action last night for the Rays minor leagues.

Durham Bulls 8, Norfolk Tides 3

The Bulls jumped out early, scoring three runs in the bottom of the second, highlighted by a two run single from Reid Brignac. After the Tides and the Bulls traded runs in the third, Bill Hall hit a two run home run in the top of the fourth to cut the lead to 4-3. A two out error in the bottom of the fourth by Ryan Adams extended the inning, giving Durham runners on first and third for Chris Gimenez. Gimenez made the Tides pay, launching a three run home run to put the Bulls up 7-3. Norfolk threatened once more in the seventh, putting runners on second and third with two out, but were unable to push any more runs across. The Bulls scored again in the seventh, and picked up an 8-3 victory. Matt Torra got the win, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks over 6 innings, striking out 5 batters. Tim Beckham was 3-5 with a run and an RBI. Four other Bulls had two hits each, and every player had at least one hit on the night.

Jacksonville Suns 6, Montgomery Biscuits 2

Despite picking up 12 hits, the Biscuits fell to the Suns, 6-2. Montgomery jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the fourth, scoring runs on an RBI single from Ryan Garko and a sacrifice fly from Mark Thomas. Kyle Skipworth homered to lead off the fifth, cutting the lead to 2-1. Jacksonville then exploded in the top of the sixth, scoring five runs . After loading the bases with no out, the Biscuits got a force out at home, and a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 2-2, giving Montogomery hope of escaping the inning without further damage. However, Skipworth walked to load the bases again, and Kyle Jensen hit a grand slam, putting the Suns ahead 6-2. The Bulls never really threatened to score again, and the Suns came away with the comeback victory. Merrill Kelly took the loss, giving up 4 runs on 3 hits, a walk, and a hit batter in 5+ innings of work. Garko finished the night 3-4 with an RBI.

St. Lucie Mets 6, Charlotte Stone Crabs 5

The Mets jumped out to a quick lead, as hit a two run home run with two out in the bottom of the first, putting St. Lucie up 2-0. After scoring a run on an errant pickoff throw by Lucas Bailey, the Mets loaded the bases with no outs. A one out walk forced in a run, and singles by Aderlin Rodriguez and Richard Lucas each plated a run, giving St. Lucie the early 6-0 lead. Charlotte came back in the top of the fifth, scoring runs on consecutive two out singles by Kevin Kiermaier and Todd Glaesmann. Kiermaier scored from third on a wild pitch, cutting the lead to 6-3. The Stone Crabs scored runs in the seventh and eighth, but the rally came up short, as the Mets escaped with a 6-5 win. Victor Mateo took the loss, giving up 6 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks in 2.2 innings. Robi Estrada was 3-3 with a double and a walk in the defeat.

Dayton Dragons 8, Bowling Green Hot Rods 4

With the Dragons ahead 1-0, the Hot Rods scored twice in the bottom of the second, highlighted by a Benjamin Kline home run on the first pitch he saw in for Bowling Green. Dayton tied the game in the top of the fourth, as Nick O’Shea hit a two out double to plate Juan Silva. Bowling Green took the lead again in the sixth, after Cameron Seitzer drove in Jeff Malm. The lead was short lived, however, as the Dragons scored five times in the top of the seventh, highlighted by a grand slam from Yorman Rodriguez. Dayton and Bowling Green traded runs in the eighth, but the Hot Rods were unable to come back, losing 8-4. Ryan Carpenter took the loss, giving up 7 runs (6 earned) on 9 hits and a walk, striking out 4 in 6.1 innings. Kline went 2-4 in his debut for the Hot Rods, while Juniel Querecuto and Joshua Sale each had two hits in the defeat.

Hudson Valley Renegades 8, Aberdeen IronBirds 7

The Renegades scored quickly in the top of the first, pushing a run across with one out on Richie Schaffer’s RBI single. After loading the bases, Aberdeen starter Jorge Rivera was able to avoid further trouble with a line out and a strikeout to end the threat. Hudson Valley scored again in the fourth, before appearing to blow the game open in the bottom of the fifth. The Renegades scored four times in the inning, as Joel Caminero had a bases loaded single, plating three runs. An error by Anthony Vega allowed the third run to score, and Caminero was thrown out at third as a result. Aberdeen got on the board in the sixth, scoring twice, but the Renegades came back with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame, taking a 7-2 lead. However, the IronBirds came back in the top of the seventh, scoring five times to tie the game. Aberdeen loaded the bases with one out, and scored on a hit batter and a walk before Cameron Edman hit a two run single to tie the game. Hudson Valley reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the inning, as Charles Epperson’s two out double plated the eventual winning run. Ian Kendall was roughed up in relief for the Renegades, giving up 7 runs (6 earned) on 5 hits and 2 walks in 1.1 innings. Jose Molina picked up the win, allowing 2 hits in his 1.1 innings. Luke Maile was 2-4 with 2 runs scored, a double, an RBI, and a walk.

Bristol White Sox 5, Princeton Rays 3

The White Sox jumped out quickly, and held on to defeat the Rays 5-3. Bristol scored three times in the top of the first inning, highlighted by a leadoff home run from Kale Kiser. The Rays got a run back in the bottom of the second, as Darryl George hit a double, plating Ariel Soriano. The White Sox scored again in the top of the fourth, when Sammy Ayala doubled, and came around to score on a single by Steven Nikorak. Princeton scored again in the bottom of the fifth, as George drove in John Alexander to cut the lead to 4-2. The White Sox extended the lead yet again in the seventh, as Kiser doubled in Nikorak to give Bristol the three run lead. The Rays rallied in the ninth, scoring a run and putting runners on first and second with one out. However, Michael Gunter shut the door, striking out both batters he faced to preserve the 5-3 victory for Bristol. Eli Echarry took the loss, giving up 4 runs on 6 hits and a walk, striking out 4 over 5 innings. George was 3-4 with a double and 2 RBI in the defeat.

GCL Orioles 3, GCL Rays 2 (13 innings)

The Rays took an early lead, as Douglas Duran drove in Taylor Hawkins for a 1-0 lead. The Orioles tied the game in the bottom of the fourth, as Miguel Hernandez led off the inning with a home run. The Rays loaded the bases with one out in the top of the sixth, yet only managed one run, as Bralin Jackson’s sacrifice fly gave the Rays a 2-1 lead. The lead was short lived however, as Hector Veloz led off the bottom of the inning with a home run. The game remained tied through nine, and headed into extra innings. The Rays threatened in the top of the twelfth inning, with a runner on third and two out, yet were unable to come away with a run. With one out in the bottom of the thirteenth inning, Alexander Mercedes had an infield hit, and stole second and third base. A sacrifice fly from Cory Segui plated Mercedes, giving the Orioles the victory. Dayne Quist picked up the loss, giving up 1 run on 1 hit, striking out 3 in his 2.2 innings of relief.