The Undercards: Wil Myers Leaves After Two, Speculation Abounds

When a top prospect is pulled from a game after two innings, all kinds of speculation is to be expected. Is he about to get called up to the majors? When will he get his first start? In the case of Wil Myers, it was nothing like that at all – just a stomach bug. However, that did not stop the rampant speculation until the truth came out. Such is the life of a top prospect.

Durham Bulls 4, Syracuse Chiefs (Nationals) 2

Before any scoring occurred in the game, there was considerable excitement, as Wil Myers was pulled after two innings. Was he about to be called up to Tampa? Turns out, it was merely a stomach bug, and Myers was removed simply because he did not feel well. Hopefully, Myers will be back in the lineup soon.

As for the game, the Bulls scored first in the bottom of the third, using back to back two out doubles by Brandon Guyer and Mike Fontenot to take a 1-0 lead. In the fourth, Tim Beckham singled with runners on first and third and two out, driving in another run to extend the lead to 2-0. Syracuse came back with two runs of their own in the top of the fifth, as Micah Owings led off the frame with a home run, and Carlos Rivero had an RBI groundout. Unfazed, the Bulls took the lead right back in the bottom of the inning, as Leslie Anderson‘s sacrifice fly plated Fontenot with what would end up being the game winning run. The Bulls tacked on another run in the bottom of the eighth on a wild pitch, and ended up with a 4-2 victory. J.D. Martin picked up the win, pitching seven strong innings as he allowed two runs on five hits, striking out five. josh Lueke, who may be making an appearance in Tampa if the Rays bullpen continues to struggle, worked the final two innings for his seventh save of the year. Fontenot and Rich Thompson, who entered the game for Myers, each had two hits in the victory.

Mississippi Braves 5, Montgomery Biscuits 0

If the zero after the Montgomery Biscuits looks strange, it should. For the first time this season, the Biscuits were shut out. Alex Wood dominated the Montgomery lineup, allowing only two hits and two walks while striking out five over seven innings. The Biscuits did not even have a real scoring threat until Kyeong Kang tripled with two out in the bottom of the ninth, but he was left on third as Greg Sexton grounded out to end the game. The Braves scored runs in the second and fifth innings, before putting the game away in the top of the sixth. Following a lead off walk, Edward Salcedo doubled to drive in a run, and came around to score on a home run by Kyle Russell. Merrill Kelly took the loss, lasting five plus innings as he gave up five runs on seven hits and five walks. Kang had two the the Biscuits three hits, going 2-4 with the triple.

Bradenton Marauders (Pirates) 4, Charlotte Stone Crabs 3

The Marauders jumped out quickly against starter Jesse Hahn as he struggled for really the first time all season. Back to back singles put runners on second and third, as Benji Gonzalez advanced on the throw. A groundout drove home the first run of the game, and Jose Osuna drove in Gonzalez with an RBI single. After Osuna stole second, he scored on an error by Taylor Motter, giving Bradenton a quick 3-0 lead. Motter quickly had a chance to atone for his miscue, as he came up to bat with runners on first and second. After a wild pitch moved the runners up, Motter bunted for a base hit, driving in the Stone Crabs first run of the game. However, the very next batter lined to first, and Motter was doubled off the bag to end the inning. In the fifth, Motter once again came through, leading off the inning with a ground rule double. He moved to third on a groundout, and scored on a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to one. Charlotte tied the game in the seventh, as Kes Carter singled, stole second, and came around to score on a single by Drew Vettleson. However, Bradenton came back in the eighth. Elias Diaz walked, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After a wild pitch moved him to third, Dan Grovatt drove in Diaz with a sacrifice fly, providing the winning run in the Stone Crabs 4-3 loss. Hahn only lasted two innings, giving up three runs on three hits while striking out two. Despite allowing only one walk in 1.1 innings, Nate Garcia took the loss. Vettleson was 3-4 with two doubles and two RBIs.

Bowling Green Hot Rods 5, West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers) 1

There is nothing quite like the manufactured run, which is how the Hot Rods got on the board in the first inning. Thomas Coyle led off the inning with a walk, and stole second. After a groundout moved him to third with two outs, Coyle scored on a wild pitch to give Bowling Green a 1-0 lead. That run held up until the top of the sixth, when, with runners on first and third and two outs, Jeff Holm tied the game with an RBI single. The Hot Rods stormed back in the bottom of the frame, aided by sloppy play from the Whitecaps. joey Rickard reached on an error, and was followed by a single by Coyle to put runners on first and second. Tyler Goeddel followed with a single that would have loaded the bases; however Danny Vazquez had problems fielding the ball cleanly, allowing the runners to move up and putting the Hot Rods ahead 2-1. Andrew Toles followed with a two run single, and came around to score on a double by Luke Maile. The Whitecaps made the game interesting in the ninth, loading the bases with two outs, but Nick Sawyer was able to end the threat by getting Mario Martinez to ground out to end the game. Dylan Floro earned the win, giving up one run on five hits and a walk over six innings, striking out four. Toles and Maile each had two hits in the victory.