The Undercards: Alex Colome Sharp Again as Bulls Win Rain-Shortened Game

The Rays gave up 6 runs to the Orioles on Saturday but found a way to win. Rays affiliates averaged 6.4 runs allowed but went just 1-4. Moral of the story: try not to allow 6 runs against you.

Triple-A International League: Durham Bulls 3, Norfolk Tides (BAL) 2 (7 innings- rain)

Add more insult to the ignominy of blowing a 6-4 lead in the 9th to the Rays for the Orioles organization as the Bulls also beat the Orioles-affiliated Tides at Triple-A. This game was much different as Alex Colome was the star, going 6 innings allowing 2 runs on 7 hits, striking out 8 while walking none. It was the first time all year that he didn’t walk a batter in a start, although he did allow 2 home runs. The Rays’ Triple-A pitching depth has come to spotlight since the Price injury, and rest assured, Colome is right in the thick of that. Jason Bourgeois went 2 for 4 with a 2-run homer to account for most of the Bulls offense but the most exciting thing may be that Wil Myers went 0 for 2 but with no strikeouts and a walk.

Double-A Southern League Game 1: Huntsville Stars (MIL) 7, Montgomery Biscuits 5 (7 innings)

We saw in the Rays game how a valiant relief effort by Alex Torres kept the Rays in the game after allowing 6 early runs. The Biscuits had a late run of their own after allowing 7 runs in the first 5 innings, but don’t try coming back from that at home, especially when you’re only playing seven innings in a minor league doubleheader. Jacob Thompson got destroyed again, going 4.2 innings allowing 7 runs, 6 earned, on 9 hits, striking out 5 while walking 3. He also managed a 6-0 groundout to flyout ratio and you want to say that he’s pitching better than the numbers, but he just keeps getting shelled, as evidenced by his 7.09 ERA on the year. Cameron Seitzer went 2 for 4 for the Biscuits while Mayo Acosta went 2 for 2 with a 2-run home run.

Game 2: Stars 6, Biscuits 1

All good things must come to an end, and that’s exactly what happened in this one for Matt Buschmann. In his last four starts entering Saturday, Buschmann had gone 3-0 with four quality starts, a 3-0 record, a 1.33 ERA, and a 29-7 strikeout to walk ratio in 27 innings pitched. This one did not go as well. Buschmann went just 5 innings allowing 4 runs, 3 earned, on 9 hits, striking out 3 while walking 2. You can certainly do worse than that, but you also definitely won’t win such a game if your offense is quiet.  The Biscuits managed just 3 hits in the game, although they were able to push a run across in the 9th. Shawn O’Malley went 2 for 3 with a double in the loss.

High-A Florida State League: Fort Myers Miracle (MIN) 9, Charlotte Stone Crabs 2

Mike Montgomery‘s first rehab start went outstanding. This one? Not so much. Montgomery went just 4.2 innings allowing 7 runs, 6 earned, on 7 hits, striking out 4 while walking 2. His groundout to flyout ratio was 5-2. It was good that Montgomery was able to extend himself a little bit and he didn’t allow a single home run, but he has to pitch better than this. This game was bad enough that backup catcher Ryan McChesney tossed the 9th and did a good job, working around 2 hits with a strikeout in a scoreless inning. On the offensive side, Ryan Brett continued his hot start since getting reinstated to the team by going 2 for 4.

Low-A Midwest League: West Michigan Whitecaps (DET) 8, Bowling Green Hot Rods 1

Sometimes the Hot Rods seem like the Baby Rays. This game, a little bit too much. They were down just 1-0 before a starting pitching collapse then a bullpen implosion put this game out of reach. Eduar Quinonez went 5 innings allowing 4 runs, 3 earned, on just 3 hits, walking 2 while striking out none. He didn’t allow a hit until the 3-run 5th (although he still managed to allow a run in the 1st). Tommy Coyle went 1 for 3 with a walk for Bowling Green while Andrew Toles stole his 21st base already this season.