The Undercards: Jacob Thompson Has Great Start in Montgomery Victory

Sometimes, when a starter is struggling, all it takes is for them to get a taste of success to get back on the right track. For Jacob Thompson, hopefully his outing last night will help him get over his struggles to start the year, and he can look to get better in his second season in the Southern League.

Durham Bulls 9, Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders (Yankees) 4

Scoreless into the third, the Bulls took the lead in the top of the third. With one out and a runner on second, Brandon Guyer doubled, giving the Bulls a 1-0 lead. Guyer came around to score on a two out double by Wil Myers. In the fourth inning, Durham took control of the game. With runners on first and third, Tim Beckham singled to drive in a run. A hit batter loaded the bases, and Jason Bourgeois walked to force in a run. Two groundouts plated runs, and the Bulls took a 6-0 lead. The RailRiders got two back in the fifth, aided by a two base error by Guyer. However, Durham extended the lead again in the seventh, loading the bases with two outs. Juan Apodaca singled up the middle, plating two as the Bulls took an 8-2 lead. They tacked on another run in the eighth on a sacrifice fly. Even though the RailRiders got two back in the bottom of the ninth, it was not enough as the Bulls held on for the 9-4 victory. Alex Colome got the win, giving up two unearned runs on five hits and two walks. Guyer, Beckham and Apodaca each had two hits in the win.

Montgomery Biscuits 2, Jackson Generals (Mariners) 1

This game did not start off well for Montgomery starter Jacob Thompson, as he gave up a leadoff home run to Leon Landry and walked the next batter. However, from that point, he settled in, and managed to hold the Generals offense in check. The Biscuits would give him all the support he needed in the third, as back to back walks to start the inning put runners on first and second. After a sacrifice bunt, Kevin Kiermaier and Shawn O’Malley had consecutive RBI singles, giving the Biscuits a 2-1 lead. Neither team mounted a serious threat the rest of the way, as the Biscuits took the win in this excellent pitcher’s duel. Thompson got the win, allowing the one run on five hits and two walks in seven innings, striking out four. Robi Estrada was 2-2 with a double, and Cameron Seitzer finished 1-3 with a double and a walk in the victory.

Fort Myers Miracle (Twins) 6, Charlotte Stone Crabs 5

This loss was particularly painful for the Stone Crabs, in more ways than one. After the Miracle took a 2-0 lead, the Stone Crabs tied the game in the top of the third. With one out, Ryan Brett was picked off of first, but reached second due to an error, and scored on a sacrifice fly. Richie Shaffer doubled, then scored on a single from Alejandro Segovia to tie the game. Charlotte took the lead in the fifth. With runners on first and third, Shaffer singled to drive in a run. After a walk loaded the bases, Hector Guevara hit a sacrifice fly to put Charlotte ahead 4-2. However, the Stone Crabs had a scare in the sixth. With one out, starter Parker Markel was hit by a line drive, forcing him to leave the game. Angel Morales followed with a base hit against reliever Christopher Kirsch. An error by Willie Argo led to a run scoring, as the Miracle cut the lead to one. A two out, two run home run from Kennys Vargas gave Fort Myers the lead in the seventh, but the Stone Crabs fought back. Charlotte loaded the bases in with one out in the ninth, and Jake DePew walked to force in the tying run. Then came the bottom of the frame. The Miracle loaded the bases with one out, and Vargas hit a fly ball that Argo lost in the lights, allowing the winning run to score as the Stone Crabs lost 6-5. Eliazer Suero took the loss, giving up a run on two hits and a walk in .1 innings. Markel pitched fairly well before leaving, allowing three runs, one earned, on eight hits and two walks while striking out six in 5.1 innings. Guevara was 3-4 with an RBI in the loss.

Bowling Green Hot Rods 4, Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers) 2 (seven innings)

The Loons struck first, loading the bases with one out in the first against Bowling Green starter Jordan Harrison. Dashenko Ricardo singled to center, driving in two as the Loons took a 2-0 lead. From that point, Harrison settled in, and held Great Lakes in check. The Hot Rods got a run back in the first on a Justin O’Conner RBI single, and tied the game in the second courtesy of a base hit by Leonardo Reginatto. The Hot Rods appeared ready to take the lead, as they loaded the bases with one out. However, Andrew Toles struck out and Thomas Coyle was picked off of first to end the threat. Bowling Green did take the lead in the fourth. With runners on first and second and two outs, Coyle made up for his baserunner gaffe earlier by hitting a double to center to drive in both runners, putting the Hot Rods ahead 4-2. The Loons were unable to mount a threat from that point, as the Hot Rods took the win in this makeup game from the April 17th rainout. Marcus Jensen earned the win in relief, pitching 2.1 shutout innings, allowing only one hit and a walk while striking out three. Harrison only lasted 3.2 innings, but struck out seven Loons hitters. Coyle was 1-2 with a double, two RBIs, and a walk.