Triple-A International League: Durham Bulls 3, Norfolk Tides 2

Jim Paduch is no prospect, turning 30 in December, but he has to get a lot of credit for his great outing on Thursday to lead the Bulls to victory. Paduch went 6 innings allowing 2 runs on 7 hits, striking out 3 while walking 2 but posting a 7-1 groundout to flyout ratio including 4 double plays. Paduch did a nice job, and the Bulls got him enough run support to win. The Bulls scored 2 in the 1st on a Chris Gimenez sac fly and a Brooks Conrad RBI single before Nevin Ashley slammed a solo homer in 4th, and the 3 runs was enough between Paduch and a trio of relievers as the Bulls won 3-2. Cole Figueroa went 2 for 4 with a run scored while Tim Beckham went 1 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base.

Double-A Southern League: Pensacola Blue Wahoos 6, Montgomery Biscuits 0

The Biscuits beat Billy Hamilton and the Blue Wahoos the past two days, but this one did not go nearly as well as the Blue Wahoos used a 5-run 5th as they won handily. Jake Thompson started and was never dominant but tossed shutout ball for 4 innings before completely imploding in the 5th, allowing 6 straight hits to begin the inning and 7 overall in allowing 5 runs. On the day, Thompson went 4.2 innings allowing 5 runs on 9 hits, striking out 1 and walking 1 as well. His groundout to flyout ratio was 5-3, but he completely lost his command in the 5th. Thompson has shown flashes this season, but now his ERA on the year is an ugly 5.48. Marquis Fleming did follow Thompson with 2.1 shutout innings, striking out 4. The Biscuits managed just 4 hits, 2 by Omar Luna, who went 2 for 3, and Derek Dietrich tripled while Mikie Mahtook singled. Mayo Acosta went 0 for 3 but threw out Hamilton both times he attempted to steal.

High-A Florida State League: Palm Beach Cardinals 9, Charlotte Stone Crabs 2

The Stone Crabs actually led 2-0 in this game after a 2-run 1st. That was it for the highlights as Enny Romero‘s struggles were exacerbated by horrific defense as this one turned into a blowout. Two Charlotte errors led to 5 unearned runs for Romero in the 3rd, and 2 of his inherited runners scored in the 5th for his only earned runs. Romero went 4+ innings allowing 7 runs, just 2 earned, on 5 hits, striking out 3 while walking 3 and posting a 3-4 groundout to flyout ratio. Enigmatic Enny surfaced again, although who knows how this outing turns out without the errors. After Theron Geith struggled in relief of Romero, Chris Andujar tossed 3 shutout innings to end the game for the Stone Crabs, allowing just 1 hit and recording 2 of his outs via strikeouts and the other 7 on groundouts. Kevin Kiermaier did have a good game for the Hot Rods, going 2 for 3 with a double, a walk, a run scored, and an outfield assist.

Great to see Rivero get back to pitching well. (Credit: Peter G. Aiken-US PRESSWIRE)

Low-A Midwest League: Bowling Green Hot Rods 2, Dayton Dragons (CIN) 1 (13 innings)

The Hot Rods got incredible pitching and the offense came up huge later in the game as Bowling Green came away with a nice win. Felipe Rivero started and was dominant albeit in a brief stint, going 3 innings allowing just 1 hit and recording 3 outs via strikeouts and his other 6 on groundouts. The Hot Rods have been trying to limit the innings of their pitchers and had been using Rivero as their second starter after Roberto Gomez (who we’ll talk about in a second), but Rivero never really got comfortable. Back in a starting role though, Rivero was great. Rivero now has a 2.56 ERA and an 81-24 strikeout to walk ratio in 20 starts spanning 91.1 IP compared to just a 5.63 ERA albeit with a 12-2 strikeout to walk ratio in 5 relief appearances and 16 IP, allowing 23 hits. Gomez followed Rivero and struggled just enough in his new role, allowing 1 run on 2 hits in 3 innings, striking out 2 while walking 2 although his groundout to flyout ratio was 4-0. The Hot Rods had to hope that they could overcome Sean Buckley‘s RBI single in the  6th off of Gomez, but for a long time, it looked like they wouldn’t. James Allen tossed 6 shutout innings to begin the game for Dayton before Carlos Gonzalez tossed 2 shutout innings of relief. Jacob Partridge did keep the Hot Rods at just a 1-run deficit with 3 shutout innings, allowing just 1 hit, striking out 1 and posting a 5-0 groundout to flyout ratio. Ryan Kemp came in for Dayton to try to nail down the save in the 9th. But with 1 out, Jeff Malm singled. A Kemp wild pitch moved Malm into scoring position with the tying run. Kemp then intentionally walked Cameron Seitzer to set up a double play with the .220-hitting catcher Keith Castllo coming to the plate. But Castillo came up huge, lacing a game-tying RBI single as the game went into extra-innings. Both teams got great pitching over the next 3 innings, and after working around a hit in the 13th, Andrew Bellatti had gone 4 innings allowing just 3 hits, striking out 5 while walking none and posting a 3-0 groundout to flyout ratio. The Hot Rods finally rewarded him with a win as Drew Vettleson reached on a 2-out error in the 13th before Alejandro Segovia drilled a double to drive him in as the Hot Rods won 2-1 in walk-off fashion. Segovia went 2 for 6 with his clutch hit while Taylor Motter went 2 for 4 with a walk and a double. Hot Rods pitchers posted a ridiculous 18-0 groundout to flyout ratio in the game.

Short Season-A New York-Penn League: Hudson Valley Renegades 1, Connecticut Tigers 0

More great pitching to found here, and luckily the Renegades got their offense early. In the 1st inning, Marty Gantt and Joey Rickard walked before Richie Shaffer lined a single up the middle to score Gantt and give Jeff Ames and the Renegades a 1-0 lead. That’s all the Renegades got in the game, and that’s all that they would need. Ames didn’t allow a hit through 4 innings and wound up going 5 innings allowing just 1 hit, striking out 8 while walking 2 although his groundout to flyout ratio was just 1-4. Brandon Henderson followed with 2 perfect innings, striking out 1 and posting a 4-1 groundout to flyout ratio, before Marcus Jensen and Dylan Floro held the Tigers at bay in the final two innings to nail down the 1-0 victory, finishing with a combined 3-hitter. Shaffer went 1 for 3 and now has a nice .282/.372/.419 line on the season, while Tommy Coyle went 1 for 3 with his 16th stolen base of the season.

Advanced Rookie Appalachian League: Bristol White Sox 4, Princeton Rays 0

The Renegades 3-hit Connecticut. Bristol 3-hit Princeton. Not fun when it’s the other way around. Hugo Duarte started for the P-Rays and struggled, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits in 3.1 innings, striking out 2 while walking none. Pedro Silvestre and Daniel Bream did toss 3.2 shutout innings to end the game for Princeton, with Silvestre striking out 3 while walking 1 in 1.2 innings. On offense, well there wasn’t very much. Reid Redman did go 1 for 3 with a walk for Princeton. For Bristol, lefty Todd Kibby went 8 shutout innings. I had previously never seen a Rookie ball pitcher go as many as 6.

Rookie Gulf Coast League: GCL Red Sox 10, GCL Rays 4

Never fun to see not one, but two pitchers blow up. Geisel De La Cruz and Carlos Cedeno combined to allow 10 runs in the first 3 innings of the game. Ouch. Cedeno, Kyle Pelchy, and Matthew Ramsey did toss shutout ball for the last 5 innings of the game, but by then it was too late. On offense, Armando Araiza went 2 for 4 with a run scored, Yoel Araujo went 2 for 5 with a run scored, Bralin Jackson went 2 for 5, and Spencer Edwards went 1 for 3 with a walk, a stolen base, and a run scored. There was no scoring in the game from the 4th inning on.

The Tampa Bay Rays may have been off on Monday, but the minor leagues were in action with some exciting play. The Montgomery Biscuits and the Bowling Green Hot Rods each scored 7 runs on 14 hits in their games, although the two teams had different results. Here is today’s look around the minor leagues:

Durham Bulls 4, Columbus Clippers 1 (7 innings)

The Clippers jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead, as Cord Phelps homered with one out in the top of the first inning. However, Durham scored the final four runs of the game, taking a 4-1 victory. Chris Gimenez walked in the bottom of the second, reached third on a Brooks Conrad double, and scored on a Leslie Anderson groundout to tie the game. Gimenez and Conrad factored into the scoring again in the fourth, as Gimenez led off the inning with a base hit, and scored on Conrad’s two run home run. Henry Wrigley drove in the final run of the game, as his RBI double plated Tim Beckham. Conrad and Beckham each finished with 2 hits. Lance Pendleton picked up the victory, allowing 1 run on only 3 hits and 2 walks, while striking out 7 over 6 innings.

Jacksonville Suns 11, Montgomery Biscuits 7

Despite exploding for 7 runs and 14 hits, the Montgomery Biscuits came up short against the Jacksonville Suns, losing 11-7. Tied at 3-3 heading into the fifth inning, the Suns scored 5 times, highlighted by Zack Cox‘s two run triple. The Biscuits came back in the eighth, as Greg Sexton and Derek Dietrich each hit home runs. Shawn O’Malley just missed adding a two run shot, but was robbed by a leaping Danny Pertusati. Matt Buschmann was shelled, giving up 8 runs (7 earned) on 8 hits and 3 walks, with 3 strikeouts, over 5 innings. Mark Thomas was 3-4 for the Biscuits, and Sexton, Omar Luna, and Michael Sheridan had two hits each.

Bowling Green Hot Rods 7, Fort Wayne TinCaps 4

The Hot Rods exploded out of the gate, scoring 5 times in the first, then hung on for a 7-4 victory. Drew Vettleson‘s two run home run with one out highlighted the first inning offensive outburst. With the score 7-2 in the bottom of the seventh, the TinCaps put together a rally, loading the bases with no outs. Following a strikeout, the TinCaps had a hit batter and a walk force in two runs. Andrew Bellatti came into the game, getting a strikeout and a flyball to center to end the threat. Jake Floethe picked up this 10th victory of the year, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on five hits over 6 innings, striking out 6 batters. Cameron Seitzer and Alejandro Segovia each had three hits for the Hot Rods.

Hudson Valley Renegades 4, Jamestown Jammers 2 (11 innings, Game One)

In the first game of their weather induced doubleheader, the Renegades and Jammers played a hard fought contest, with the Renegades pulling out a 4-2 victory in 11 innings. Tied at 2-2 after the sixth inning, the best scoring opportunity prior to the eleventh came in the top of the tenth, as Ryan Dunn lead off the inning with a double, and moved to third on a groundout. Held at third on another ground ball, Dunn was eventually stranded at third as Jake DePew grounded out to end the threat. The Renegades finally capitalized in the top of the eleventh, as Richie Shaffer and Ryan Dunn had RBI singles. Marcus Jensen pitched the bottom of the eleventh, capping off three perfect innings for the victory. Marty Gantt went 3-3 with 1 double, 1 run scored, and 2 walks in the victory.

Hudson Valley Renegades 4, Jamestown Jammers 2 (7 innings)

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Renegades defeated the Jammers with an identical 4-2 victory. The Jammers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second, as Kentrell Dewitt hit a two run triple. That score held up until the top of the sixth, as the Renegades loaded the bases with one out. Felix Gonzalez struck out, but reached on a passed ball, giving the Renegades their first run. Michael Williams then reached on an error by shortstop Anthony Gonzalez, bringing in the second run, tying the score at 2-2. Hudson Valley took the lead in the top of the seventh, as Luke Maile had an RBI double, and scored on a Charles Epperson single. Jose Molina picked up the victory in relief, giving up 1 hit and striking out 2 in 2 innings of work.

Princeton Rays 9, Kingsport Mets 1

The Rays exploded for 9 runs in the first six innings, and cruised to a 9-1 victory over the Kingsport Mets. Andrew Toles hit a two run home run in the first to give the Rays a quick 2-0 lead. With the score 3-0 heading into the fifth, the Rays scored five times, highlighted by RBI doubles by Toles and Darryl George. The Mets scored in the bottom of the eighth, but it was not enough to threaten the lead. Blake Snell picked up the victory, giving up 2 hits and 1 walk in 5 scoreless innings, striking out 5 batters. Toles went 2-5 with a home run, a double, 2 runs scored, and 3 RBI.

GCL Rays 4, GCL Twins 3

The GCL Rays came back from a 2-0 deficit, scoring 3 times in the sixth and once in the seventh to pull out a 4-3 victory over the Twins. With two out in the sixth, Benjamin Kline hit a two run double, tying the game. He later scored on a Yoel Araujo single, as the Rays took their first lead at 3-2. The Rays tacked on another run in the seventh as Johnny Eierman walked, reached second on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a throwing error by the second baseman. The Twins scored another run in the top of the eighth, but were set down in order in the ninth as the Rays held on for the win. Luis Cabrera picked up the win in relief, allowing 1 run on 4 hits while striking out 4 in 5.2 innings. Kline and Araujo both went 2-4 in the win.

Nice to see Torra pitching well. (Credit: Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE)

Triple-A International League: Durham Bulls 6, Charlotte Knights (CHW) 0

Former Diamondback first round pick Matt Torra has had a frustrating 2012 season in the Rays organization. Maybe that is finally over. Torra pitched extremely well against the Knights, going 6 shutout innings, allowing just 3 hits and striking out 3 while walking 1. He forced an 8-5 groundout flyout ratio. Lefty John Gaub tossed 3 no-hit innings to close out this one, striking out 5 while walking 1. The story for the Bulls on offense was power, especially from unlikely sources. Cole Figueroa slammed his first homer for Durham and his 4th of the season, a second-inning 2-run shot. Mayo Acosta stayed blisterring hot, slamming his first homer for Durham, and Leslie Anderson also slammed his third homer of the year. Hideki Matsui also went 1 for 3 with a sac fly for the Bulls, who improved to 18-27 on the season.

Double-A Southern League: Montgomery Biscuits 5, Birmingham Barons (CHW) 1

Where the heck did this come from? Rays left-handed pitching prospect Kyle Lobstein was a one-time recipient of a 1.5 million bonus as a second round pick. We haven’t seen much of the ability that prompted the Rays to give him such a bonus the past few years. Until Sunday. Lobstein turned in one of his best outings as a pro and his best outing of the season by a wide margin, going 8 innings allowing not a single run on 4 hits, striking out just 4 but walking just 1. His groundout to flyout ratio was an outstanding 12-4. Wow. Lobstein got his run support in this one from 2 for 5 days from Ty Morrison, Kyeong Kang, and Michael Sheridan, and Ryan Garko also went 1 for 4 with a walk, an RBI, and a run scored. The Biscuits went over .500 at 23-22 of the season with the 3rd win in 4 games.

High-A Florida State League: Tampa Yankees 3, Charlotte Stone Crabs 2

The Stone Crabs were down 2-0 after 1 and got 3-hit in this game. Yet somehow they hanged with the Yankees all game. What a win it could have been. The Yankees tagged Enny Romero for 2 runs in the first innings on a Tyson Blaser RBI double and a sac fly, but a Keith Castillo RBI double brought Charlotte within 2-1. Neither starter would allow another run. Sean Black went 5 innings for the Yankees, allowing 1 run on 2 hits, striking out 5 while walking none. Romero, meanwhile, allowed 2 runs in 6 innings on 4 hits, striking out 5 while walking 2. He forced a solid 7-4 groundout to flyout ratio. The Stone Crabs finally tied the game in the 7th inning with their third hit of the ballgame as Phil Wunderlich slammed his third home run of the season off of Tommy Kahnle. But Theron Geith, after tossing scoreless innings in the 7th and 8th. But in the bottom of the 9th, he allowed a walk-off single to Eduardo Sosa than scored Rob Segedin as the Yankees won 3-2. The Stone Crabs drop to 21-21 on the season.

Low-A Midwest League: Fort Wayne Tincaps (SDP) 2, Bowling Green Hot Rods

It’s always frustrating to lose in a 9th inning lead- especially when you lose in a walk-off. Juniel Querecuto had an RBI single in the third inning, the only run the Hot Rods would get in 5 innings against Colin Rea. But Ryan Carpenter was even better, tossing 5 shutout innings, allowing just 4 hits and no walks while striking out 6. He also had a pickoff. Andrew Bellatti followed him up with 3 shutout innings to hand a 1-0 lead to Austin Hubbard. But Hubbard allowed a game-tying homer to Lee Orr and a walk-off single to Travis Whitmore as the Tincaps won 2-1. The Hot Rods fell to 24-20 on the year with the backbreaking loss. Josh Sale went 1 for 3 with a walk in the loss.