The Rays minor leagues had a successful night on Wednesday, going 6-1 in their games. Here is this morning’s look around the action.

Durham Bulls 9, Columbus Clippers 7

The Clippers jumped out to an early lead against Cesar Ramos, going ahead 5-0 by the end of the third. Cord Phelps doubled in a run in the bottom of the first, and scored on a base hit by Russ Canzler. Phelps struck again in the third, driving in a run on another double, and coming around to score on a home run by Jared Goedert. The Bulls trimmed the lead to 5-2 in the fourth when Chris Gimenez hit a two run home run. Columbus put another run on the board in the bottom of the fifth, as Phelps continued his monster day with a solo home run. After another run in the seventh, the Clippers held a 7-2 lead. However, the Bulls came back in the top of the eighth, sending up 12 batters, and plating 7 runs. Gimenez’s second home run of the game, a three run shot, and Will Rhymes‘ two run home run highlighted the scoring. The Bulls held on to manage a 9-7 comeback win. Gimenez finished the day 2-4 with 2 home runs, 2 runs scored, and 5 RBI. Josh Lueke picked up the win, allowing 1 run on 2 hits in an inning of work. Phelps was 4-4 with 3 runs scored, 2 doubles, a home run, and 4 RBI in the loss.

Montgomery Biscuits 9, Huntsville Stars 6

The Biscuits jumped out to a fast lead, and held on to win their fourth straight game. With the bases loaded and two out, Kyeong Kang and Michael Sheridan walked, forcing in two runs. Brett Nommensen then hit a grand slam to right, as the Biscuits jumped out to a 6-0 lead. An RBI single in the top of the second chased Stars’ starter Ariel Pena from the game. The Stars got a run back in the bottom of the third, before rallying for four runs in the fourth, highlighted by Brock Kjeldgaard‘s three run home run. Mark Thomas homered in the sixth to give the Biscuits a bit more breathing room, and they tacked on another run in the eighth. Huntsville attempted to rally, putting up another run in the bottom of the ninth, but Montgomery was able to hang on to the 9-6 victory. Kyle Lobstein picked up the win, despite allowing 5 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks over 5 innings. Pena was roughed up by the Biscuits, giving up 7 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks in 1.2 innings of work. Omar Luna was 3-4 with a run scored.

Charlotte Stone Crabs 6, Bradenton Marauders 3 (10 innings)

The Stone Crabs powered their way to a 6-3 victory over the Marauders in ten innings Wednesday night. Charlotte jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the strength of solo home runs by Todd Glaesmann and Lucas Bailey. Bradenton got a run back in the bottom of the fifth, as Andy Vasquez made it to second base on an error, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on a sacrifice fly. The Marauders took the lead in the seventh, as Dan Grovat hit a two run, two out home run. Charlotte tied the game in the top of the eighth, scoring a run on a double play. With the game heading into the tenth inning, Philip Wunderlich hit a two out, three run home run, giving Charlotte a thrilling comeback victory. Jim Patterson picked up the win in relief, giving up 1 hit in 3 innings of work. Glaesmann and Bailey each had two hits in the win.

Bowling Green Hot Rods 4, Great Lakes Loons 1

The Loons got on the board first in the bottom of the fourth, as Darnell Sweeney reached on a bunt base hit. A failed pickoff attempt moved Sweeney to second, and he scored two groundouts later to give the Loons the early 1-0 lead. Bowling Green tied the score in the top of the fifth, as Joshua Sale homered to center. Sale scored again in the seventh on Juniel Querecuto‘s groundout. The Hot Rods loaded the bases in the top of the eighth, bringing Sale up once again. Again he delivered, hitting a two run single to left, as he factored in all four runs in the 4-1 victory. Trevor Shull and two relievers combined to two hit the Loons, as Shull gave up 1 unearned run on 2 hits, striking out 2 over 6 innings. Sale finished the day 2-3 with 2 runs scored, a home run, 3 RBI, and a stolen base.

Hudson Valley Renegades 2, Connecticut Tigers 0

Eduar Quinonez and two relievers combined on a two hit shutout, as the Renegades defeated the Tigers 2-0. The Renegades scored in the top of the fourth, as Luke Maile and Michael Williams walked. Both advanced on a wild pitch, with Maile scoring on a throwing error to give Hudson Valley a 1-0 lead. Walks factored into the next run in the top of the fifth, as Marty Gantt walked, and scored on Richie Shaffer‘s two out single. Meanwhile, Renegades pitching cruised through the Connecticut lineup, as the Tigers did not get a runner past second in the game. Quinonez picked up the win, giving up 1 hit while striking out 5 in 5 innings of work. Gantt and Shaffer each had three hits.

Burlington Royals 2, Princeton Rays 0

Each team picked up only three hits, But the Royals were able to push two runs across the plate, resulting in a 2-0 victory. Scoreless through the top of the sixth, Mark Threlkeld led off the bottom of the frame with a solo home run, snapping what to that point had been a perfect game for Rays pitching. The Royals tacked on another run in the seventh, as Bubba Starling doubled, and came around to score on two groundouts. The Rays best scoring opportunity came in the top of the first, with a runner on third and two out, but they were unable to push a run across. Alex Keudell picked up the loss, giving up a run on 2 hits and a walk over an inning of work. Kevin Brandt did not allow a baserunner, striking out 8 in his 5 innings of work. James Harris was 1-2 with a double and a walk.

GCL Rays 3, GCL Twins 2

The Rays scored twice in the top of the fourth, rallying with two out in the inning. Yoel Araujo tripled, and scored on a base hit by Armando Araiza. Araiza came around to score on a triple by Leopoldo Correa, giving the Rays a 2-0 lead. Joel Licon led off the bottom of the fourth with a walk, and scored on a triple by Bryan Haar. Haar scored on a sacrifice fly, tying the game at 2-2. The Rays took the lead again in the top of the eighth, as Johnny Eierman was hit by a pitch, and scored on Araujo’s double. Alex Mosier picked up the victory in relief, giving up 3 hits while striking out a batter in 3 innings of work. Araiza was 3-4 with a run scored and an RBI.

Toledo Mud Hens 7, Durham Bulls 5

Durham exploded for five runs in the top of the third innings, as Nevin Ashley homered to lead off the frame. After loading the bases with one out, Chris Gimenez hit a two run single, and Leslie Anderson and Cole Figueroa contributed RBI singles, putting the Bulls up 5-0. Toledo came back in the bottom of the inning, on Jerad Head‘s two out, two run home run. The Mud Hens scored twice more in the bottom of the fifth, as Don Kelly and John Lindsey each had two out RBI singles. The game became tied in the bottom of the seventh, when am error by Tim Beckham put Justin Henry on second. Henry would come around to score on Head’s RBI single. With two out and two on in the bottom of the eighth, Brad Davis doubled, plating two and giving the Mud Hens the eventual 7-5 victory. Ryan Reid picked up the loss, giving up 3 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits over three innings. Anderson, Feliciano, and Reid Brignac each had two hits in the loss.

Bowling Green Hot Rods 10, West Michigan Whitecaps 4

Scoreless into the top of the fifth, the floodgates opened in the top of the fifth. Back to back doubles by Jeff Malm and Cameron Seitzer put the Hot Rods on the board. After a walk, Kes Carter had an RBI single, driving in Seitzer. After an out, another walk loaded the bases. A wild pitch and a sacrifice fly led to two more runs, as Bowling Green pulled out to a 4-0 lead. West Michigan got a run back in the bottom of the frame, as the Whitecaps had runners on second and third with no outs. A groundout lead to a run, but Ryan Carpenter managed to escape further harm. Bowling Green scored twice more in the top of the sixth, when Joshua Sale had a two out, two run single. The Whitecaps scored twice more in the bottom of the seventh, cutting the lead to 6-3, however, the Hot Rods put the game out of reach in the top of the ninth. The Hot Rods scored four times on three consecutive RBI singles and a sacrifice fly, stretching out to a 10-3 lead. West Michigan got a run back in the bottom of the ninth, but it was not enough as the Hot Rods rolled to a 10-4 victory. Carpenter picked up the win, giving up 2 runs on 6 hits, striking out 2 in 6 innings of work. Four Rays had 2 hits each, with Malm and Seitzer each hitting 2 doubles.

GCL Rays 7, GCL Red Sox 3 (8 innings)

The Rays jumped out on the Red Sox early and often, cruising to a 7-3 victory. Yoel Araujo kicked off the scoring with a two run, two out double in the first inning, giving the Rays an early 2-0 lead. A Bralin Jackson two out triple plated another run in the top of the second. The Rays tacked on another run in the top of the fourth, and two more in the top of the fifth, jumping out to a 6-0 lead. The Red Sox clawed back, scoring single runs in the bottom of the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings to pull within three. The Rays put another run up in the top of the eighth, as Armando Araiza had an RBI double. The game was called with two out int he top of the eighth, giving the Rays a 7-3 win. Matthew Ramsey picked up the victory in relief, giving up 1 run on 2 hits and a walk over 1.1 innings, striking out 2 batters. Araiza, Jackson, and Benjamin Kline each had two hits in the victory.

Beckham was just 1 of the Bulls' many offensive starts on Tuesday, but always great to see him playing well. (Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE)

Triple-A International League: Durham Bulls 10, Gwinnett Braves 8

Little pitching to be found in this one, but the Bulls’ offense stepped up to came away with the win. Alex Torres and Braves top prospect Julio Teheran matched up in this one, but the result was runs aplenty. Torres lasted just 2.1 innings allowing 5 runs on just 2 hits (!), striking out 5 while walking 6. Teheran allowed 6 runs on 8 hits in 3.1 innings. The bullpens were a little better as the Bulls’ ‘pen allowed 5 runs in 6.2 innings versus 4 runs in 5.2 innings for the Braves.  The big lift for the Bulls was 3 shutout innings by Frank De Los Santos from the 6th to the 8th. So, how did the Bulls get all those runs? Cole Figueroa had a big day from the 9th hole, going 3 for 5 with 3 RBI and a run scored, Will Rhymes went 2 for 4 with a double, a walk, and 3 RBI, Tim Beckham went 3 for 4 with a double, a stolen base, and 3 runs scored, Rich Thompson went 3 for 6 with a triple, an RBI, and a run scored, Jesus Feliciano went 2 for 5 with a double, 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored, and Leslie Anderson went 2 for 5 with a walk, an RBI, and a runs scored.

Double-A Southern League: Montgomery Biscuits 2, Jackson Generals (SEA) 0

The Biscuits and Generals were locked in a scoreless game for 7 innings, but the Biscuits were able to put something together against the Jackson bullpen and that was enough to win. Alex Colome went 7 sharp innings, allowing no runs on 4 hits, striking out 6 while walking 3, posting a great 10-3 groundout to flyout ratio. Brandon Maurer matched him with 7 innings of 4-hit shutout ball, striking out 8 while walking 2. But the Biscuits came up with an unearned run in the 8th before Brett Nommensen slammed a solo homer in the 9th to take a 2-0 lead, and Marquis Fleming and Chris Rearick tossed a shutout inning each to nail down the victory. Nommensen went 2 for 4 in the game, while Ty Morrison and Shawn O’Malley each went 1 for 3 with a walk, with O’Malley scoring the unearned run.

High-A Florida State League: Charlotte Stone Crabs 6, Ft. Myers Miracle (MIN) 5 (11 innings)

This game was wild. The Stone Crabs first led 2-0, then fell behind 5-2, then tied it at 5 with 3 runs in the 8th and 9th, before getting the winning run in the 11th. Albert Suarez got the start for the Stone Crabs but struggled, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits in 3.1 innings, striking out 3 while walking 1 but posting a 1-3 groundout to flyout ratio. Matt Nevarez followed with his Charlotte debut after being signed from independent ball, walking 1 in 1.2 shutout innings. Up next was Eliazer Suero, who allowed just a walk in the 6th and 7th, but he allowed a 2-run home run by Angel Morales in the 8th to give Charlotte a 3-run deficit. But the Stone Crabs came up with Hector Guevara double followed by 2 deep flyballs to plate a run in the 8th, and with 2 on and 2 out in the 9th, Robby Price delivered a clutch game-tying 2-run single to send this game into extras. Robi Estrada finally ended it with a walk-off home run in the 11th as the Stone Crabs won 6-5. Alex Koronis tossed 2 shutout innings for the win, while Luke Bailey also had a big day for the Stone Crabs, going 2 for 3 with a pair of doubles and an RBI.

Short Season-A New York-Penn League: Hudson Valley Renegades 4, Staten Island Yankees 3

Sean Bierman was great as the Renegades surged to their 6th straight win. Bierman went 6 innings allowing just 1 run on 3 hits, striking out 2 while walking none. His groundout to flyout ratio was an incredible 13-2. Bierman had his sinker working to perfection and gave the Renegades one of their best outings of the season. The bullpen made things a little sketchy at the end, although Kris Carlson did strike out 2 in 1.1 perfect innings. On offense, Richie Shaffer had a nice second pro game, going 1 for 3 with 2 RBI, and Marty Gantt went 2 for 3 with an RBI.

Rookie Gulf Coast League: GCL Rays 2, GCL Red Sox 1

As is basically the case going one way or the other in every single GCL game, the GCL Rays got dominant pitching as they hung on for a 2-1 win. Geisel De La Cruz had a good outing, allowing 1 run on 4 hits, striking out 5 while walking 1. His strikeout to walk ratio was 4-4, his worst ratio of the season, and yet he got the win. Go figure/that tells you who how much GCL infielders need on their defense. Carlos Cedeno followed with 2 scoreless frames, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out 1, posting a 4-1 groundout to flyout ratio. Luke Goodgion closed it out with 2 shutout innings, striking out 2 while walking 1.In terms of the offense, there was not much to be found on either side, and the GCL Rays got both of their runs in the first inning. Armando Araiza had a huge game, going 3 for 4 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI, while Clayton Henning went 2 for 3 with a walk.