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

From the start of this one, it seemed like something special was in the air for Chris Archer. Archer slowly but surely wore down as his pitch count got up, but nevertheless he delivered a great outing reminding Rays fans just how talented he is even if his next big league chance will have to wait. Archer allowed a flyball to center off the bat of Xavier Avery, but he breezed by the next five hitters, retiring three via the strikeout and the other two on the ground. His command began to depart in the 3rd inning as he got two flyouts sandwiched around a strikeout, but after a strikeout and two groundouts in the 4th, Archer had retired 12 in a row to begin the game. Archer’s perfect game bid ended when he walked L.J. Hoes with 2 outs in the 5th, but that was only the start. Brandon Wood began the 6th inning with a solo home run, and not only was the no-hit bid over but now the score was 2-1 in the game. But even as he quickly began to tire out, Archer found a way to get out of the inning, working his way around a pair of hits to keep the Tides from drawing any closer. Archer had an excellent outing, going 6 innings allowing 1 run on 3 hits, striking out 6 while walking 1. He was extremely efficient, throwing just 81 pitches, 52 strikes, and it’s a little alarming that even with his pitch count so low he still wore down. However, Archer showed dominance at the beginning of his outing and heart at the end, and once he builds his arm strength back up, the Rays may have no choice but to find him a spot on their big league roster.

Of more immediate big league concern for the Rays could be outfielders Wil Myers and Brandon Guyer after Matt Joyce left Tuesday’s Rays game with hamstring tightness. But if anyone is getting called up, it’s unlikely to be either of them. Myers went 0 for 4 with a walk in this one while Guyer went 0 for 3 with a walk. Neither has great numbers on the season, with Myers putting up a .250/.350/.382 line while Guyer’s line is at .242/.338/.406, although Guyer does have a .270/.372/.432 line in his last 10 games. Guyer has an obvious edge for a potential call-up because he’s on the 40-man roster, but if the Rays were going to call up their best available outfielder, it would probably be Jason Bourgeois, who went 2 for 3 with a double, walk, a stolen base, and 2 runs scored in this one and is hitting to a .312/.362/.428 line with 10 stolen bases and 30 RBI in 35 games. Rich Thompson, Vince Belnome, and Mike Fontenot also had multi-hit games in this one for Durham, but the most impressive performance of the game might have been Craig Albernaz, who did a great job catching Archer, went 1 for 4 at the plate, and then did an incredible job picking a runner of 2nd base to prevent a tough 7th inning from getting worse for Cory Wade. Archer’s performance was certainly the take-away from this one, but great to see several members of the Bulls offense playing well with the possibility of a big league call-up in play for someone should Joyce hit the DL.

Double-A Southern League: Huntsville Stars (MIL) 11, Montgomery Biscuits 7

Biscuits pitching got destroyed in this one, but the offense had a great game, led by Cameron Seitzer, who is suddenly red-hot again. Victor Mateo kept the Stars off the board in the bottom of the 3rd–that would be the only inning they wouldn’t score the rest of the game other than the bottom of the 9th, which did not happen. Mateo allowed 5 runs, 4 earned, on 7 hits in 5 innings before Neil Schenk and Andrew Bellatti allowed a run each in their innings of work. Then Braulio Lara allowed 4 runs in the 8th, including the second home run of the game by Jason Rodgers, a 3-run shot. Let’s head to the offense now, which was much more positive. Seitzer came up big, going 3 for 4 with 2 doubles, a walk, and an RBI and a run scored. He was slumping for a while after his incredible start to the season, but now he’s 9 for his last 22 (.409) and he may be on his way to another hot streak. Kevin Kiermaier went 1 for 3 with 2 walks, a stolen base, and 3 runs scored while Shawn O’Malley went 1 for 3 with a stolen base, an RBI, and a run scored as the Biscuits’ lineup did great but it wasn’t nearly enough.

High-A Florida State League Game 1: Charlotte Stone Crabs 4, Clearwater Threshers (PHI) 2 (7 innings)

The Stone Crabs played a doubleheader on Tuesday to make up for a Monday rainout, and if they were going to have to play two, they could not have picked a better rotation spot to be in line to start. Jesse Hahn and Jake Floethe have been splitting starts for Charlotte all season, and the Stone Crabs were able to just start Hahn in Game 1 and Floethe in Game 2 to get through this doubleheader without any problem. In this game, Hahn was absolutely dominant. Going 4 innings for the second straight outing as the Stone Crabs are beginning to take the training wheels off of him, Hahn was a little more hittable than usual, allowing 4 hits, but he struck out 4 and recorded 7 of his other 8 outs on the ground. The other out came on a Drew Vettleson outfield assist. In 9 starts, Hahn has a 0.96 ERA, striking out 29 while walking just 5 and managing a 2.80 groundout to airout ratio in 28 innings pitched. Eliazer Suero allowed a pair of runs to cross in the 6th, but Nate Garcia struck out 2 in a perfect 9th to nail down the save. Garcia’s ERA on the season is an ugly 6.05, but he has tossed perfect ball in his last two appearances, shutout ball in his last three, and has a 9-1 strikeout to walk ratio in his last five. In terms of the run support, Hector Guevara went 2 for 3 with a double, a stolen base, 2 RBI, and a run scored, and Willie Argo went 1 for 3 with a 2-run double. Vettleson also capped his strong defensive game by going 1 for 3 with a double and a run scored. Vettleson started off the year incredibly slowly, but he has a .361/.452/.583 line in his last 40 plate appearances as he is really hitting his stride.

Game 2: Stone Crabs 3, Threshers 1

Floethe wasn’t nearly as dominant as Floethe, but he combined with Chris Kirsch to hold Clearwater to just 1 run in 7 innings as the Stone Crabs swept the doubleheader. Floethe went 4.2 innings allowing 1 run on 3 hits, striking out 3 while walking 4. Flothe’s control certainly was not at its best, but he was still able to do a nice job forcing weak contact on the ground, managing a 7-2 groundout to flyout ratio to help him pitch as well as he did. Tossing the game’s final 2.1 innings was Kirsch, who made his season debut for Charlotte after debuting as a professional with Advanced Rookie Princeton last year and beginning this season in extended spring training. Kirsch went 2.1 innings allowing just 1 hit, striking out 1 while walking 1, as he acquainted himself quite well to full-season ball despite skipping the Low-A level. With a fastball touching 94 MPH and an assortment of secondary pitches, Kirsch has the ability to be an impressive pitcher, and hopefully this outing can spur him to a strong season. On the offensive side, Kes Carter delivered a 2-out, 3-run triple in the 2nd inning to account for all three of the Stone Crabs’ runs and provide Charlotte with all the runs they would need thanks to the strong performances of Floethe and Kirsch.

Triple-A International League: Durham Bulls 4, Pawtucket Red Sox 1

Wil Myers went 0 for 4 with a walk, and hitters 6 through 9 in the Durham lineup went 0 for 14 with 2 walks. Can’t be perfect, but those were the only things wrong with a great Bulls win. J.D. Martin got the start and didn’t miss any bats but pitched great, going 6 innings allowing 1 run on 5 hits, striking out 2 while walking 1. Martin is nothing special, but in another organization he might get a look for a starting job. He had a rock-solid 4.32 ERA in 24 starts with the Nationals in 2009 and 2010. Josh Lueke struck out 2 and got 3 groundouts walking around a hit to nail down a 2-inning save for the Bulls. On offense, Leslie Anderson had a first inning 2-run double and Jason Bourgeois, Chris Gimenez, and Rich Thompson also had multiple hits. Best effort of the game, though, has to go to backup catcher Craig Albernaz. Albernaz did a great job handling the pitching staff in this one, but after walking with 1 out in the 9th, Albernaz caught the Red Sox off-guard by stealing second base, keeping the Bulls out of the double play when the next batter grounded out and later netting Durham an insurance run. Albernaz has never really been a prospect, but having a guy like him around the Bulls’ pitching staff and entire team is valuable for everyone.

Double-A Southern League: Montgomery Biscuits 8, Pensacola Blue Wahoos (CIN) 3

Enny Romero pulled a Matt Moore (in a bad way), but survived, and Tood Glaesmann and Riccio Torrez both slammed home runs as the Biscuits pulled away from the Blue Wahoos on their way to an 8-3 win. Romero went 5 innings allowing 1 run on 5 hits, striking out just 3 while walking 5. That K-BB ratio won’t cut it–but like Moore against the Rangers a few times out ago, Romero’s fastball was moving so well that Pensacola hitters could do nothing with it when it looked anything like a strike. Romero’s groundout to flyout ratio in the game was a solid 7-2 because of that. But the most encouraging pitching performance of the game goes to Zach Quate, who delivered his best outing since 2010 as he struck out 2 in a scoreless 9th. Quate was once a very promising relief prospect for the Rays before injuries took their toll, but maybe this outing could be Quate finally being healthy and getting back on track. In terms of the run support, Glaesmann’s homer was just part of his great game as he went 3 for 4, but no other Biscuit had multiple hits. Cameron Seitzer did continue his hot start, going 1 for 3 with a walk, an RBI, and 2 runs scored. Crazy game, but the performances of Quate and Glaesmann made it all happy by the end.

High-A Florida State League: Jupiter Hammerheads (MIA) 8, Charlotte Stone Crabs 6

Lefty Jacob Partridge has been the Stone Crabs’ Jake McGee, only worse. He now has an 11.08 ERA in 8 appearances including runs allowed in just a third of an inning in this game as the Stone Crabs blew leads of 4-0 and 5-1 on their way to a 8-6 lost. Jesse Hahn continues to be limited to 3 innings for the Stone Crabs and also continues to be unchallenged, going 3 innings allowing just a hit and a walk, striking out 3. Jake Floethe was not nearly as good, allowing 3 runs on 9 hits in just 4 innings, although his groundout to flyout ratio was a good 8-2 and maybe bad defense made his outing look at lot worse than it was. On the offensive side, though, there was much more to be happy about. Jeff Malm entered this game with just a .125/.220/.188 line in 91 plate appearances, striking out 27 times against just 8 walks and managing just 2 doubles and 1 home run. But in this game, everything finally came together as Malm went 3 for 4 with 2 homers, a double, and 3 RBI, finally having the breakthrough game Charlotte has been waiting for him to deliver all season. Also homering were two other slumping players, Hector Guevara and Drew Vettleson, and Kes Carter and Brett Nommensen both went 2 for 4. It’s a shame that a bullpen collapse ruined a strong offensive effort by the Stone Crabs.

Low-A Midwest League: Bowling Green Hot Rods 3, Clinton LumberKings (SEA) 2

Marty Gantt tied the game with an RBI double and Granden Goetzman came through with a go-ahead 2-run home run as the Hot Rods rode a 3-run 7th inning to a 3-2 win over Clinton. Eduar Quinonez got the start for Bowling Green and pitched well, going 5.1 innings allowing just 1 run on 2 hits, striking out 4 while walking 3. Brandon Henderson was sharp over the next 3.1 innings before collapsing with 2 outs in the 9th, allowing 2 walks and a hit, but Nick Sawyer was able to escape a bases-loaded jam to end this one. The 7th inning was basically the only spark of life for Bowling Green in this one–they got 2-hit in the game other than that inning, but they seized the opportunity was opposing pitchers left pitches over the plate and came away with a win. Goetzman’s home run was his first of the season and second of his brief professional career.

Triple-A International League: Durham Bulls 6, Charlotte Knights (CHW) 2

Funny that the Bulls won by the same score that the Rays did, but this game was certainly different. The major point of divergence: Bulls pitching struck out 16 in this game. J.D. Martin got the start and pitched well, going 5.1 innings allowing 2 runs on 5 hits, striking out 7 while walking 2. But that was only the start. Adam Liberatore followed Martin by striking out 4 of the 5 batters he faced in 1.1 innings pitched before Kirby Yates struck out 2 more working around a hit in 1.1 more IP. Then Bulls closer Josh Lueke came in for a non-save situation and was marvelous, striking out the side working around a walk. Add up all the totals and Bulls pitching had quite a day, allowing just 2 runs on 6 hits in the game and striking out 16 while walking just 4. Rare to see a 16-strikeout game at any level, but Bulls pitching was special on Wednesday. On the offensive side, the Bulls were not going to let their pitchers’ 16-strikeout effort go the way of James Shields‘ 15-strikeout game at the end of last season and gave their pitchers plenty of support. Tim Beckham had a 2-run double and an RBI single in four trips to the plate, Vince Belnome went 3 for 4 with a run scored, and Hak-Ju Lee stayed hot as well, going 1 for 3 with 2 walks and a run scored. Outstanding all-around effort by the Bulls, and they had plenty to smile about in this one.

Double-A Southern League: Montgomery Biscuits 3, Mobile BayBears (ARI) 2

This was a bizarre game, but the Biscuits somehow found a way to win. Merrill Kelly was a ticking time bomb that didn’t explode, going 5 innings allowing 2 runs on 3 hits, striking out just 2 while walking 4. The Biscuits bullpen of Andrew Bellatti, Marquis Fleming, and Juan Sandoval took it from there, going 4 innings of 1-hit ball, striking out 3 and getting 6 more of their 9 outs on the ground. Making that more impressive is that they did that working with a 1-run lead and no margin for error. Offensively, the Biscuits had one nice inning in the 2nd, scoring 3 times on a Mark Thomas sac fly and a 2-out, 2-run triple by Shawn O’Malley, but that was it for the entire game. O’Malley was the only Biscuits player with multiple hits as he went 2 for 3, but Cameron Seitzer and Robby Price both went 1 for 3 with a double, with Seitzer’s hit starting the 2nd inning rally. Zeke Spruill, acquired by the Diamondbacks in the Justin Upton trade, was really good for Mobile, going 7.2 innings allowing 3 runs on 8 hits, striking out 4 while walking 1, but the Biscuits were able to get to him in that one inning and somehow hold on for dear life the rest of the game on their way to the win.

High-A Florida State League: Charlotte Stone Crabs 5, St. Lucie Mets 2

Earlier this season, Jesse Hahn, Jake Floethe, and Lenny Linsky came just one out from a no-hitter in a dominant effort. This game was not quite up to that standard, but unlike that game, when Linsky struggled at the end, all three pitchers impressed in this one. Hahn and Floethe are tandem-starting as the Rays are limiting Hahn’s innings at the beginning of the year so he won’t have restrictions later. After another great performance by Hahn in this game, just wait until the training wheels come off. Hahn went the first 3 innings allowing just 1 hit, striking out 6 while walking none and recording his other 3 outs on the ground. Coming up straight from Short Season-A, Hahn has now gone 9 High-A innings allowing just 1 run on 6 hits, striking out 11 while walking 1. We still need to see Hahn stretch himself out for longer starts, but he’s overmatching hitters with his electric repertoire and if he keeps pitching like this he will end the year at Double-A or maybe higher. Behind Hahn, Floethe went 4 innings allowing 2 runs on 5 hits. That sounds pretty mediocre, but Floethe showed some really good signs, striking out 4 while walking none and forcing a 6-1 groundout to flyout ratio. An Aderlin Rodriguez home run was the only real mistake he made. Then Lenny Linsky finished off the game with 2 perfect innings for the save, striking out 1 and getting 3 more outs on the ground as he has looked vastly improved this season compared to last as he puts a shoulder injury behind him. Hahn, Floethe, and Linsky combined to go 9 innings allowing just 2 runs on 6 hits, striking out 11 while walking none. Wow.

In terms of the run support, Richie Shaffer, the only Stone Crabs player who jumped from Short Season-A to High-A along with Hahn, ended a frustrating start to the season with a solo home run, and Alejandro Segovia also slammed a solo homer in 4 trips. Jake DePew supplemented a great day catching Hahn, Floethe, and Linsky by going 2 for 4 with an RBI, and Drew Vettleson went 2 for 3 with a double, a walk, and an RBI of his own. The Stone Crabs hitters were drilling the ball all game as 6 of their 9 hits went for extra bases, and while they didn’t quite match the power of their pitchers, they were still plenty impressive in their own right. 2010, when Matt Moore anchored Charlotte’s staff, was the last time the Stone Crabs managed a winning record and they’re just 5-8 to begin 2013, but this an extremely talented roster and this could very well be the year that everything comes together for them again.