Minor Report: Bulls and Biscuits have a strong week

This past week, Rays fans started to see some of what is in the minor. Brandon Guyer came up and dazzled in his debut with a two run homer in his first at bat. No sooner did he help the Rays win a game but he was sent down in favor of Rob Delaney. Here is a look at how the Rays’ minor league teams did this week through Tuesday. The overall record is in parenthesis.

Durham Bulls (AAA)

Record: 5-1 (20-13)

Game of the Week: May 5–Durham Bulls 4, Syracuse Chiefs 3. The Bulls, trailing by two in the eighth, came back to win

May 7–Durham Bulls 6, Syracuse Chiefs 5 (11 innings). The Chiefs scored three times in the top of the 11th, but the Bulls were able to come back again with four to win it in the bottom of the 11th.

Top Performance (Hitter): Justin Ruggiano (May 7)–4 for 6, 2 doubles and 3 RBI. Ruggiano was also named IL Batter of the Week this past week.

Top Performance (Pitcher): Edgar Gonzalez (May 10)–7 IP, 3 hits, 1 ER

Montgomery Biscuits (AA)

Record: 4-2 (15-17)

Game of the Week: May 4–Montgomery Biscuits 8, Carolina Mudcats 1

Top Performance (Hitter): Matthew Sweeney (May 7)–2 for 2, 3 BB, 2 runs scored

Top Performance (Pitcher): Matthew Moore (May 4)–5 IP, 2 hits, 1 ER, 9 K’s

Charlotte Stone Crabs (A Adv.)

Record: 2-4 (11-21)

Game of the Week: May 4–Jupiter Hammerheads 5, Charlotte Stone Crabs 4. Even though the Stone Crabs lost, this was a fantastic game if you love marathons. The game went 16 innings before the Hammerheads pulled it out on a throwing error by the Stone Crabs’ Tyler Bortnick

May 6–Charlotte Stone Crabs 12, Bradenton Marauders 0

Top Performance (Hitter): Hak-Ju Lee–There was no particularly great game, but he continued to bang out 2 or 3 hits a game. He’s now hitting a robust .407/.460/.604.

Top Performance (Pitcher): Alex Koronis (May 6)–5.1 IP, 4 hits, 6 K’s, 0 ER

Bowling Green Hot Rods (A)
Record: 2-5 (17-15)

Game of the Week: May 5 — Bowling Green Hot Rods 9, Lake County Captains 8

Top Performance (Hitter): Derek Dietrich (May 5)–2 for 4, Grand Slam, 5 RBI

Top Performance (Pitcher): none

It was a bad week for the Hot Rods who got swept in a three game series by the Great Lakes Loons in which they only scored five runs.

Other news:

J.P. Howell continues his rehab, this time in Triple A Durham. Last week he made a few starts going one inning each time. Now, he’s coming into the game in the sixth or seventh to hold leads. He went two innings over two appearances without allowing a run through Tuesday