The Undercards: Biscuits Big Win Marred By Scary Injury

Winning is always important. But winning the war of a season is much more important than winning any particular games. It’s great to win, but it hurts to see a player go down with an injury, especially an ugly one, in the process.

Triple-A International League: Charlotte Knights (CHW) 2, Durham Bulls 1

The Bulls got great pitching and headed to the 9th with the lead, but Dane De La Rosa let it slip away, allowing a walk-off hit-by-pitch as the Knights won 2-1. Alex Torres threw 4 solid innings, allowing no runs on 2 hits, striking out 4 while walking 2 and posting a 3-0 groundout to flyout ratio, but he threw 80 pitches as his elevated pitch count got him out of the game. Frank De Los Santos followed with 2 shutout innings before Cesar Ramos retired all four batters he faced, two via the strikeout. The Bulls got little offense, but Jesus Feliciano went 2 for 4 with a double, and Matt Mangini went 1 for 3 with a double, a walk, and the only RBI.

Double-A Southern League: Montgomery Biscuits 6, Mobile Baybears (ARI) 0

Great pitching and potent offense led the Biscuits to a sleek victory, but it was marred by a scary injury. Jake Thompson got the start and pitched well, going 5 innings allowing no runs on 7 hits, striking out 4 while walking 1 and posting a 5-4 groundout to flyout ratio. He was followed by Joseph Cruz, who pitched well for 1.1 innings, allowing no runs and striking out 2 while walking 1. But he left the game in a scene best described by the people on the scene, the official Twitter of the Biscuits and Montgomery Advertiser Biscuits writer Stacy Long.

Scary moment for everyone involved, and you have to hope that Cruz will be OK moving forward.  Marquis Fleming and Adam Liberatore closed out the game with 2.2 shutout innings. On offense, Hak-Ju Lee went 3 for 5 with his 31st steal of the season, an RBI, and a run scored, while Greg Sexton went 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Tyler Bortnick also went 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

High-A Florida State League: Game 1: Lakeland Flying Tigers 7, Charlotte Stone Crabs 0 (7 innings)

Nothing went right for the Stone Crabs in the first game of the doubleheader. Enny Romero lasted just 4.1 innings, allowing 7 runs, all earned, on just 4 hits, but walking 4 versus 5 strikeouts. Lenny Linsky did toss 1.2 scoreless innings to help make a season of struggles a little better before Chris Andujar struck out 2 in pitching a scoreless 9th. The Stone Crabs managed just 3 hits, 2 of which by Steven Tinoco, who went 2 for 2 with a walk, and the rehabbing Sam Fuld, who went 1 for 3.

Game 2: Charlotte Stone Crabs 8, Lakeland Flying Tigers 3 (7 innings)

A trio of 3-hit games lifted the Stone Crabs to a win and a split in the twin bill. Victor Mateo tossed 5 flimsy innings but got the job done, allowing 3 runs, 2 earned on 4 hits in 5 innings, striking out 1 while walking 2, but posting just a 3-7 groundout to flyout ratio. Jim Patterson and George Jensen were perfect in the final two innings to complete the game. Now, to the bats. Robby Price went 3 for 4 with a 3-run blast and 2 runs scored, Mikie Mahtook went 3 for 3 with a double, his 18th stolen base, and 2 runs scored, and Steven Tinoco went 3 for 4 with 3 RBI and a run scored.

Low-A Midwest League: Peoria Chiefs (CHC) 9, Bowling Green Hot Rods 8 (10 innings)

Very rough night for the Hot Rods pitchers in this one, and their offense came up just short of making up for it. Parker Markel was fine for 4 innings but collapsed in the 5th, allowing 5 runs. He went 5 innings allowing 7 runs on 8 hits, although he did strike out 5 while walking 2 and post a 6-2 groundout to flyout ratio. Cubs 2011 first round pick Javier Baez had a big 3-run homer for Peoria. The Hot Rods actually rallied back with 5 runs in the 6th and 7th to take an 8-7 lead, but the bullpen blew it and Chadd Krist eventually had the walk-off single for Peoria in the 10th. Todd Glaesmann did go 2 for 5 with a homer, 3 RBI, and a run scored for Bowling Green, and Jake Hager went 3 for 5 with a stolen base, an RBI, and 2 runs scored, while Cameron Seitzer went 3 for 4 with a double, a walk, and run scored. Tyler Goeddel also went 1 for 2 with a walk, an RBI, and his 22nd stolen base of the season.

Short Season-A New York-Penn League: Hudson Valley Renegades 6, Mahoning Valley Scrappers (CLE) 2

You have to win the nail-biters over the course of the season, but games like this are always a treat. Taylor Guerrieri got the start for the Renegades, and he pitched well, albeit in a short stint after he dealt with a shoulder injury not long ago, going 3 shutout innings allowing 1 hit and 1 walk while striking out 2 and posting a 6-2 groundout to flyout ratio. Ryan Garton did finally allow his first run of the season later in the game. On offense, Joey Rickard continues to shine, going 3 for 4 with his first professional homer and 2 runs scored and Deshun Dixon had a big game of his own, going 2 for 4 with a homer and 2 RBI, but the player of this game was undoubtedly Tommy Coyle, who simply did it all, going 3 for 4 with a homer, also the first of his pro career, 2 stolen bases, 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored.

Rookie Gulf Coast League: GCL Orioles 2, GCL Rays 1

A couple of notable minor league rehabbers appeared in this one, but this game was defined by great pitching, little defense, and even less offense. Oscar Armenta was great, going 4.1 innings allowing an unearned run on 3 hits, striking out 7 against not a single walk and posting a 4-2 groundout to flyout ratio. Luke Goodgion allowed another unearned run in 2 innings before Alex Moshier didn’t allow a run in the final 2.2 innings. Armenta, Goodgion, and Moshier combined for an 11-2 groundout to flyout ratio to go along with 10 strikeouts. But the GCL Rays managed just 1 run, scoring their run on a Cesar Perez RBI double. As for the rehabbers, Kes Carter went 1 for 2 while Kevin Kiermaier went 1 for 4.