The Undercards: Cesar Ramos, Peter Markel Dominate In Wins

Several excellent pitching performances highlight today’s look around the farm system, as the Rays minor league clubs went 3-3 on Tuesday night. The Hudson Valley Renegades had the night off, as they prepare to face the State College Spikes on Wednesday.

Durham Bulls 1, Norfolk Tides 0

In only his second minor league start in the past two years, Cesar Ramos was brilliant, giving up only 2 hits and 2 walks in 5.2 innings, while striking out 3 batters. Ramos combined with Ryan Reid and Frank De Los Santos on the three hit shutout, as Durham won 1-0. The lone run scored in the second inning, as Rich Thompson singled and stole second. After advancing to third on a groundout, Chris Gimenez singled, driving in the only run of the night. Gimenez finished 2-3 with 1 double, 1 RBI, and 1 walk.

Mississippi Braves 10, Montgomery Biscuits 4

The Biscuits lost a truly sloppy game, as three errors led to 5 unearned runs in the 10-4 loss to the Braves. Hak-Ju Lee committed two errors, giving him 23 on the season, and second baseman Derek Dietrich committed his first error of the year. The errors contributed to a rough outing for Montgomery starter Jacob Thompson, who gave up 8 runs (3 earned) in 5.2 innings, allowing 10 hits and 1 walk while striking out 4 batters. Ty Morrison, Michael Sheridan, and Deitrich each had 2 hits for the Biscuits, and Lee extended his team record streak of getting on base in 43 consecutive contests in the loss. Evan Gattis went 2-4 with a triple, a home run, 3 RBIs, and a walk for the Braves.

Tampa Yankees 6, Charlotte Stone Crabs 4 (11 innings)

The Tampa Yankees rallied for a second consecutive night against the Charlotte bullpen, eventually winning in eleven innings. After staking Tampa to an early 2-0 lead, the Stone Crabs tied the game on a two run home run by Riccio Torrez in the bottom of the second, and grabbed the lead with a two-run bases loaded single off the bat of Lucas Bailey. The Yankees tied the game again in the top of the eighth inning, on a two run double by Kyle Higashioka. In the top of the eleventh inning, Tyler Austin and Kyle Roller each had RBI singles, completing the rally and giving the Yankees the victory.

Bowling Green Hot Rods 5, Great Lake Loons 0

Parker Markel dominated the Loons, pitching 7 shutout innings for the victory. Markel allowed only 3 hits, and struck out 8 batters. The Hod Rods scored runs in five of the first six innings, including a steal of home by Ryan Brett in the bottom of the first inning. Brett finished the night 1-3 with 2 runs scored, and 3 stolen bases as he stole second, third, and home. Juniel Querecuto went 2-3 with an RBI. The Loons turned a triple play in the bottom of the first, and Cameron Seitzer lined into a 6-4-3 triple play after Brett’s steal of home.

Princeton Rays 1, Burlington Royals 0

Kevin Brandt, Jacob Faria, and Zack Butler combined on a seven hit shutout as the Rays defeated the Burlington Royals 1-0. The lone run scored in the top of the fifth inning, as Ariel Soriano doubled with two out. Soriano stole third, and scored on a Reid Redman double. Soriano, Andrew Toles, and Darryl George each had two hits, and William Argo went 3-4 on the night. Faria picked up the victory, giving up 1 hit in 4 innings of relief, striking out 3 batters.

GCL Twins 6, GCL Rays 1

The Twins exploded for five runs in the top of the third, then cruised to a 6-1 victory over the Rays. Byron Buxton had a two run triple to put the Twins ahead, and Bryan Santy added a two run double later in the tinning. Rays starter Luis Cabrera gave up the 5 runs (4 earned) on 5 hits over his 3 innings of work, and struck out 2 batters. Twins starter Kyle Gibson did not allow a hit in his 3 innings of work, giving up just 1 walk while striking out 7 batters. Spenser Edwards and Yoel Araujo each had two hits for the Rays in the loss.