The Undercards: Alex Cobb Gets Roughed Up in Rehab Start

Sometimes, it is not about the results of the game when a pitcher is on a rehab start. What matters most is how he feels afterwards, whether or not there was movement on the ball and if the velocity is there. While Alex Cobb got roughed up last night for the Charlotte Stone Crabs, what is most important is that he made it though his outing without any problems.

Charlotte Knights (White Sox) 12, Durham Bulls 1

Eventually, every pitcher runs into that outing where, no matter what they do, they just cannot get anyone out. Merrill Kelly had that game last night, getting rocked by the Knights in the second inning. The Bulls actually held a lead in this game, as Kevin Kiermaier homered to lead off the bottom of the first. Then, everything went downhill as Charlotte hammered Kelly around the park in the second. Adam Heisler and Brent Morel each had two run base hits as part of the eight run outburst, and things did not get much better. A four run fourth, highlighted by a two run homer by Mike McDade put the game away, and the Bulls were unable to generate much of anything all night. Kelly took the loss, giving up eight runs, six earned, on six hits and two walks over an inning plus. Kiermaier was 1-3 with the home run and a walk.

Montgomery Biscuits, Tennessee Smokies (Cubs)

The game started off well for the Biscuits, as the offense exploded for four runs in the top of the first. Curt Casali, who has been the definition of hot since coming up to Montgomery, had a three run home run, and was followed by a solo blast from Cameron Seitzer. Then, the Smokies came back, scoring ten runs from the third through the fifth. Justin Bour and Christian Villanueva each had two run home runs as part of a five run fourth, and Villanueva added an RBI double in the fifth. Yet, the Biscuits came back, scoring a run in the each of the fifth and sixth innings before Mayo Acosta cut the lead to two with a two run single in the top of the eighth. Montgomery completed the comeback in the ninth, as Casali and Seitzer struck again. This time, they had consecutive RBI singles, tying the game at 10-10. Unfortunately, the Biscuits gave the game right back in the bottom of the inning. The Smokies loaded the bases with no outs against Juan Sandoval, and Javier Baez hit a ground ball up the middle to plate pinch runner Nate Samson with the game winning run. Sandoval took the loss, giving up a run on three hits and a walk without recording an out. Casali hammered the ball again last night, going 4-5 with a double, a home run, four RBIs and a run scored. Todd Glaesmann was 3-5 with two runs scored in the loss.

Fort Myers Miracle (Twins) 7, Charlotte Stone Crabs 3

Making his second rehab start for the Stone Crabs, Cobb was not nearly as sharp as he was his first time out. The Miracle scored in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Kennys Vargas. Cobb gave up two more runs in the third, as Vargas had another RBI single and J. D. Williams drew a bases loaded walk. Behind 5-0, the Stone Crabs finally got on the board in the top of the seventh, as Alejandro Segovia doubled to lead off the inning and scored on a base hit by Hector Guevara. Charlotte loaded the bases with one out, but Lucas Bailey grounded into a double play to end the threat. After the Miracle scored two more in the bottom of the eighth, Charlotte attempted to come back yet again. Richie Shaffer led off the top of the ninth with a home run, and Guevara had an RBI double to cut the lead to four. Unfortunately, the Stone Crabs were unable to get any closer, falling to the Miracle 7-3. Cobb took the loss, giving up three runs on five hits and two walks, striking out five in 4.1 innings. Guevara was 2-4 with a double and two RBIs in the loss.

Bowling Green Hot Rods 3, Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers) 0

Jordan Harrison was on from the start, holding the Loons offense in check almost all night. He had to work out of a jam in the top of the fourth, as Great Lakes loaded the bases on an error, a hit batter and a walk with two outs. However, Harrison got Devin Shines to fly out to end the threat. Bowling Green got on the board in the bottom of the inning, as Andrew Toles reached second on an error, stole third, and scored on a groundout. That run would be all the support Harrison needed, as he held the Loons without a hit through his seven innings of work. Ryan Garton relieved Harrison in the eighth to attempt to finish off the combined no hitter, but Kevin Taylor singled with one out for the Loons only hit of the night. The Hot Rods tacked on two more insurance runs in the bottom of the inning, as Brandon Martin drove in a run on a sacrifice bunt and Joey Rickard had an RBI single, capping off the 3-0 victory. Harrison earned the win, walking three with three strikeouts in seven innings. Rickard was 2-3 with a walk.

Mahoning Valley Scrappers (Indians) 3, Hudson Valley Renegades 2

James Harris got the scoring started in the top of the third, belting a solo home run to right to break the scoreless tie. While the Renegades were struggling to score runs, starter Chris Kirsch was doing his part, holding the Scrappers off the board through the fifth inning. Hudson Valley added another run in the top of the sixth, as Ty Young singled with one out, moved to second on Darryl George’s base hit, and scored on a throwing error by Claudio Bautista. Mahoning Valley got a run back in the bottom of the inning. Cody Ferrell singled, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a two out single by James Roberts. That score held up until the bottom of the ninth. With runners on first and second with one out, Paul Hendrix doubled to right, driving in both runners to give the Scrappers a walkoff victory. Rick Teasley took the loss, giving up two runs on four hits, striking out three in 2.1 innings. Harris was 2-3 with a double, a home run and a walk.

Pulaski Mariners 5, Princeton Rays 4

The Rays were doomed in the fourth and fifth innings. After Hunter Lockwood homered to lead off the second, putting the Rays ahead, the Mariners came back with three runs in the fourth. With one out, Tyler Smith and Wilton Martinez had consecutive RBI triples, and Luke Guarnaccia followed with an RBI double.  In the fifth, after Tyler Smith hit a pop foul that was dropped that would have ended the inning, Smith belted a two run home run, giving the Mariners a 5-1 lead. Princeton rallied, getting a run back in the sixth before cutting the lead to one in the eighth. David Garcia had an RBI single, and Coty Blanchard drew a bases loaded walk with two outs as the Rays had a chance to take the lead. However, Leopoldo Correa grounded out to end the threat. The Mariners held on, sending the Rays to the 5-4 loss. German Marquez took the loss, giving up three runs on five hits and a walk in four innings.

GCL Rays 4, GCL Orioles 3

After falling behind the Orioles 1-0 after the top of the first, the Rays tied the game in the bottom of the third. Riley Unroe had an RBI single to plate Thomas Milone, and appeared to have a chance to take the lead as they put runners on second and third with two outs. However, Nick Ciuffo struck out to end the threat. The Rays took the lead the very next inning, loading the bases with two outs. Unroe walked to force in a run, and Kean Wong follwed with a run scoring single. Wong drove in another run in the sixth, giving the Rays a 4-1 lead. The Orioles came back in the top of the ninth, loading the bases with one out. Justin Viele doubled, driving in two and cutting the lead to one. However, Ruben Paredes struck out Pita Rona and got a line out to preserve the 4-3 victory. Jose Alonzo picked up the win, pitching five shutout innings, giving up five hits. Unroe was 3-3 with two walks and two RBIs.