The Undercards: Blake Snell Solid As Stone Crabs Win Thriller

Us baseball fans always live for the exciting moment. Watching many innings of shutout baseball with little action is made worth it when there is a walk-off in the bottom of the 9th or a grand slam with your team down 3 run. The Charlotte Stone Crabs had one of the games that baseball fans live for on Thursday, winning via a walk-off in the 11th inning.

Triple-A International League: Durham Bulls 3, Buffalo Bisons (TOR) 2

Mike Montgomery had a good start for the Bulls, going 5.1 innings and allowing just 1 run on 5 his. His 2-3 K-BB ratio did leave a bit more to be desired. Montgomery continues to put together a huge rebound year that has seen him put up a 3.21 ERA thus far. Behind him, C.J. Riefenhauser, Steve Geltz, and Jeff Beliveau all had scoreless outings in relief before Josh Lueke allowed a run in the 9th, still locking down the save. The enigma of Lueke continues, as he is still putting up great Triple-A numbers after struggling mightily in the big leagues.

Offensively, Justin Christian led the way, going 3 for 4 with a double and 2 runs scored. A minor league veteran with a little MLB experience, Christian has quietly put up a nice season for the Bulls, hitting .274/.346/.443. Jeremy Moore smacked a key 2-run homer, his only hit of the night. Moore continues to be impressive at Triple-A (1.141 OPS in 13 games) after putting up underwhelming numbers earlier this season at Double-A (.613 OPS in 38 games). Ali Solis also had a good night, going 2 for 4, and the Bulls offense did just enough to squeak out a win.

Double-A Southern League: Pensacola Blue Wahoos (CIN) 4, Montgomery Biscuits 2

Dylan Floro didn’t have the greatest start, allowing 4 runs on 11 hits in 6.0 innings. However, he did strike out 5 while walking none and managed a solid 7-3 groundout-flyout ratio. It is hard to complain about this start from Floro, as it is only the second time in his last ten starts that he has allowed 3 or more runs. Behind Floro, Andrew Bellatti and Cory Burns each threw a scoreless inning in relief.

It wasn’t for a lack of hits that the Biscuits offense struggled, as they managed 10. However, the team would go just 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position, and that would come back to cost them. Willie Argo had a 3 for 4 day to lead the way. Argo hit well last year at High-A, putting up a .824 OPS, but has struggled in Double-A this year to the tune of a .620 OPS. Also with a nice day was Kes Carter, who went 2 for 4. Alejandro Segovia smacked a solo home run, his only hit of the night. But in the end, the offense came up short.

High-A Florida State League: Charlotte Stone Crabs 5, Jupiter Hammerheads (MIA) 4 in 11 innings

The Stone Crabs won in exciting fashion in, as they scored a run in the bottom of the 9th to tie the game and send it to extras, and they subsequently walked-off in the bottom of the 11th on a Leonardo Reginatto single. Reginatto had a nice 3 for 6 day, and Tommy Coyle added a 3 for 5 night that included a triple. Both Ariel Soriano and Tyler Goeddel contributed 2-hit nights, and each also had a double.

Pitching-wise, Blake Snell had a good start, allowing 1 run in 5.0 innings while striking out 6 and walking 3. Snell had a rough start to his High-A tenure, but has been better as of late, allowing just 3 runs in his last 16.0 innings covering 3 starts. Behind Snell, Casey Weathers‘ control struggles continued, as he walked 2 hitters while getting just 1 out, both of whom would come around to score when Ryan Garton replaced Weathers. Jose Molina did have a great outing, throwing 4.0 scoreless innings in relief.

Low-A Midwest League: Bowling Green Hot Rods 5, West Michigan Whitecaps (DET) 4

Ben Griset had a decent start for the Hot Rods, throwing 5.2 innings and allowing 4 runs (3 earned). The bullpen did a good job of locking down the game, as Stone Speer threw 2.1 shutout innings before Colton Reavis earned the save with a scoreless inning. Offensively, Elias Torres led the way by going 2 for 3 with a double, a walk, and 2 RBIs in just his fourth game since a promotion from short season ball. Juniel Querecuto also had a solid night, going 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored, and Alexander Simon also added a 2 for 4 performance.

Short Season-A New York-Penn League: Hudson Valley Renegades 4, Mahoning Valley Scrappers (CLE) 1

D.J. Slaton, a 37th round pick in 2013, continued his great start to the year, throwing 6.0 innings of no-hit ball, striking out 3 and walking 1. In 28.0 innings with Hudson Valley this season, Slaton has given up just 2 earned runs. Eli Echarry gave up the no-hitter in relief, but still locked down the game by allowing 1 run in 3.0 innings of relief. Offensive, Leopoldo Correa had a nice 2 for 4 night with 2 runs scored. Alec Sole went 2 for 3 with a double, and both Braxton Lee and Bralin Jackson added 2 for 4 nights as the Renegades rolled.

Advanced Rookie Appalachian League: Burlington Royals 6, Princeton Rays 5

The pitching was rough for the P-Rays, with Greg Maisto allowing 4 runs in just 3.1 innings as the starter. Mario Fernandez and Tomas Michelson both allowed 1 run in their relief appearances before Steve Ascher finally settled things down with a scoreless inning. Riley Unroe had a nice 3 for 4 day at the plate that included a double and a walk. No other P-Ray would have multiple hits, though Patrick Grady did smack a 2-run homer, the first of his pro career.

Rookie Gulf Coast League: GCL Red Sox 7, GCL Rays 1 in 7 innings

Jose Alvarado let up 7 runs in the 2nd inning, but 6 of them were unearned thanks to an error from Bill Pujols. Alberto Cansas and Tommy Lawrence were much better in relief, throwing 3.1 and 1.0 respective shutout innings. On offense, Matt Reida, David Rodriguez, and Oscar Sanay each went 2 for 3. But, the team went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position and did little to make up for the pitching woes.