Jun 28
Roschester 10, Durham 4. After allowing only 1 hit in his last outing, Jae Seo looked more like the pitcher we have all grown to loathe. Seo was pulled before completing the 4th inning after allowing 9 runs on 12 hits and 2 walks. He struck out 1 and gave up 3 home runs. Justin Ruggiano and Joel Guzman were each 2-5. Bennny Boo Boo Zobrist was 0-5.
Mississippi 7, Montgomery 2. Jonathon Barratt walked 5 in 5 innings and allowed 3 runs (2 earned). Fernando Perez‘s 4th home run, was one of only 5 hits for the Biscuits. Reid Brignac and Evan Longoria were each 0-4.
Tampa 8, Vero Beach 0. Jake McGee got pounded for his 3rd loss of the season. He struck out 7 in 4.1 innings, but gave up 6 runs. His ERA now sits at 3.11 on the season. The Rays were shut out on 3 hits.
Columbus 5, Rome 3 (10 inn.). Ryan Royster was 3-5 and hit his 13th home run, a 2-run walk-off shot in the bottom of the 10th. He also added his 19th double. Woods Fines struck out 5 in 6 innings, allowing 3 runs (2 earned). Desmond Jennings was 2-4 and Nevin Ashley added 2 hits in 5 at bats.
Hudson Valley 2, Staten Island 1 (5 inn.). Doug Waechter picked up the win in his second rehab start by pitching 5 innings and only allowing 1 unearned run in the rain-shortened game. He struck out 2 and walked none.
Princeton 4, Greeneville 1 (6 inn.).
NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…
- Jeff Niemann was named to the AAA all-star team. The IL all-star team will face a team of all-stars from the PCL on July 11. Niemann will also participate in MLB’s futures game.
- Five members of the Montgomery Biscuits were named to the Southern League’s South Division All-Star team. Catcher John Jaso, starting pitcher Chris Mason and closer Dale Thayer will all participate in the game. Evan Longoria and Jason Pridie were each selected but will miss the game. Longoria will be participating in major league baseball’s future’s game, while Pridie was promoted to AAA Durham last week.
- Yet another player of the week award for a Rays prospect. This time it was Columbus first baseman Matt Fields being named the SAL player-of-the-week.
- The city of Durham unveiled a new Bronze Bull, as part of a revitalization project. the Bull is…umm…very anatomically correct.
Jun 25
Durham 4, Richmond 1. Jeff Niemann was charged with 1 run in 6.1 innings. He allowed 6 hits and 1 walk while striking out 3 for his 8th win of the year. Niemann did not allow a run in the first 6 innings and was pulled after one out in the 7th inning with the bases loaded. Jason Pridie was 2-4 with two singles. Wes Bankston was 2-4.
Montgomery 7, Mississippi 0. Chris Mason retired the first 10 batters he faced and finished with a complete game 3-hit shutout. He struck out 6 and walked 1 for his 10th win of the year. His ERA now sits at 2.59. Evan Longoria was 3-4 with a double, 3 RBI and 2 runs scored. Reid Brignac was 1-5.
Sarasota 9, Vero Beach 6. Mike Wlodarczyk gave up 6 runs and was pulled after just 2 innings.
Columbus 11, Savannah 1. Heath Rollins gets back to his winning ways after a tough stretch with 6 innings of 1-run ball. He struck out 5 and walked 1 to improve to 7-3. Desmond Jennings was 3-5 to raise his average to .304 and scored 2 runs.
Hudson Valley 5, Brooklyn 1.
Princeton 2, Bristol 1.
NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…
Apr 21
Durham 9, Columbus 8. After three straight strong starts, Jason Hammel was knocked around last night. He gave up 6 hits and 5 walks in 4 innings that led to 5 runs. Tim Corcoran pitched 3 scoreless innings as the Bulls rallied. Joel Guzman went 2-5 with his first home run and Shawn Riggans added his second. Jorge Cantu went 3-4 with a walk and Elliot Johnson added two doubles.
Birmingham 3, Montgomery 2. Fernando Perez went 2-4 with 4 stolen bases. Mike Prochaska gave up only 1 hit in 5 scoreless innings.
Vero Beach 7, Jupiter 6. Greg Dupas without giving up a hit, but the Rays rallied in the bottom of the 9managed to blow a 2-run lead in the 9thth with walk-off RBI single by Erold Andrus.
Augusta 9, Columbus 0.
NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM….
- Last year’s high-A club, the Visalia Oaks, had quite a collection of talented hitters. Do you know who was named the team MVP? The California League MVP, Reid Brignac? Nope. #3 overall pick Evan Longoria who tore up the 3 levels last year? Nope. Catcher John Jaso (.308-10-55)? Nope. Patrick Breen (.282-21-63)? Nope. Try Fernando Perez. Perez had one heck of a season, that was a bit overshadowed by some of the bigger names on the team. He hit .307 with 33 steals and a minor league-leading 123 runs scored. He also had a very solid .398 OBP…With all the outfielders at the major league level and the top prospects at other positions, Perez has been kind of lost in the shuffle. But after, reading his “Player Journal” this week at MILB.com it is hard not to root for this kid. We have been around the game long enough to get a sense of when a player “gets it” and when they don’t. Fernando Perez “gets it” as well as any minor leaguer we have ever heard.
- Evan Longoria is the only player to have played every game for the Biscuits. Yet somehow the Dirtbag is still a wimp. OK, must be a joke.
- Jason Pridie had been strictly a center fielder before this season. Last night he started in right for the first time, and he started in left earlier this season.
- Poor Brooks Badeaux. It’s not good when you are still in AA and a former coach says that you will be a good coach if you stay in the game. You don’t mind it after 10 years in the majors, but not so much when you are still in AA.
Apr 19
Durham 5, Columbus 4. Raul Cassanova tied the game in the 9th with a lead-off home run, and Chris Richard gave the Bulls the lead with an RBI single. Andy Sonnanstine struggled through 4 innings, giving up 5 hits, 2 walks and 3 runs, although only 1 was earned. Jeff Ridgway picked up his first save with a scoreless 9th.
Montgomery 6, Birmingham 4. Reid Brignac and Brooks Badeaux each had 2-out RBI singles for the Biscuits in the 9th inning, to break a 4-4 tie. Evan Longoria was 1-5 with a 2-run double. James Houser gave up 2 runs in 6 innings.
Vero Beach 6, Daytona 4. Wade Davis had to be pulled with one out in the 5th after giving 4 runs. He struck out 6. Greg Dupas picked up his second save with two perfect frames with 3 strike outs. First baseman Rhyne Hughes was 3-4 with a double and a RBI.
Augusta 1, Columbus 0. Neal Frontz gave up a two-out RBI single in the top of the 9th inning. The Rays 2nd round pick in last years draft, Josh Butler, pitched his second straight dominate game. He threw 6 shutout innings, with 3 hits, no walks and 4 strike outs. He has now thrown 14 consecutive scoreless innings and has not given up a run since the second inning of his first start.
NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…
- Josh Butler still only has 5 career professional starts, but considering he was drafted out of college and is 22 years old, he is not likely to be in Columbus for very long.
- Both the Montgomery Biscuits and the Columbus Catfish were recipients of the first annual CNBC Minor League Logo Awards.
- Jason Pridie a natural center fielder, played center for the first time last night and lead off. He answered with only his 2nd and 3rd extra-base hits of the season.
