Sep 08
Norfolk 4, Durham 3. Jason Cromer pitched 4 scoreless innings, giving up 4 hits and no walks…Desmond Jennings went 1-5…Sean Rodriguez and Matt Joyce each went 0-4…John Jaso was 3-4 with a pair of doubles. The Bulls finished the regular season 83-61, winning the IL South by 2 games behind Gwinnett in the IL South division as the Wild Card winner. They will face Louisville in a first-round, best-of-5 playoff series beginning Wednesday.
Montgomery 7, Mobile 5. Matt Spring’s 8th home run, a 3-run shot in the top of the 9th, proved to be the game-winner…Brian Baker went 5.1 innings and gave up 3 runs on 8 hits and 2 walks…JT Hall hit his 6th and 7th home runs and Matt Fields hit his 5th…The Biscuits finished the season 66-74, 27 games back in the Southern League South Division (that the Southern League has North and South divisions will never cease to amuse us).
Charlotte. No games scheduled. The Stone Crabs begin a best-of-3 divisional playoff series against Ft. Myers tonight.
Lexington 5, Bowling Green 1. Tim Beckham went 1-4 and Jake Jefferies was 0-4. Bowling Green finished the second-half of the season 30-38, 10.5 games back. Beckham finished the year hitting .275/.328/.389 with 5 home runs and 13 steals. Jefferies hit .261/.326/.359 with 8 home runs.
Hudson Valley. Finished their season 38-37, 8.5 games back in their division.
Princeton. Finished their season 36-31, 10.5 games back in the East division.
Notes from Down on the Farm…
- Mitch Talbot, who had been out since May with a shoulder injury, threw 3 innings over the weekend and is slated to start game 2 of the playoffs for Durham. [Triangle Offense]
- It is like 2006 all over again. The Rays can’t win a game but can lean on the fact that they have some of the best prospects in baseball. Desmond Jennings and Jeremy Hellickson come in 1 and 2 in the latest Prospect Hot Sheet. [Baseball America]
Sep 04
Durham 14, Charlotte 3. With the Bulls down to 2 starting pitchers (Jeremy Hellickson and Jason Cromer), Durham turned to Calvin Medlock who made his first start since 2005 and turned in a gutsy performance, striking out 9 in 4.2 innings. He did allow 3 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks including 2 home runs. We are sure that most Bulls fans understand that the team serves at the pleasure of the Rays, but damn. They are about to start the IL playoffs and there is nobody left on that roster. We mean No-Body. That must be frustrating…Desmond Jennings went 7-7 with 6 singles, a double and his 15th steal in 28 triple-A games. He is now hitting .347 since his promotion. And all of the sudden BJ Upton just got a little more expendable…Justin Ruggiano hit his 15th home run and stole his 23rd base.
Mobile 5, Montgomery 4. Aneury Rodriguez finally came back down to Earth a bit, giving up 5 runs in 5.2 innings. He did strike out 7 walking just 1…Jose Lobaton went 0-3 with 2 walks. Since being signed by the Rays, Lobaton is hitting just .254, but has a .379 OBP and an .858 OPS. He has a solid 18 to 14 strikeout to walk ratio.
Jupiter 6, Charlotte 5. Alex Cobb struck out 8 in 6 innings, and allowed 4 runs (3 earned) on 2 hits and 2 walks. The big blow was a 2-run home run…Shawn Williams hit his 3rd home run and Matt Sweeney went 0-3 with 2 walks.
Greenville 7, Bowling Green 6 (12). Matt Moore struck out 7 in 4 innings, but gave up 3 runs (2 earned) on 3 hits and 4 walks…Tim Beckham went 3-6 but committed his 41st error in 120 games.
Hudson Valley 5, Brooklyn 4.
Princeton. (no games scheduled)
Notes from Down on the Farm…
- Triangle Offense breaks down each of Desmond Jennings record-setting 7 hits. [Triangle Offense]
- Per a Durham Bulls press release, Jon Weber has been named to the International League post-season all-star team. He is hitting .302-14-69.
Sep 03
Durham 9, Charlotte 0. Jason Cromer pitched 6 shutout innings, striking out 2 and walking 2…Desmond Jennings went 2-3 with a triple and his 3rd home run. He also walked twice and stole 2 bases…Matt Joyce was 2-5 with an RBI and Chris Richard went 4-5 with his 24th home run and 4 RBI.
Montgomery. (no games scheduled)
Charlotte 3, Jupiter 1. Jeremy Hall retired the first 15 batters he faced before a lead-off triple in the 6th. He then retired 11 straight before a single with 2 outs in the 9th. Those would be the only 2 baserunners he would allow in 8.2 innings. He struck out 8 to improve to 14-7…Matt Sweeney went 1-3 with a double and a walk.
Bowling Green 7, Greenville 3. Michael Jarman worked 3 innings and gave up 2 runs on 2 hits and 5 walks…Tim Beckham went 0-4 with a walk and Jake Jefferies was 2-5 with a double and an RBI.
Hudson Valley 4, Brooklyn 2.
Princeton. (no games scheduled)
Notes from Down on the Farm…
Sep 02
Gwinnett 10, Durham 2. Wade Davis was knocked out after 4 innings after giving up 6 runs (5 earned), 4 via a grand slam. He struck out 5 and walked 1…Desmond Jennings was 0-2 but walked twice…Reid Brignac went 0-5 and committed his 15th error…Matt Joyce was 1-3 with a walk and a double.
Carolina 6, Montgomery 2. Brian Baker struck out 8 and walked none in 5 innings. He gave up 4 runs (1 earned) on 7 hits…Jose Lobaton went 1-3 with a walk.
Jupiter 6, Charlotte 3 (gm 1). Jake McGee lasted just 1.2 innings giving up 4 runs on 5 hits and 1 walk. He did strike out 4…Newly acquired Matt Sweeney went 0-3 with 2 Ks as the DH.
Jupiter 9, Charlotte 4 (gm 2). Austin Hinkle made just his third start of the year in the nightcap working 4 innings and allowing 2 runs…John Matulia was 3-4 and Matt Sweeney went 1-3.
Greenville 3, Bowling Green 0. Frank de los Santos allowed just 1 run in 5 innings…Tim Beckham had the night off.
Hudson Valley 10, Oneonta 0.
Greeneville 6, Princeton 2.
Notes from Down on the Farm…
Sep 01
Gwinnett 8, Durham 6. With the Bulls still short on starting pitching, Jeff Bennett made another start giving up 2 runs in 2 innings…Matt Joyce hit his 16th home run and was 2-4…Fernando Perez was 0-4 with a walk and his 8th steal…Reid Brignac went 2-5 with a double and an RBI.a
Carolina 1, Montgomery 0 (gm 1). Brandon Mann allowed 1 run in 5.1 innings with 4 strikeouts and 3 walks…Jose Lobaton pinch-hit and struck out…The Biscuits managed just 3 hits.
Montgomery, Carolina (gm 2). Alex Torres, acquired in the Scott Kazmir deal, made his debut for the Biscuits, working 4 innings and giving up 3 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks. He struck out 3. Two runs came via a home run…The Biscuits managed just 1 hit, a leadoff single in the 5th by Matt Fields, and 4 hits total in the double-header.
Charlotte. (no games scheduled)
Asheville 7, Bowling Green 0. Shane Dyer made his 15th start and dropped to 1-10 after giving up just 2 unearned runs in 4.2 innings. He struck out 5 and walked none…Converted infielder Joey Callender gave up 5 runs in 4.1 innings of relief. This was his first appearance for Bowling Green after 48 innings (3.75 ERA) with Princeton…Tim Beckham went 0-4 and Jake Jefferies was 1-4. Beckham stole his 13th base. He was also caught for the 10th time.
Oneonta 3, Hudson Valley 1.
Princeton 6, Greeneville 2.
Notes from Down on the Farm…
- Desmond Jennings was named the Southern League MVP. [Biscuit Crumbs]
- Winston Abreu was named the IL pitcher of the week. [Rays Prospects]
- Jon Weber hopes to play in Japan in 2010 (scroll down about two-thirds). [Triangle Offense]
- RP Paul Phillips has been promoted to Durham. [Biscuit Crumbs]
Aug 31
Durham 4, Gwinnett 0. Jeremy Hellickson made another loud statement and once again showed that he is now one of the top prospects in baseball. in 8 innings, he allowed 1 hit, a 6th inning single. He struck out 12 and walked just 2. In 8 triple-A starts, Hellboy is 5-1 with a 2.86 ERA and just 28 hits allowed in 50.1 innings. He has 61 strikeouts and just 15 walks. Hellickson is making a strong case for a shot at the Rays 2010 rotation…Fernando Perez was 2-3 with a double and a walk and hit 7th steal…Matt Joyce went 1-2 with a double, 2 walks and an RBI…Reid Brignac was ejected after being called out on strikes in the 6th.
Carolina @ Montgomery. (ppd. rain)
Sarasota 6, Charlotte 2. Brian Flores gave up 5 runs in 5 innings…Mike McCormick was 1-4 and Drew Anderson walked twice.
Asheville 3, Bowling Green 2 (16). Chris Andujar allowed only 1 run in 5.1 innings with 6 strikeouts…Tim Beckham was 1-6 with a walk and Jake Jefferies went 1-7.
Hudson Valley 8, Oneonta 1.
Princeton 7, Greeneville 3.
Notes from Down on the Farm…
- Rayner Oliveros and Heath Rollins have been promoted to Durham.
- A first-hand account of Jeremy Hellickson’s dominating performance. [Watching Durham Bulls Baseball]
- Here is a more detailed account of Jeremy Hellickson’s performance. [Triangle Offense]
- The Rays and the Durham Bulls have extended their player development contract through the 2014 season and the two teams will play an exhibition on either April 2nd or 3rd in 2010. Rays Prospects has more of the details. [Rays Prospects]
- Here is a recap of the Bulls 14-inning win from Saturday night. The Bulls ran out of pitchers, in large part because the Rays have left the Bulls’ pitching staff short-handed. [Triangle Offense]
- Jose Lobaton bruised his wrist and is day-to-day. [Biscuit Crumbs]
Aug 29
Durham 11, Norfolk 2. Wade Davis made what could have been his last minor league start. He started and worked 3 perfect innings before a rain delay. A relief pitcher was warming up prior to the delay which suggests that Davis will be called up to start on Monday or Tuesday…Fernando Perez went 3-5 with 2 steals and Desmond Jennings went 0-3 with 2 walks…Aki Iwamura was 2-3 with a walk and 3 runs scored…Matt Joyce was 3-5 and drove in 5 including a 3-run home run, his 15th.
Montgomery 3, Carolina 1. Aneury Rodriguez continues his strong second half with 7 innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits and 3 walks. He struck out 4. His FIP by month this year has gone 6.69, 5.67, 4.50, 4.44 and 3.61 in August.
Charlotte @ Sarasota. (ppd. rain)
West Virginia 6, Bowling Green 2. Juan Santana, making just his second start of the year, allowed 3 runs in 3 innings…Tim Beckham went 1-4 and stole his 11th and 12th bases. He now has an 11 game hitting streak.
Hudson Valley 4, Lowell 3.
Princeton @ Johnson City. (double-header canceled. rain)
Notes from Down on the Farm…
- The Durham Bulls have a press conference scheduled today at 2:00 for “multiple exciting announcements.” [Twitter]
Aug 28
Durham 3, Norfolk 1. Chris Richard hit a one out, 3-run home run in the 9th inning to overcome a 1-0 deficit…Desmond Jennings was 1-4 with a double and Matt Joyce was 0-2 with a walk…Aki Iwamura went 0-4 and Justin Ruggiano went 2-4 with his 22nd steal.
Montgomery. (no games scheduled)
Jupiter @ Charlotte. (ppd. rain)
West Virginia 4, Bowling Green 0. Frank de los Santos pitch 5 no-hit innings, striking out 3 and walking 2. He also hit 2 batters…The Hot Rods managed just 3 hits, 1 being a double by Tim Beckham.
Lowell 3, Hudson Valley 2.
Princeton 7, Johnson City 4.
Princeton 14, Johnson City 2 (gm 2).
Notes from Down on the Farm…
- Jon Weber and Jason Childers were named to the Team USA squad for the upcoming World Cup in September. [Durham Bulls]
Aug 27
Durham 4, Norfolk 2. Recently signed Jeff Bennett allowed 2 runs in 5.1 innings, striking out 3 and walking 3…Fernando Perez was 1-4 with a double and a walk…Reid Brignac went 0-5 with 3 Ks…Jon Weber hit his 14th home run…Matt Joyce was 0-3 with a walk and John Jaso went 2-3.
Huntsville 9, Montgomery 7. Montgomery blew a 6-2 lead when they gave up 7 in the 7th. Brian Baker started and allowed just 2 runs in the first 6 innings, but failed to retire either batter he faced in the 7th. Both of those runs would come across to score…Jose Lobaton went 0-4 with a walk…Cody Cipriano was 1-5.
Charlotte 4, Jupiter 0. Jake McGee threw 2 scoreless innings, striking out 2 and walking 2. McGee has now thrown 17.2 innings with Charlotte, striking out 18 and walking 8. He has a 6.11 ERA…Henry Wrigley hit a solo home run and Reid Fronk drove in 2 with a double.
Jupiter 1, Charlotte 0 (gm 2). Jeremy Hall struck out 9 in 5 innings and did not allow a run. He gave up 3 hits and 3 walks…The Stone Crabs had 7 hits, but nobody had more than 1.
Bowling Green 13, West Virginia 3. Joe Cruz gave up 2 runs (1 earned) in 5 innings…Tim Beckham extended his hitting streak to 9 with a 1-3 performance and he drove in a run…Justin Reynolds had 3 hits and drove in 4, including a 3-run home run.
Tri-City 6, Hudson Valley 3.
Bluefield 6, Princeton 3.
Notes from Down on the Farm…
- Yesterday we linked to a story that ranked the minor league markets based on how well they support minor league baseball. We didn’t even think to look for the short-season teams on the list and it turns out both are pretty high. Hudson Valley is #29 and Princeton is #20 out of all minor league cities. Not bad. Thanks to the commenters that noticed the oversight. [Rays Index]
Aug 26
Durham 9, Syracuse 6. Jeremy Hellickson does it again. This time he retired 18 of the first 19 batters he faced before giving up a 3-run run home run in the 7th for his only runs allowed. He gave up just 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 10. In 7 starts (42.1 innings) he has given up just 24 hits and 13 walks with 49 Ks…Desmond Jennings was 2-5 with an RBI and 2 stolen bases. He now has 10…Reid Brignac went 0-5…Matt Joyce hit a grand slam, his 14th home run…Shawn Riggans was 3-5 and is now hitting .214, while Aki Iwamura was 2-5 with 2 doubles.
Huntsville, Montgomery. Brandon Mann gave up 4 runs in 4 innings on 8 hits, 3 walks and a hit batter…Jose Lobaton had 2 of the Biscuits’ 5 hits, including a double. He is hitting .309/.391/.582 in 16 games since being signed by the Rays.
Jupiter @ Charlotte. (ppd. rain)
West Virginia 3, Bowling Green 1. Chris Andujar dropped to 10-4 after giving up 2 runs (1 earned) in 5.1 innings…Tim Beckham went 2-4, extending his hitting streak to 8 games and raising his average to .283. He is 17-34 (.500) over those 8 games, with 6 multi-hit games. He did commit 2 errors, one leading to an unearned run.
Hudson Valley 2, Tri-City 1.
Burlington 2, Princeton 1.
Notes from Down on the Farm…
