System check

CLASS AAA, DURHAM BULLS
International League South
(61-52, second place, 1.5 GB)
3B Evan Longoria was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored Friday after going 0-for-3 with an RBI in his debut Thursday.
OF Jeremy Owens, named the league’s hitter of the week Monday, has a .264 average. He was 18-of-34 in a 10-game hit streak that ended Monday.
1B Joel Guzman has two home runs and seven RBIs in his last two games.
RHP Jeff Niemann, who left Monday’s start after five pitches with shoulder tightness, will miss his next two starts.
LHP J.P. Howell threw seven shutout innings for a second straight start Tuesday, striking out a season-high 12.
RHP Chad Orvella allowed four runs in 1.1 innings to register his third blown save and give Howell his second straight no-decision.
2B Brent Butler was 3-for-3 with two runs scored Friday, pushing his season average to .273.

HIGH-CLASS A, VERO BEACH DEVIL RAYS
Florida State League Eastern
(10-27, sixth place, 11.5 GB)
LHP Jake McGee threw seven shutout innings Friday, allowing two hits, walking one and striking out 10. It was his second straight start with seven shutout innings. McGee is 5-4 with a 2.93 ERA and a league-leading 145 strikeouts in 116.2 innings.
LHP Mike Wlodarczyk pitched a six-inning shutout in his last start July 28. He allowed two hits. Wlodarczyk has won three straight starts and is 7-4 with a 3.13 ERA.
The Rays didn’t manage a hit in the last eight innings of Friday’s 3-2, 15-inning loss at Brevard County.

LOW-CLASS A, COLUMBUS CATFISH
South Atlantic League Southern
(24-16, third place, 2.5 GB)
LF Ryan Royster hit a three-run home run in the 12th inning Friday to give the Catfish a 6-3 win over Lexington. It was his 17th home run. He’s hitting .315 with 69 RBIs.
CF Desmond Jennings has been caught on his last two steal attempts and is 45-of-60 this year. He’s hitting .318 with 75 runs scored.
RHP Jeremy Hellickson allowed two runs over five innings to win his third straight start Monday. He’s 9-2 with a 2.45 ERA this year.
RHP Ryan Reid has allowed one run in his last 12 innings.
RHP Wade Townsend threw six shutout innings in a win Thursday.

SHORT-SEASON A, HUDSON VALLEY RENEGADES
New York-Penn League McNamara
(18-25, fourth place, 11 GB)
OF Maiko Loyola has a .336 average, 16 extra-base hits and 26 RBIs. He’s 14-of-16 on steals.
CF Emeel Salem hasn’t played since July 26 but remains on the active roster. He’s hitting .308 with 23 steals and 25 runs scored.

ROOKIE, PRINCETON RAYS
Appalachian League East
(20-20, third place, 8 GB)
LF K.D. Kang has 14 hits in his last eight games with seven RBIs and four runs scored. He’s hitting .287.
RHP Nick Barnese gave up one hit over five innings to win Thursday. He allowed two runs, both unearned, walked none and struck out seven. Barnese has a 1.56 ERA in 17.1 innings.

WAYWARD BISCUITS
Those who strayed from the Rays
CF Joey Gathright returned to the Kansas City Royals this week and was 1-for-4 Wednesday. He had a .341 average and 44 runs scored in 60 games at Class AAA Omaha. Gathright is hitting .312 with Kansas City this year.
RHP Ruddy Lugo is 3-0 with an 0.47 ERA and is 9-for-10 in save opportunities at Class AAA Sacramento (A’s). He’s allowed five hits in 19 innings.
3B Dan DeMent was 0-for-4 Friday to snap a 10-game hit streak with Class AA Harrisburg (Nationals) in which he was 18-for-44 with 12 runs scored, three home runs and seven RBIs. He has a .274 average.
OF Shaun Cumberland was 2-for-4 with two doubles Friday for Class AA Chattanooga (Reds).
RHP Jean Machi, since a five-run, two-inning outing July 17, has allowed one earned run in 10.1 innings at Class AA New Hampshire (Blue Jays). He’s 2-2 with two saves and a 3.31 ERA.
RHP Marcos Carvajal has given up 10 earned runs in his last three starts, covering 14.1 innings, for Class AA Binghamton (Mets).
1B Jorge Cantu is hitting .344 after nine games at Class AAA Louisville (Reds).
RHP Jose Rodriguez has a 4.58 ERA in 40 relief appearances at Class AAA Round Rock (Astros).
UTIL Johnny Raburn has a .200 average with Class AA Carolina (Marlins).
RHP Travis Minix is 3-2 with seven saves, 10 walks and 36 strikeouts in 41 innings with the Macoto Cobras in Taiwan.