System check

CLASS AAA, DURHAM BULLS
International League South
(64-55, second place, 3.5 GB)
3B Evan Longoria homered and doubled Thursday and had eight hits in his first seven games. He also homered Tuesday.
RHP Dale Thayer made his debut Thursday and gave up three runs on two hits and three walks in two-thirds of an inning.
CF Jason Pridie was 3-for-4 with two home runs, a double and three RBIs Wednesday. He homered again Thursday.
RF Justin Ruggiano has three homers in his last seven games and is 17-for-40 in his last 10 games with 10 runs scored and six RBIs.
RHP Mitch Talbot won his third straight start Wednesday, allowing two runs over six innings. He’s 10-8 with a 4.86 ERA.
2B Elliot Johnson is 2-for-30 in August and has a .205 average this year with 118 strikeouts in 108 games.

HIGH-CLASS A, VERO BEACH DEVIL RAYS
Florida State League Eastern
(11-33, sixth place, 13.5 GB)
RF Sergio Pedroza homered in four straight games and had 10 RBIs in a three-game stretch. He’s hitting .285 with 19 home runs, 18 doubles and 53 RBIs.
CF Jackson Brennan was 4-for-5 with two runs scored Wednesday and has scored 10 runs in his last 10 games. His season numbers include a .217 average, 46 walks and 53 runs.
RHP Derek Feldkamp gave up six runs (four earned) on six hits in 2.1 innings in his debut Wednesday.

LOW-CLASS A, COLUMBUS CATFISH
South Atlantic League Southern
(28-18, third place, 1.5 GB)
LF Ryan Royster has seven home runs and 16 RBIs in his last seven games after Friday’s two-homer, six-RBI game at Greensboro. He’s hitting .318 with 23 homers, 27 doubles and 82 RBIs.
C Nevin Ashley is 15-of-28 in a nine-game hit streak with nine runs scored and four RBIs. He’s hitting .278 with 63 runs and 18 steals.
RHP Jeremy Hellickson improved to 11-2 Friday, despite allowing six runs on six hits, including two home runs, in five innings. He walked one, struck out 10 and saw his ERA slip to 2.86.
CF Desmond Jennings hasn’t played since Aug. 2 with knee soreness but is expected to return early this week. He’s hitting .318 with 45 steals and 75 runs scored.

SHORT-SEASON A, HUDSON VALLEY RENEGADES
New York-Penn League McNamara
(22-28, fourth place, 12.5 GB)
OF Reid Fronk, who knocked in four runs Thursday, has 13 RBIs in his last eight games. He had back-to-back three-RBI games last weekend. In 20 games, he’s hitting .308 with 13 runs scored and 16 RBIs.
OF Stephen Vogt was 5-for-5 Tuesday and has 14 hits in his last six games. His average is .294 with 24 runs scored and 31 RBIs.
RHP Kevin Boggan has a 1.45 ERA and a .171 average against in 18.2 innings. He’s walked five and struck out 19.

ROOKIE, PRINCETON RAYS
Appalachian League East
(22-27, fourth place, 13 GB)
RHP Nick Barnese is 1-2 with a 2.42 ERA after a five-inning, four-run loss Tuesday. He’s walked two and struck out 23 in 22.1 innings.
RHP Jeremy Hall threw six shutout innings, walked one and struck out eight in a no-decision Monday. He’s 3-1 with a 1.68 ERA, 10 walks and 41 strikeouts in nine starts.

WAYWARD BISCUITS
Those who strayed from the Rays
RHP Seth McClung threw five shutout innings in his first start at Class AAA Nashville (Brewers). In three appearances, he’s thrown nine innings, allowed six hits, walked three and struck out 10.
3B Rico Washington is 6-for-14 through six games of a rehab assignment to the Gulf Coast Cardinals. He last played at Class AAA Memphis on June 23 before having knee surgery.
RHP Ruddy Lugo has pitched 3.2 shutout innings since returning to the major leagues this week with Oakland.
UTIL Dan DeMent has reached base in 18 straight games for Class AA Harrisburg (Nationals). He was 3-for-6 with two doubles and two RBIs Wednesday.
RHP Jim Magrane allowed three runs in 8.1 innings to win Tuesday for Class AA Harrisburg (Nationals).
RHP Jean Machi hasn’t allowed an earned run in his last six outings at Class AA New Hampshire (Blue Jays). He has a 3.13 ERA in 42 relief appearances.
2B Fernando Cortez is 1-for-11 since coming off the disabled list this week at Class AAA Omaha (Royals). He’s hitting .289.
RHP Marcos Carvajal hasn’t gotten out of the third inning in his last two starts with Class AA Binghamton (Mets). He’s 5-9 with a 4.77 ERA.
C Robinson Cancel has a .257 average at Class AAA New Orleans (Mets).
C Iker Franco has a .195 average at Class AAA Richmond (Braves).