Thursday, June 30, 2011

Dickson excited to reach Cardinals, majors

Just talked to Marbury's Brandon Dickson for a story that will be in Friday's paper. He's in Baltimore for his first day as a major leaguer, with the St. Louis Cardinals, and he's not sure what might happen when he reaches Camden Yards.
"I'll be surprised if I'll be able to stand out there. I will be so nervous. It will be something I'll remember for the rest of my life."

Bulls place 3 on International League All-Star team

Durham outfielders Desmond Jennings and Brandon Guyer and infielder Russ Canzler were named to the International League team today for the Triple-A All-Star Game, which is Wednesday in Salt Lake City.

Guyer and Canzler were elected to the team. Jennings, the Southern League's most valuable player for the Biscuits in 2009, was selected.

Guyer has a Bulls-best .317 average, 10 home runs and 44 RBIs. He was part of the Matt Garza trade in the offseason. Canzler, who signed as a minor league free agent, is hitting .273 with eight homers and 42 RBIs.

Jennings, a native Alabamian, leads the team with 54 runs scored and 15 stolen bases. He's hitting .279 with 10 homers and 33 RBIs.

Mark the date: Archer has Smokies, romance on schedule



It looks like Chris Archer will have his eye on more than the Tennessee Smokies for his scheduled start July 7.

Archer is the subject of the Biscuits' second annual "Win a date with ..." competition, which will coincide with his day to pitch, unless the rotation changes. He will surely endure witnessing a stressful selection process like Henry Wrigley did last season. It is good to see in this video that Archer passed on Paul Phillips as an early winner, though it was quite distressing to see Phillips in a cameo role as a catcher.

Ranking the Rays ... McEachern

For Wednesday's games ...

1. Jason McEachern, HV: 5 shutout innings, 3 hits, 10 K's
2. Roberto Gomez, GCL: 6 shutout innings, 5 hits, 5 K's
3. Dirk Hayhurst, DUR: 6 shutout innings, 1 hit, 4 walks, 9 flyball outs
4. Ryan Brett, PRI: 2 hits, walk, 2 steals, RBI, error
5. Kevin Kiermaier, BWG: 2 hits, 2 steals, outfield assist, error

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Wednesday's Rays roundup

Bulls 2, Charlotte 1
Felipe Lopez
hit a solo home run in the fourth and drew a bases-loaded walk in the fifth. Dirk Hayhurst threw six shutout innings, allowing one hit and walking four.
 
Stone Crabs 3, Jupiter 1
Alex Koronis'
six innings featured four hits, a first-inning run and two walks. Scott Shuman struck out the side in the ninth. Dustin Biell was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Ty Morrison had two hits, a hit by pitch, steal, caught stealing and run.
 
Hot Rods 4, Great Lakes 3
Kevin Kiermaier
had two hits, two steals, an outfield assist and an error. Cody Rogers singled, walked, scored and threw out a runner at third. Jimmy Patterson threw three shutout innings of relief. Derek Dietrich was 2-for-4 with a hit batsman, double, RBI and run scored.
 
Renegades 1, Brooklyn 0
Jason McEachern
dominated yet again with five shutout innings that included three hits, no walks, one hit batsman and 10 strikeouts. He and three relievers combined on a five-hitter. Chris Winder homered in the eighth inning and walked.
 
Princeton Rays 4, Danville 2 (Game 1)
Ryan Brett
had two hits, two steals, a walk, an RBI and an error. Justin O'Conner homered in the second inning. Taylor Motter singled, walked twice and scored. Brandon Henderson gave up two unearned runs in five innings.
 
Princeton Rays 2, Danville 1 (14, Game 2)
Pedro Silvestre
and Jose Molina each threw four shutout innings. Cameron Seitzer singled twice and walked. Taylor Motter singled and scored on a passed ball in the 14th.
 
GCL Rays 2, Twins 0
Starter Felix Fuentes went three innings and Roberto Gomez six innings. Gomez totaled five hits allowed, no walks and five strikeouts. Darryl George drew a two-out walk in the seventh, moved to third on an Omar Narvaez single and scored on a wild pitch. In the ninth, Narvaez hit a two-out single and scored on a Jonathan Quinonez triple.

Wednesday: BayBears 9, Biscuits 0

Wade Miley threw seven innings, A.J. Pollock had three runs scored and two RBIs, and the Mobile BayBears beat the Biscuits 9-0 on Wednesday.

Marbury's Dickson promoted to Cardinals

Marbury native Brandon Dickson is headed to the major leagues.
 
The St. Louis Cardinals promoted the right-handed pitcher from Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday after releasing former All-Star Ryan Franklin.
 
Dickson had a 3.86 ERA for Memphis this season, his sixth in the St. Louis organization. The 26-year-old right-hander was a Triple-A All-Star last year and signed with the Cardinals in 2006 as a non-drafted free agent.
 
Franklin was a National League All-Star in 2009 but struggled mightily this year. He was 1-4 with an 8.46 ERA in 21 games, including a two-run, one-out appearance Tuesday at Baltimore. Franklin, 36, allowed nine home runs in just 27 2/3 innings.

Beckham added to Futures roster

Biscuits shortstop Tim Beckham is also headed to the All-Star Futures Game, which is July 10 in Phoenix. He'll join pitcher Matt Moore to give the Biscuits two players on the U.S. roster.

Luna sent from Bulls to Stone Crabs

To account for Greg Sexton's promotion to Montgomery and Daniel Mayora's promotion to Durham, infielder Omar Luna dropped from the Bulls to high-A Charlotte.

Ranking the Rays ... Wunderlich

On the road most of the day Tuesday, so I skipped the roundup, but here are the daily rankings ...

1. Phil Wunderlich, BWG: 3-for-4, walk, 2 RBIs, run, 2 2b's
2. Mark Thomas, CHA: 3-for-4, walk, run, stolen base
3. Craige Lyerly, HV: 2-for-2, walk, run, RBI, outfield assist
4. Cody Rogers, BWG: 2-for-4, 2 runs, walk, 2 steals
5. Henry Wrigley, MGM: grand slam, walk, 1b

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Morlan out at Mississippi

Former Biscuits reliever Eduardo Morlan has been released by the Mississippi Braves. He had a 6.35 ERA in seven appearances.

Ranking the Rays ... Rearick

From Tuesday's games ...

1. Chris Rearick, BWG: 3 no-hit innings, 0 walks, 1 K, 6 groundball outs
2. Matthew Johnson, GCL: 3 hits, walk, 3 runs, ninth-inning HR
3. Chris Archer, MGM: 6 innings, 1 run, 6 hits, 4th straight quality start
4. Marcus Jensen, PRI: 4 1/3 shutout innings, 2 hits, 0 walks
5. David Kubiak, GCL: 3 no-hit innings, 6 K's

Monday, June 27, 2011

Monday's Rays roundup

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 4, Bulls 3 (10)
Leslie Anderson
had two hits, an RBI and a run scored. Dan Johnson hit a two-run double. J.J. Furmaniak walked twice and scored. Alex Cobb allowed two runs on six hits in six innings. Jake McGee allowed two runs on three hits in 1 2/3. (Omar Luna started. Desmond Jennings pinch-ran.)

Fort Myers 4, Stone Crabs 0
Mark Thomas
and Jake Jefferies had two hits each. Charlotte had just seven baserunners. Kyle Lobstein gave up four runs in 5 1/3 innings.

Great Lakes 4, Hot Rods 3
Chris Rearick
threw three no-hit innings. Robi Estrada and Derek Dietrich had three hits each. Dietrich knocked in two runs. C.J. Riefenhauser's five innings led to three runs (two earned).

Staten Island 7, Renegades 3
Gerardo Oliveras
had two hits and three RBIs. Chris Winder walked twice and scored twice.

Princeton Rays 3, Danville 2
Marcus Jensen
threw 4 1/3 shutout innings. Drew Vettleson tripled and scored on Cameron Seitzer's single in the eighth.

GCL Rays 6, Red Sox 5 (12)
Matthew Johnson
homered in the ninth to tie it and finished with three hits, a walk and three runs scored. Ariel Soriano doubled, walked twice, scored and had an RBI. Jonathan Quinonez singled in Darryl George with the go-ahead run. David Kubiak threw three no-hit innings with six strikeouts.

Monday: Biscuits 2, Generals 1

Stephen Vogt hit an RBI single in the seventh, Cole Figueroa an RBI triple in the eighth, and the Biscuits beat the Jackson Generals 2-1 on Monday.

Sexton rejoins Biscuits; Mayora to Durham

Greg Sexton is back with the Biscuits and Daniel Mayora has moved up to Triple-A Durham in a swap of third basemen. The moves become official for Montgomery's game Tuesday at Mobile.

Sexton started last year with Montgomery before a mid-May demotion to high-Class A Charlotte. This season, he was hitting .313 with a Florida State League-high 59 RBIs in 72 games and was a midseason FSL All-Star.

Mayora was a Southern League All-Star for the Biscuits and had a .305 average.

Durham hasn't announced a corresponding move, but the Bulls currently have a full allotment of 24 players (plus some inactive riff raff). Of the position players, only two didn't play Sunday: outfielder Desmond Jennings and infielder Omar Luna. Luna is hitting .202.

Mudcat, Baron land Southern League honors

Carolina center fielder Denis Phipps and Birmingham right-hander Terry Doyle were the Southern League's weekly winners.

Phipps is 11-for-17 with six runs scored in four games since the All-Star break. He's hitting .291 this year and has 20 hits in his last nine games.

Doyle threw a three-hit shutout Sunday against Tennessee, the league's top hitting team. He's 2-2 with a 2.67 ERA in four starts since being promoted from high-A Winston Salem, where he had a 2.84 ERA in 11 starts.

McEachern nets New York-Penn award

Hudson Valley right-hander Jason McEachern, after two strong starts to the season, won the New York-Penn League's first pitcher of the week award.

McEachern is 2-0 with an 0.77 ERA and has allowed one measly hit in 11 2/3 innings. He threw 6 2/3 no-hit innings Friday.

Ranking the Rays ... Bellatti

Several worthy from Sunday, but this is just a top five ...

1. Andrew Bellatti, HV: 6 shutout innings, 3 hits, 1 walk
2. Felipe Lopez, DUR: 5 RBIs, 2 runs, 2-run HR
3. Matt Moore, MGM: 5 shutout innings, 3 hits, 0 walks
4. Alex Colome, CHA: 6 innings, 1 run, 2 hits, 4 walks
5. Marquis Fleming, MGM: 3 shutout innings, 2 hits, 7 K's

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Sunday: Biscuits 7, Generals 0

Matt Moore, Marquis Fleming and Frank De Los Santos combined on a seven-hitter in the Biscuits' 7-0 win over the Jackson Generals on Sunday. Moore went just five innings in his first official start since his no-hitter.

Sunday's Rays roundup

Bulls 11, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 3
Felipe Lopez
was 3-for-5 with a season-high five RBIs, scored twice, doubled and hit a two-run home run. Brandon Guyer and Jose Lobaton had three RBIs each. Dan Johnson walked four times and scored twice. Robinson Chirinos was hit twice, walked and scored twice.

Stone Crabs 3, Fort Myers 1
Alex Colome
gave up one run on two hits in six innings. He walked four and struck out five. Greg Sexton was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a solo home run. He's hitting .457 in his last nine games. Mark Thomas hit a two-run home run and walked.

Dayton 5, Hot Rods 4
Robi Estrada
was 3-for-4 and Keith Castillo, in his professional debut, hit a two-run home run. Castillo signed as a non-drafted free agent from Southern California last year. Phil Wunderlich homered and Cody Rogers tripled and walked.

Staten Island 7, Renegades 2
Andrew Bellatti
threw six shutout innings, allowing three hits and walking one. Mickey Jannis gave up six runs in the seventh, only one earned due to a Diogenes Luis error. Gerardo Oliveras hit a two-run single in the first inning. Chris Winder and Juniel Querecuto each singled and walked.

Princeton Rays 14, Pulaski 2
Drew Vettleson
had two hits, a walk, two runs scored and two RBIs. Ryan Terry had two hits and a walk. Justin O'Conner singled and walked twice. Reinaldo Lopez threw four shutout innings.

Ranking the Rays ... Sheridan

For Saturday's exertions ...

1. Mike Sheridan, CHA: 4 RBIs, 2 runs scored, 2-run 2b, 2-run 1b
2. Greg Sexton, CHA: 2 hits, 2 walks, 2 runs, RBI
3. Leslie Anderson, DUR: 2 2b's, solo HR
4. Jake Thompson, CHA: 6 innings, 2 runs, first win
5. Desmond Jennings, DUR: 3 singles, 2 steals

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Saturday's Rays roundup

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 2, Bulls 1
Leslie Anderson
was 3-for-4 with two doubles and a solo home run. Desmond Jennings had three hits and two steals. Chris Bootcheck allowed two runs on five hits in 7 1/3 innings.

Stone Crabs 9, Palm Beach 2
Mike Sheridan
knocked in four runs and scored twice. Greg Sexton had two hits, two walks, two runs scored and an RBI. Hak-Ju Lee reached three times, scored and was caught stealing. Mark Thomas homered. Jake Thompson pitched six innings of two-run ball. Mike Jarman finished with three shutout innings.

Dayton 4, Hot Rods 3
Luke Bailey
was hit by pitches twice and scored twice. Derek Dietrich had two hits and a walk.

Brooklyn 7, Renegades 2
Gerardo Oliveras
had three hits, a walk, an RBI and scored. Matt Rice was 3-for-3 with a steal and a caught stealing. Jacob Partridge gave up five runs in five innings.

Pulaski 6, Princeton Rays 3
Felix Gonzalez
had two hits and a walk. Ryan Brett hit a two-run double. Cameron Seitzer walked twice. Matt Swilley allowed one run on one hit with three walks in four innings.

GCL Orioles 7, Rays 0
Jonathan Quinonez
had both of the Rays' hits. Julian Morillo walked. Edward Dorville reached on an error and stole a base. Kirby Yates gave up three runs in the first.

Saturday: Generals 7, Biscuits 0

Jarrett Grube and three relievers combined on a six-hitter in the Jackson Generals' 7-0 win over the Biscuits on Saturday. Grube (5-2) gave up the five hits in his six innings.

Ranking the Rays ... McEachern

For Friday's efforts ...

1. Jason McEachern, HV: 6 2/3 no-hit innings, walk, 6 K's
2. Cody Rogers, BWG: 3 runs, steal, 1-for-4
3. Jonathan Quinonez, GCL: 2 hits, walk, RBI, run, steal
4. Isaias Velasquez, MGM: 2 hits, 3b, outfield assist
5. Greg Sexton, CHA: 3 hits, has .303 average

Friday, June 24, 2011

Friday's Rays roundup

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 14, Bulls 3
Leslie Anderson
hit a two-run home run in the fourth and Robinson Chirinos a solo shot in the eighth. Brian Baker gave up a touchdown in four innings and Ryan Reid surrendered a TD in just one inning-plus.

Palm Beach 10, Stone Crabs 4
Reid Fronk
had two hits and two RBIs. Jake Jefferies scored twice. Alex Koronis left after just three-plus innings, having allowed four runs.

Hot Rods 5, Dayton 2
Cody Rogers
scored three times, Robby Price reached three times and Phil Wunderlich had three hits. Julio Cedeno knocked in two runs and Luke Bailey hit a solo home run.

Renegades 5, Brooklyn 1
Jason McEachern
threw 6 2/3 no-hit innings, walking one and striking out six. Chris Winder knocked in two runs and Brian Bryles scored twice with a steal.

Pulaski 6, Princeton Rays 3
Ryan Brett
had two hits, two errors and scored, while Jake DePew had two hits and an RBI. Taylor Motter reached twice and stole two bases. DePew and Motter also erred. Princeton totaled seven errors.

GCL Orioles 5, Rays 4
Jonathan Quinonez
had two hits, an RBI, run scored, walk and steal. Omar Narvaez walked three times and Brandon Choate twice. Edward Dorville homered.

Friday: Generals 8, Biscuits 2

Anthony Vasquez threw seven shutout innings and Jake Shafer and Joe Dunigan each homered in the Jackson Generals' 8-2 win over the Biscuits on Friday.

Ranking the Rays ... Torres

For Thursday's efforts ...

1. Alex Torres, DUR: 7 shutout innings, 3 hits, 3 walks, 12 K's
2. Taylor Motter, PRI: 3 runs, 2 hits, HR, 2 walks
3. Shawn O'Malley, MGM: 2 hits, walk, run, 3 steals
4. Wilking Rodriguez, HV: 5 shutout innings, 2 hits, walk
5. Matthew Johnson, GCL: 2 runs, 2 hits, walk

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Thursday: Biscuits 5, Generals 3

Kyeong Kang hit a two-run home run and Stephen Vogt a two-run single in a four-run seventh inning that pushed the Biscuits to a 5-3 win over the Jackson Generals on Thursday.

Thursday's Rays roundup

Bulls 4, Buffalo 1
Alex Torres
tossed seven shutout innings, gave up three hits, walked three and struck out a tidy dozen. Brandon Guyer doubled, walked twice and scored twice.

Palm Beach 6, Stone Crabs 2
Reid Fronk
singled and walked in his first game back. Anthony Scelfo doubled and tripled.

Renegades 4, Brooklyn 1
Wilking Rodriguez
threw five shutout innings and Drew Leary went the final four. They combined on a five-hitter. Gerardo Olivares and Raymond Church each had two hits, a walk and a run scored.

Princeton Rays 6, Burlington 3
Justin O'Conner
homered to lead off the eighth and spark a three-run rally. Taylor Motter had two hits, two walks and three runs scored, including his first homer.

GCL Rays 9, Twins 2
Hector Rodriguez
homered, scored twice and knocked in four runs. Matthew Johnson had two hits, walked and scored twice.

Surprise: League's pitcher of week from Stars

Huntsville's Cody Scarpetta won the Southern League's belatedly announced pitcher of the week award today -- and not Montgomery's Matt "No-Hitter" Moore.

Scarpetta was 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA over 14 innings through the week ending Sunday. He's 4-3 with a 3.97 ERA this year. Chattanooga left fielder Alfredo Silverio, who was 13-for-26 with seven RBIs and five runs scored, was the player of the week.

Montero released by Stone Crabs

Outfielder Lucas Montero, who was to be with the Biscuits this year until an offseason injury, was released at high-Class A Charlotte to create roster space for demoted Biscuit Reid Fronk.

Moore, Lee invited to Futures Game

Biscuits pitcher Matt Moore, already considered one of the top pitching prospects in the minor leagues, will participate in the MLB Futures Game on July 10 in Phoenix. Charlotte shortstop Hak-Ju Lee is also headed to the game.

Since they'll be on opposing sides -- USA vs. World -- maybe they'll face each other.

Ranking the Rays ... Goetzman

For Wednesday's play ...

1. Granden Goetzman, GCL: 2 hits, 2b, 2 RBIs, run, 2 steals in debut
2. Brandon Gomes, DUR: perfect inning, 0.95 ERA
3. Ryan Brett, PRI: 3 runs, 2 hits, walk, RBI
4. Russ Canzler, DUR: 3-for-4, walk, RBI
5. Bruidlin Suero, GCL: 5 innings, unearned run, 2 hits, 0 walks

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Wednesday's Rays roundup

Bulls 9, Buffalo 3
Desmond Jennings
and Ray Olmedo each reached twice and scored twice. Dan Johnson hit a three-run home run and
Jose Lobaton a two-run shot. Brandon Gomes,
with a perfect inning, has an 0.95 ERA.

St. Lucie 7, Stone Crabs 5
Kyle Lobstein
carried a shutout into the sixth before giving up five runs without recording an out to snap a six-decision win streak. Mark Thomas had two RBIs.

Staten Island at Hudson Valley
Rained out.

Princeton Rays 6, Burlington 3
Ryan Brett
tripled twice and scored three runs. Cameron Seitzer had two RBIs and two doubles. Ian Kendall posted a book-rule quality start.

GCL Rays 5, Twins 1
Breudlin Suero
allowed an unearned run in five relief innings. Starter Kirby Yates left after two-thirds of an inning. Granden Goetzman had two hits, two steals, two RBIs and scored a run. Matthew Johnson reached thrice and scored twice.

Velasquez in, Fronk out with Biscuits

Outfielder Isaias Velasquez is joining the Biscuits, while Reid Fronk has been demoted to high-Class A Charlotte.

Velasquez missed the season's first two months with a back injury before a two-game stint with the Gulf Coast League Rays. He hit .289 for the Stone Crabs last season.

Fronk was hitting .203 in 57 games in his first Double-A season.

Ranking the Rays ... Markel

For Tuesday ...

1. Parker Markel, HV: 6 shutout innings, 1 hit
2. Matthew Johnson, GCL: 2 hits, 2 walks, 2 runs
3. Cameron Seitzer, PRI: HR, 2 RBIs, 2 runs
4. Hugo Duarte, GCL: 6 innings, 3 hits, 1 run
5. Drew Vettleson, PRI: 2 hits, steal, run

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Tuesday's Rays roundup

Buffalo 9, Bulls 1
Lance Cormier
gave up one earned run (four total) in four innings. Russ Canzler's fourth-inning flyout brought in Ray Olmedo. Dan Johnson singled and walked.

St. Lucie 9, Stone Crabs 1
Matt Hall's
bloop single in the third was Charlotte's lone hit. He stole a base, accounting for Charlotte's lone runner to reach scoring position. Anthony Scelfo drew a walk. Alex Colome worked five innings, giving up four runs (three earned).

Staten Island 1, Renegades 0 (12)
Parker Markel
threw six shutout innings, allowing one hit and walking three. Charles Cononie followed with two perfect frames. Chris Winder had two hits, Kyle Holloway two walks and Leonardo Reginatto a single and walk.

Princeton Rays 7, Burlington 5
Cameron Seitzer
hit a solo home run and finished with two RBIs and two runs scored in Princeton's opener. In their pro debuts, former first-round draft picks Josh Sale homered and Drew Vettleson singled twice, stole a base and scored. Felipe Rivero gave up one run in 5 2/3 innings.

GCL Rays 8, GCL Red Sox 1
Matthew Johnson
singled twice, walked twice and scored twice. Julian Morillo, Hector Rodriguez and Edward Dorville had two RBIs each. Hugo Duarte's six innings featured just one run on three hits.

Hot Rods make marks in Midwest ASG

The Bowling Green Hot Rods had four players in the Midwest League All-Star Game, which ended with their East team losing 8-3 in Davenport, Iowa.

First baseman Phil Wunderlich was 1-for-1 off the bench, while shortstop Derek Dietrich walked twice and committed an error. Eliazer Suero faced four batters in the eighth inning and didn't record an out, giving up four runs. C.J. Riefenhauser didn't pitch.

Biscuits' inglorious All-Star pitching history

I'm out of town, so I don't have access to my personal files and I can't find the 2004 Southern League All-Star Game's box score. Also, All-Star Games aren't highly serious affairs that get the competitive juices flowing. However, the Biscuits have been far from stellar in the midsummer classic.

How's 0-3 with a 15.75 ERA sound?

2011
Matt Moore (L): 0.2 ip, 4 runs
Chris Archer: 1 ip, 2 runs, 1 earned
Marquis Fleming: 0.2, 0 runs
2010
Jeremy Hall: dnp
Matt Gorgen: dnp
2009
Jeremy Hellickson (L): 0.1 ip, 3 runs
Eduardo Morlan: 1 ip, 3 runs
2008
Wade Davis (L): 1 ip, 2 runs, 1 earned
2007
Chris Mason: 1.1 ip, 0 runs
Dale Thayer: 1 ip, 3 runs, 0 earned
2006
Jim Magrane: 1 ip, 2 runs
2005
Jason Hammel: dnp
2004
Jarod Matthews: Box score unavailable.

Biscuits stay winless in SL All-Star Game

Huntsville's Stefan Wilson was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Chattanooga's Scott Van Slyke scored twice to lead the North in a 6-3 win over the South in Tuesday's Southern League All-Star Game.

The Biscuits, by the way, have never been on the winning side of an All-Star Game. (That also holds true for the Mississippi Braves, by the way.)

Montgomery's Matt Moore took the loss, giving up four runs in two-thirds of an inning. Chris Archer threw an inning and gave up two runs (one earned) on three hits. Marquis Fleming worked two-thirds of an inning, walking two.

Daniel Mayora was 0-for-4, making him 0-for-12 in four All-Star games the last five years. Stephen Vogt came off the bench and was 0-for-1.

Moore struggles in All-Star start

Just checked on the Southern League All-Star Game. Not a memorable night for Biscuits lefty Matt Moore, who started for the South: 2 outs, 4 runs on 3 hits and a walk. He threw 30 pitches.

I'll look it up later, but Moore continued a strong Biscuits All-Star tradition. Sarcasm intended.

Ranking the Rays ... Bootcheck

Monday's musings ...

1. Chris Bootcheck, DUR: 7 innings, 7 hits, 1 run
2. Matt Stabelfeld, CHA: in recognition of 13-inning scoreless streak
3. Jake Thompson, CHA: 7 innings, 7 hits, 1 earned run
4. Desmond Jennings, DUR: 2-run HR, 1b
5. Chris Winder, HV: 3 hits, run, outfield assist, error

Monday, June 20, 2011

Monday's Rays roundup

Bulls 2, Buffalo 1
Desmond Jennings
hit a two-run home run in the third. He has 10 homers this year. Chris Bootcheck worked seven innings, allowing one run on seven hits, no walks and five strikeouts.

St. Lucie 3, Stone Crabs 2 (11)
Matt Stabelfeld
gave up his first run after 13 previous innings with Charlotte. Jake Thompson's seven innings, featured two runs, one earned, along with seven hits. Ty Morrison, freshly off the extended spring DL, was 3-for-5. Brett Nommensen and Mark Thomas each walked twice.

Staten Island 8, Renegades 3
Chris Winder
had three hits, an outfield assist and an error. Kes Carter and Kyle Holloway walked twice and had an RBI. Roque Colon threw 4 2/3 innings, giving up an unearned run on five hits.

GCL Red Sox 4, GCL Rays 2
Omar Narvaez
had two hits, including a double, and walked in the GCL Rays' opener. Eli Echarry threw four innings of two-run ball. Isaias Velasquez, on Montgomery's DL all season, was 1-for-4 with an RBI in his first action.

SL home run derby a Montz-ster mash

Jacksonville's Luke Montz won Monday's Southern League home run derby. Montz totaled 16 homers in three rounds, including a 6-4 advantage over Chattanooga's Kyle Russell in the finals. Montgomery's Stephen Vogt was a first-round castoff, totaling one homer.

Shields, Verlander share AL player of week

Tampa Bay pitcher/former Biscuit James Shields and Detroit pitcher Justin Verlander -- after both threw two complete-game victories -- shared American League player of the week honors. It's Shields' second weekly award this year and the fourth for the Rays.

SL awards still not announced

Just an FYI since it's almost four hours since the Southern League's weekly awards are normally announced. They've yet to be released, according to the player of the week page at minorleaguebaseball.com and my inbox that receives Southern League announcements.

Bortnick lands Florida State League award

Charlotte second baseman Tyler Bortnick carried home Florida State League honors for the week.

He had nine RBIs in the Stone Crabs' final three games, all wins over Bradenton, before the FSL All-Star break. On Tuesday, Bortnick was 2-for-2 with two walks, two runs and two RBIs, including a solo home run. On Thursday, he hit an eighth-inning grand slam.

Bortnick, who played in Saturday's All-Star Game, has a .304 average and a .428 on-base percentage this year. His on-base percentage is third in the FSL.

Guyer best in International League

Durham outfielder Brandon Guyer won the International League's player of the week award.

Guyer was 9-for-22 with seven RBIs and six runs scored for the week running last Monday through Sunday. On Friday at Gwinnett, he was 3-for-5 with three runs scored, including a three-run home run.

Guyer is hitting .323 this season. In 62 games, he's scored 47 times and knocked in 39 runs.

Ranking the Rays ... Rogers (again)

Sorting out Sunday ...

1. Cody Rogers, BWG: 4 RBIs, 3-run 2b in 9th
2. Juniel Querecuto, HV: 3b and scored in 8th, squeeze bunt in 9th, walk
3. Matt Bush, MGM: 2 perfect innings, 5 K's
4. Robert Dickmann, HV: 4 innings, unearned run
5. Brian Baker, DUR: 5 2/3 innings, 1 run, 3 hits

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Sunday: BayBears 3, Biscuits 1

Paul Goldschmidt hit his league-leading 22nd home run and Wade Miley fired seven shutout innings in the Mobile BayBears' 3-1 win over the Biscuits on Sunday.

Goldschmidt's two-run homer came in a three-run first inning off Shane Dyer (4-2), who lasted through five. Miley (3-2) gave up five hits and a walk.

Shawn O'Malley singled and scored in the eighth for Montgomery, which finished the first half with a 34-36 record.

Sunday's Rays roundup

Bulls 2, Gwinnett 1
Dan Johnson
hit a tiebreaking home run in the eighth. Brian Baker, who retired 15 straight at one point, gave up a run on three hits in 5 2/3 innings. Brandon Gomes got out of an eighth-inning jam. With runners on second and third with one out, Gomes recorded two strikeouts.

Hot Rods 6, South Bend 4
Cody Rogers'
three-run double with two outs in the ninth sealed the first-half Midwest League East Division title. Rogers finished with four RBIs. Nick Schwaner hit a sacrifice fly to start the ninth-inning scoring. Victor Mateo allowed one run in five innings. Chris Rearick vultured the win, giving up three runs in the eighth.

Renegades 5, Aberdeen 4 (10)
Chris Winder
hit a tiebreaking RBI triple and scored on a Juniel Querecuto squeeze bunt. Querecuto tripled and scored in the eighth and Gerardo Oliveras homered in the ninth to tie it. Querecuto also walked. Jacob Partridge's five innings included two runs on six hits, no walks and seven strikeouts. Robert Dickmann allowed an unearned run over four innings for the win. Justin Woodall, formerly of Alabama football, gave up a run in his pro debut but squirmed out of a jam for the save.

Ranking the Rays ... McEachern

From Saturday ...

1. Jason McEachern, HV: 5-plus innings, 1 hit, 1 run, 2 HBPs
2. Desmond Jennings, DUR: 2 RBIs, 2 runs, 1b, walk
3. Dan Johnson, DUR: 4 walks, RBI, run
4. Jim Paduch, MGM: 6 innings, 2 runs, 4 hits, walk
5. Enny Romero, BWG: 6 innings, 10 K's, 4 runs (1 earned)

Stone Crabs have 3 start in All-Star Game

Three Charlotte Stone Crabs started in Saturday's Florida State League All-Star Game and were on the losing end of the North Division's 5-3 victory.

Third baseman Greg Sexton finished 2-for-4, while leadoff hitter and shortstop Hak-Ju Lee was 0-for-4 and right fielder Brett Nommensen 0-for-3. Tyler Bortnick came off the bench and was 0-for-2.

Both Crabs pitchers at the game worked a scoreless inning. Alex Colome gave up a hit and had one strikeout. Josh Satow worked a tidy eight-pitch, seven-strike seventh inning.

Saturday's Rays roundup

Bulls 8, Gwinnett 1
Desmond Jennings
knocked in two runs and scored twice. Dan Johnson drew four walks. Russ Canzler also had two RBIs. Alex Torres gave up three hits and a run in five innings.

South Bend 5, Hot Rods 1
Enny Romero
struck out 10 over six innings, giving up four runs (one earned) on four hits and a walk. Robby Price walked, was hit by a pitch and was picked off.

Renegades 3, Aberdeen 1
Jason McEachern
and Drew Leary combined on a three-hitter. McEachern gave up a run on one hit in five-plus innings. Chris Winder singled, walked twice and knocked in a run.

Saturday: BayBears 4, Biscuits 3

Ed Easley had three RBIs and Marc Krauss scored twice to help the Mobile BayBears down the Biscuits 4-3 on Saturday. Montgomery's Cole Figueroa hit a two-run single in the ninth and the Biscuits loaded the bases with one out. A strikeout and flyout ended it.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Ranking the Rays ... Rogers

Well, the rankings get tougher now with the short-season teams joining the mix. Hudson Valley opened its season Friday.

Also, I'm on vacation for the next two weeks, so the blogging won't be as prodigious as you've come to expect. I'll keep up the rankings and the roundups. Otherwise, posting will be limited.

1. Cody Rogers, BWG: 4 runs, 1b, 2 walks, HBP, steal
2. Brandon Guyer, DUR: 3 runs, 2b, 3-run HR, 4 RBIs
3. Mickey Jannis, HV: 4 no-hit innings, unearned run
4. Chris Archer, MGM: 7 innings, 3 runs, 6 hits, 6 K's
5. Phil Wunderlich, BWG: HR, 2b, 5 RBIs

Friday, June 17, 2011

Friday's Rays roundup

Bulls 8, Gwinnett 5
Brandon Guyer
was 3-for-5 with three runs scored, a double, a three-run home run and four RBIs. Desmond Jennings reached three times and scored twice. Robinson Chirinos had three singles and two RBIs.

Hot Rods 7, South Bend 2
Phil Wunderlich
homered, doubled and had five RBIs. Cody Rogers scored four times with a single, two walks, a hit by pitch and a steal. C.J. Riefenhauser (5-5) went seven innings with two runs, nine hits, a walk and eight strikeouts. Bowling Green also clinched its first playoff berth.

Aberdeen 7, Renegades 2
Bryan Bryles
hit a two-run double with two outs in the ninth inning for Hudson Valley in its season opener. Chris Winder and Cesar Guillen had two hits each. Mickey Jannis threw four no-hit relief innings, allowing an unearned run with two walks. Wilking Rodriguez was the Opening Day starter. He gave up six runs in 3 1/3 innings.

Friday: Biscuits 6, BayBears 5

Chris Archer allowed three runs over seven innings -- his third straight quality start -- in the Biscuits' 6-5 win over the Mobile BayBears on Friday. Cole Figueroa was 3-for-5, scored twice and hit a two-run home run. Daniel Mayora and Tim Beckham also homered.

An idea for the Biscuits

Maybe, at a home game real soon, they can get Sheldon Burnside, who threw the last no-hitter in Montgomery professional history for the 1976 Rebels, to throw a ceremonial first pitch. Of course, Matt Moore, Burnside's successor with Thursday's game, will need to catch it.

On Moore's pitch count

Matt Moore threw a season-high 106 pitches for a season-high 76 strikes in Thursday's no-hitter.

The 106 isn't much more than his recent workload. Moore threw 95 and 94 pitches, respectively, in his last two starts and had an extra day's rest before the no-hitter because of Tuesday's off day. (His previous strike high was 63, by the way.)

Ranking the Rays ... Moore (maybe?)

For Thursday's play ...

1. Matt Moore, MGM: What was it he did again?
2. Shawn O'Malley, MGM: 3 hits, 2 runs, walk, RBI, saves no-hitter
3. Stephen Vogt, MGM: 3 hits, 3 RBIs; 20 RBIs in 15 June games
4. Robby Price, BWG: 3 hits, 2 runs, RBI
5. Tyler Bortnick, CHA: grand slam, 2 walks

Moore was close to '09 no-no with Hot Rods

Matt Moore has flirted with no-hitters before Thursday's gem at Mobile. The closest was two years ago when he was with the Bowling Green Hot Rods. On June 6, 2009, he threw seven no-hit innings in Bowling Green's 10-2 win at Asheville. Neil Schenk finished off a two-hitter.

Others of note ...
2010 with Charlotte
July 2 vs. Bradenton: 6 1/3 innings, 1 hit, but it was in the first.
July 28 vs. Tampa: 7 shutout innings, 1 hit, but it was in the third.

2009 with Bowling Green
April 15 vs. West Virginia: 5 innings, 1 hit, but it was to the game's first batter.
June 17 vs. Lexington: 1st hit allowed with 2 outs in the seventh.
Aug. 6 vs. Asheville: 1st hit in the fifth (his final inning) of a 7-inning game.

2008 with Princeton
Four times, Moore allowed just one hit in a start, but he didn't work more than five innings in any of them. They were all nine-inning games.

2007 with Princeton
In his second professional start, he threw three no-hit innings. The Rays have severe pitch limitations on first-year players.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Updating no-hitter lists with Moore

I did call Sheldon Burnside just after the game ended, but he doesn't keep sports writer hours and was already asleep. By the way, there have now been 14 no-hitters thrown by Montgomery and there have been 12 against.

ALL-TIME MONTGOMERY NO-HITTERS
July 28, 1909: Jack Lively, 3-0 vs. Little Rock
Sept. 3, 1948: Frank Childs, 7-0 vs. Anniston, playoff game (Cramton Bowl)
July 28, 1949: Stan Couling, 3-0 at Meridian, 7 innings
Aug. 17, 1955: Troy Herriage, 4-0 at Charlotte, 7 innings
May 25, 1958: Joe Laughlin, 6-0 vs. Pensacola (Paterson Field)
July 22, 1967: Leslie Cain, 2-0 vs. Birmingham (Paterson)
July 7, 1968: Jim Brown, 2-0 at Charlotte, 7 innings
July 25, 1968: Jim Brown, 3-0 vs. Birmingham (Paterson)
July 26, 1969: John Gregory, 6-0 vs. Savannah, 7 innings (Paterson)
Aug. 14, 1970: Chuck "Chips" Swanson, 3-0 vs. Savannah, perfect game (Paterson)
Aug. 8, 1973: Dave Lemanczyk, 3-0 vs. Asheville (Paterson)
April 24, 1976: Steve Trella, 1-0 vs. Jacksonville, 7 innings (Paterson)
June 24, 1976: Sheldon Burnside, 8-0 vs. Charlotte, 7 innings (Paterson)
June 16, 2011: Matt Moore, 8-0 at Mobile

ALL-TIME TAMPA BAY NO-HITTERS
June 28, 1999: Jason Standridge for low-Class A Charleston, 7 innings
Aug. 10, 2000: Doug Waechter for short-season Hudson Valley
May 22, 2002: Gerardo Garcia for Double-A Orlando
July 15, 2003: Chad Gaudin for Double-A Orlando, 7 innings, perfect game
Aug. 31, 2006: Wade Davis for low-Class A Southwest Michigan
May 4, 2007: Wade Davis for high-Class A Vero Beach
July 26, 2010: Matt Garza for the major league Rays
June 16, 2011: Matt Moore for Double-A Montgomery

Thursday's Rays roundup, non-Moore edition

Gwinnett 10, Bulls 2
Leslie Anderson
had two hits, including a solo home run in the second. Jay Buente surrendered six first-inning runs and lasted just 2 2/3. Russ Canzler singled and walked.

Stone Crabs 10, Bradenton 1
Tyler Bortnick
hit an eighth-inning grand slam, walked twice and grounded into a double play. Jake Jefferies had two RBIs and scored twice. Greg Sexton finished with two hits and a plunking. Alex Koronis gave up one run on four innings in five innings. Michael Jarman and Scott Shuman each threw two hitless innings.

Hot Rods 5, West Michigan 2
Nick Schwaner
hit a go-ahead, three-run triple in the fourth. Robby Price was 3-for-4 with a double, RBI and two runs scored. Marcus Jensen gave up two runs (one earned) in five innings. Jimmy Patterson went 2 2/3 and Austin Hubbard 1 1/3 behind him.

Matt Moore, on his no-hitter

Matt Moore, after throwing the first no-hitter in Biscuits history ...

"Right after the last out, it felt like a flashback. Did that just happen? Am I dreaming? It was just an unbelievable feeling."

On what he saw: "It was a little weird seeing (catcher Nevin) Ashley running at me with a closed fist. That was a scary look."

Nervous fielding final out? "At that point, I was just making a play like nothing else was groing on. I was doing my best in the ninth just to get the last out. It was a big thing for me to pitch into the ninth. That was unchartered waters for me."

On Shawn O'Malley's play in the eighth and Henry Wrigley catching the throw: "It was a barehand on one end and a scoop on the other. That was a great play by Wrigley, too. There were great plays all the way around. Everybody contributed to this."

In the dugout during the game: "That was definitely something new, something I hadn't encountered. I was just sitting there by myself. It was like I had cooties or something."

When did he know? "In the seventh, one of the fans leaned over the rail and screamed at me. I thought, 'OK, let's see what happens.'"

His parents, brother and brother's wife are in town: "That makes it even more special. They don't get to see me throw too often and, when they do, I usually don't throw very well." (His dad was the only one to see him this year and that was Opening Night.)

On how his family would celebrate: "I'm not really sure. We're going to go figure it out."

Moore throws first no-hitter in Biscuits history

Matt Moore threw the first no-hitter in Biscuits history Thursday in a 8-0 win over the Mobile BayBears.

Moore (4-3) issued two walks and tied a season high with 11 strikeouts.

Two plays threatened Moore's bid. Shortstop Tim Beckham made a play deep in the hole and threw to first to end the sixth. Second baseman Shawn O'Malley made a barehanded play on a chopper and threw to first to end the eighth.

It's the first professional no-hitter for Montgomery since June 24, 1976, when Sheldon Burnside threw a seven-inning gem in an 8-0 win over Charlotte. The previous nine-inning no-hitter was by Dave Lemanczyk, who needed just 86 pitches for a 3-0 win over Asheville on Aug. 8, 1973. The last no-hitter involving Montgomery was Aug. 20, 1978, when Memphis' Mike Finlayson also had a seven-inning feat.

The Biscuits' biggest flirtation with a no-hitter was June 24, 2005. Jason Cromer retired the first 19 Tennessee hitters before issuing a walk. The Smokies picked up a hit later in the seventh, spoiled the shutout with a home run in the ninth and lost 2-1 in 10 innings.

It's the eight no-hitter in Tampa Bay's organizational history. The last was last year by major leaguer Matt Garza. The last Southern League no-hitter was by Jacksonville's Elih Villanueva against Carolina last year in a five-inning game.

Golden excited to get season started

Talked to Reggie Golden today and he's setting high goals for his first full professional season. He's with the short-season Boise Hawks and was about to start a 10-hour bus ride for Friday's season opener in Eugene, Ore.

Golden, of Wetumpka, wants to hit over .300 this year and is shooting to "hopefully" end it with high-Class A Daytona, a two-promotion jump.

"I've learned a lot of stuff, and I'm trying to work on my game and learn even more," Golden said. "I'm trying to be more consistent at the plate."

Golden has been at the Chicago Cubs' extended spring training program in Arizona the last few months. The weather is a bit more comfortable in Idaho, too.

"It will feel good to actually have people in the stands and play under the lights," Golden said.

Ranking the Rays ... Bortnick (again)

Out of town for most of Wednesday, so no roundup and such, but here are the daily rankings. Also, the rosters are out for short-season Hudson Valley and Princeton. Hudson Valley's season starts Friday and Princeton's Tuesday.

1. Tyler Bortnick, CHA: 2 hits, 3 RBIs, run, 2 steals
2. Braulio Lara, BWG: 6 shutout innings, 4 hits
3. Kyle Lobstein, CHA: 6th straight win, 5 innings, 3 runs
4. Nick Barnese, MGM: 6 1/3 innings, 1 earned run
5. Hak-Ju Lee, CHA: 3 hits, 2 runs, 2 steals

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Matulia activated; Wendt deactivated

Outfielder John Matulia was activated from the disabled list after today's game and catcher David Wendt is off the active roster.

Any volunteers to judge this one?

The Charlotte Stone Crabs are getting into a hairy situation.

With preliminary "competition" June 23-24 and the "finals" June 25, they'll decide who has the hairiest back in the Charlotte County (Fla.) area. The winner/sasquatch gets six one-hour laser hair removal treatments worth $3,600.

Contestants must pre-register with the Crabs, but they get two free tickets, and the field is limited.

Ranking the Rays ... Bortnick

For Tuesday, and we decided Jeff Niemann isn't eligible (by the way, 3 SEC teams are in the College World Series) ...

1. Tyler Bortnick, CHA: 2-for-2, solo HR, 2 RBIs, 2 walks, 3 steals
2. Victor Mateo, BWG: 6 shutout innings, 4 hits
3. Luke Bailey, BWG: 3-run HR, 2b, 4 RBIs
4. Phil Wunderlich, BWG: 3 hits, walk, run, RBI
5. Brandon Gomes, DUR: 1 inning, struck out side in 1-0 game

Moore, Rogers picked by Rays for May

Biscuits pitcher Matt Moore and Bowling Green outfielder Cody Rogers were named the Tampa Bay organization's minor league players of the month. The Rays announced it in their Tuesday game notes, which were posted to mlbpressbox.com about 1 1/2 hours into Tuesday night's game.

Tuesday's Rays roundup

Bulls 1, Norfolk 0
Rehabbing Jeff Niemann and four relievers combined on a five-hitter. Niemann went 5 1/3 innings. Jake McGee worked the ninth for his fifth save. Dan Johnson's RBI single in the fourth was one of three Durham hits. Brandon Guyer was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on Johnson's single. Russ Canzler had the other two hits.

Stone Crabs 7, Bradenton 5
Tyler Bortnick
was 2-for-2 with a solo home run, two RBIs, two walks and three stolen bases. Brett Nommensen and Dustin Biell also had two RBIs each.

Hot Rods 8, West Michigan 4
Victor Mateo
threw six shutout innings, allowing four hits and two walks. Luke Bailey doubled, hit a three-run home run and finished with four RBIs. Phil Wunderlich had three hits and walked. Kevin Kiermaier walked twice, scored twice and swiped a base. Julio Cedeno had two RBIs.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Wetumpka's Golden to open season with Boise

Wetumpka's Reggie Golden will start the season, his first full year as a professional, with the Boise Hawks of the short-season Northwest League.

Golden was a second-round draft pick of the Chicago Cubs last year and received a reported $720,000 signing bonus. Due to a hamstring injury that limited him as a Wetumpka senior, Golden played in four games for Chicago's team in the Rookie-level Arizona League.

The Hawks open their season Friday at the Eugene Emeralds.

Wade signs with Durham rival Yankees

Reliever Cory Wade, after opting out of his contract at Durham, has signed with the New York Yankees and is headed to Durham's International League rival, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Monday: Biscuits 2, Suns 1

Tim Beckham's two-run double in the eighth inning gave the Biscuits a 2-1 win over the Jacksonville Suns on Monday, their seventh victory in eight games.

Reid Fronk hit a one-out double and Shawn O'Malley reached on an error. Both scored on Beckham's hit to the left-field wall.

Montgomery right-hander Shane Dyer worked seven innings -- the longest outing by a Biscuits starter this year -- but didn't factor in the decision. He gave up one run on eight hits.

Monday's Rays roundup

Bulls 4, Norfolk 1
Chris Bootcheck
fired seven innings of three-hit, one-run ball on just 81 pitches. Brandon Guyer was 3-for-4 with an RBI triple and scored. Russ Canzler was 3-for-4 with two steals, an RBI, a run scored and two errors. J.J. Furmaniak doubled and homered.

Stone Crabs at Palm Beach
Rained out.

Vogt to take home run derby swings

Montgomery's Stephen Vogt will participate in the home run derby at the Southern League All-Star Game on June 21.

His competition: Jackson's Jake Shaffer, Tennessee's Matt Spencer, Chattanooga's Kyle Russell, Tennessee's Ryan Flaherty, Jacksonville's Luke Montz, Mobile's Paul Goldschmidt and Birmingham's Christian Marrero.

Entering Monday night's games, Goldschmidt had 21 homers this year, eight ahead of Montz and Russell for the league lead. Flaherty sat at 12. Marrero and Spencer each had 10, while Vogt and Shaffer had hit nine.

Though Bulls lost Sunday, they won argument

And Norfolk manager Gary Allenson took the discussion/debate to new heights.

Monday's lineups

Biscuits outfielder Kyeong Kang makes his debut in the 5 hole for tonight's series finale with the Suns. Kang has hit anywhere from 6-9 in his 30 previous starts.

BISCUITS
Shawn O'Malley 2b (switch)
Tim Beckham ss
Stephen Vogt c (left)
Daniel Mayora 3b
Kyeong Kang lf (left)
Henry Wrigley 1b
Matt Sweeney dh (left)
John Shelby cf
Reid Fronk rf (left)
Shane Dyer rhp

SUNS
Jim Negrych 2b (left)
Jake Smolinski lf
Alex Romero rf (left)
Luke Montz 1b
Neil Sellers 3b
Kyle Skipworth c (left)
Ben Lasater dh
Tim Torres cf (switch)
Chris Gutierrez ss
Joey O'Gara rhp

Moloney back in uniform, running pitchers

Biscuits pitching coach Bill Moloney is in uniform and running pregame bullpen sessions for Montgomery's staff, a week after he was mugged and shot in the thigh. It's unclear what his in-game duties will be today, but he is expected to go on Montgomery's upcoming road trip to Mobile.

UPDATE: Moloney will be in the dugout and running the pitching staff. However, he's still not fit enough to take trips to the mound. Dick Bosman is still around and will handle those duties. Manager Billy Gardner will take all mound visits during the series at Mobile until Moloney feels good enough.

Archer added to Southern League All-Star roster

Biscuits pitcher Chris Archer is also headed to the Southern League All-Star Game as a replacement on the South Division's roster. Archer is 2-3 with a 5.43 ERA this year for Montgomery after an exceptional second half to last season with the Tennessee Smokies. He was 8-2 with a 1.80 ERA for the Smokies and moved from the Chicago Cubs to the Rays in the January Matt Garza trade.

BayBear, Mudcat take Southern honors

Mobile left-hander Patrick Corbin and Carolina infielder Mike Costanzo won the Southern League's weekly awards.

Corbin had a 26 2/3-inning scoreless streak snapped Thursday at Birmingham. He took a shutout into the eighth inning and won his fourth straight start. Corbin gave up one run on four hits with one walk and 10 strikeouts.

Costanzo was 10-for-23 with six runs scored, three home runs and four RBIs for the week that ended Sunday. He's hitting .288 with a .901 OPS this year. Costanzo's ninth-inning home run last Monday at Chattanooga capped a comeback from a 5-0 deficit and gave the Mudcats a 6-5 win.

Ranking the Rays ... Romero

Sorting out Sunday ...

1. Enny Romero, BWG: 7 innings, 2 runs, 5 hits
2. Anthony Scelfo, CHA: 2 hits, walk, steal, RBI
3. Daniel Mayora, MGM: 2 hits, hbp, 2b, run
4. Matt Stabelfeld, CHA: 3 shutout innings, 2 hits, 0 walks
5. Paul Phillips, MGM: 3 shutout innings, 2 hits, 2 walks

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Sunday: Biscuits 2, Suns 1

Daniel Mayora doubled and scored in the eighth inning to give the Biscuits a 2-1 win over the Jacksonville Suns on Sunday. It was the second straight day Mayora scored Montgomery's winning run. He hit a 10th-inning home run Saturday in a 5-4 victory.

On Sunday, he led off the eighth with a double and moved to third on a Nevin Ashley bunt. Henry Wrigley doubled down the left-field line -- a chopper over a drawn-in infield -- to bring home Mayora.

Reliever Paul Phillips (2-4) picked up the win with three shutout innings. Jim Paduch, in his first start with the Biscuits, allowed one run over five innings. Zach Quate worked the ninth for his ninth save.

Sunday's Rays roundup

Norfolk 11, Bulls 5
Brandon Guyer
singled twice and scored twice. Russ Canzler hit a three-run home run in the first. Brian Baker surrendered five runs in three innings, including back-to-back homers in a five-run third.

Palm Beach 4, Stone Crabs 2 (10)
Mike Sheridan
was 3-for-4 with a double and a caught stealing. Anthony Scelfo had two singles, a steal, an RBI and a walk. Tyler Bortnick singled, walked, scored and erred. Jake Thompson worked five innings, giving up two runs on seven hits.

Hot Rods 4, Clinton 2 (10)
Steve Tinoco
knocked in Todd Glaesmann with the go-ahead run and Derek Dietrich scored on a wild pitch in the 10th. Tinoco was 2-for-4 with a walk. Robi Estrada singled and walked twice. Enny Romero's seven innings featured two runs on five hits. Austin Hubbard (4-0) worked two hitless innings with two walks. Chris Rearick polished off his ninth save.

Wade released at Triple-A Durham

Left-handed pitcher Cory Wade, who had a 1.23 ERA in 21 appearances, has been released at Triple-A Durham. He likely had an opt-out clause in his contract. The 28-year-old had been with the Los Angeles Dodgers his entire career, including 82 appearances in the majors in 2008-09, until this season.

Last week, the Bulls swapped a starter for a reliever, releasing Edgar Gonzalez and signing Lance Cormier.

Sunday's lineups

BISCUITS
Shawn O'Malley 2b (switch)
Tim Beckham ss
Stephen Vogt lf (left)
Daniel Mayora dh
Nevin Ashley c
Henry Wrigley 1b
Kyeong Kang rf (left)
John Shelby cf
Cole Figueroa 3b (left)
Jim Paduch rhp

SUNS
Kevin Mattison cf (left)
Tim Torres ss (switch)
Alex Romero rf (left)
Luke Montz 1b
Jake Smolinski lf
Jim Negrych dh (left)
Kyle Skipworth c (left)
Ryan Curry 2b
Paul Gran 3b
Graham Taylor lhp

Price proud of CWS-bound Vandy

A sign of the apocalypse? Vanderbilt going to the College World Series?

As you might imagine, David Price is a wee bit pleased with the developments. From his Twitter page:
LETS GO VANDY!!! going to Omaha for the first time ever!!! Couldn't be happier for them!

Ranking the Rays ... Riefenhauser

Sifting through Saturday ...

1. C.J. Riefenhauser, BWG: 7 innings, 2 runs, 6 hits
2. Dane De La Rosa, DUR: 3 hitless innings, 2 walks, 3 K's
3. Chris Archer, MGM: 6 innings, 2 3 hits (scoring change), 10 K's, 2 runs
4. Alex Colome, CHA: 6 1/3 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs
5. Stephen Vogt, MGM: 4-for-5, 2 RBIs
Honorable mention
Mark Thomas, CHA: 1 solo tackle

Saturday, June 11, 2011

First game-ending HR for Biscuits since 2008

Daniel Mayora's game-ending home run Saturday was the first by the Biscuits in more than three years. On May 9, 2008, Gabriel Martinez homered to end the first game of a doubleheader and give Montgomery a 4-3 win over the Birmingham Barons.

Saturday: Biscuits 5, Suns 4 (10)

Daniel Mayora's one-out home run in the 10th inning gave the Biscuits a 5-4 win over the Jacksonville Suns on Saturday. It was Mayora's fifth home run and his second in Montgomery's last two games. Stephen Vogt finished 4-for-5 with two RBIs for the Biscuits.

Archer's 10 Ks a season high

Biscuits starter Chris Archer totaled a season-high 10 strikeouts in six innings against the Jacksonville Suns. He lasted six innings and gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits -- but walked five. It's the second time this year a Montgomery hurler has hit double figures. (Matt Moore had 11 vs. Jacksonville on May 26.)

Saturday's Rays roundup

Norfolk 5, Bulls 4
Dane De La Rosa
threw three no-hit innings. Chris Carter had two hits and two RBIs. Carter and Jose Lobaton hit solo home runs.

Stone Crabs 8, Palm Beach 2
Mike Sheridan
had three RBIs, Brett Nommensen scored twice and Mayo Acosta homered. Anthony Scelfo had two hits, a walk, was hit by a pitch and scored. Alex Colome (4-4) went 6 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits before his ejection.

Hot Rods 4, Clinton 2
Phil Wunderlich's
two-run home run in the eighth inning broke a tie. Nick Schwaner walked twice and threw a runner out at home. Robby Price hit an RBI double and walked. C.J. Riefenhauser gave up two runs on six hits in seven innings.

Crabs see slew of ejections

This caught my attention from high-Class A Charlotte's game tonight at Palm Beach. Stone Crabs starting pitcher Alex Colome, Crabs catcher Mark Thomas and Cardinals hitter Juan Castillo were all ejected with a 2-0 count and one out in the seventh inning. Castillo's pinch-hitter eventually walked.

I'm going to guess it had something to do with what happened in the top of the inning. With one out, the Crabs went home run-triple-single before Tyler Bortnick was hit by a pitch.

UPDATE: They added a couple more in the ninth inning when Anthony Scelfo was plunked. Palm Beach manager Luis Aguayo and pitcher Brett Zawacki hit the showers early.

UPDATE: From Charlotte's release (my underlining) ...

Both benches cleared in the seventh inning when Charlotte starter Alex Colome threw behind Palm Beach catcher Juan Castillo. That prompted Castillo to charge the mound and throw his bat at Colome, leading both benches and bullpens to empty. Stone Crabs catcher Mark Thomas tackled and subdued Castillo while order was restored.

Moloney visits Biscuits, feeling better

Biscuits pitching coach Bill Moloney made an impromptu pregame visit to Riverwalk Stadium on Saturday, five days after he was mugged and shot in the left thigh.

"It's nice to get out here and see the team and the boys and everybody," said Moloney, who said he wouldn't stay for Saturday night's game. He said he might "see how things go" Sunday or Monday and return to the team.

"I'm taking it day-by-day," Moloney said. "I try to do a little more each day with my therapy."

UPDATE: They convinced Moloney to stick around for a few innings. He's watching from the best vantage point possible -- the press box.

Saturday's lineups

Montgomery center fielder John Shelby returns after two days off due to a tight hamstring. It's also Military Appreciation Night, so you can look forward to a flyover.

BISCUITS
Cole Figueroa 2b (left)
Tim Beckham ss
Stephen Vogt dh (left
Daniel Mayora 3b
Nevin Ashley c
Kyeong Kang lf (left)
Matt Sweeney 1b (left)
John Shelby cf
Reid Fronk rf (left)
Chris Archer rhp

SUNS
Kevin Mattison cf (left)
Jake Smolinski lf
Jim Negrych 2b (left)
Luke Montz c
Alex Romero rf (left)
Neil Sellers 3b
Kyle Skipworth dh (left)
Ben Lasater 1b
Chris Gutierrez ss
Dallas Trahern rhp

System check

TRIPLE-A, DURHAM BULLS
International League South

(33-28, tied for first place)
CF Desmond Jennings is 10-for-23 with six runs scored and five RBIs in his last five games. He's hitting .296 with 25 extra-base hits and 46 runs.
RHP Ryan Reid has a 3.47 ERA, six walks and 20 strikeouts in 23.1 innings.
LHP Alex Torres, winless in his last six starts, is 2-4 with a 3.88 ERA.

HIGH-CLASS A, CHARLOTTE STONE CRABS
Florida State League South

(26-35, fourth place, 5 GB)
LHP Kyle Lobstein is 5-0 with a 1.88 ERA in his last six starts. This year, he's 5-2 and has allowed 37 hits in 54.2 innings.
SS Hak-Ju Lee is hitting .355 and has scored 44 runs in 48 games.
2B Tyler Bortnick has a .419 on-base percentage with 40 runs scored in 55 games.
RHP Merrill Kelly, after eight-plus shutout innings Thursday, is 4-2 with a 2.21 ERA.

LOW-CLASS A, BOWLING GREEN HOT RODS
Midwest League Eastern

(30-26, third place, 2.5 GB)
1B Phil Wunderlich has a .280 average and a team-high 43 RBIs.
LHP Chris Rearick has a 1.65 ERA and a .161 average against in 32.2 innings.
IF Robby Price, though he's hitting just .267, has a .412 on-base percentage.
LHP C.J. Riefenhauser, with seven shutout innings in his last start, has a 2.45 ERA. He's struck out 61 in 62.1 innings.

WAYWARD BISCUITS
Those who strayed from the Rays

LHP Scott Kazmir is 0-4 with a 15.15 ERA in four rehab starts for Triple-A Salt Lake (Angels).
C Iker Franco has a .298 average, 19 home runs and 57 RBIs for Quintana Roo of the Mexican League.
LHP Chris Seddon has won his last two starts at Triple-A Tacoma (Mariners) and is 3-3 with a 5.56 ERA.
RHP Jose Veras has a 3.12 ERA in 29 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
RHP Dale Thayer, after a loss Wednesday, has a 4.50 ERA with the New York Mets.
RHP Jean Machi has seven saves and a 2.87 ERA for Mexico City.
LHP Justin Dowdy has a 4.70 ERA in nine appearances for Triple-A Fresno (Giants).
RHP Heath Rollins has a 3.79 ERA in 35.2 innings with Double-A Northwest Arkansas (Royals).
OF Ryan Royster has a .259 average and 15 RBIs in 15 games with independent Brockton.
RHP Ruddy Lugo is 2-1 with a 5.21 ERA in six starts for independent Long Island.
IF Wes Bankston is hitting .282 at independent Bridgeport.

Ranking the Rays ... Hayhurst

Flipping through Friday's favorites ...

1. Dirk Hayhurst, DUR: 6 shutout innings, 1 hit, 3 walks
2. Adam Liberatore, CHA: 3 no-hit innings, 2 walks
3. Anthony Scelfo, CHA: 3-for-5, 4 RBIs, 3-run 3b
4. Tyler Bortnick, CHA: 2 hits, steal, 3 runs
5. Kyle Lobstein, CHA: quality start, 5th straight win

Friday, June 10, 2011

Friday: Suns 6, Biscuits 5 (10)

Kyle Skipworth's RBI double in the 10th inning lifted the Jacksonville Suns to a 6-5 win over the Biscuits on Friday.

Tim Torres led off with a single into the right-field corner. He scored on Skipworth's double to center.

Kyeong Kang and Daniel Mayora each homered for the Montgomery, which tied it in the sixth on consecutive RBI doubles by Matt Sweeney and Reid Fronk. The Suns had a golden chance to win it in the ninth when they loaded the bases with none out. Neil Sellers hit into a 5-4-3 double play.

Friday's Rays roundup

Bulls 6, Lehigh Valley 4
Dirk Hayhurst's
six innings featured just one hit and three walks by the IronPigs. Chris Carter hit a two-run home run in the first and finished with three RBIs. Desmond Jennings was 3-for-5 with a two-run double and a run scored. The Bulls turned four double plays.

Stone Crabs 9, St. Lucie 3
Tyler Bortnick
scored three runs and Anthony Scelfo had four RBIs, including a three-run triple in a six-run sixth. Hak-Ju Lee and Mike Sheridan each had three hits. Kyle Lobstein, with a book-rule quality start, improved to 5-2. Adam Liberatore threw three no-hit innings and walked two for his first save.

Hot Rods 6, Clinton 4
Hector Guevara
was 4-for-5 with two doubles and a steal. Phil Wunderlich had two RBIs, two hits and a walk.

Paduch going into starting rotation

Jim Paduch will start Sunday in the injured Joe Cruz's spot and stay in the rotation at least through the All-Star break, manager Billy Gardner said.

Guerrieri speaks; 2011 Rays draft board

Pitcher Taylor Guerrieri finally spoke today and says he remains "very committed" to the University of South Carolina. He'd been conspicuously mute since Monday when the Rays snared him with the 24th overall pick.

While we're at it, here's the raysprospects.com draft board, which they update with each signing. It's the best way to keep track. I'm adding it as a standing link on the right side of the page, too.

Friday's lineups

BISCUITS
Shawn O'Malley 2b (switch)
Tim Beckham ss
Stephen Vogt c (left)
Daniel Mayora 3b
Nevin Ashley dh
Henry Wrigley lf
Kyeong Kang rf (left)
Matt Sweeney 1b (left)
Reid Fronk cf (left)
Matt Moore lhp

SUNS
Kevin Mattison cf (left)
Ryan Curry 2b
Jake Smolinski lf
Luke Montz dh
Neil Sellers 3b
Tim Torres rf (switch)
Kyle Skipworth c (left)
Ben Lasater 1b
Chris Gutierrez ss
Omar Poveda rhp

Moore, Mayora named All-Star starters

Biscuits pitcher Matt Moore and third baseman Daniel Mayora will start for the South Division in the June 21 Southern League All-Star Game. Mayora will hit sixth. The initial South lineup was announced today.

Tyler Kuhn, Birmingham, 2b
A.J. Pollock, Mobile, rf
Paul Goldschmidt, Mobile, 1b
Luke Montz, Jacksonville, c
Christian Marrero, Birmingham, dh
Daniel Mayora, Montgomery, 3b
Kevin Mattison, Jacksonville, cf
Tyler Pastornicky, Mississippi, ss
Ollie Linton, Mobile, lf
Matt Moore, Montgomery, lhp

Ranking the Rays ... Kelly

Tossing around Thursday's efforts ...

1. Merrill Kelly, CHA: 8-plus shutout innings, 5 hits, 0 walks, 14 groundball outs
2. Cody Rogers, BWG: HR, 3b, 1b, 3 runs, outfield assist
3. Nick Barnese, MGM: 6 shutout innings, 4 hits
4. Desmond Jennings, DUR: 3-for-5, 2 steals, run
5. Nevin Ashley, MGM: HR, 2b, 2 walks, steal

Thursday, June 09, 2011

Thursday's Rays roundup

Lehigh Valley 6, Bulls 5
Desmond Jennings
was 3-for-5 with two steals and a run. Brandon Guyer threw out two baserunners at home. Russ Canzler had two hits, a walk, RBI and run. Robinson Chirinos walked twice, including once with the bases loaded. Jake McGee (3-1) gave up a leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth.

Stone Crabs 4, St. Lucie 0
Merrill Kelly
tossed eight-plus innings, allowing five hits with no walks and 14 groundball outs. He plunked two batters. Hak-Ju Lee doubled twice, stole a base and scored. Josh Satow retired all three hitters he faced, struck out two and has a 1.65 ERA.

Hot Rods 6, Kane County 4
Right fielder Cody Rogers came within a double of the cycle, scored three times and threw a runner out at first. Kevin Kiermaier had three hits, a steal, run and RBI.