Friday, August 31, 2012

Suns lose in 12 to Generals

Jackson beat Jacksonville 8-6 in 12 innings, so the Biscuits -- with a win and a Suns loss Saturday -- can clinch.

Friday: Biscuits 6, Stars 4

Mark Thomas tied a season high with three RBIs and the Biscuits moved closer to a potential playoff spot with Friday's 6-4 win over the Huntsville Stars.

Pending the Jacksonville Suns' game at Jackson on Friday, the Biscuits moved 1 1/2 games into first place in the Southern League's South Division. There are three games left in the regular season.

The Stars had the tying runs on base with one out in the ninth. Brock Kjeldgaard, who knocked in two runs earlier, flied out and Hunter Morris, who picked up his 108th RBI earlier, struck out to end it.

Kyle Lobstein posted his 10th quality start, allowing three unearned runs over 6 2/3 innings.

Thomas, who homered in the second inning, hit a two-run single in the sixth to snap a 3-3 tie.

The Biscuits hit a season-high three triples. Shawn O'Malley, Mike Sheridan and Ty Morrison each scored on a sacrifice fly.

Friday's lineups

Game 2 of the five-game series to end the regular season. The Biscuits have a one-game lead over Jacksonville, which plays tonight at Jackson.

BISCUITS
Ty Morrison cf (left)
Shawn O'Malley ss (switch)
Derek Dietrich 2b (left)
Mikie Mahtook rf
Omar Luna lf
Mike Sheridan 1b (left)
Greg Sexton 3b
Kyeong Kang dh (left)
Mark Thomas c
Kyle Lobstein lhp

STARS
Lee Haydel cf (left)
Hainley Statia ss (switch)
Scotter Gennett dh (left)
Brock Kjeldgaard lf
Hunter Morris 1b (left)
Josh Prince 3b
Kentrail Davis rf (left)
T.J. Mittelstaedt 2b (left)
Anderson De La Rosa c
Ariel Pena rhp

Hot Rods, Rays staying together

The Bowling Green Hot Rods and the Rays have extended their contract through the 2014 season. The Rays have been Bowling Green's parent team since the Hot Rods began in 2009. (The Biscuits and Rays already have a deal through 2014.)

Hak-Ju Lee, Omar Luna on Southern League team

Biscuits shortstop Hak-Ju Lee and utility man Omar Luna were named to the Southern League's end-of-season All-Star team today.

Lee hit .261 in 116 games before an Aug. 11 oblique injury ended his season. He set team records with a 21-game hitting streak and a 46-game on-base streak.

Luna has a .309 average, which is third in the league, with 55 RBIs and 60 runs scored. He has started at five different defensive positions this year.

C: Jesus Sucre, Jackson
1B: Hunter Morris, Huntsville
2B: Scooter Gennett, Huntsville
3B: Matt Davidson, Mobile
SS: Hak-Ju Lee, Montgomery
OF: Todd Cunningham, Mississippi
OF: Josh Fellhauer, Pensacola
OF: Marc Krauss, Mobile
OF: Alfredo Marte, Moble
DH: Justin Bour, Tennessee
Utility: Omar Luna, Montgomery
Best hustler: Billy Hamilton, Pensacola
RHP: Brandon Maurer, Jackson
LHP: Sean Gilmartin, Mississippi
Reliever: Carter Capps, Jackson

Kiermaier promoted from Crabs to Bulls

Before outfielder Kevin Kiermaier heads to the Arizona Fall League, he'll have a few days of Triple-A experience. Kiermaier has been promoted from high-Class A Charlotte to Triple-A Durham to finish the season.

Kiermaier, named to Tampa Bay's AFL party Monday, had a .260 average in just 57 games this year for the Stone Crabs. The 22-year-old was a 31st-round draft pick in 2010.

The Bulls, with four games left in their season, were in need with infielder Reid Brignac, catcher Chris Gimenez, outfielder Rich Thompson and left-handed pitcher Cesar Ramos leaving for the Rays. They left the playoff-contending Biscuits untouched.

Kiermaier made two lengthy stays on Charlotte's disabled list this year. He was on the shelf from April 21-May 25 and June 5-July 15.

Ranking the Rays ... Wunderlich, Torra, Kelly

For Thursday ...
FULL SEASON
1. Phil Wunderlich, CHA: 2-run HR, 2b, 3 RBIs
2. Matt Torra, DUR: 6 1/3 innings, 2 runs, 3 hits, walk, 3 Ks, 7 GBO
3. Merrill Kelly, MGM: season-high 6 innings, 3 runs, 7 hits, 2 walks, 2 Ks
4. George Jensen, CHA: 4 innings, 1 run, 3 hits, K, 7 GBO
5. Kyeong Kang, MGM: 1b, 2 walks, RBI, run

Today ...
DUR (Cesar Ramos 5-5, 3.77) vs. Charlotte (Scott Carroll 3-6, 5.15), 6:05
MGM (Kyle Lobstein 7-7, 4.26) vs. Huntsville (Ariel Pena 0-2, 7.57), 7:05
CHA (Victor Mateo 5-5, 4.45) at Fort Myers, 6:05
BWG (Parker Markel 11-5, 3.59) at Lake County (Danny Jimenez 2-4, 5.36), 6
HV (Jesse Hahn 2-2, 2.87) at Aberdeen (Brady Wager 0-2, 6.53), 6:05

Morning reading: Luna gets hits record

Omar Luna, in the Biscuits' 10-3 win over Huntsville on Thursday, became the team's all-time single-season leader in hits. He has 142, eclipsing Gabriel Martinez's 141-hit record from 2008.

Huntsville Stars slugger Hunter Morris and Biscuits reliever Scott Shuman were teammates at Auburn and are close enough that I couldn't convince Morris to share any good Shuman stories.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Thursday: Biscuits 10, Stars 3

Mark Thomas' two-run home run started the scoring in a seven-run third inning that propelled the Biscuits to a 10-3 win over the Huntsville Stars on Thursday.

Omar Luna had two hits, giving him 142 this season to break the team's single-season record, previously held by Gabriel Martinez (2008).

Mike Sheridan had two RBIs, while Shawn O'Malley and Mikie Mahtook each scored twice for Montgomery. Kyeong Kang walked to lead off the third inning before Thomas hit a blast over the left-field wall. Kang's two-out bloop single brought in the final run in the third.

The Biscuits took a half-game lead over Jacksonville in the South Division, pending the end of the Suns' game Thursday at Jackson. (Jacksonville trails 7-2 in the eighth.)

The Biscuits, with Jacksonville's 7-3 loss at Jackson, have a one-game lead in the division with four games remaining.

Thursday's Rays roundup

Norfolk 3, Bulls 1
Matt Torra
had an eight-decision win streak snapped, giving up two runs on three hits in 6 1/3 innings. Stephen Vogt and Brooks Conrad both doubled and singled.

Fort Myers 8, Stone Crabs 7 (10)
Phil Wunderlich
homered, doubled and had three RBIs. Cody Rogers hit three singles and RBI'd. Steve Tinoco doubled, singled, RBI'd and scored twice. George Jensen allowed one run on three hits in four innings.

Lake County 11, Hot Rods 4
Juniel Querecuto
doubled, singled, walked, stole and scored. Jeff Malm walked twice and scored. Sean Bierman took an eight-earned run, nine-hit, 4 1/3-inning shower. Nick Sawyer debuted with a one-hit, two-K eighth.

Renegades 3, Brooklyn 1
Leonardo Reginatto's
two-run homer in the ninth sealed a playoff berth for Hudson Valley. He also singled. Ryan Dunn singled, walked and scored. Eduar Quinonez gave up a run in six innings.

Bobblebanks on Biscuits' agenda



The Biscuits are giving away Monty "bobblebanks" at Friday's game. What do you think?

Thursday's lineups

The Biscuits open a five-game series with the Huntsville Stars that is scheduled to end the regular season. Montgomery is tied with the Jacksonville Suns, who start a series at the Jackson Generals tonight, for the South Division second-half lead.

For in-game updates, check Twitter @AStacyLong.

BISCUITS (35-30 in second half)
Ty Morrison cf (left)
Shawn O'Malley ss (switch)
Derek Dietrich 2b (left)
Mikie Mahtook rf
Omar Luna lf
Mike Sheridan 1b (left)
Greg Sexton 3b
Kyeong Kang dh (left)
Mark Thomas c
Merrill Kelly rhp

STARS (29-36 in second half)
Lee Haydel dh (left)
Hainley Statia ss (switch)
Scooter Gennett 2b (left)
Hunter Morris 1b (left)
Brock Kjeldgaard lf
Kentrail Davis rf (left)
Josh Prince cf
T.J. Mittelstaedt 3b (left)
Adam Weisenburger c
Johnnie Lowe rhp

Seitzer, Vettleson on Midwest League all-star list

Bowling Green first baseman Cameron Seitzer and right fielder Drew Vettleson have been named to the Midwest League's end-of-season All-Star team.

Seitzer has a .304 average, which ranks fourth in the league, with 50 RBIs and 49 runs scored.

Vettleson is hitting .283, has a team-high 15 home runs and has knocked in 69 runs. He also has 20 outfield assists, which ranks second in the league.

It's the first end-of-season accolades for both. Vettleson was a first-round draft pick in 2010 and Seitzer an 11th-rounder in 2011.

In the event of a Suns-Biscuits tie ...

The Southern League has flipped its coin and determined what would happen if the Biscuits and Jacksonville Suns finish tied in the South Division second-half standings.

The Biscuits would host a one-game tiebreaker at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday. The winner would start the semifinal playoff series at Mobile on Thursday.

The Biscuits have not started selling tickets to the tiebreaker.

Ranking the Rays ... Carpenter, Liberatore

For Wednesday ...
FULL SEASON
1. Ryan Carpenter, BWG: 6 innings, 2 runs, 4 hits, walk, 5 Ks, 5 GBO
2. Adam Liberatore, DUR: 3 shutout innings, 1 hit, 5 Ks
3. Rich Thompson, DUR: 2 1b's, 2 walks, steal, caught stealing
4. Cameron Seitzer, BWG: 2 1b's, run
5. Juniel Querecuto, BWG: 2 1b's
SHORT SEASON
Quorum not present.

Today ...
DUR (Matt Torra 12-6, 4.16) at Norfolk (Jason Berken 4-6, 3.61), 6:15
MGM (Merrill Kelly 7-3, 3.50) vs. Huntsville (Johnnie Lowe 4-3, 4.56), 7:05
CHA (Enny Romero 5-7, 3.72) at Fort Myers, 6:05
BWG (Sean Bierman 1-0, 1.80) at Lake County (Shawn Morimando 6-6, 3.76), 6
HV (Eduar Quinonez 7-2, 3.78) at Brooklyn (Luis Mateo 4-5, 2.58), 6
PRI season over

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Winless Wednesday's Rays roundup

Norfolk 1, Bulls 0 (Game 1)
Chris Gimenez
and Jesus Feliciano singled. Rich Thompson walked. Chris Archer lasted one inning (promotion?). Adam Liberatore threw three shutout innings.

Norfolk 3, Bulls 0 (Game 2)
Rich Thompson
singled twice, walked, stole and was caught stealing. Brooks Conrad doubled, walked and was nabbed. Lance Pendleton had a book-rule quality start/complete game.

Palm Beach 8, Stone Crabs 0
Opposing the perfect game of Palm Beach's Chris Corrigan, Braulio Lara gave up three runs in five innings.

Lake County 7, Hot Rods 2
Cameron Seitzer
singled twice and scored. Juniel Querecuto singled twice. Taylor Motter doubled and walked. Drew Vettleson homered. Ryan Carpenter gave up two runs in the sixth, his final inning.

Brooklyn 7, Renegades 4
Leonardo Reginatto
doubled, singled, walked, RBI'd and scored twice. Joey Rickard singled twice, RBI'd and scored. Taylor Guerrieri gave up a run on one hit with no walks and four strikeouts in five innings.

Palm Beach's Corrigan perfect vs. Stone Crabs

Palm Beach's Chris Corrigan pitched a perfect game in an 8-0 win over the Stone Crabs tonight. He struck out nine. Corrigan improved to 4-8 with a 4.02 ERA.

Ranking the Rays ... Patterson, Dietrich, Shaffer

For Tuesday ...
FULL SEASON
1. Jimmy Patterson, CHA: 5 shutout innings, 2 hits, walk, 2 Ks, 6 GBO
2. Derek Dietrich, MGM: 2 1b's, HBP, run, 3 RBIs
3. Matt Rice, BWG: 1b, 2 walks, 2 RBIs
4. Kes Carter, BWG: 3 walks, steal, caught stealing, 2 runs
5. Marquis Fleming, MGM: 2 no-hit innings, walk, 3 Ks
SHORT SEASON
1. Richie Shaffer, HV: 2b, walk, 2 runs
2. Jake DePew, HV: 2 1b's, RBI, run
3. Darryl George, PRI: 2b, 2 1b's, RBI, run

Today ...
DUR (Chris Archer 7-9, 3.79/Lance Pendleton 8-5, 4.60) at Norfolk (Jake Arrieta 3-4, 4.91/Rick Zagone 1-0, 0.00), DH, 4:15
MGM off
CHA (Braulio Lara 6-9, 5.72) vs. Palm Beach (Chris Corrigan 3-8, 4.50), 5:30
BWG (Ryan Carpenter 11-7, 4.13) at Lake County (Cody Anderson 4-7, 3.30), 6
HV (Taylor Guerrieri 1-2, 1.07) vs. Brooklyn (Gabriel Ynoa 5-1, 2.30), 5:35
PRI off

Morning reading: Rearick, Mahtook on fall plans

Chris Rearick is excited about going to the Arizona Fall League and Mikie Mahtook will miss the AFL to continue work toward his LSU degree.

By the way, Biscuits catcher Mark Thomas, who hit the go-ahead, two-run double in Tuesday's 7-4 win over Jacksonville, is hitting .383 in August. Not too shabby.

Sawyer, Argo jump from P-Rays to Hot Rods

Right-handed pitcher Nick Sawyer, with an 0.37 ERA, and outfielder Willie Argo, with a .404 on-base percentage, have been promoted from Rookie-level Princeton to low-Class A Bowling Green.

They'll join the Hot Rods today for their series at Lake County, according to the P-Rays.

Sawyer, taken in the 40th round of this year's draft out of Howard College in Texas, was dominating with Princeton. In 24 1/3 innings, he gave up just six hits with 10 walks and 50 strikeouts. He was 2-1 with five saves.

Argo, a 22nd-round pick this year from the University of Illinois, had a .301 average and 31 walks in 64 games. He had 24 RBIs and 41 runs scored.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Tuesday's Rays roundup

Bulls at Norfolk
Rained out.

Palm Beach 5, Stone Crabs 2 (Game 1)
Todd Glaesmann
hit a two-run home run in the third. Kevin Kiermaier doubled and walked. Robby Price walked twice. Chris Andujar gave up a run over three innings.

Palm Beach 3, Stone Crabs 0 (Game 2)
Robi Estrada
had two of Charlotte's four hits. Robby Price had the Crabs' only walk. Jimmy Patterson tossed five shutout innings with two hits and a walk.

Hot Rods 6, South Bend 4
Kes Carter
walked thrice, stole, was caught stealing and scored twice. Matt Rice singled, walked twice and had two RBIs. Roberto Gomez tossed three shutout innings.

Staten Island 7, Renegades 5
Richie Shaffer
doubled, walked and scored twice. Jake DePew singled twice, RBI'd and scored. Luke Maile left after one at-bat. He was ejected in the fourth. Jeff Ames lost, allowing two earned runs in three innings.

Elizabethton 6, P-Rays 4
Darryl George
doubled, singled twice, RBI'd and scored. Oscar Hernandez hit a solo home run and walked.

Tuesday: Biscuits 7, Suns 4

Mark Thomas' two-run double snapped a seventh-inning tie and helped the Biscuits take a 7-4 win over the Jacksonville Suns on Tuesday and avoid a five-game series sweep.

Montgomery and Jacksonville are tied for the Southern League South Division lead with five games remaining in the season.

Thomas doubled to the left-field corner, scoring Omar Luna from third base and Derek Dietrich from first, to break a 4-4 tie. Kyeong Kang later singled in Mike Sheridan.

The Biscuits erased a 4-1 deficit in the fifth inning. A Mikie Mahtook groundout brought in Ty Morrison before Dietrich cracked a two-run single. Dietrich knocked in Montgomery's first run with a bases-loaded hit by pitch in the third.

Tuesday's lineups: Suns gun for sweep

The Biscuits are trying to avoid a sweep in tonight's game with the division-leading Jacksonville Suns.

The Biscuits have been swept in a five-game home series just three times. Jacksonville pulled out the brooms in June 2007 and April 2008, and Birmingham did it this April.

The Suns, who have won 10 straight vs. Montgomery, lead Montgomery by one game with six games remaining. The Biscuits' longest losing streak to one team is 11 to Birmingham in 2009.

For in-game updates, or just general inane entertainment, check Twitter @AStacyLong.

BISCUITS
Ty Morrison cf (left)
Shawn O'Malley ss (switch)
Omar Luna lf
Mikie Mahtook rf
Derek Dietrich 2b (left)
Mark Thomas c
Mike Sheridan 1b (left)
Greg Sexton 3b
Kyeong Kang dh (left)
Jake Thompson rhp

SUNS
Jake Smolinski lf
Chris Gutierrez ss
Zack Cox 3b (left)
Ben Lasater 1b
Kyle Skipworth c (left)
Kyle Jensen dh
Danny Pertusati rf
Jose Duarte cf
Alfredo Lopez 2b
Brian Flynn lhp

Hot Rods' Sale also suspended for drugs.

Josh Sale was suspended for 50 games by Major League Baseball for a positive test for performance-enhancing drugs.

Sale, the 17th overall pick in the 2010 draft, is the fourth player from the Bowling Green Hot Rods suspended in the last week. Pitchers Justin Woodall and Charlie Cononie and infielder Ryan Brett were suspended Thursday.

Sale, an outfielder, was hitting .264 in 74 games with 10 home runs and 44 RBIs.

Rays set full Arizona Fall League party

Richie Shaffer, the Tampa Bay Rays' top draft pick this year, will be among eight players the team is sending to the Arizona Fall League.

Shaffer is currently with short-season Class A Hudson Valley. It's the second straight year the Rays have sent their top pick from that year to the AFL. Mikie Mahtook went last year.

The group includes current Biscuits pitchers Chris Rearick, C.J. Riefenhauser and Kirby Yates, plus injured Biscuits shortstop Hak-Ju Lee. (Lee, Riefehauser and Yates confirmed their invitations last weekend.) Durham shortstop Tim Beckham, who was with Montgomery last year, is also going. Beckham will likely work mostly at second base.

Outfielder Kevin Kiermaier and pitcher Lenny Linsky, currently with high-Class A Charlotte, round out the contingent.

Shaffer, a third baseman, was the 25th overall pick out of Clemson and debuted with Hudson Valley on July 23. He's hitting .300 with 20 RBIs and 15 runs scored in 25 games.

Linsky, a second-round pick last year, made his first appearance this year in mid-June with the GCL Rays before joining the Stone Crabs.

Kiermaier was on the disabled list for a month and has played in just 54 games with Charlotte. He's hitting .268 with 12 RBIs.

Beckham, after serving a 50-game drug suspension, returned in late June and soon made his professional debut at second base. He's played in 24 games at second and 43 at short this year. Beckham is hitting .259.

Minor league hitting coordinator Steve Livesey and trainer Chris Tomashoff will be on the staff.

Anderson on IL All-Star team

Former Biscuit Leslie Anderson was the only Durham Bull on the International League's end-of-season all-star team.

That may be one more than the Biscuits have on the Southern League team. (I've started but haven't finished my vote.)

Rays, Stone Crabs extend PDC

The Rays and Charlotte Stone Crabs have extended their relationship through the 2014 season. Since the Rays are part owners of the team and have their spring training home in Port Charlotte, the player-development contract extension was expected. (The Biscuits and Rays already have a contract through 2014.)

Ranking the Rays ... Buschmann, Motter, Sawyer

For Monday ...
FULL SEASON
Quorum not present, but enough worthy performances, so ...
1. Matt Buschmann, MGM: 8 innings, 1 hit, 1 run, 2 walks, 16 GBO, loss
2. Taylor Motter, BWG: 2-run HR, walk, 2 steals, 2 runs
3. Stayton Thomas, BWG: 3 shutout innings, 1 hit, 1 K, 5 GBO
4. Jake Hager, BWG: 1b, 2 walks, steal, 3 runs
5. Alejandro Segovia, BWG: 2b, 2 1b's, 3 RBIs, run
SHORT SEASON
1. Nick Sawyer, PRI: 2 no-hit innings, 2 walks, 6 Ks
2. Alex Moshier, HV: 2 perfect innings, K, 3 GBO
3. Michael Williams, HV: 1b, walk, run

Today ...
DUR (Chris Archer 7-9, 3.79) at Norfolk, 6:15
MGM (Jake Thompson 7-11, 5.48) vs. Jacksonville (Brian Flynn 2-0, 3.41), 7:05
CHA vs. Palm Beach, DH, 4:05
BWG (Roberto Gomez 9-3, 2.54) at South Bend (Andrew Barbosa 2-4, 4.78), 6:05
HV (Jeff Ames 5-0, 1.44) vs. staten Island, 6:05
PRI (Hugo Duarte 1-3, 8.53) at Elizabethton (Hein Robb 2-4, 3.72), 6

Monday, August 27, 2012

Monday's Rays roundup

Palm Beach at Stone Crabs
Rained out.

Hot Rods 11, South Bend 5
Alejandro Segovia
doubled, singled twice, had three RBIs and scored. Jake Hager singled, walked twice, stole and scored thrice. Taylor Motter hit a two-run homer, walked, stole twice and scored twice. Josh Sale doubled, walked twice and scored twice. Jake Floethe lasted just 1 2/3 innings (?) with four runs on four hits and three walks against him. Reinaldo Lopez allowed a run on 4 1/3 before Stayton Thomas worked three shutout.

Staten Island 8, Renegades 3
Michael Williams
singled walked and scored. Matt Spann surrendered six runs on six hits and five walks in three-plus innings. Alex Moshier threw two perfect frames in his debut.

P-Rays 4, Elizabethton 3
John Alexander
doubled home Ariel Soriano in the ninth. Randy Davis gave up a hit in 2 1/3 innings. Nick Sawyer's two shutout innings, albeit with two walks, cut his ERA to 0.37.

Monday: Suns 1, Biscuits 0

The Biscuits gave up just one hit, an RBI single by Kyle Skipworth in the fourth inning, in a 1-0 loss to the Jacksonville Suns on Monday.

Biscuits starter Matt Buschmann worked a spectacular eight innings with the Suns only having runners reach in the fourth.

Jake Smolinski drew a leadoff walk and went to second on Zack Cox's one-out walk. A groundout put both in scoring position before Skipworth singled to right. Smolinski easily scored, but right fielder Mikie Mahtook threw out Cox at the plate.

The Biscuits, who finished with seven hits, dropped into second place in the South Division, one game behind Jacksonville.

Buschmann working on gem, loss

Biscuits right-hander Matt Buschmann has given up just one hit through eight innings, though the Jacksonville Suns lead 1-0.

There are just four games in Biscuits history where they've held the other team to one hit, or less.

May 29, 2004: Jose Veras threw 5 innings and bullpen 4 no-hit innings, 1-hitter vs. Greenville, a 9-1 win
June 19, 2004: Jason Cromer 6-inning, 1-hitter at Mobile, an 8-0 win
June 16, 2011: Matt Moore threw a no-hitter at Mobile, an 8-0 win
Aug. 9, 2011: Alex Colome threw a seven-inning, 1-hitter vs. Mobile, a 6-0 win

Monday's lineups

The Biscuits will try to break a four-game losing streak and a streak of nine straight losses to the Jacksonville Suns. Tonight's winner will be alone in first place in the Southern League's second-half South Division. For in-game updates, check Twitter @AStacyLong.

BISCUITS (34-29, tied for first)
Ty Morrison cf (left)
Shawn O'Malley ss (switch)
Derek Dietrich 2b (left)
Mikie Mahtook rf
Omar Luna lf
Mike Sheridan 1b (left)
Greg Sexton 3b
Kyeong Kang dh (left)
Mark Thomas c
Matt Buschmann rhp

SUNS (34-29, tied for first)
Jake Smolinski lf
Chris Gutierrez ss
Zack Cox 3b (left)
Ben Lasater 1b
Kyle Skipworth c (left)
Kyle Jensen rf
Aaron Dudley dh (left)
Jose Duarte cf
Alfredo Lopez 2b
Bryan Evans rhp

M-Braves won't play Tuesday

The Biscuits have made no such move (nor hinted at it), but the Mississippi Braves have canceled their final home game due to Tropical Storm Isaac. The Braves were to play the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Tuesday night.

The Mobile BayBears have already postponed their Thursday home game with Mississippi. The two will play a Saturday doubleheader.

The Tuesday game could affect the Southern League playoffs. The Blue Wahoos trail the Biscuits and Jacksonville Suns by a mere two games.

Nevarez, Albernaz join Biscuits

Right-handed pitcher Matt Nevarez and catcher Craig Albernaz are joining the Biscuits.

Nevarez has been at high-Class A Charlotte after the Rays signed him from an independent team recently. Albernaz has been at Triple-A Durham.

They fill spots created by outfielder Brett Nommensen and catcher Mayo Acosta going on the disabled list.

Renegades' Hahn repeat winner in N.Y.-Penn

Hudson Valley right-hander Jesse Hahn repeated his New York-Penn League weekly pitching award.

Hahn had dominant starts Tuesday and Sunday. He threw five shutout innings and gave up one hit in each. The 23-year-old also threw five shutout innings and gave up one hit in his previous start.

Hitters have a .191 average and 50 strikeouts in Hahn's 47 innings. He's is 2-2 with a 2.87 ERA.

Suns' Jensen feasts on Biscuits, league award

Jacksonville Suns outfielder Kyle Jensen, who has bashed the Biscuits the last three days, won the Southern League's hitter of the week award Monday.

Jensen was 12-for-26 with five home runs, 13 RBIs and 12 runs scored for the week that ended Sunday. He had six hits, including a grand slam, and seven RBIs in the first three games of the current series with Montgomery. Jensen has a .224 average, 23 homers and 75 RBIs for the year.

Mississippi Braves right-hander J.R. Graham, with two starts of six shutout innings, was the pitcher of the week. He gave up four hits and totaled 13 strikeouts in those 12 innings.

Davis leaving Biscuits for ESPN

Joe Davis, after three seasons as the voice of the Biscuits, is leaving for a full-time job with ESPN. Aaron Vargas, Davis' assistant this year, will be promoted to the team's top broadcasting chair.

Davis, who will finish the season, has already missed games for two ESPN assignments this year and has a third this week. He'll broadcast the Arizona-Toledo game on Saturday during Montgomery's final series.

Ranking the Rays ... Markel, Hahn, Ramos

For Sunday ...
FULL SEASON
1. Parker Markel, BWG: 6 innings, 2 runs (1 earned), 7 hits, walk, 3 Ks, 13 GBO
2. Cesar Ramos, DUR: 6 shutout innings, 3 hits, walk, 6 Ks
3. Cameron Seitzer, BWG: 2b, 1b, walk, 3 RBIs, 3 runs
4. Rich Thompson, DUR: 2b, 2 1b's, 3 steals, run
5. Jake Hager, BWG: 2b, 2 1b's, steal, 2 runs, error
SHORT SEASON
1. Jesse Hahn, HV: 5 shutout innings, 1 hit, walk, 7 Ks
2. Brandon Henderson, HV: 3 shutout innings, 1 hit, no walks, 2 Ks, 6 GBO
3. Reid Redman, PRI: 2 1b's, walk, 2 RBIs, 2 runs

Today ...
DUR off
MGM (Matt Buschmann 6-7, 4.14) vs. Jacksonville (Bryan Evans 5-8, 4.86), 7:05
CHA vs. Palm Beach, 5:30
BWG (Jake Floethe 10-3, 3.06) at South Bend (Keith Hessler 2-3, 2.78), 6:05
HV (Matt Spann 3-4, 3.26) at Staten Island (Evan Rutckyj 4-5, 4.14), 6
PRI (Bruedlin Suero 4-3, 4.07) at Elizabethton (Angel Mata 4-3, 3.27), 6
GCL season complete

Morning reading: At least 3 to Arizona Fall League

More on the three Biscuits who say they're headed to the Arizona Fall League, Mikie Mahtook explains why he chose "Callin' Baton Rouge" instead of the LSU fight song for Saturday's Alabama/Auburn Night at-bat music, and former Biscuits outfielder John Matulia watches his old team.

Plus, reaction on catcher Mayo Acosta's season-ending broken ankle in Sunday's loss to Jacksonville that leaves Montgomery tied with the Suns with seven games remaining.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Sunday's Rays roundup

Bulls 4, Norfolk 3
Cesar Ramos
threw six shutout innings on three hits, a walk and six strikeouts. Rich Thompson doubled, singled twice, stole thrice and scored. Sean Rodriguez hit a two-run homer and doubled.

Stone Crabs at St. Lucie
Rained out.

Hot Rods 10, South Bend 4
Cameron Seitzer
doubled, singled, walked, had three RBIs and scored three times. Jake Hager doubled, singled twice, stole and scored twice. Josh Sale also had three RBIs. Parker Markel won his ninth straight decision, giving up one earned run in six innings.

Renegades 3, Aberdeen 0
Jesse Hahn
allowed one hit with a walk and seven strikeouts in five innings. Brandon Henderson allowed one hit and no walks in three innings. Richie Shaffer had two singles and two RBIs.

P-Rays 8, Elizabethton 6 (10)
Reid Redman
singled twice, walked, had two RBIs and scored twice. John Alexander had three singles, two RBIs and a run scored.

Acosta breaks ankle, out rest of year

Biscuits catcher Mayo Acosta suffered a fractured right ankle in Sunday's sixth-inning collision and will miss the rest of the season.

Sunday: Suns 7, Biscuits 3

The Biscuits dropped their fourth straight game, 7-3 to the Jacksonville Suns on Sunday, and have watched their division lead evaporate.

Montgomery, which sported a four-game lead four games ago, is now tied with Jacksonville for first place in the Southern League's second-half South Division race. There are seven games remaining in the season.

Game 4 of the five-game Biscuits-Suns series will be at 7:05 p.m. Monday.

Jose Duarte's two-run single capped a four-run sixth inning that gave Jacksonville a 6-3 lead. Ben Lasater added a solo home run in the ninth. Kyle Jensen scored three times for the Suns, while Duarte finished with three RBIs.

Mayo Acosta hit a two-run homer in Montgomery's three-run fourth. He left in the sixth with an apparent ankle injury after a collision at home plate.

Acosta leaves with ankle injury

Biscuits catcher Mayo Acosta left Sunday's game with an apparent ankle injury after a sixth-inning collision at home plate.

Acosta immediately started pointing to his right ankle after Jacksonville's Kyle Skipworth ran over him. He did not overly grimace in pain as trainer Kris Russell checked on him. As Russell and shortstop Shawn O'Malley helped Acosta to the dugout, Acosta did put some weight on his foot. He put none on it as he went down the dugout steps.

Lee, Yates, Riefenhauser on Rays' AFL list

At least three slots on Tampa Bay's Arizona Fall League contingent have been filled.

Biscuits shortstop Hak Ju-Lee said Friday, before leaving the team to rehab an ailing oblique, that he's be part of the Rays' seven-player AFL party. Pitchers Kirby Yates and C.J. Riefenhauser said they've been invited, too.

"I'm looking forward to it and everything feels good right now," Lee said.

Yates went last year and had a 6.97 ERA in nine appearances. Teams generally send four pitchers and three position players. Pitcher Chris Rearick and infielder Derek Dietrich said they've been told it's possible they'll go, but they haven't officially informed.

"Last year, I didn't know what to expect. This year, it will probably be different," Yates said. "It's a good league and a lot of fun with a lot of guys who can really hit."

Said Riefenhauser: "I'm real excited and it's a nice honor. I'm looking forward to keep playing. I hear it's a good league."

Sunday's lineups

It's the third game of the Biscuits-Suns series and Montgomery is trying to snap a three-game losing streak and preserve its division lead.

BISCUITS
Ty Morrison cf (left)
Shawn O'Malley ss (switch)
Omar Luna lf
Mikie Mahtook rf
Derek Dietrich 2b (left)
Greg Sexton 3b
Mike Sheridan 1b (left)
Mayo Acosta c
Kyeong Kang dh (left)
Kyle Lobstein lhp

SUNS
Jake Smolinski lf
Chris Gutierrez ss
Zach Cox 3b (left)
Ben Lasater 1b
Kyle Jensen dh
Kyle Skipworth c (left)
Danny Pertusati rf
Jose Duarte cf
Aldredo Lopez 2b
Graham Taylor lhp

Suns have hefty streak vs. Biscuits

The Biscuits have lost eight straight games to the Jacksonville Suns, but they have a little more work to do to reach a team record.

In 2009, the Birmingham Barons won 11 straight from the Biscuits and finished 20-4 against them. The active streak does tie for second on the Biscuits' list. Jacksonville also had an eight-game streak against them in 2007.

The longest Biscuits losing streaks to one team in a season ...
11: 2009 Birmingham (Biscuits 4-20 in season series)
8, active: 2012 Jacksonville (9-11 after Saturday)
8: 2007 Jacksonville (9-11)
7: 2010 Chattanooga (2-8)
7: 2004 Mobile (6-17)
6: 2009 Birmingham (4-20)
6: 2005 Tennessee (9-12)
6: 2004 Huntsville (9-14)
6: 2004 West Tenn (8-16)

Ranking the Rays ... Nevarez, Bierman, Harrison

For Saturday ...
FULL SEASON
1. Matt Nevarez, CHA: 7 batters faced, 7 retired, 3 Ks
2. Sean Bierman, BWG: 5 innings, 1 run, 6 hits, walk, 3 Ks, 9 GBO
3. Todd Glaesmann, CHA: tying RBI 1b in 9th, winning HR in 12th, gidp
4. Kes Carter, BWG: solo HR, 1b, walk, 2 RBIs
5. Marquis Fleming, MGM: 2 1/3 shutout innings, 1 hit, no walks, 4 Ks
SHORT SEASON
1. Jordan Harrison, HV: 10 batters faced, 10 retired, 3 Ks, 4 GBO
2. Richie Shaffer, HV: 2b, 2 1b's, walk, 2 RBIs, run
3. Spencer Edwards, GCL: 3 walks, RBI, 2 runs

Today ...
DUR (Cesar Ramos 4-5, 4.18) vs. Norfolk (Dana Eveland 5-4, 2.54), 4:05
MGM (Kyle Lobstein 7-6, 4.02) vs. Jacksonville (Graham Taylor 8-10, 3.89), 2:05
CHA (Albert Suarez 5-8, 3.92) at St. Lucie (Kyle Allen 2-0, 4.71), 9:30 a.m. (time change due to tropical storm)
BWG (Parker Markel 10-5, 3.70) at South Bend (Tyler Green 4-7, 3.52), 1:05
HV (Jesse Hahn 2-2, 3.21) vs. Aberdeen (Sebastian Vader 1-6, 4.17), 12:05
PRI (Kevin James 1-1, 3.21) at Elizabethton (Hudson Boyd 2-5, 2.72), 6
GCL off

Morning reading: Tide fans cry "uncle"?

Ryan Garko is about to be a dad, Jake Thompson just became a dad, and Auburn fans showed Alabama fans who their daddy is on Saturday at Riverwalk Stadium. The Biscuits watched their division lead shrink to one game with a 9-6 loss to Jacksonville.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Saturday's Rays roundup

Bulls 5, Norfolk 3
Sean Rodriguez
doubled, walked, had two RBIs and scored. Reid Brignac singled, walked twice, stole and scored. Ryan Reid threw two no-hit innings, Frank De Los Santos two shutout and Dane De La Rosa one shutout.

Stone Crabs 2, St. Lucie 1 (12)
Todd Glaesmann
hit a solo home run in the 12th and an RBI single in the ninth. George Jensen tossed three shutout innings after Matt Nevarez retired all seven batters he faced.

Hot Rods 10, South Bend 6
Kes Carter
snapped out of his slump with a solo home run, single, walk and two RBIs. Jeff Malm singled twice, walked and scored three times. Ben Kline singled twice and had two RBIs. Sean Bierman gave up one run over five innings to win his debut.

Renegades 7, Aberdeen 6 (11)
Charles Epperson
scored on a Tommy Coyle flyout in the 11th. Richie Shaffer had a double, two singles, a walk, two RBIs and a run scored. Joey Rickard scored twice. Ryan Dunn doubled, singled, had two RBIs and scored. Jordan Harrison retired all 10 batters he faced.

P-Rays 4, Bristol 3
Daniel Duran
doubled twice, walked, RBI'd and scored. Willie Argo had four singles, a steal and two runs scored. Alex Keudell gave up two runs in six innings.

GCL Rays 4, Orioles 3
Yoel Araujo
singled in Spencer Edwards in the ninth. Araujo doubled, singled twice and had two RBIs. Edwards walked thrice, RBI'd and scored twice.

Saturday: Suns 9, Biscuits 6

Alfredo Lopez, Jacksonville's No. 9 hitter, hit a tiebreaking two-run single in the eighth inning and finished with four RBIs in the Suns' 9-6 win over the Biscuits on Saturday.

Jacksonville trimmed Montgomery's lead to one game in the Southern League's second-half South Division race. There are eight games remaining in the regular season.

Lopez's RBI single in the third capped a four-run rally that tied it 6-6. After his eighth-inning single dribbled through the middle of the infield to make it 8-6, he scored on a Jake Smolinski double.

The Biscuits scored six runs in the first two innings. After Mikie Mahtook's two-run double in the second, Montgomery had just three more hits.

Jacksonville, the worst-hitting team in the Southern League, racked up a season-high 16 hits.

Mahtook's music: "Callin' Baton Rouge"



Biscuits outfielder Mikie Mahtook did change his intro music in honor of tonight's Alabama/Auburn Night. It's no LSU fight song, but still a fine choice for the evening. Enjoy.

Garko also has baby on deck

Biscuits infielder Ryan Garko, after tonight, will miss a few games to be with his wife, Christie, for the birth of their first child, a girl.

"As soon as I know mom and baby are healthy, I'll be right back," Garko said.

They're not settled on a name yet -- "my wife keeps going back and forth" -- but Garko is certain of one thing. His diaper-changing experience will soon blossom.

"I haven't dealt with too many babies," Garko said. "I'm sure I'll learn pretty quickly."

Garko will be the second Biscuit to have a baby this month, joining pitcher Jake Thompson.

Saturday's lineups

It's the second game of a five-game series between the Biscuits and Jacksonville Suns. Including today, there are nine games left in the regular season. For in-game updates, check Twitter @AStacyLong.

BISCUITS
(34-27 in second half, first place, 2 GA)
Ty Morrison cf (left)
Shawn O'Malley ss (switch)
Derek Dietrick 2b (left)
Ryan Garko dh
Mikie Mahtook rf
Mike Sheridan 1b
Omar Luna 3b
Kyeong Kang lf (left)
Mark Thomas c
Shane Dyer rhp

SUNS
(32-29 in second half, second place)
Jake Smolinski lf
Chris Gutierrez ss
Zack Cox 3b (left)
Ben Lasater 1b
Kyle Skipworth c (left)
Kyle Jensen rf
Paul Gran dh
Jose Duarte cf
Alfredo Lopez 2b
Matthew Neil rhp

Kyle Lobstein scratched from start

Biscuits left-hander Kyle Lobstein has been scratched from his scheduled start tonight against the Jacksonville Suns. Reason, at the moment, unknown.

Lobstein has been bumped to Sunday and the rest of the starting rotation has been moved back a day, too.

UPDATE: Lobstein was bumped because of the doubleheader at Pensacola on Tuesday. He was mistakenly listed Friday as today's starter.

Rival's fans are massing outside

It's Alabama/Auburn Night -- the title given it by the Biscuits -- at Riverwalk Stadium. Fans will match, ahem, wits in the between-innings competitions to score points for "their" team.

Well, from the looks of things outside Riverwalk Stadium, as you can see by the pictures, your rival's fans are planning to dominate.

System check

TRIPLE-A, DURHAM BULLS
International League South

(63-72, third place, 16.5 GB)
RHP Chris Archer has a 1.99 ERA in five August starts.
RHP Matt Torra won his eighth straight decision Friday and is 12-6 with a 4.16 ERA.
IF Cole Figueroa has a .298 average.

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

(23-36, sixth place, 9.5 GB)
RHP Lenny Linsky has an 0.44 ERA in his last 12 appearances.
RHP Jimmy Patterson, with an 11.2-inning scoreless streak, is 8-4 with a 3.03 ERA.

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

(36-24, first place, 2 GA)
RHP Parker Markel has won eight straight decisions and is 10-5 with a 3.70 ERA.
1B Cameron Seitzer has a .321 average in August.
CF Kes Carter is 0-for-19 in his last five games.

SHORT-SEASON A, HUDSON VALLEY RENEGADES
New York-Penn League McNamara

(44-20, first place, 6 GA)
CF Joey Rickard has a .312 average with 27 runs scored in 37 games.
RHP Taylor Guerrieri has a 1.07 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 42 innings.

ROOKIE, PRINCETON RAYS
Appalachian League East

(33-31, third place, 7 GB)
RF Willie Argo has a .452 on-base percentage in 22 August games.
C Omar Narvaez is hitting .314.

ROOKIE, GCL RAYS
Gulf Coast League South

(27-32, third place, 6 GB)
LHP Stepan Havlicek has a 1.24 ERA and 12 hits allowed in his last 21.2 innings.
2B Johnny Eierman has a .237 average.

WAYWARD BISCUITS
Those who strayed from the Rays

IF Chris Nowak has a .282 average at independent York. He has an Atlantic League-best 24 home runs and is tied for first with 78 RBIs.
OF Justin Ruggiano has a .320 average and 12 home runs for the Miami Marlins.
RHP Jose Veras is 3-4 with one save and a 4.59 ERA with the Milwaukee Brewers. In 51 innings, he's given up 51 hits and struck out 58.
RHP Matt Gorgen has a 3.43 ERA in 16 games at Triple-A Reno (Diamondbacks).
1B Matt Fields has a .281 average and 16 homers for Class A Wilmington (Royals).
RHP Evan Meek has a 2.47 ERA with Triple-A Indianapolis (Pirates).
C Matt Spring is hitting .209 for Double-A Portland (Red Sox).
OF Reid Fronk has a .301 average and 45 runs scored in 54 games with independent El Paso.

Ranking the Rays ... Torra, Goodgion, Guerrieri

For Friday ...
FULL SEASON
1. Matt Torra, DUR: 6 innings, 3 runs, 6 hits, 8th straight win
2. Jimmy Patterson, CHA: 2 1/3 shutout innings, 1 hit
3. Ben Kline, BWG: solo HR, 1b, 2 errors
4. Tim Beckham, DUR: 3 1b's, RBI, run
5. Robi Estrada, CHA: 2b, 2 1b's, walk
SHORT SEASON
1. Luke Goodgion, GCL: 4 no-hit innings, 3 walks, HBP, 3 Ks, 5 GBO
2. Taylor Guerrieri, HV: 5 shutout innings, 3 hits, no walks, 2 HBPs 7 Ks, 6 GBO
3. Jake DePew, HV: 2 1b's, walk, RBI, run

Today ...
DUR (Jeff Niemann rehab) vs. Norfolk (Zach Clark 4-1, 1.44), 6:05
MGM (Kyle Lobstein 7-6, 4.02) vs. Jacksonville (Matthew Neil 2-7, 4.34), 7:05
CHA (Eliazer Suero 4-7, 6.41) at St. Lucie (Chase Huchingson 7-7, 4.43), 6:30
BWG (Sean Bierman debut) at South Bend (Archie Bradley 11-5, 3.62), 6:05
HV (Eduar Quinonez 7-2, 3.40) vs. Aberdeen (Brady Wager 0-2, 4.86), 6:05
PRI (Alex Keudell 3-4, 2.21) vs. Bristol (Darwin Matos 0-1, 2.40), 11:05 a.m.
GCL vs. Orioles, 9 a.m.

Morning reading: Iron Bowl rivalry hits Biscuits

The day is finally here when you can expose the other team's fans for the yahoos they truly are.

It's the Biscuits' annual Armageddon -- aka Alabama/Auburn Night* -- that will settle the biggest question of our time. The all-time series is tied 4-4 and, if course, all the prior results are listed. (Wouldn't it be grand if Mikie Mahtook's family and friends showed up in LSU gold?)

The Biscuits, after Friday's 6-2 loss to Jacksonville, are just two games ahead of the Suns.

*--That's how the name is listed on the Biscuits' schedule. Yes, out-of-state readers, people here can take great offense depending on which school is listed first.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Friday's Rays roundup

Bulls 8, Norfolk 3
Leslie Anderson
hit a solo home run, singled and scored twice. Tim Beckham hit three singles, RBI'd and scored. Chris Gimenez hit a three-run homer. Matt Torra's book-rule quality start netted him his eighth straight win.

St. Lucie 6, Stone Crabs 5
Robi Estrada
doubled, singled twice and walked. Jimmy Patterson gave up one hit in 2 1/3 shutout innings.

Dayton 8, Hot Rods 4
Ben Kline
hit a solo home run, singled and erred twice in his Bowling Green debut. Jeff Malm walked and scored twice.

Renegades 8, Aberdeen 7
Taylor Guerrieri
threw five shutout innings with three hits allowed, no walks and seven strikeouts. Jake DePew singled twice, walked, RBI'd and scored. Leonardo Reginatto had three singles, a steal and a run scored.

Bristol 5, P-Rays 3
John Alexander
doubled twice and scored twice. Darryl George doubled, singled twice, stole and had two RBIs. Zach Butler threw two perfect innings.

GCL Orioles 3, Rays 2 (13, Game 1)
Luke Goodgion
threw four no-hit innings with three walks and a plunking. Bralin Edwards singled, walked, RBI'd and scored.

GCL Rays 1, Orioles 0 (Game 2)
Rehabbing Alex Torres gave up two hits in three innings and Isaac Gil three in four. Jiminson Natera doubled and scored on Cesar Perez's second-inning double.

Friday: Suns 6, Biscuits 2

Kyle Jensen's grand slam capped a five-run sixth inning that lifted the Jacksonville Suns to a 6-2 win over the Biscuits on Friday.

The Suns pulled within two games of the first-place Biscuits in the Southern League's second-half South Division race. There are nine games left in the regular season.

Starter Merrill Kelly hit a batter, issued a walk and gave up a bloop single to load the bases with none out. Reliever C.J. Riefenhauser, after a groundout, gave up a sacrifice fly to tie the game before a walk loaded the bases.

Jensen hit a no-doubt blast to left for his 23rd home run of the year. It was the second grand slam this season and 22nd all-time hit off the Biscuits.

Montgomery catcher Mark Thomas singled twice, was hit by a pitch and hit a sacrifice fly. Ryan Garko had three singles, including one that brought home Ty Morrison in the third.

Biscuits making postseason ticket plans

The Biscuits have started making playoff-ticket plans.

Season-ticket holders are now able to reserve playoff packages. "If we clinch," general manager Marla Vickers said, single-game tickets will go on sale the next day.

Mobile will host the first two games of a best-of-5 semifinal series Sept. 6-7. Their opponent will host Game 3 on Sept. 8 with Games 4-5, if necessary, on Sept. 9-10.

If the Biscuits make the playoffs, Game 3 will begin at 6:35 p.m., will include postgame fireworks and children 12-and-under will eat free, Vickers said.

The Biscuits have a three-game lead entering Friday night's game with the second-place Jacksonville Suns. There are 10 games left in the regular season.

Friday's lineups: Sheridan jersey takes high spot

First baseman Mike Sheridan drew the surprising high bid in the online portion of the Biscuits' annual jersey auction. The in-person bidding for Sheridan's garb will begin at $575 for tonight's game with the Jacksonville Suns.

The holdover jersey from Evan Longoria's 2011 rehab stint had a $555 bid to rank second.

ONLINE JERSEY BIDS
$575 -- Mike Sheridan
$555 -- Evan Longoria
$300 -- Derek Dietrich, B.J. Upton
$250 -- Hak-Ju Lee
$225 -- Mikie Mahtook
$150 -- Kyle Lobstein 150
$135 -- Mark Thomas, Omar Luna, Merrill Kelly, Kirby Yates, Kyeong Kang, Ryan Garko, Neil Schenk, Joe Cruz, Ty Morrison, Matt Buschmann, Alex Colome, Shawn O'Malley, Greg Sexton

BISCUITS
Ty Morrison cf (left)
Shawn O'Malley ss (switch)
Mikie Mahtook rf
Ryan Garko dh
Derek Dietrich 2b (left)
Omar Luna lf
Mike Sheridan 1b (left)
Greg Sexton 3b
Mark Thomas c
Merrill Kelly rhp

SUNS
Jake Smolinski lf
Chris Gutierrez ss
Zack Cox 3b (left)
Ben Lasater 1b
Kyle Skipworth dh (left)
Kyle Jensen rf
Danny Pertusati cf
Jake Jefferies c (left) -- former Biscuit
Alfredo Lopez 2b
Jose Alvarez lhp

Ranking the Rays ... Bellatti, Ames, Henderson

For Thursday ...
FULL SEASON
1. Andrew Bellatti, BWG: 4 shutout innings, 3 hits, no walks, 5 Ks
2. Kevin Kiermaier, CHA: 2b, 1b, walk, run, outfield assist
3. Brooks Conrad, DUR: 1b, 2 walks, RBI
4. Felipe Rivero, BWG: 3 shutout innings, 1 hit, no walks, 3 Ks, 7 GBO
5. Chris Andujar, CHA: 3 shutout innings, 1 hit, no walks, 2 Ks, 7 GBO
Jake Partridge, BWG: 3 shutout innings, 1 hit, no walks, 1 K, 5 GBO
SHORT SEASON
1. Jeff Ames, HV: 5 shutout innings, 1 hit, 2 walks, HBP, 8 Ks
2. Brandon Henderson, HV: 2 perfect innings, 1 K, 4 GBO
3. Kyle Pelchy, GCL: 3 shutout innings, 4 hits, no walks, 3 Ks, 4 GBO

Today ...
DUR (Matt Torra 11-6, 4.14) vs. Norfolk (Jason Berken 4-5, 3.45), 6:05
MGM (Merrill Kelly 7-2, 3.26) vs. Jacksonville (Jose Alvarez 5-8, 4.05), 7:05
CHA (Victor Mateo 5-4, 4.06) at St. Lucie (Logan Verrett 2-0, 2.27), 5:30
BWG (Ryan Carpenter 11-6, 3.93) vs. Dayton (Ismael Guillon 1-0, 0.00), 7:05
HV (Taylor Guerrieri 1-2, 1.22) vs. Aberdeen (Jorge Rivera 0-2), 6:05
PRI (Eli Echarry 1-2, 5.94) vs. Bristol (Leopoldo Sanchez 0-4), 6:05
GCL at Orioles, DH (completion of Aug. 18 suspension), 10 a.m.

Morning reading: Coon still grieves friend Adenhart

Today promises to be emotional for Biscuits outfielder Brad Coon, who will both mourn and celebrate.

One of Coon's best friends was Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart, who died in an April 2009 wreck with a drunk driver. Adenhart would have turned 26 today, and Coon will call Adenhart's family. He stays in contact with the family, but today's call is a must.

Coon, with those memories, had a tough time this spring, too, when Rays pitcher/former Biscuit Matt Bush was arrested on DUI charges.

Personal side: In 1999, a Purdue women's basketball player from near where I was working died in a wreck with a drunk driver. The toughest thing I've ever had to do was knock on the family's door. The family graciously accepted my intrusion. Beautiful people. The drunk driver got 11 years: eight for killing her and three for seriously injuring her fiance. (They had yet to tell her family about the engagement.)

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Thursday's Rays roundup

Bulls 3, Norfolk 2
Brooks Conrad
singled, walked twice and knocked in a run. Cole Figueroa singled twice and scored. Nevin Ashley hit a tiebreaking home run in the fourth. Jim Paduch gave up two rus over six innings.

Palm Beach 9, Stone Crabs 2
Kevin Kiermaier
doubled, singled, walked, scored and threw out a runner at home. Chris Andujar threw three shutout innings, giving up just one hit.

Hot Rods 2, Dayton 1 (13)
Alejandro Segovia
doubled in Drew Vettleson with two outs in the 13th. Taylor Motter doubled, singled and walked. Andrew Bellatti tossed four shutout innings. Jake Partridge and Felipe Rivero each threw three with one hit allowed.

Renegades 1, Connecticut 0
Jeff Ames
gave up one hit over five innings and is 5-0 with a 1.44 ERA. Brandon Henderson threw two perfect frames. Marcus Jensen and Dylan Floro worked one each. Richie Shaffer singled in Marty Gantt in the first. The Renegades swept the three game series by a combined score of 16-0.

Bristol 4, P-Rays 0
Daniel Bream
threw two shutout innings. Reid Redman singled, walked and was caught stealing. Chad Nacapoy walked twice. The Rays mustered three singles and four walks.

GCL Red Sox 10, Rays 4
Wilmer Dominguez
singled and walked twice. Bralin Edwards singled, walked, stole and scored. Jiminson Natera singled, walked and scored. Kyle Pelchy tossed three shutout innings.

Thursday: Blue Wahoos 6, Biscuits 0

Daniel Corcino helped the Pensacola Blue Wahoos record a three-hitter in Thursday's 6-0 win over the Biscuits.

Corcino gave up two hits in five innings to snap a six-start winless streak. Josh Ravin threw two hitless innings before Chris Manno's two-hit ninth.

Pensacola recorded its 11th shutout of the season. Montgomery failed to score for the sixth time.

Second-place Jacksonville, with a 5-4 win over Birmingham, chopped the Biscuits' second-half South Division lead to three games. The Suns start a five-game series Friday at Riverwalk Stadium. There are 10 games remaining in the regular season.

Yordanys Perez's two-run triple started the scoring in a five-run fifth inning for the Wahoos. In the eighth, Tucker Barnhart scored on a Scott Shuman wild pitch.

Pensacola shortstop Billy Hamilton, who reached base three times, was caught stealing twice.

Former Tide footballer among 3 Rods suspended

Three Bowling Green Hot Rods, including a former Alabama football player, were suspended today for failing drug tests.

Pitchers Justin Woodall and Charlie Cononie and infielder Ryan Brett were suspended for positive tests for methamphetamine and an amphetamine, according to Major League Baseball's announcement.

Woodall, a safety on Alabama's 2009 national championship football team, and Cononie made considerably longer-than-usual appearances Wednesday. Woodall made his first career start and threw four innings. Cononie followed with a season-high five innings.

Brett was a midseason Midwest League All-Star and has played in 100 games this year.

The Hot Rods announced that pitcher Sean Bierman was promoted from short-season Hudson Valley, a move that was hinted at online Wednesday night. Also, shortstop Ben Kline will join Bowling Green from the Gulf Coast League.

Ranking the Rays ... Cononie, Havlicek, Spann

For Wednesday ...
FULL SEASON
1. Charlie Cononie, BWG: 5 shutout innings, 1 hit, walk, 5 Ks, 7 GBO
2. Chris Archer, DUR: 6 1/3 shutout innings, 3 hits, 2 walks, 8 Ks
3. Ty Morrison, MGM: solo HR, 2 1b's, steal, 2 RBIs, 2 runs
4. Jimmy Patterson, CHA: 3 perfect innings, 2 Ks, 4 GBO
5. Drew Vettleson, BWG: 4 1b's, 2 RBIs, 2 runs
SHORT SEASON
1. Stepan Havlicek, GCL: 4 no-hit innings, no walks, 3 Ks, 8 GBO
2. Matt Spann, HV: 6 shutout innings, 2 hits, 2 walks, 5 Ks
3. Andrew Toles, PRI: solo HR, 1b, 3 RBIs, 2 runs

Today ...
DUR (Jim Paduch 5-9, 5.68) vs. Norfolk (Zach Petersime 0-1, 2.25), 6:05
MGM (Jake Thompson 7-10, 5.30) at Pensacola (Daniel Corcino 7-7, 3.17), 7
CHA (Enny Romero 5-6, 3.69) at Palm Beach (Seth Blair 0-2, 7.27), 5:35
BWG (Felipe Rivero 8-8, 3.11) vs. Dayton (James Allen 7-4, 4.02), 6:35
HV (Jeff Ames 4-0, 1.58) vs. Connecticut (Charles Gillies 0-3, 3.35), 6:05
PRI (Hugo Duarte 1-2, 8.89) vs. Bristol (Todd Kibby 4-4, 3.14), 6:05
GCL at Red Sox, 11 a.m.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Wednesday: Biscuits 9, Blue Wahoos 8

Derek Dietrich and Ryan Garko hit back-to-back home runs to start the ninth inning and lift the Biscuits to a 9-8 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Wednesday.

Dietrich hit the inning's second pitch over the right-field wall to tie it 7-7. Garko put the fourth pitch also over the right-field wall to put Montgomery ahead.

It was the first time the Biscuits have hit back-to-back homers this year.

Mikie Mahtook followed with a triple and scored on a Mike Sheridan single, giving the Biscuits a two-run lead.

Pensacola's Billy Hamilton hit an RBI single in the bottom the ninth, pulling the Wahoos within one. Hamilton stole one base, giving him 148 this season between high-Class A Bakersfield and Pensacola.

The Biscuits rallied to win after trailing after eight innings for the second time this season and only the 14th time in team history.

Montgomery railed 7-2 after six innings. Mahtook hit a two-out, two-run single to cap a four-run rally in the seventh.

Wednesday's Rays roundup

Bulls 2, Norfolk 0
Chris Gimenez's
first-inning single was Durham's only hit. The Bulls scored in the sixth on a Gimenez bases-loaded walk and a wild pitch. Chris Archer went 6 1/3 innings, allowing three hits with two walks and eight strikeouts.

Palm Beach 7, Stone Crabs 2 (Game 1)
Cody Rogers
singled, walked, stole and scored. Braulio Lara gave up five runs in four-plus innings.

Palm Beach 4, Stone Crabs 2 (Game 2)
Robby Price
singled thrice, walked and scored. Todd Glaesmann just singled thrice. Jimmy Patterson threw three perfect innings with two strikeouts.

Hot Rods 12, Dayton 5
Ryan Brett
doubled, singled, walked twice and scored thrice. Drew Vettleson hit four singles with two RBIs and two runs scored. Jake Hager hit a two-run homer, singled, stole and scored twice. Charlie Cononie tossed five shutout innings, giving up one hit and one walk.

Renegades 11, Connecticut 0
Matt Spann
allowed two hits and two walks in six innings. Kris Carlson was perfect for two. Rob Finneran finished a three-hitter. Marty Gantt scored three times and Tommy Coyle hit a three-run homer. Richie Shaffer hit three singles, was hit, had two RBIs and two runs scored.

P-Rays 7, Danville 5
Andrew Toles
hit a solo home run, singled, had three RBIs and scored twice. Zach Butler threw 2 2/3 hitless innings. The Rays scored twice in the eighth on a double-throwing error by Danville.

GCL Rays 3, Red Sox 2
Rehabbing Isaias Velasquez doubled, singled twice, walked, stole twice and scored twice. Leopoldo Correa singled, walked, erred and had two RBIs. Stepan Havlicek threw four no-hit, no-walk innings.

Bierman promoted to Bowling Green

It appears that Hudson Valley Renegades pitcher Sean Bierman has been promoted to low-Class A Bowling Green. The left-hander, a 10th-round draft pick this year from the University of Tampa, is 4-2 with a 2.75 ERA for the Renegades.

Renegades' Gantt wins inspirational award

Hudson Valley Renegades outfielder Marty Gantt, who overcame a hand deformity to become a college baseball star, was one of four Tom Walter Award winners.

The award recognizes inspirational stories in college baseball.

Gantt, a seventh-round draft pick of the Rays in June, was the Southern Conference player of the year at the College of Charleston. He hit .373 with 11 home runs and 46 RBIs.

Gantt was born with an underdeveloped right hand. His fingers end just past the knuckles.

Ranking the Rays ... Lobstein, Hahn, Faria

For Tuesday ...
FULL SEASON
1. Kyle Lobstein, MGM: 6 shutout innings, 2 hits, 2 walks, 7 Ks
2. Parker Markel, BWG: 6 1/3 innings, 1 run, 7 hits, walk, HBP, 3 Ks, 9 GBO
3. Lance Pendleton, DUR: 6 innings, 1 run, 5 hits, 3 walks, 6 Ks
4. Matt Buschmann, MGM: 7-inning CG, 1 run, 4 hits, 4 walks, 3 Ks, 9 GBO
5. Frank De Los Santos, DUR: 2 perfect innings, 3 GBO
SHORT SEASON
1. Jesse Hahn, HV: 5 shutout innings, 1 hit, 1 walk, 6 Ks, 7 GBO
2. Jacob Faria, PRI: 4 shutout innings, 1 hit, no walks, 5 Ks
3. Willie Argo, PRI: 3 plunkings, steal, run

Today ...
DUR (Chris Archer 6-9, 4.00) vs. Norfolk (Jake Arrieta 3-3, 5.21), 6:05
MGM (Nick Barnese 3-1, 5.26) at Pensacola (Mark Serrano 7-4, 3.66), 7
CHA (Braulio Lara 6-8, 5.50/George Jensen 2-5, 5.91) at Palm Beach (Ryan Sherriff 8-3/tba), 4:05
BWG (Justin Woodall 3-4, 4.28) vs. Dayton (Robert Stephenson 2-1, 2.74), 6:35
HV (Matt Spann 2-4, 3.62) vs. Connecticut (Endrys Briceno 4-2, 4.45), 6:05
PRI (Bruedlin Suero 4-3, 3.95) vs. Danville (Frank Lafreniere 5-2, 3.93), 6:05
GCL vs. Red Sox, 11 a.m.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Tuesday: Biscuits 3, Blue Wahoos 1 (Game 2)

Matt Buschmann threw his fourth career complete game Tuesday, helping the Biscuits to a 3-1 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and a doubleheader sweep.

Buschmann tossed a four-hitter with four walks and three strikeouts. He recorded nine groundball outs.

It's the second complete game of the season for Montgomery. Alex Colome threw a six-hitter over the regular nine innings to beat Mississippi on July 29.

Biscuits catcher Mayo Acosta hit a solo home run in the third inning to tie it 1-1. Montgomery took the lead in the fifth when Omar Luna came home on a passed ball. An Acosta flyball in the seventh brought in Luna to give the Biscuits a 3-1 lead.

Tuesday's Rays roundup

Bulls 3, Charlotte 1
Lance Pendleton
gave up one run on five hits in six innings. Cole Figueroa doubled and singled twice. Rich Thompson singled, walked, stole and scored. Leslie Anderson hit a two-run homer.

Stone Crabs at Palm Beach
Rained out. DH Wednesday.

Hot Rods 3, South Bend 1
Parker Markel
gave up one run on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings. Jake Hager singled, walked, erred and scored twice. Austin Hubbard retired all five batters he faced.

Renegades 4, Connecticut 0
Jesse Hahn
worked five innings with just one hit allowed and one walk. Ian Kendall and Jose Molina finished off a two-hitter. Joey Rickard singled, was plunked twice, stole twice and RBI'd. Tommy Coyle hit a two-run homer and erred.

P-Rays 5, Danville 2
Jacob Faria's
four shutout innings included just a measly double. Willie Argo took three plunkings, stole and scored. Omar Narvaez hit three singles, walked, stole and RBI'd.

GCL Twins 5, Rays 2
Johnny Eierman
doubled, singled and scored. Damion Carroll allowed an unearned run and one hit in four innings.

Tuesday: Biscuits 4, Blue Wahoos 2 (8, Game 1)

Mike Sheridan snapped an eighth-inning tie with his ninth home run to help the Biscuits beat Pensacola 4-2 in the opening game of a doubleheader Tuesday.

The Biscuits added an insurance run when Mark Thomas singled and scored on a Mikie Mahtook single.

Kyle Lobstein threw six shutout innings and gave up two hits before leaving with a 2-0 lead. Kirby Yates surrendered a two-out home run -- on an 0-2 count -- to Tucker Barnhart to tie it and force extra innings.

Wahoos speedster Billy Hamilton finished with four steals to set the all-time minor league record with 147 this season. In six weeks with Pensacola, Hamilton has 43 steals and leads the Southern League.

Hamilton snaps record vs. Biscuits

Pensacola Blue Wahoos shortstop Billy Hamilton broke the minor league stolen base record in the first three innings of Tuesday's doubleheader with the Biscuits.

After walking and stealing third base in the first inning, Hamilton hit a two-out single in the third before stealing second and third base.

That left him with 146 steals this season between high-Class A Bakersfield and Pensacola, snapping Vince Coleman's mark of 145 set in 1983 at Class A Macon.

The three steals came against Montgomery's battery of pitcher Kyle Lobstein and catcher Mark Thomas. Lobstein had allowed just one steal this season, while Thomas had thrown out a Southern League-best 47 percent of potential basestealers.

Hamilton, through three innings, has a league-best 42 steals in only six weeks with the Wahoos.

Mississippi Braves to host Atlanta Braves

The Mississippi Braves will host their big league brothers for an exhibition next March.

The Atlanta Braves will face the organization's top prospects in Pearl, Miss., on March 30, 2013. Atlanta played such a game this year at Triple-A Gwinnett.

Ranking the Rays ... Narvaez, Lopez

For Monday ...
FULL SEASON
Quorum not present
SHORT SEASON
1. Omar Narvaez, PRI: solo HR, 2 1b's, 3 runs scored
2. Reinaldo Lopez, HV: 3 perfect innings, 2 Ks
3. Alex Keudell, PRI: 6 innings, unearned run, 2 hits, walk, HBP, 5 Ks, 9 GBO, error
Luke Goodgion, GCL: 4 shutout innings, 2 hits, no walks, 2 Ks

Today ...
DUR (Lance Pendleton 7-5, 4.76) vs. Charlotte (Dylan Axelrod 7-4, 2.97), 6:05
MGM (Kyle Lobstein 7-6, 4.21/Matt Buschmann 5-7, 4.31) at Pensacola (Tony Cingrani 5-3, 1.81/Chad Rogers 3-0, 1.59), DH, 6
CHA (Braulio Lara 6-8, 5.50) at Palm Beach, 5:35
BWG (Parker Markel 9-5, 3.84) vs. South Bend (Tyler Green 4-6, 3.72), 6:35
HV (Jesse Hahn 1-2, 3.65) vs. Connecticut (Edgar De La Rosa 4-3, 3.66), 6:05
PRI (Kevin James 1-1, 3.03) vs. Danville (Lucas Sims 2-3, 2.95), 6:05
GCL vs. Twins, 11 a.m.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Monday's Rays roundup

Charlotte 9, Bulls 6
Rich Thompson
doubled, singled twice, stole and scored. Cole Figueroa and Tim Beckham hit two-run homers. Henry Wrigley and Leslie Anderson hit solo shots. Brandon Gomes threw two perfect innings.

South Bend 6, Hot Rods 3
Cameron Seitzer
doubled, singled twice, walked and scored. Stayton Thomas' three innings included just one single.

Renegades 2, Lowell 1
Joey Rickard
led off the game with a home run and hit an RBI double in the second. Eduar Quinonez gave up a run in five innings before Reinaldo Lopez tossed three perfect frames.

P-Rays 6, Danville 1
Omar Narvaez
hit a solo home run, singled twice and scored thrice. Alex Keudell gave up an unearned run in six innings on two hits and a walk.

GCL Twins 4, Rays 1
Jiminson Natera
singled, walked and was caught stealing. Luke Goodgion threw four shutout innings and allowed two hits.

Bang: Rain wipes out Biscuits-Wahoos

Billy Hamilton's stolen base record chase won't end tonight. The Biscuits' game at the Pensacola Blue Wahoos has been rained out. Hamilton, Pensacola's shortstop, remains two steals shy of the all-time minor league record. He has 143.

I'll update when I get details, though I'd believe the teams will play a doubleheader Tuesday. Time TBA.

Doubleheader at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Gardner pre-empts ejection with heave of his own



You may have heard of Billy Gardner's ejection Aug.6 at Jacksonville and the Olympics-style talent he displayed. Here's video of it.  What say you?

I heard of the disputed play, though my details may be sketchy: Jacksonville outfielder makes a leap at the wall for a potential home run. The outfielder crashes into the wall just as the ball hits his glove. Outfielder is whipped back toward the field by his momentum. Just before he hits the ground, the ball comes out. Umpire rules that the outfielder had the ball long enough. Out.

Lookouts, Braves feature Southern stars

Chattanooga Lookouts infielder Luis Nunez and Mississippi Braves left-hander Jose Lugo were the Southern League's weekly award winners.

Lugo put together two nice starts for the week, though both were no-decisions.

On Tuesday at Jackson, he gave up one earned run over five innings and struck out a season-high seven. On Sunday, he set another season high with eight strikeouts and allowed just one hit over seven shutout innings against Huntsville. Lugo is 3-3 with a 3.14 ERA this season.

Nunez was 10-for-20 with two homers, five runs scored and six RBIs for the week. He has a .257 average and 10 homers this year.

Hahn weekly winner in N.Y.-Penn League

Hudson Valley right-hander Jesse Hahn was the top pitcher in the New York-Penn League's week.

The 23-year-old right-hander gave up one hit over five shutout innings in a win Thursday at Connecticut (in his home state). He walked none, struck out six and recorded seven groundball outs.

It was Hahn's first win against two defeats this season -- and the first of his career. He has a 3.65 ERA and has given up just 31 hits in 37 innings.

Hahn, the first weekly award winner this year from the Renegades, was a sixth-round pick in the 2010 draft, but he had Tommy John surgery in August 2010 and missed all of last season.

Bailey week's pick by Florida State League

Charlotte Stone Crabs catcher Luke Bailey won the Florida State League's player of the week award.

Bailey was 8-for-19 with two home runs, four doubles and five RBIs for the week. He's hitting .239 with six homers and 26 RBIs in 59 games this year.

He's the first Stone Crabs hitter so honored this year. Charlotte has had two pitchers: C.J. Riefenhauser in mid-May and Enny Romero in mid-June.

Bidding begins for Biscuits jerseys

Online bidding has started for the Biscuits' annual jersey auction. It closes Friday before bidding continues during that night's home game with the Jacksonville Suns.

In other words, if you can't be there Friday, you better set the bar pretty high and hope.

Ranking the Rays ... Suarez, Bierman, Echarry

For Sunday ...
FULL SEASON
1. Albert Suarez, CHA: 5 shutout innings, 2 hits, no walks, 2 Ks, 6 GBO
2. Drew Vettleson, BWG: 2-run HR, 2b, 1b, 2 RBIs, 2 runs
3. Reid Brignac, DUR: 2 1b's, walk, steal, 2 RBIs, 2 runs
4. Matt Rice, BWG: 3b, 2b, 2 1b's, run
5. Robby Price, CHA: 3 1b's, walk, 2 runs
SHORT SEASON
1. Sean Bierman, HV: 7 innings, 1 run, 3 hits, walk, 6 Ks, 8 GBO
2. Eli Echarry, PRI: 5 shutout innings, 3 hits, 2 walks, 5 Ks
3. Ariel Soriano, PRI: 2-run HR, 2b, 2 steals, error, 3 RBIs, 3 runs

Today ...
DUR (Cesar Ramos 4-4, 3.53) vs. Charlotte (Charlie Shirek 10-4, 3.53), 6:05
MGM (Kyle Lobstein 7-6, 4.21) at Pensacola (Chad Rogers 3-0, 1.59), 7
CHA off
BWG (Trevor Shull 5-6, 4.97) vs. South Bend (Archie Bradley 10-5, 3.80), 6:30
HV (Eduar Quinonez 6-2, 3.59) at Lowell (Mike Augliera 0-2, 5.81), 6:05
PRI (Alex Keudell 2-4, 2.64) vs. Danville (Williams Perez 4-1, 3.65), 6:05
GCL at Twins, 11 a.m.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Sunday's Rays roundup

Gwinnett 13, Bulls 10 (11)
Reid Brignac
singled twice, walked, stole, RBI'd twice and scored twice. Leslie Anderson doubled, singled twice and scored twice.

Stone Crabs 5, St. Lucie 4
Kevin Kiermaier
singled in Riccio Torrez with the winning run with one out in the ninth. Robby Price hit three singles, walked and scored twice. Rehabbing Luke Scott doubled, singled, walked twice, RBI'd and scored. Albert Suarez's five shutout innings were sullied by a measly two singles.

South Bend 6, Hot Rods 5
Drew Vettleson
homered, doubled twice, had two RBIs and scored twice. Matt Rice tripled, doubled, singled twice and scored.

Renegades 2, Lowell 1
Sean Bierman
worked seven innings, giving up a run on three hits, one walk and six strikeouts. Joey Rickard walked twice and scored. Ryan Dunn had two of Hudson Valley's three hits, all singles.

P-Rays 10, Johnson City 2
Ariel Soriano
hit a two-run home run, doubled, stole twice, had three RBIs and scored thrice. John Alexander doubled, singled twice and had two RBIs. Eli Echarry threw five shutout innings with three hits and two walks.

Sunday: Blue Wahoos 9, Biscuits 2

Billy Hamilton made no progress in his chase for the minor league steals record, but he tripled home the go-ahead run in the seventh inning of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos' 9-2 win over the Biscuits on Sunday.

Hamilton was picked off first base in the third and was part of a double-steal attempt in the fifth. The Biscuits threw out the trail runner at second. By rule (10.07(d) for those scoring at home), Hamilton is not credited with a stolen base.

Hamilton remains at 143 steals between high-Class A Bakersfield and Pensacola. He's two shy of the record set in 1983 by Vince Coleman at Class A Macon.

Beau Mills and David Vidal each homered to highlight a six-run eighth for Pensacola, which moved within two games of the division-leading Biscuits.

Ranking the Rays ... Bailey, DePew, Ames

For Saturday ...
FULL SEASON
1. Luke Bailey, CHA: 3-run HR, 2 2b's, 4 RBIs, 2 runs
2. Drew Vettleson, BWG: 2-run HR, 3 1b's, HBP, 4 RBIs, 2 runs
3. Nevin Ashley, DUR: 2-run HR, 2b, 2 walks, 2 runs
4. Mark Thomas, MGM: 2b, 2 1b's, season-high 3 RBIs, run
5. Jake Thompson, MGM: 6 innings, 2 runs, 4 hits, walk, 2 Ks, 10 GBO
SHORT SEASON
1. Jake DePew, HV: solo HR, 2b, 2 1b's, 3 RBIs, 2 runs
2. Jeff Ames, HV: 3 shutout innings, 1 hit, no walks, 4 Ks
3. Taylor Guerrieri, HV: 3 innings, 1 run, 3 hits, no walks, K, 6 GBO

Today ...
DUR (Jeff Niemann rehab) vs. Gwinnett (Julio Teheran 7-7, 5.05), 4:05
MGM (Merrill Kelly 7-2, 3.21) at Pensacola (Wirfin Obispo 5-0, 2.22), 4
CHA (Albert Suarez 5-8, 4.09) vs. St. Lucie (Chase Huchingson 7-7, 4.38), 4:30
BWG (Ryan Carpenter 11-6, 3.91) vs. South Bend (Conrad Flynn debut), 2:05
HV (Sean Bierman 3-2, 2.98) at Lowell (Justin Haley 0-1, 1.93), 12:05
PRI (Eli Echarry 0-2, 6.60) at Johnson City (Stalyn Lopez 3-3, 5.05), 5
GCL off

Morning reading: Biscuits try to stop thief Hamilton

The Biscuits will try to delay history for five days, starting today at Pensacola. Blue Wahoos shortstop Billy Hamilton is two stolen bases from the all-time minor league record. Hamilton has 143, two shy of Vince Coleman's 1983 record at Class A Macon

Biscuits backup catcher Mayo Acosta, last weekend ...
“I've heard a lot about him and what he's done this year. He might get it, but it won't be against us."

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Saturday's Rays roundup

Gwinnett 10, Bulls 5
Nevin Ashley
hit a two-run home run, doubled, walked twice and scored twice. Adam Liberatore threw 2 1/3 shutout innings. Josh Lueke surrendered six runs and recorded two outs. The Bulls marked their official elimination from playoff contention.

Stone Crabs 9, St. Lucie 8
Riccio Torrez
doubled in Phil Wunderlich with the tying run and Steve Tinoco scored the winning run on an error in the ninth. Luke Bailey hit a three-run home run in the eighth. Bailey also doubled twice, had four RBIs and scored twice.

South Bend 11, Hot Rods 10
Drew Vettleson
hit a two-run homer, singled thrice, was plunked, had four RBIs and scored twice. Juniel Querecuto doubled, walked, had two RBIs and scored twice. Ryan Brett doubled, walked, swiped No. 48 and scored twice. The Hot Rods gave up a 10-spot in the sixth with Felipe Rivero taking seven of it.

Renegades 6, Lowell 5
At Fenway Park. See late-afternoon post.

Johnson City 9, P-Rays 8
Omar Narvaez
hit three singles, RBI'd and scored twice. Oscar Hernandez hit a two-run homer and walked. Brandon Martin hit a solo shot and erred. Blake Snell lasted just two innings (?), allowing three runs on five hits. The Rays gave up four in the bottom of the ninth.

GCL Rays at Orioles
Suspended in a 2-2 tie in the seventh. To resume Aug. 24.

Saturday: Stars 6, Biscuits 5 (10)

Kentrail Davis singled in the winning run in the Huntsville Stars' 6-5, 10-inning victory over the Biscuits on Saturday.

Andy Gonzalez drew a leadoff walk and went to third on Brock Kjeldgaard's one-out single. Davis, a Mobile native who played at the University of Tennessee, followed with his single.

Gonzalez reached base five times and scored four runs. He hit a solo home run, singled and walked three times.

Montgomery led 5-0 after three innings and added just two hits over the final seven. The Biscuits did total a season-high 11 walks, with three each by Shawn O'Malley and Brett Nommensen.