Minor League Highlights 5/3

AAA Durham Bulls W 10-2

Jeremy Hellickson dominated during his seven innings allowing two runs on four hits including a solo shot while striking out eight and walking none. 12 of his 92 pitches were swung on and missed. Mike Ekstrom pitched two perfect frames of relief including two strikeouts. Joe Dillon was 2-3 with a pair of walks and his third home run of the season, while Fernando Perez added his first dinger. Elliot Johnson was 2-4 with a pair of doubles (4) and a walk, and Ryan Shealy added his eight double. Desmond Jennings checked into center field for the second consecutive game to further establish his floor of the best late-inning defensive replacement in the game.

AA Motgomery Biscuits Game 1 W 5-4

David Newmann forgot to have his coffee this morning and paid dearly. Usually a steady low-walk ground baller, Newmann allowed two four-pitch walks, a home run, a double, and two singles before escaping the first inning with four runs allowed.  Newmann did settle down going four innings with four hits and four walks allowed along with two wikd pitches and just one strike out. Newmann only induced one whiff on his 81 pitches bringing his swinging strike % down to 5.25%. Matt Gorgen recorded a two inning save with two walks allowed. The offense was led by Cody Cipriano's 2-3 performance including a 3-run home run (1) and his fourth double of the season. Nevin Ashley also chipped in a pair of singles.

AA Montgomery Biscuits Game 2 W 3-1

"Double D" Darin Downs continues to make the most of his spot starts pitching six shutout innings on one-hit ball allowing two walks and striking out five. 5 of 71 pitches where whiffed at. Emeel Salem led the offense with his eighth double of the season.

A+ Charlotte Stone Crabs W 6-3

70% ground ball machine Frank De Los Santos was on the mound doing his thing once again allowing two runs in seven innings on five hits and two walks while striking out nine. The ground out-to-fly out count was 8 to 2. Neil Schenk struck out five of the six outs in his two innings of relief but did allow hour hits including a home run. Mike Sweeney was 1-3 with his seventh double and a pair of walks, while Jake Jefferies and Reid Fronk each contributed their second triples of the season.

A Bowling Green Hot Rods L 10-5

Wilking Rodriguez struggled a bit giving up eight hits and a walk in five innings but he did limit the damage to two runs while striking out a pair. Brett Nommensen hit his first home run of the season, while Julio Cedeno was 3-4 with his second and third doubles of the season.