AA Montgomery Biscuits (34-35)

BISCUITS 9, Mobile 7-Montgomery jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first, and extended that lead to 7-0 later on en route to a 9-7 win over the Mobile BayBears.  Mobile did briefly claw back in the game, scoring five runs in the sixth to chase LHP James Houser from the ballgame. All but one of those runs were unearned, however, as Houser saw his ERA drop to 2.08. The Biscuits and BayBears each made three errors in a sloppy ballgame, though four Biscuit players had multiple hits and the team had 12 total. RHP Ryan Reid closed out the ballgame for Montgomery, earning his second save of the year and possibly signaling a setup role for RHP Eduardo Morlan when he starts pitching regularly. The first half of Montgomery's season concludes today with a game in Mobile. By winning, the Biscuits can finish with a .500 record. 

BISCUITS 9, Mobile 7
1B Gabby Martinez	2-5, 2 RS, HR (10), 2 RBI (44)
3B Chris Nowak	3-4, 3 RS, 2B (15), RBI (37), BB, E (8, throw)
DH John Jaso	1-3, 2 RS, 2 BB
LF Erold Andrus	1-3, RBI (35), BB, SF
RF Sergio Pedroza	2-4, 2 RBI (26), GIDP, HBP
C Matt Spring	0-3, RBI (12), SF
SP James Houser	5.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 7 SO, E (1, throw)
RP Ryan Reid	1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO

BISCUITS Up Next-at Mobile, 7:05 EST (LH Jino Gonzalez)

Details on the other Rays minor league affiliates after the jump

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A+ Vero Beach Devil Rays (32-33)

Ft. Myers 6, V-RAYS 2-With the scored tied at two in the bottom of the ninth, Devil Rays RHP Brian Baker gave up a grand slam home run to the Miracle's Juan Portes, resulting in a 6-2 win for Ft. Myers in the second game of the four game series. Vero Beach had taken a 2-0 lead through three innings, but the offense would manage just two hits over the remainder of the ballgame, contributing to the defeat.

Ft. Myers 6, V-RAYS 2
CF Desmond Jennings	1-4, RS, 2B (2)
RF John Matulia	1-3, SAC
3B Cesar Suarez	1-4, RBI (33)
LF J.T. Hall	1-4
DH Ryan Royster	1-3, RS, 3B (1)
C Nevin Ashley	1-3, RBI (12)
SP Mike Wlodarczyk	4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO
RP Matt Walker	2.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 2 SO, WP

V-RAYS Up Next-at Ft. Myers, 7:05 EST (LH Ryan Morse)

Details on the other Rays minor league affiliates follows the jump

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AAA Durham Bulls (34-30)

BULLS OFF-Durham had the day off on Monday. They will return to action today against the Rochester Red Wings at 7:05. The game begins a road trip for the Bulls that will see them play three other games in Rochester, as well as four in Buffalo against the Bisons. The Bulls next play at home on June 19th, when they face the Norfolk Tides. Starting for Durham this evening is RHP Chris Mason, who will be opposed by Minnesota Twins phenom Francisco Liriano.

BULLS Up Next-at Rochester, 7:05 EST (RH Chris Mason)

AA Montgomery Biscuits (31-34)

News-The Rays have placed Montgomery RHP Richard De Los Santos and 1B Rhyne Hughes on the seven day disabled list due to a sore pitching shoulder and a left hamstring strain, respectively. De Los Santos missed his scheduled start on Monday night due to the soreness, although since the Rays backdated the move to June 5th, he could potentially make his next start as scheduled on Sunday.

The Biscuits did not immediately make a roster move to replace De Los Santos, instead relying on LHP Jino Gonzalez to make a spot start on Monday evening. Stacy Long of the Montgomery Advertiser speculates that this could mean that RHP Eduardo Morlan is soon to return, and that he will take that spot. Morlan was placed on the DL in late April with a sore right shoulder and is in rehab at Extended Spring Training. The second possibility that Long raises involves the call-up of LHP David Price from High A Vero Beach.

Regardless of the posturing on the De Los Santos move, the Biscuits did move quickly to replace Hughes, re-instating C Alex Jamieson to the active roster. Although Jamieson had traveled with Montgomery for several weeks, he was technically on the roster of the Short-Season Hudson Valley Renegades.

Birmingham 4, BISCUITS 3 (10)-Birmingham drove in the winning run with a walk-off sacrifice fly in the tenth off of RHP Colter Bean to clinch the SL South's first-half division title over second place Montgomery by a 4-3 final. Four Barons personnel, the manager, a coach, and two players, were all ejected over the course of the game by home plate umpire Chris Ward due to their difference of opinion on ball and strike calls.

Birmingham 4, BISCUITS 3 (10)
1B Gabby Martinez	1-4, 2B (9)
PR-RF Sergio Pedroza	0-0, RS, BB, SB (6)
3B-1B Chris Nowak	1-5
C John Jaso	1-2, 2 BB, GIDP
RF-LF Erold Andrus	0-2, RBI (34), 2 BB, SAC, GIDP
DH Matt Spring	0-4, BB, GIDP
SP Jino Gonzalez	5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 SO
RP Brian Henderson	0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO
RP Ryan Reid	2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO
RP Colter Bean	0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 0 SO, 1 HB

BISCUITS Up Next-OFF Today

A+ Vero Beach Devil Rays (32-32)

Ft. Myers 6, V-RAYS 4-LHP Brandon Mann was crushed in Fort Myers' five-run fifth inning, and the Miracle held on to win 6-4. 

Ft. Myers 6, V-RAYS 4
CF Desmond Jennings	2-5, RS, PO
RF John Matulia	2-5, RS, 2B (6), CS (3)
3B Cesar Suarez	2-4, 2B (10), 3B (2), RBI (32)
DH J.T. Hall	1-3, BB
1B Matt Fields	1-4, RBI (28)
C Nevin Ashley	2-4, RS
LF Garrett Groce	1-3, RS, HR (2), 2 RBI (21), BB
SP Brandon Mann	6.0 IP, 4 H, 6 R (5 ER), 4 BB, 3 SO, 2 HR, HB, E (3, throw)
RP Chuck Tiffany	1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO

V-RAYS Up Next-at Ft. Myers, 7:05 EST (LH Mike Wlodarczyk)

A- Columbus Catfish (24-40)

CATFISH 2, Savannah 1-RHP JESSE DARCY allowed a first inning run, and then he and the two pitchers who followed him did not allow another over the remaining eight innings of the ballgame. The Catfish offense scored just two runs on eight hits, but that would prove to be enough as Columbus won 2-1 for their fourth win in six games following a 12 game losing streak.

CATFISH 2, Savannah 1
CF Maiko Loyola	2-4, 2B (10), RBI (20), CS (6)
SS Shawn O'Malley	1-2, BB, SB (12), HBP
DH Chase Fontaine	0-3, BB
LF Reid Fronk	2-3, BB, CS (4)
SP JESSE DARCY	6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 2 SO, WP
RP Jose Mejias	2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO
RP Justin Garcia	1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO

CATFISH Up Next-at Savannah, 7:00 EST (RH Jason Ragan)

AAA Durham Bulls (31-29)

Richmond 8, BULLS 1-SS Reid Brignac had two doubles, the only Durham player with multiple hits, but the team had just five in total and were sacked 8-1 by the Richmond Braves.

Richmond 8, BULLS 1
CF Fernando Perez	1-4, RS, 2B (9)
DH Justin Ruggiano	0-1, Played at AAA and Majors in one day
DH Elliot Johnson	1-3, SB (5)
LF Dan Johnson	0-4
3B Joel Guzmán	0-4
SS Reid Brignac	2-4, 2 2B (22)
SP Chris Mason	5.1 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 0 BB, 6 SO, 2 HR, 90 Pitches
RP Nick DeBarr	1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 0 SO, 1 HR, 19 Pitches

BULLS Up Next-vs Richmond, 7:05 EST (RH Jeff Niemann)

AA Montgomery Biscuits (29-31)

BISCUITS 10, Carolina 2-Montgomery rode a six run second inning to a lopsided 10-2 win over the Carolina Mudcats. Carolina Pitcher Matt Yourkin was ejected from the game in the seventh inning along with Mudcats Pitching Coach Scott Mitchell after Sergio Pedroza was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game. Yourkin is no stranger to these types of incidents, having knocked out Rhyne Hughes' front teeth with a pitch last season.

BISCUITS 10, Carolina 2
1B Rhyne Hughes	1-4, 2B (13), HBP
3B Chris Nowak	1-5, 2 RBI (28)
C John Jaso	1-3, RS, BB, HBP, E (9, interference)
DH Gaby Martinez	2-5, 2 RS
RF Sergio Pedroza	0-2, 2 RS, BB, 2 HBP
SP Richard De Los Santos	7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 4 SO, 1 HR

BISCUITS Up Next-vs Birmingham, 8:05 EST (LH Mike Prochaska)

A+ Vero Beach Devil Rays (29-30)

Jupiter 12, V-RAYS 1-Starter Brandon Mann pitched seven strong innings for the Devil Rays, but Wade Townsend failed to record an out as he was tagged for six of Jupiter's nine runs in the eighth en route to a 12-1 blowout loss to the Hammerheads.

Jupiter 12, V-RAYS 1
CF Desmond Jennings	0-1, 3 BB
LF Ryan Royster	1-5, GIDP, CS (3)
1B Matt Fields	2-4
C Nevin Ashley	2-4
SP Brandon Mann	7.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 6 SO
RP Wade Townsend	0.0 IP, 3 H, 6 R, 3 BB, 0 SO, 6 TBF

V-RAYS Up Next-vs Sarasota, 7:00 EST (RH Jeremy Hellickson)

A- Columbus Catfish (21-38)

CATFISH 2, Savannah 0-The Catfish snapped a 12 game losing streak behind six shutout innings from SP Jessie Darcy and three more from their bullpen, despite a starting lineup that could manage just three hits off of Sand Gnat pitching.

CATFISH 2, Savannah 0
3B Greg Sexton	1-3, RS, 2B (19), RBI (35), BB, CS (5)
LF Reid Fronk	1-3, BB
SP Jessie Darcy	6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 SO, HB
RP Justin Garcia	2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO
RP Austin Hinkle	1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO

CATFISH Up Next-vs Savannah, 7:00 EST (RH Woods Fines)

We're done with roughly a month of the minor league season, and by now most people know what Jeremy Hellickson did(which is: dominated). We know that a couple top guys struggled(Chris Mason, Ryan Royster, etc)... but what about the less-heralded guys? Just because a player doesn't make a top 30 prospect list doesn't mean he won't contribute someday, especially in an organization as deep as ours. So after the jump I take a look at some things that happened in the first month that may have slipped through the cracks.

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AAA Durham Bulls (12-17)

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 9, BULLS 5-RHP Chris Mason struggled through 6.1 poor innings of work, and the Yankees swept the Bulls out of Scranton as Durham dropped its fourth straight.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 9, BULLS 5
RF Elliot Johnson	1-5, RS, 2B (1), RBI (1)
1B Dan Johnson	1-4, RS, RBI (5), BB
3B Joel Guzman	2-5, 2B (4), RBI (16)
SS Reid Brignac	2-4, RS, HR (3), 2 RBI (14)
SP Chris Mason	L (1-4), 6.1 IP, 8 H, 6 R (5 ER), 2 BB, 7 SO, HR, 27 TBF, 94 Pitches

BULLS Up Next-at Pawtucket, 6:15 EDT (RH Mitch Talbot)

AA Montgomery Biscuits (11-19)

Huntsville 11, BISCUITS 3-LHP Mike Wlodarczyk struggled early and put the Biscuits in a hole from which they could not recover as Montgomery was blown out in the final game of their series against the Huntsville Stars.

Huntsville 11, BISCUITS 3
DH John Jaso	1-4, RS, RBI (14), BB
3B Chris Nowak	0-4
RF Sergio Pedroza	1-3, RBI (15), SF
SP Mike Wlodarczyk	L (0-4), 3.0 IP+, 11 H, 8 R (6 ER), 2 BB, 0 SO, 21 TBF, E (1, throwing)
RP Wade Townsend	4.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 3 SO, 15 TBF, 1-0 IR-S

BISCUITS Up Next-vs Birmingham, 8:05 EDT (LH Jake McGee)

A+ Vero Beach Devil Rays (15-15)

V-RAYS 2, Dunedin 0-The Devil Rays got a fantastic starting effort from LHP Ryan Morse, and that's mainly why Vero Beach would need only two runs to surmount the Dunedin Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon. 

V-RAYS 2, Dunedin 0
CF Garrett Groce	1-4, RS, 2B (7)
DH Nevin Ashley	1-3
3B Cesar Suarez	2-3, RBI (19)
RF Ryan Royster	0-3
SP Ryan Morse	W (2-0), 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 21 TBF

V-RAYS Up Next-vs Dunedin, 7:00 EDT (RH Matt Walker)

A- Columbus Catfish (12-18)

Greenville 5, CATFISH 0-The Greenville offense produced five runs in the middle innings, which was more than enough to overtake a Catfish lineup that was shut out on four hits. 

Greenville 5, CATFISH 0
CF Emeel Salem	0-4
SP Jason Ragan	L (4-2), 5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 4 SO, 2 HR, 23 TBF

CATFISH Up Next-at Greenville, 7:00 EDT (LH Brian Flores)

AAA Durham Bulls (7-10)

BULLS at Norfolk, PPD-The Bulls' scheduled afternoon contest with the Nofolk Tides was postponed due to rain in the Tidewater area. The game will be made up immediately tomorrow as part of a double-header starting at 6:15pm EDT.

BULLS Up Next-DH at Norfolk, 6:15 ET (RH Jae Kuk Ryu, RH Chris Mason)

AA Montgomery Biscuits (7-10)

Jacksonville 10, BISCUITS 4-RHP Wade Davis was bested in his duel with Suns top prospect LHP Clayton Kershaw, while LHP Eduardo Morlan struggled extensively in Jacksonville's eight run seventh inning.

Jacksonville 10, BISCUITS 4
DH Chris Nowak	0-5, SO, GIDP
1B Gaby Martinez	0-4, 2 SO, E (2, fielding)
RF Sergio Pedroza	0-4, 2 SO
C Matt Spring	2-4, 2 RS, 2B (2), HR (2), RBI (2)
SP Wade Davis	L (2-1), 6.0+ IP, 7 H, 5 R (4 ER), 3 BB, 1 SO, 1 HR, 26 TBF
RP Eduardo Morlan	0.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 0 BB, 0 SO, 2 HB, 2 HR, 2-2 IR-S, 9 TBF

BISCUITS Up Next-vs Jacksonville, 8:05 ET (LH James Houser)

A+ Vero Beach Devil Rays (9-8)

V-RAYS 12, Brevard County 4-The host Devil Rays touched up Brevard County pitching for all 12 of their runs between the second and fifth innings to win their fourth straight and sixth in their past seven.

V-RAYS 12, St.  Lucie 4
CF John Matulia	1-4, RS, 2 BB
C Dioner Navarro	3-5, RS, HR (1), 3 RBI (4), PB (1), HBP
DH Nevin Ashley	1-3, RS, 2 BB, PO
RF Ryan Royster	3-5, 2 RS, SO
1B Matt Fields	4-4, 3 RS, 2B (4), HR (4), RBI (10), BB
LF Quinn Stewart	3-4, 2 RS, 2 HR (2), 7 RBI (10), HBP
SP Matt Garza	3.2 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 4 SO, 20 TBF
RP Ryan Morse	W (1-0), 4.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 SO, 3-0 IR-S, 15 TBF

V-RAYS Up Next-vs Brevard County, 7:00 ET (RH Jeremy Hellickson)

A- Columbus Catfish (8-9)

Charleston 11, CATFISH 7-The RiverDogs dropped all 11 runs on Columbus in-between the fifth and seventh innings as they beat the Catfish for the second straight day.

Charleston 11, CATFISH 7
CF Emeel Salem	1-5, RS, GIDP, 2 SB (17)
2B Cody Cipriano	2-5, 2 RS, HR (3), 3 RBI (13)
DH Reid Fronk	1-5, RS, 2B (5), RBI (10), 2 SO
C Mike McCormick	1-5
1B Henry Wrigley	2-2, RS, HR (1), 2 RBI (11), SF
SS Joey Callender	3-4, GIDP
SP Alex Cobb	L (2-2), 5.1 IP, 9 H, 5 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 2 SO, 1 HR, 25 TBF

CATFISH Up Next-vs Charleston, 7:00 ET (LH Glenn Gibson)

AAA Durham Bulls (1-3)

BULLS 5, Toledo 4-3B Evan Longoria grounded into a double play and remained hitless on the season, but thankfully the other members of the Durham lineup didn't share the same luck as the Bulls won their first game of the year. The good news for Longoria was that he did reach base twice, on his first two walks of the year, and scored a run. Otherwise, the Durham offense was led by DH Fernando Perez and CF Justin Ruggiano, who each had 2 for 4 days. One of Perez's two hits was an RBI double, and he also drew a walk and stole a base. Also going 2 for 4 was LF Joel Guzman, who walked and drove in two of Durham's five runs, including the game winner in the ninth. Unfortunately for Guzman, he also made two errors in left field. SS Reid Brignac grounded into a double play and had just one hit among his five at bats, but it was a double.

Making his debut this season for the Bulls was RHP Chris Mason, who had a relatively successful outing. Throwing 76 pitches on the day, Mason gave up two unearned runs on three hits, one hit batsman, and one walk over 4.1 innings of work, while also striking out four. RHP Nick DeBarr followed him and gave up two runs in 1.1 innings of work, but RHPs Scott Munter and Grant Balfour closed out the game with 3.1 shutout innings.

BULLS Up Next-at Columbus, 7:05 ET (LH Mike Prochaska)

AA Montgomery Biscuits (2-2)

Chattanooga 8, BISCUITS 4 (8)-LHP James Houser had a decent first start for Montgomery, but a relative lack of offense and a sloppy defensive effort relegated the Biscuits to defeat in the first game of a double-header. Houser gave up just one earned run in five innings of work, but he gave up three unearned runs thanks to two Montgomery errors. He gave up just two hits and no walks while striking out five, though he did hit a batter. LHP Jino Gonzalez pitched two scoreless innings following Houser's departure, but RHP Jeremy Flanagan took the loss after giving up the four winning Lookout runs in the "extra" eighth inning.

Offensively, the Biscuits could manage only five hits. 1B Rhyne Hughes had an especially bad day, going 0 for 3 with two of Montgomery's three errors. He did garner a walk and score a run though. 3B Chris Nowak had one hit, a two run homer in the fourth, and scored once more when he reached on a Chattanooga error. DH Gaby Martinez and C Matt Spring each had one hit, while had an RBI single.

BISCUITS 10, Chattanooga 1 (7)-The Biscuits' offense exploded for 10 runs on 11 hits as Montgomery routed the Chattanooga Lookouts in the second game of Sunday's double-header. C John Jaso and 1B Rhyne Hughes had two hits, each of which included a solo home run, and Hughes drew a walk as well to atone for his sins in the first game of the double-header. Even though Montgomery put up prolific numbers on the scoreboard, those two were the only players with multiple hits on the day. DH Sergio Pedroza and 3B Chris Nowak each had one hit, in Nowak's case a double, while LF Gaby Martinez reached base three times on one hit and two walks. He scored each time he reached. 2B Josh Asanovich had a three run homer and drew a walk to round out the lineup.

On the mound, RHP Richard De Los Santos pitched five shutout innings for the Biscuits before ceding control to RHP Wade Townsend and LHP Jon Barratt. Townsend's first appearance of the season was not a successful one, as he gave up one run on a hit and a walk. Barratt closed out the ballgame with a scoreless inning of work.

BISCUITS Up Next-vs Chattanooga, 8:05 ET (LH Mike Wlodarczyk)

A+ Vero Beach Devil Rays (3-1)

Daytona 9, V-RAYS 4-RHP Matt Walker made his return to the mound for Vero Beach, tossing four shaky innings as the V-Rays suffered their first loss of the season. Walker gave up three runs (two earned) over four innings of work, walking two and giving up four hits while striking out three. RHP Chris Kelly and LHP Ryan Morse followed Walker and proceeded to give up the other five Daytona runs in four collective innings. LHP Ryan Owen pitched a scoreless ninth.

Meanwhile on offense, four Vero Beach players had two hits on Sunday. 2B Chase Fontaine, 3B Cesar Suarez, DH J.T. Hall, and C Christian Lopez were those players, though only Lopez had an extra base hit (a double). Suarez drove in a run and walked, though he also had a throwing error. Fontaine walked as well, as did PH Garrett Groce. LF Ryan Royster went hitless, while CF John Matulia went 1 for 5 with a run scored and two RBI.

V-RAYS Up Next-vs Daytona, 7:00 ET (LH Brandon Mann)

A- Columbus Catfish (1-3)

Savannah 4, CATFISH 3 (7)-RHP Josh Johnson gave up all four Savannah runs during his four inning start, and it would be all that the Sand Gnats would need as the Columbus offense mustered up only three hits in the first game of a double-header. Johnson gave up three earned runs on four hits and two walks in his first start of the season, giving way to RHP Jesse Darcy for the final three innings. Darcy pitched three perfect innings for Columbus with two strikeouts.

The Catfish fell just short offensively despite their three hit day, thanks to plenty of walks. CF Emeel Salem went 0 for 3 with a walk and a run scored, while 1B Henry Wrigley hit an RBI double and walked to lead the offense.

CATFISH 5, Savannah 0 (7)-RHP Jason Ragan threw for five of the Catfish pitching staff's seven shutout innings as Columbus notched their first win of the season in the second game of a double-header. Ragan gave up just three hits and a walk while striking out four; two Columbus pitchers combined to go the rest of the way.

On offense, CF Emeel Salem led the way with a walk, a run scored, and three stolen bases. RF Reid Fronk was also productive, hitting a two-run, inside-the-park homer in the third inning as the Catfish took control early. LF Stephen Vogt doubled, while C Michael McCormick went 2 for 3 with a double and a run scored.

CATFISH Up Next-at Rome, 7:00 ET (RH Jeremy Hall)