Triple A Durham Bulls (6-9)
Columbus 5, BULLS 4-Mitch Talbot struggled early, and a late Durham rally wasn't enough as Columbus clipped the Bulls 5-4. Talbot made his second straight poor start for Durham and dropped to 1-2 on the season following an outing in which he gave up all five Columbus runs in 4.2 innings. He was hit hard, surrendering nine hits on the day and didn't help himself with four walks on his own. He left the ballgame having thrown 97 pitches. Durham's bullpen took over and had an exemplary day, as Tony Peguero and Seth McClung combined to shut out the Clippers over the final 3.1 innings. Durham attempted to rally late with three runs in the sixth, and one in the ninth on a Shawn Riggans solo home run that cut the lead to 1, but Durham was unable to muster up the final run needed to tie the ballgame. Matt Maniscalco had two hits for the Bulls, one of which went for two bases, and Riggans added another hit on top of his home run to finish 2 for 3. Jorge Cantu also had a hit for Durham, however Elliot Johnson continued to struggle from the leadoff spot, going hitless and dragging his batting line down to .185/.228/.241 for the season.
BULLS Up Next-at Columbus, 8:25 ET (RH Jason Hammel)
Double A Montgomery Biscuits (8-6)
BISCUITS 3, Birmingham 2-Reid Brignac hit his second home run of the year, a go-ahead blast in the top of the sixth, and Montgomery was backed by six solid innings from starter Chris Mason as the Biscuits trumped the Birmingham Barons, 3-2. 3B Evan Longoria was held hitless, as were CF Fernando Perez and 1B Chris Nowak, but Jason Pridie and Robert Asanovich each added two hits from the bottom of the order, as did Brooks Badeaux from the top of the order. Gaby Martinez also had a hit for Montgomery, whose only extra base hit of the day was Brignac's homer to right in the sixth. Chris Mason kept Birmingham at bay for 6.2 innings of work, surrendering just one run on six hits, walking none and striking out three. Brian Henderson got the final out for him in the seventh, and Dale Thayer pitched a scoreless ninth for his third save of the year. Nick DeBarr struggled in the fifth, nearly allowing Birmingham to tie the game in giving up three hits and two walks, but ultimately allowed just one run.
BISCUITS Up Next-at Birmingham, 8:05 ET (LH Mike Prochaska)
High A Vero Beach Devil Rays (5-8)
V-RAYS 1, Jupiter 0-Vero Beach scored only one run, and it was in the first inning, but it proved to be enough as Mike Wlodarczyk, Kevin Lynn, and Eddie De La Cruz combined on a four hit shutout of the Jupiter Hammerheads in a 1-0 win. Wlodarczyk pitched six innings for Vero Beach, allowing only one run on two hits and two walks, while striking out six in getting the win. Lynn and De La Cruz relieved him for the final three innings and continued the shutout. CF Erold Andrus singled home Jackson Brennan, who doubled, for Vero Beach's only run in the first inning, and the V-Rays left a bases loaded with one out situation with only one run as the side was retired. Andrus would add another double later in the ballgame, and SS Neil Walton had two hits for the second straight day for Vero Beach, but ultimately a lackluster offensive effort would be enough for the V-Rays to get their second straight win.
V-RAYS Up Next-vs Jupiter, 7:00 ET (RH Matt Walker)
Low A Columbus Catfish (8-7)
CATFISH 6, Augusta 0-Heath Rollins made a second straight strong start for Columbus, and he was backed by a lineup in which all but one player had a hit as Columbus shut out the Augusta GreenJackets, 6-0. CF Desmond Jennings led off the bottom of the first with a home run, and the Catfish would never look back from that point, though Jennings would later add another hit in the ballgame. Six of the nine Columbus starters scored a run in a very balanced offensive attack, which included hits from LF John Matulia, C Nevin Ashley, and 1B Matt Fields. SS Brett Grandstrand really delivered the dagger to Augusta, however, with his grand slam home run in the eighth which put Columbus on top 5-0. It was Grandstrand's first professional home run since the 2004 season, when he had three for the Pirates' Short Season team in Williamsport. Rollins, meanwhile, earned his first win of the season for Columbus in going six shutout innings. He surrendered just two hits and one walk while striking out seven. Chris Kelly and Ryan Reid pitched a scoreless three innings in relief of Rollins to seal the win.
CATFISH Up Next-vs Augusta, 7:00 ET (RH Wade Townsend)