Triple A Durham Bulls (11-14)
BULLS 2, Charlotte 1-The Bulls' offense woke up in the ninth inning, generating a two run rally capped by a game-winning RBI single from C Shawn Riggans as the Bulls won their fourth in a row over the Charlotte Knights, sweeping the series against their IL South rivals. Riggans finished the day with two hits, the other being a double. Mitch Talbot got the start for Durham and pitched a strong seven innings for the Bulls, but got a no-decision. Talbot, who had a 12.75 ERA over his last three starts and failed to get out of the fourth inning in any of them, gave up just one run on five hits while striking out four and walking none. Seth McClung and Steve Andrade each pitched a scoreless inning for Durham and each struck out two, with Andrade getting the win. 3B Joel Guzman and 2B Elliot Johnson were each hitless for Durham, though Johnson did draw a walk. 1B Wes Bankston had a hit and a walk in three at bats for Durham.
BULLS Up Next-OFF
Double A Montgomery Biscuits (12-11)
BISCUITS 7, Jacksonville 2-SS Reid Brignac hit a three run homer in the fifth inning, and the Montgomery pitching staff held the Jacksonville Suns at bay as the Biscuits cruised to a 7-2 win over their Southern League rivals. CF Fernando Perez was 1 for 2 before being lifted from the ballgame; he sprained his knee on a pickoff attempt, an injury which is not considered to be serious. 3B Evan Longoria went hitless for the Biscuits, but did walk and was hit by a pitch, while 1B Gaby Martinez went 2 for 5 with a double. RF Shaun Cumberland and OF Jason Pridie each had a hit for the Biscuits, Pridie's a double, while C John Jaso put aside his poor start to go 2 for 3 with a two run homer. Chris Mason got the start for Montgomery and picked up his third win of the season, giving up an unearned run on eight hits and a walk over 5.1 innings of work, striking out six in the process. Brian Henderson relieved him and pitched 0.2 scoreless innings, while Evan Meek gave up an unearned run in his two innings of action. Dale Thayer struck out the side in the ninth to close out the ballgame, an affair in which Biscuits manager Billy Gardner and Biscuits reliever Jeremy Flanagan were both ejected. Gardner was ejected after complaining when Longoria was hit immediately subsequent to Brignac's fifth inning home run, while Flanagan was tossed for protesting from the bullpen.
BISCUITS Up Next-at Jacksonville, 11:05am ET (LH Mike Prochaska)
High A Vero Beach Devil Rays (9-13)
V-RAYS 4, Brevard County 0-Wade Davis and Aaron Walker combined on a two hit shutout Sunday afternoon, as Vero Beach used a three hit day from LF Chris Cunningham to best the Brevard County Manatees 4-0. Davis struck out nine batters over his seven innings of work, giving up both hits and two walks in lowering his ERA to 2.15 on the year. Aaron Walker relieved him and did not give up a hit over his two innings of work, walking one and striking out four. Cunningham, meanwhile, doubled among his three hits and also walked, though he was caught stealing as well. 1B Rhyne Hughes hit a solo home run for Vero Beach, while SS Neil Walton doubled and committed an error, his eighth of the year.
V-RAYS Up Next-vs Brevard County, 7:00 ET (LH Mike Wlodarczyk)
Low A Columbus Catfish (14-10)
CATFISH 7, Charleston 1-Josh Butler pitched another outing, and Columbus pounded out 14 hits en route to a 7-1 win over the Charleston RiverDogs. Butler, making his fifth start of the season for the Catfish, surrendered just an unearned run over six innings of work, lowering his ERA to 1.61 on the year while walking just two and striking out five. Neal Frontz pitched a scoreless three innings to close out the ball game. Outfielders Desmond Jennings and John Matulia each had a hit for the Catfish, while 3B Cesar Suarez had three. DH Nevin Ashley and LF Ryan Royster each had two hits in the ballgame, with one of Royster's being a two run homer, while SS Brett Grandstand had three hits, including a triple, at the bottom of the order. C Matt Spring rounded out the production on the day, hitting a solo home run among his two hits.
CATFISH Up Next-at Rome, 7:05 ET (RH Jeremy Hellickson)