Triple A Durham Bulls (16-18)
BULLS 3, Norfolk 2-Andy Sonnanstine continued his string of dominance for the Bulls, going nearly eight innings of work, and Durham took a late morning matinée from the Norfolk Tides, 3-2. Sonnanstine gave up two runs on five hits over 7.2 innings of work, walking none and striking out five. He was relieved by Jeff Ridgway and Scott Dohmann, who pitched the final 1.1 scoreless innings to preserve the win. Offensively the Bulls were outhit 7-6, however five of those hits went for extra bases, including the go-ahead two run homer by DH Shawn Riggans in the sixth. Riggans also doubled among his two hits on the day, and was joined in the company of two base hits by LF Justin Ruggiano, who is hitting .483/.516/.690 in a torrid May after a slow start. 2B Elliot Johnson was hitless on the day for Durham, who won their third straight game in a row.
BULLS Up Next-vs Norfolk, 7:00 ET (RH Mitch Talbot)
Double A Montgomery Biscuits (17-16)
Tennessee 9, BISCUITS 0-Chris Mason gave up seven runs in a short start, and the Biscuits offense wasn't even able to come close to matching the Smokies' nine run total as the Biscuits' five game winning streak was snapped in a 9-0 shutout. Mason took his first loss of the year and lasted just 4.1 innings of work, giving up five earned runs on seven hits and two walks. He also hit a batter. Offensively the production in Montgomery's lineup was pretty well balanced, as all but two regulars had a hit on the ballgame. SS Reid Brignac and 3B Evan Longoria each had a hit for the Biscuits, as did CF Jason Pridie and 1B Gaby Martinez, while DH Greg Norton, on a rehab assignment for the major league Devil Rays, added two hits and a double, Montgomery's only extra base hit of the ballgame.
BISCUITS Up Next-vs Tennessee, 8:05 ET (LH Mike Prochaska)
High A Vero Beach Devil Rays (15-17)
Clearwater 3, V-RAYS 1-Wade Davis was loose with his control in 5.2 innings of work for Vero Beach in their first ever stop as a Rays affiliate in the Tampa Bay area, but it was ultimately the lack of offense which once again cost the V-Rays, as they dropped a matinée contest in Clearwater by a 3-1 final. Davis surrendered just one run in his outing on Wednesday afternoon, however he walked four batters and struck out four, while also giving up four hits. Jino Gonzalez would later surrender the winning two runs in the eighth inning, giving up back to back home runs to break a 1-1 tie. Vero Beach had briefly tied the game in the top of the seventh when DH Sergio Pedroza homered to right, a solo shot that amounted to one of his two hits on the day. The V-Rays managed just four hits in the loss; they continue their four game series against the Threshers for three straight evening games through Saturday.
V-RAYS Up Next-at Clearwater, 7:00 ET (LH Mike Wlodarczyk)
Low A Columbus Catfish (21-12)
CATFISH 4, Augusta 0-Woods Fines pitched six shutout innings, and the Catfish used a little bit of offense to squeeze past the first place Augusta GreenJackets by a 4-0 final. Fines gave up just two walks and three hits in the outing to push his ERA southward to 2.06, and he was relieved in a three inning effort by Brian Baker to complete the shutout. 3B Cesar Suarez had three hits to lead the Catfish, while Maiko Loyola added two hits, the only two Columbus players with multiple hits on the day. CF Desmond Jennings, C Nevin Ashley, and LF Ryan Royster each had a hit for the Catfish, with Jennings' being a double and Royster's being a solo home run.
CATFISH Up Next-at Augusta, 7:05 ET (RH Josh Butler)