Down On The Farm: May 7

A real mixed bag from the minors Sunday. Durham split a doubleheader and Matt Buschmann pitched well, but Braulio Lara and Roberto Gomez struggled.

AAA Durham Bulls (11-20)

After two rain delays totaling three hours and 36 minutes led to a suspension of Saturday's game, Norfolk cruised iin the resumption Sunday to win 5-2. Matt Torra allowed three runs in 2.2 innings on Saturday and took the loss. Jhonny Nunez relieved him Sunday and pitched three scoreless innings, but Alex Torres then entered and walked five batters and allowed two more runs in 3.1 innings. The Bulls tried mounting a rally late, and a two out, two-run Stephen Vogt double got them on the board in the 8th. In the 9th, Matt Mangini and Cole FIgueroa reached base with no outs to get the tying run to the plate, but neither came around to score.

In the seven inning regularly scheduled game, Durham only needed two hits to win a 2-1 pitcher's duel. Lance Pendelton turned in a great start, striking out five in five scoreless innings while only allowing three hits and a walk. After a Jeff Salazar leadoff single in the third, a Craig Albernaz sac bunt, wild pitch and Cole Figueroa sac fly got the scoring started. Matt Mangini's solo home run in the 5th extended the lead to two. Norfolk opened the top of the 7th with three straight singles against Ryan Reid, but as the first run scored, Jesus Feliciano cut down one of the baserunners at third for the first out. Reid got one more out, but he was removed from the game after a Jai Miller walk put the winning run on base. Dane De La Rosa came on to record the last out.

AA Montgomery Biscuits (14-17)

Matt Buschmann turned in a strong six inning effort to lead Montgomery to a 4-1 win. For the first time this season, he pitched beyond the 5th inning, throwing six one-run innings. Montgomery's two run third inning proved to be enough, and they only needed one hit to do it. Hak-Ju Lee led off with a double, part of a two hit game. A Tyler Bortnick flyout moved him to third, and then Chattanooga starter Matt Magill ran into some trouble. After hitting Kyeong Kang with a pitch, he committed a throwing error that scored Lee and moved Kang into scoring position before a Michael Sheridan sac fly plated their 2nd run. In the 9th, Kang hit his Southern League leading 8th home run against Dodgers relief prospect Shawn Tolleson to add an insurance run for the Montgomery bullpen.

High-A Charlotte Stone Crabs (14-16)

Braulio Lara had a start to forget in Charlotte's 10-7 loss at Clearwater. He was charged with eight runs in 2+ innings, tied for a career high. Clearwater jumped ahead 2-0 just four batters in thanks to a Jim Murphy double. The Threshers tacked on two more in the 2nd thanks to four more hits against Lara. The biggest blow came in the third when UCF grad Chris Duffy hit a three run home run to center field to make it an 8-0 game. To Charlotte's credit, they worked to get back in the game with three two-run innings that included Derek Dietrich's second home run of the year. Their final run was scored on Mayo Acosta's solo home run in the 9th. Robi Estrada drove in three runs himself with three singles.

Low-A Bowling Green Hot Rods (16-14)

Bowling Green scored twice in the first, but that would be the last time they would get on the board in their 6-2 loss. Ryan Brett led off the game with a walk and eventually scored after a steal, balk and Matt Rice sac fly. Jeff Malm followed that up with a solo home run, but that would be it for Bowling Green's offense. Roberto Gomez sailed through the first four innings only allowing three baserunners, The wheels came off in the 5th, although it appeared the Hot Rods would be able to sneak out of the inning with minimal damage. Gomez loaded the bases with one out thanks to three singles, and another single brought home the first run.and he got the second out on a sac fly that tied the game. Stayton Thomas came on to relieve Gomez and let things get out of hand. Thomas allowed a double and two singles before recording the final out, and Bowling Green found themselves down three. No Hot Rod had more than one hit, and Josh Sale was 0/2 with a walk in his second game.

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Star of the day- Lance Pendelton really picked up the Durham staff with his five scoreless innings after the bullpen had to throw 6.1 innings in game one of the doubleheader.

Goat of the day- Braulio Lara was charged with eight run in only 2+ innings, but the Charlotte offense nearly bailed him out.

Today's games (probables courtesy of milb.com)

Durham @ Syracuse 7 PM (MiLB.TV)
Jim Paduch* (1-0, 1.13) v. Zach Duke (2-1, 4.18)

Montgomery @ Chattanooga 7:15 PM
Jake Thompson (0-2, 6.35) v. Chris Withrow (0-1, 3.94)

Charlotte @ Clearwater 7 PM
Wilking Rodriguez (0-3, 5.04) v. Austin Wright (4-0, 2.40)

Bowling Green v. Lake County 7:35 PM
Jake Floethe (3-1, 4.45) v. Felix Sterling (1-0, 3.56)

*Listed as TBA on milb.com

Scouting the opposition

Syracuse Chiefs (Washington)
10-20, (6th in IL North)
Offense: 114 R (10th) .668 OPS (9th)
Pitching: 4.89 ERA (12th) 1.38 WHIP (13th)
Top 30 Prospects: None

Chattanooga Lookouts (Los Angeles)
13-18 (4th in SL North)
Offense: 150 R (2nd) .702 OPS (8th)
Pitching: 3.98 ERA (8th) 1.42 WHIP (8th)
Top 30 Prospects: RHP Allen Webster (2), RHP Nate Eovaldi (3), RHP Chris Withrow (7), RHP Shawn Tolleson (15), LHP Aaron Miller (12), RHP Ethan Martin (17), OF Kyle Russell (20), SS Jake Lemmerman (27), C Gorman Erickson (28) OF Blake Smith (30)

Clearwater Threshers (Philadelphia)
15-13 (2nd in FSL North)
Offense: 124 R (5th) .711 OPS (4th)
Pitching: 3.86 ERA (10th) 1.23 WHIP (5th)
Top 30 Prospects: LHP Jesse Biddle (2), RHP Brody Colvin (7), LHP Austin Wright (14), RHP Perci Garner (18), LHP Adam Morgan (25)

Lake County Captains (Cleveland)
12-17 (7th in MWL East)
Offense: 131 R (5th) .697 OPS (5th)
Pitching: 3.79 ERA (12th) 1.27 WHIP (7th)
Top 30 Prospects: SS Francisco Lindor (1), OF Luigi Rodriguez (5), LHP Elvis Araujo (11), RHP Felix Sterling (20), OF Bryson Myles (28), 3B Jordan Smith (30)