Down On The Farm: July 5

There hasn't been a lengthy Tim Beckham debate lately. I hope his hot streak can trigger something.

AAA Durham Bulls (42-46)

In front of the third largest crowd in DBAP history, the Bulls used some late offense to earn an 8-2 victory over Norfolk. Matt Joyce made his first rehab appearance for Durham and went 0/2 with a walk as their right fielder. Tim Beckham's post-suspension hot streak continued with another homer, and he now has 15 hits in the last 11 games. Tied 2-2 in the 6th, Reid Brignac hit an RBI double that eventually proved to be the winning run, and he later hit a three run dinger to pad Durham's lead. Jim Paduch allowed two runs in five innings of work, and Cesar Ramos and Dane De La Rosa combined to throw four scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

AA Montgomery Biscuits (9-5)

The Biscuits scored eight unanswered runs to close out their 8-2 win over Mobile. In the four run 7th inning that proved to be the difference, Montgomery pounded out five singles and took advantage of an error. Hak-Ju Lee was in the middle of the action that inning, hitting an RBI single, stealing a base and eventually coming around to score. With his two hit game, Lee's hitting streak now sits at 15 games, and that includes eight multi-hit games. Kyeong Kang hit his first home run of the second half, and Brett Nommensen also went deep as part of a three hit day with a pair of extra base hits and three runs scored and driven in. Matt Buschmann pitched seven quality innings after his cup of coffee with Durham, his longest outing since May.

High-A Charlotte Stone Crabs (4-9)

After a lengthy rain delay, Charlotte nearly erased a large deficit but came up short in a 7-5 loss. Down 7-0 in the 8th, Philip Wunderlich singled home a pair of runs to chip away at Fort Myers' lead, and Derek Dietrich cleared the bases with a double in the next inning, but they couldn't get closer. C.J. Riefenhauser's struggles continued, allowing four runs in 3.1 innings on seven hits and a walk. Although he had his first scoreless appearance of the season with Charlotte, Lenny Linsky allowed five batters to reach base in two innings of work. Dietrich, Steven Tinoco and David Wendt all had multi-hit games.

Low-A Bowling Green Hot Rods (7-6)

Starting on three days rest, Felipe Rivero only went two innings, and Bowling Green could've used him a little more in their 8-1 loss to Fort Wayne. Seven of the TinCaps' runs came in the 4th inning, all against Roberto Gomez in relief of Rivero. Fort Wayne didn't even need an extra base hit in the inning as they used six singles and an ill-fated intentional walk to plate their runs. Former Rays pick and non-dwarf Kyle Gaedele had a pair of RBI batting 9th for Fort Wayne. Bowling Green's lone run came in the 7th on Tyler Goeddel's solo home run, his 6th of the season. Josh Sale's average is down to .264 with only one hit in his last five games.

Short Season-A Hudson Valley Renegades (9-8)

Hudson Valley came up short in a tight pitcher's duel Tuesday in a 2-1 loss at Vermont. Jesse Hahn had his most effective outing in his young career, striking out four in three scoreless innings. Charles Epperson's first career home run provided the only offense for the Renegades, but the bullpen couldn't hold the 1-0 lead. Eduar Quinonez gave up the first run in three innings of work, and Dylan Floro took the loss with the run he allowed in the 8th. Although most of the offense was asleep, Justin O'Conner continued his hot start with a two hit game and no strikeouts.

Rookie Princeton Rays (10-6)

Princeton survived a late rally by Pulaski to win a 6-5 game in the battle of teams with nearly identical logos. Up 6-1 in the 8th, Kevin Brandt and Jonathan Weaver combined to allow four runs, and with the tying run in scoring position, Brandon Martin caught a line drive to start a game ending double play. Blake Snell proved to be mortal, finally allowing his first run of the season. In five innings, he struck out four and allowed the lone run on four hits and a pair of walks. William Argo's three hit game with a pair of doubles led the offense, and John Alexander drove in two runs.

Rookie Gulf Coast League Rays (8-6)

The GCL Rays won a tight one in game one by a 4-3 score. After falling behind 3-1, the Rays answered the Red Sox immediately the next inning with three runs of their own. In the 5th, the Rays had four straight hits before recording the first out of the inning. Nevin Ashley and Miguel Beltran drove in the tying and go-ahead runs respectively. The rehabbing Ashley went 1/3 with a walk as the GCL squad's DH. Bralin Jackson's two hit game raised his early career average to .375, and Brett Blaise got the win after striking out three in two scoreless innings.

After blowing a 3-1 lead in the first game, the GCL Red Sox turned the tables on the GCL Rays in the Rays' 4-3 loss. The Rays jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning with Cesar Perez's two run single being the biggest blow. Unfortunately after the four hit first inning, the Rays could only collect three more. Benjamin Kline from Embry-Riddle University, not exactly known for producing baseball talent, had two more hits to raise his average to .625 in seven games. Stepan Havlicek allowed four runs in five innings of work.

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Star of the day- Reid Brignac provided a nice blast from the past with his strong performance.

Goat of the day- Roberto Gomez really took one on the chin for Bowling Green.

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

Durham v. Norfolk 7:05 PM (MiLB.TV)
Alex Torres* (3-3, 6.52) v. TBA

Montgomery v. Mobile 8:05 PM
Nick Barnese* (0-0, 4.70) v. Brett Lorin* (3-5, 4.00)

Charlotte @ Fort Myers 7:05 PM
Braulio Lara* (4-7, 7.04) v. Tom Stuifbergen (1-3, 8.76)

Bowling Green @ Fort Wayne 7:05 PM
TBA v. Adys Portillo (5-5, 1.76)

Hudson Valley @ Vermont 7:05 PM
Reinaldo Lopez* (0-0, 3.12) v. Andres Avila (0-0, 1.80)

Princeton v. Pulaski 7 PM
Eli Echarry (0-0, 11.00) v. Charles Kaalekahi (1-0, 1.80)

GCL Rays v. GCL Red Sox 12 PM
TBA v. TBA

*Listed as TBA on MiLB.com

Scouting the opposition

Norfolk Tides (Baltimore)
44-44, (2nd in IL South)
Offense: 341 R (11th) .687 OPS (11th)
Pitching: 3.35 ERA (3rd) 1.25 WHIP (3rd)
Top 30 Prospects: OF L.J. Hoes (5), 1B Joe Mahoney (13), 2B Ryan Adams (23), 1B Brandon Waring (25)

Mobile BayBears (Arizona)
6-8 (3rd in SL South)
Offense: 355 R (4th) .702 OPS (6th)
Pitching: 3.87 ERA (6th) 1.38 WHIP (5th)
Top 30 Prospects: 3B Matt Davidson (4), LHP David Holmberg (6), SS Chris Owings (7), OF Bobby Borchering (10), RHP Brett Marshall (15), OF Marc Krauss (16), RHP Kevin Munson (19), RHP Yonata Ortega (20), 2B David Nick (23), RHP Brett Lorin (28)

Fort Myers Miracle (Minnesota)
8-6 (3rd in FSL South)
Offense: 337 R (8th) .682 OPS (11th)
Pitching: 4.09 ERA (11th) 1.42 WHIP (11th)
Top 30 Prospects: SS Levi Michael (6), RHP Madison Boer (12), RHP Adrian Salcedo (16), RHP Manuel Soilman (23), RHP Tom Stuifbergen (24)

Fort Wayne TinCaps (San Diego)
9-4 (1st in MWL East)
Offense: 346 R (15th) .673 OPS (14th)
Pitching: 3.46 ERA (2nd) 1.29 WHIP (5th)
Top 30 Prospects: C Austin Hedges (5), RHP Joe Ross (9), SS Jace Peterson (17), RHP Adys Portillo (26)

Vermont Lake Monsters (Oakland)
10-8 (2nd in Stedler)
Offense: 74 R (9th) .658 OPS (9th)
Pitching: 3.79 ERA (8th) 1.30 WHIP (5th)
Top 30 Prospects: SS Chris Bostick (24)

Pulaski Mariners
5-10 (5th in APP East)
Offense: 53 R (10th) .590 OPS (10th)
Pitching: 3.95 ERA (5th) 1.32 WHIP (5th)
Top 30 Prospects: OF Phillips Castillo (10), C Tyler Marlette (18)

GCL Red Sox
7-7 (2nd in GCL South)
Offense: 57 R (7th) .597 OPS (14th)
Pitching: 3.15 ERA (5th) 1.29 WHIP (7th)
Top 30 Prospects: None