Down On The Farm: September 6

Bowling Green's season rests on the shoulders of Ryan Carpenter in tonight's must-win game after dropping the series opener to Lake County. Montgomery starts their own series against Mobile, a team that has not been the same since the loss of Trevor Bauer and Tyler Skaggs. Hudson Valley will face division rival Brooklyn in their semi-final series starting Friday.

Low-A Bowling Green Hot Rods (0-1) ***Featured game of the day***

Bowling Green couldn't dig out of an early hole and fell in game one to Lake County 5-4. The Hot Rods actually jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the 1st without hitting a ball out of the infield, but the Captains quickly nullified that advantage and took a lead of their own. Parker Markel lasted just 2.2 innings, allowing five runs on nine hits and three walks. After dominating much of the second half, it was Markel's worst start since June 28th when he allowed five runs in 2.2 innings to Lansing. Jake Partridge came on in long relief and kept the Hot Rods in the game, striking out six in 5.1 scoreless innings. In the 5th inning, Cameron Seitzer hit a bases clearing double to close the deficit to one run, but that would be as close as the Hot Rods would get. They would have a runner in scoring position with less than two outs in three of the next four innings but couldn't get one more big hit.

Short Season-A Hudson Valley Renegades (51-24)

Hudson Valley secured the New York Penn League's best record with their 3-2 win over Tri-City. Back to back doubles in the 3rd inning scored all three Renegades runs with Richie Shaffer and Ryan Dunn delivering the damage. It was a two hit game for Shaffer who finishes the regular season with a .308 average and .893 OPS. With the early run support behind them, an ensemble of Hudson Valley pitchers limited Tri-City to two runs and six hits. Alex Kendall and Matthew Spann each allowed a run in three innings of work, and Spann struck out five batters which was tied for a season high. On Friday, Hudson Valley will start a best-of-three series against the wild card winning Brooklyn Cyclones.

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORES

Star of the day- Richie Shaffer's double was instrumental in securing the #1 seed for the Renegades.

Goat of the day- After being one of the minors' best pitchers in August, Parker Markel had one of his worst outings of the season.

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

Montgomery @ Mobile 8:05 PM
Matt Buschmann (7-8, 3.89) v. Chase Anderson* (5-4, 2.86)

Game one of a best-of-five series

Bowling Green v. Lake County 8:05 PM
Ryan Carpenter (11-8, 4.09) v. Mason Radeke (7-6, 3.38)

Game two of a best-of-three series, Bowling Green trails 1-0

*Listed as TBA on MiLB.com

Scouting the opposition

Mobile BayBears (Arizona)
69-71 (3rd in SL South)
Offense: 583 R (7th) .689 OPS (7th)
Pitching: 4.13 ERA (9th) 1.39 WHIP (6th)
Top 30 Prospects: 3B Matt Davidson (4), LHP David Holmberg (6), SS Chris Owings (7), RHP Brett Marshall (15), RHP Kevin Munson (19), RHP Yonata Ortega (20), 2B David Nick (23), RHP Brett Lorin (28)

Lake County Captains (Cleveland)
71-68 (4th in MWL East)
Offense: 657 R (6th) .712 OPS (7th)
Pitching: 3.91 ERA (10th) 1.28 WHIP (2nd)
Top 30 Prospects: SS Francisco Lindor (1), OF Luigi Rodriguez (5), LHP Elvis Araujo (11), OF LeVon Washington (19), C Jake Lowery (27), 3B Jordan Smith (30)