Down on the farm: April 8

After Durham and Norfolk took extra innings to complete game one of a doubleheader Saturday, game two was pushed back to Sunday, and they were finally able to get their twinbill in. Today, Taylor Guerrieri should make his 2013 debut for Bowling Green.

Class A Bowling Green Hot Rods (2-2) ***Featured game of the day***

Behind a strong effort from Sean Bierman and some sloppy play by the Silver Hawks, Bowling Green split their season opening series with a 5-0 win. Bierman cruised through five scoreless innings, yielding just three baserunners, despite only striking out one before turning the game over to Reinaldo Lopez and Shay Crawford. The Hot Rods took advantage of five South Bend errors, including three in the first inning that helped them plate their first run. No one in the lineup stood out statistically, although Andrew Toles did collect two hits, drove in two runs and stole his first base of the year. The more interesting note was Tyler Goeddel's position: shortstop. It's the first time in his professional career he's played shortstop, or any position besides third base for that matter.

Triple-A Durham Bulls (3-1)

Although Mike Montgomery stumbled in his Rays organization debut, Durham prevailed over Norfolk 3-2 in game one of the doubleheader. Montgomery was erratic and inefficient, only throwing 48 strikes out of his 83 pitches. He got through just 3.2 innings with those 83 pitches, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four. After Durham took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, Tides outfielder Trayvon Robinson hit a leadoff home run to tie the game. Montgomery left the game with a lead, and Jim Paduch did a great job holding it, throwing 3.1 scoreless innings to earn the win. Jason Bourgeois reached base four times leading off for the Bulls and stole two bases.

Brandon Guyer carried the team's momentum to the second game with a first inning home run, but Norfolk eventually won 4-3. J.D. Martin struggled in his spot start for the Bulls, and he quickly coughed up the 1-0 lead handed to him by allowing a run in both the first and second innings. He lasted just 4.2 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Guyer's fifth inning double was his second of his third hits in game two, and it helped Durham retake a 3-2 lead. After Kirby Yates induced a Chris Dickerson flyout to start the seventh, Trayvon Robinson doubled, moved over to third base on a wild pitch and came home to score on a walkoff single by Danny Valencia. Hak-Ju Lee reached base three times and stole his third base of the season.

Double-A Montgomery Biscuits (2-2)

A five run fifth inning sunk Montgomery in their 8-4 loss to Birmingham. The Barons were already leading 3-2 at that point, but they hit starter Victor Mateo and reliever Jim Patterson hard, piling up three extra base hits and taking advantage of a two out error by Riccio Torrez that extended the inning. Patterson was only charged with an unearned run, but Mateo's final line was ugly: seven runs allowed in 4.1 innings on nine hits and two walks with two strikeouts. Despite the four runs, only one Biscuit reached base multiple times, catcher Mayo Acosta. He picked up three hits including a double and home run.

Class-A Advanced Charlotte Stone Crabs (1-3)

Charlotte was never really in the game in their 8-1 loss to Palm Beach. Starter Roberto Gomez lasted just four innings, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks with two strikeouts. The Cardinals were able to tack on five more runs against the Stone Crabs bullpen, including four against Nate Garcia in one inning. Cardinals first rounder Stephen Piscotty hit two of the team's three homers, part of their seven total extra base hits. Richie Shaffer and Curt Casali accounted for four of Charlotte's eight hits.

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Star of the day- If it weren't for Mayo Acosta, Montgomery's loss could've been even worse.

Goat of the day- Durham's pair of starting pitchers didn't give them many innings, and they weren't effective either.

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

Durham v. Gwinnett 6:05 PM (MiLB.TV)
Jake Odorizzi* (0-0, ---) v. Omar Poveda (0-0, ---)

Montgomery v. Birmingham 8:05 PM
Jake Thompson (0-0, ---) v. Stephen McCray (0-0, ---)

Charlotte is off

Bowling Green v. Lansing 8:05 PM
Taylor Guerrieri (0-0, ---) v. Daniel Norris (0-0, 27.00)

*Listed as TBA on milb.com

Scouting the opposition

Gwinnett Braves
4-0, (1st in IL South)
Offense: 19 R (5th) .739 OPS (7th)
Pitching: 2.53 ERA (4th) 1.38 WHIP (8th)
Top 30 Prospects: LHP Sean Gilmartin (4), OF Todd Cunningham (12), RHP David Hale (16), 1B Joey Terdoslavich (18)

Birmingham Barons (White Sox)
2-2 (T-2nd in SL North)
Offense: 15 R (4th) .647 OPS (3rd)
Pitching: 2.38 ERA (1st) 1.09 WHIP (3rd)
Top 30 Prospects: OF Trayce Thompson (2), RHP Erik Johnson (4), OF Keenyn Walker (5), LHP Scott Snodgress (6), 1B Andy Wilkins (12), RHP Jake Petricka (16), 2B Tyler Saladino (26), Nestor Molina (28)

Lansing Lugnuts (Toronto)
3-1 (T-1st in MWL East)
Offense: 24 R (3rd) .758 OPS (2nd)
Pitching: 1.29 ERA (1st) 1.11 WHIP (2nd)
Top 30 Prospects: RHP Roberto Osuna (4), LHP Daniel Norris (8), C Santiago Nessy (14), 2B Christian Lopes (23), OF Chris Hawkins (30)