Down on the farm May 1: First month in the books

The Rays got two great starting performances on the farm yesterday. In the early going, it certainly appears Jeff Ames can handle low-A.

Triple-A Durham Bulls (18-8)

Two top prospects and North Carolinians led Durham to a 7-1 win over Syracuse early Tuesday. Chris Archer fired his best start of the season, tying a season high with six strikeouts, only walking two and finishing with six scoreless innings. He probably could've thrown a few more strikes though with only 59.3% of his 86 pitches going for strikes. Offensively, Wil Myers hit his third home run in the sixth inning, a solo shot that provided Archer with some insurance. Brandon Guyer got two hits batting in front of Myers, and Leslie Anderson picked up three behind him. Kirby Yates struck out two and walked none in another scoreless inning.

Double-A Montgomery Biscuits (13-12)

Montgomery was off.

Class-A Advanced Charlotte Stone Crabs (8-17)

Charlotte couldn't hold a late lead and dropped a 7-5 game to Lakeland in 10 innings. Up 4-3 in the ninth, Austin Hubbard retired the first two batters of the inning, but getting the 27th proved again to be the most difficult. Pat Leyland singled to keep the game alive, and after a Jason King walk to put the go-ahead run on base, John Murrian hit a two run double to give Lakeland the lead. In the bottom half of the inning, Hector Guevara tied the game on an error after hitting his sixth double of the year. However, Lakeland got to Eliazer Suero with two outs in the 10th in relief of Hubbard. King hit a two run single that proved to be the game winner. Starter Ryan Carpenter allowed three runs, including two home runs, in five innings while striking out five and walking two. Guevara also added his second homer of the season earlier in the game, and Jake Hager and Richie Shaffer were among four Stone Crabs with two hits.

Class A Bowling Green Hot Rods (18-6)

Behind a great start from Jeff Ames, Bowling Green cruised to an 8-0 win over Peoria to complete an April with a .750 winning percentage. Ames finished with five scoreless innings, only allowing one hit and one run while striking out five. He got some first inning run support thanks to a leadoff double by Thomas Coyle followed by an RBI triple by Tyler Goeddel. A two out single by Granden Goetzman scored Goeddel. Up 3-0 in the fifth, Luke Maile hit a three run home run, his first of the season, and he also chipped in a pair of doubles. In addition to his RBI triple in his return to the lineup, Goeddel walked twice. For the second time on the homestand, Bowling Green forced its opponent to finish the game with a pitcher on the mound.

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Star of the day- It's tough to pick between Archer and Ames, so I won't.

Goat of the day- Charlotte's bullpen had a big problem with two outs in innings.

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

Durham is off

Montgomery @ Pensacola 8 PM (MiLB.TV)
Jake Thompson (1-2, 6.50) v. Chad Rogers (2-0, 1.82)

Charlotte v. Lakeland 6:30 PM
Parker Markel* (0-3, 8.61) v. Jeff Ferrell* (0-2, 5.52)

Bowling Green @ Kane County 7:30 PM
Blake Snell (1-2, 3.31) v. Lendy Castillo (0-1, 6.60)

*Listed as TBA on milb.com

Scouting the opposition

Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Cincinnati)
10-13 (5th in SL South)
Offense: 70 R (10th) .598 OPS (10th)
Pitching: 3.50 ERA (5th) 1.31 WHIP (6th)
Top 30 Prospects: RHP Kyle Lotzkar (12), OF Ryan LaMarre (21), C Tucker Barnhart (23), SS Devin Lohman (25), RHP Chad Rogers (28), RHP Josh Ravin (31)

Lakeland Flying Tigers
11-14 (T-4th in FSL North)
Offense: 109 R (7th) .698 OPS (6th)
Pitching: 3.32 ERA (3rd) 1.30 WHIP (4th)
Top 30 Prospects: SS Eugenio Suarez (9), RHP Melvin Mercedes (13), RHP Drew VerHagen (14), OF Steven Moya (15), 1B Dean Green (33)

Kane County Cougars (Cubs)
9-13 (7th in MWL West)
Offense: 113 R (7th) .769 OPS (2nd)
Pitching: 4.92 ERA (16th) 1.47 WHIP (14th)
Top 30 Prospects: RHP Pierce Johnson (6), 1B Dan Vogelbach (7), 3B Jeimer Candelario (8), SS Marco Hernandez (20), 2B Gioskar Amaya (21), RHP Lendy Castillo (28), OF Trey Martin (30)