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If you're looking to read about Josh Sale, you can do so here.
Triple-A Durham Bulls (33-20) ***Featured game of the day***
Two big Durham innings broke open a tight game in the Bulls' 10-2 win over Buffalo. Down 2-1 in the fifth, Tim Beckham's sac bunt moved the tying run into scoring position, and a hit parade soon began. Six consecutive hits, including extra base hits by Juan Apodaca, Vince Belnome and Wil Myers provided five runs to give Durham a healthy lead. In the eighth inning, they poured four more on the worst pitching staff in the International League, including a two run home run by Shelley Duncan. With Alex Colome set to make his ML debut today, an ensemble cast of relievers limited the Bisons to three hits. Juan Sandoval pitched the first 3.2 innings and allowed one run in his first AAA appearance since 2009. Adam Liberatore was credited with the win, and Kirby Yates struck out three of the five batters he faced, all outs. Leslie Anderson had four hits, one of five Bulls with multi-hit games.
Double-A Montgomery Biscuits (26-26)
Mississippi wasn't particularly competitive in Montgomery's 10-0 win over the Braves. The Biscuits used a barrage of hits in innings two through four when they scored all 10 of their runs, and catcher Keith Castillo was in the middle of it in each inning. He doubled home Kyeong Kang in the second, doubled home Mikie Mahtook and Cameron Seitzer in the third and took a bases loaded walk in the fourth to bring in another run. Castillo and Seitzer each reached base four times, and Robby Price was the only Biscuit to not get on at all. Castillo and Riccio Torrez each drove in four runs. With the great run support, Jake Thompson had no problem throwing 6.1 scoreless innings, allowing six hits and two walks while striking out four.
Class-A Advanced Charlotte Stone Crabs (23-28)
Just hours after the news of Josh Sale's suspension was released, Charlotte snuck past Palm Beach 3-1. Ryan Carpenter got the win pitching six scoreless innings, but he was uncharacteristically wild. He walked a career high four batters and only struck out two. The offense provided enough support with three separate one run innings. Kes Carter, Richie Shaffer and Willie Argo each had RBI hits. Carter and Shaffer each had three hit games. Carter now has a .929 OPS in his last 10 games and has already played a career high 45 this year.
Class A Bowling Green Hot Rods (30-22)
Three home runs powered Bowling Green to a game one 8-5 victory over Lake County. The first was the start of a four run inning for the Hot Rods with Joey Rickard giving them a 1-0 lead two batters into the game. Tyler Goeddel plated the next three runs with a bases clearing triple. Just one inning later with one out, Rickard again hit a solo home run to extend the lead. In the third, in just his second at-bat of the season, former first rounder Brandon Martin hit a two run home run to extend Bowling Green's lead to 8-1. This early offense was important because Blake Snell was not good. He lasted just 4.1 innings, allowing five runs on four hits and six walks while only striking out one. Nick Sawyer would earn the win by recording the final eight outs of the game, including leaving two inherited runners stranded in the fifth inning.
Martin's big season debut continued, albeit in a 6-5 Hot Rods loss. His second two run homer of the day was part of a four run onslaught in the second inning that broke what was a 1-1 tie at the time. Before that though, Tyler Goeddel hit a two run home run of his own, his second of the season. Unfortunately, Brandon Henderson couldn't hold the 5-1 lead. In his first start of the season, he could only last four innings, allowing five runs, three earned, on seven hits with two strikeouts and no walks. Lake County's pitching staff settled in and didn't allow a run after the second. With two runners on in the bottom of the seventh, Ryan Garton allowed a walkoff hit to split the doubleheader. Andrew Toles had three hits and stolen bases.
Star of the day- As the internet's biggest Brandon Martin shill, I have no choice.
Goat of the day- Sale's conduct has apparently proven to be detrimental to the organization.
Today's games (probables courtesy of milb.com)
Durham v. Buffalo 7:05 PM (MiLB.TV)
J.D. Martin (6-2, 3.65) v. Josh Johnson (0-0, ---)
Montgomery @ Mississippi 8 PM (MiLB.TV)
Merrill Kelly (3-5, 3.81) v. TBA
Charlotte @ Palm Beach 10:35 AM
Parker Markel* (2-4, 6.96) v. Tyler Melling* (1-1, 2.49)
Bowling Green @ Lake County 11 AM
Dylan Floro (3-1, 1.54) v. Ryan Merritt (2-4, 3.31)
*Listed as TBA on milb.com
Scouting the opposition
Buffalo Bisons (Toronto)
28-23 (2nd in IL North)
Offense: 275 R (3rd) .810 OPS (1st)
Pitching: 5.25 ERA (14th) 1.60 WHIP (14th)
Top 30 Prospects: RHP John Stilson (7)
Mississippi Braves
29-23 (1st in SL South)
Offense: 227 R (2nd) .701 OPS (3rd)
Pitching: 3.10 ERA (1st) 1.24 WHIP (4th)
Top 30 Prospects: RHP J.R. Graham (2), C Christian Bethancourt (3), LHP Alex Wood (7), RHP Cody Martin (13), 3B Edward Salcedo (17), RHP Aaron Northcraft (30)
Palm Beach Cardinals
20-31 (5th in FSL South)
Offense: 177 R (12th) .659 OPS (11th)
Pitching: 3.67 ERA (6th) 1.34 WHIP (7th)
Top 30 Prospects: 3B Stephen Piscotty (10), OF James Ramsey (12), LHP Tim Cooney (25)
Lake County Captains (Cleveland)
16-33 (8th in MWL East)
Offense: 210 R (13th) .664 OPS (13th)
Pitching: 4.50 ERA (15th) 1.37 WHIP (12th)
Top 30 Prospects: SS Dorssys Paulino (2), RHP Mitch Brown (5), OF Anthony Santander (13), RHP Dylan Baker (16), OF LeVon Washington