Rays down on the farm August 23: Casali still hot

Ryan Brett also hit his second home run for Montgomery.

Triple-A Durham Bulls (82-51)

Norfolk took advantage of uncharacteristic struggles from Kirby Yates in Durham's 3-2 loss. Asked to protect a one run lead, Yates began the ninth with a single allowed to Orioles prospect Jonathan Schoop. He struck out Steve Clevenger for the first out of the inning, but it would be the only one he would record. Alex Liddi doubled home Schoop, and he came around to score on a walkoff single by Zelous Wheeler. Durham once held a 2-0 lead, but the Bulls only picked up four hits during the game and couldn't add to the tenuous lead. Matt Buschmann pitched well, allowing just one run in 6.1 innings on five hits and a walk with five strikeouts. Kevin Kiermaier had two of Durham's four hits and also walked.

Double-A Montgomery Biscuits (28-32)

Ryan Brett led off the game with a home run, and Montgomery rolled to a 10-3 win over Mississippi. Both teams had 10 hits, but the Biscuits were able to capitalize on their opportunities with three multi-run innings. Brett would chip in later with a two run single in the fourth to extend their lead to 5-2. In the sixth, Montgomery would really break the game open with a four run inning, highlighted by a three run homer by Curt Casali, his fifth in 26 games with the Biscuits. Four Motngomery pitchers combined to limit the Braves to three runs, starting with starter Marquis Fleming who allowed two runs in four innings. Erik Hamren was probably the most effective with two hits allowed in two scoreless innings.

Class-A Advanced Charlotte Stone Crabs (33-22)

Charlotte was postponed.

Class A Bowling Green Hot Rods (37-23)

An eighth inning run broke a 3-3 tie in Bowling Green's 4-3 win over West Michigan. Tyler Goeddel doubled to lead off the inning, and he would come around to score on a single by Ryan Dunn. In the ninth, Andrew Hanse ran into trouble by allowing a pair of hits to place two runners in scoring position with one out. After an intentional walk to load the bases, Hanse retired the last two batters to preserve the win. Bowling Green's first three runs all came in the second thanks to RBI doubles by Goeddel and Brandon Martin. Starter Jordan Harrison stumbled through 4.1 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits and three walks with two strikeouts. Ryan Garton allowed two hits and three walks in 3.2 innings, but he got out of trouble and didn't allow a run. Goeddel had three hits and scored a pair of runs.

Short-Season Hudson Valley Renegades (29-33)

Despite being outhit 9-6, Hudson Valley was able to top Aberdeen by a 4-2 score. The IronBirds actually scored the first run of the game in the second, but the Renegades had four individual one run innings to tie and eventually take the lead. The game was tied in the third inning when John Alexander led off the inning with a double and eventually came around to score on a single from Ariel Soriano. Alexander would also score the second run of the game by scoring on consecutive wild pitches by Aberdeen. They would score their fourth run of the game on a wild pitch in the eighth inning. Ben Griset turned in a very good start for the Renegades, only allowing one run on six hits and a walk in 6.2 innings with four strikeouts. Eli Echarry allowed the second IronBirds run in 2.1 innings but struck out three.

Rookie Princeton Rays (20-40)

Princeton used solid pitching to beat Bristol 4-2. The White Sox jumped out in front with a second inning solo home run, but the Rays scored the next four runs to pull ahead. Spencer Edwards' two out double in the third drove in a pair of runs, and he had another two RBI double two innings later. German Marquez used Edwards' run support to his advantage and turned in a good start, only allowing one run on four hits and no walks in five innings with four strikeouts. Oscar Armenta allowed Bristol's second run, but he did strike out three in three innings. In addition to his two doubles, Edwards had a third hit, and Coty Blanchard and Enmanuel Paulino each scored a pair of runs.

Rookie Gulf Coast League Rays (23-31)

Once gain, the GCL Rays were sunk by Bryce Brentz's rehab appearance in a 6-3 loss to the GCL Red Sox. After a leadoff triple in the fourth, the Rays' Alexander Simon came home to score and tie the game, but in the next half inning, Brentz hit a three run homer against Jose Castillo to break the tie. Castillo allowed four of the Red Sox runs on five hits and a walk in two innings with three strikeouts. He was in relief of Jose Mujica who allowed one run in three innings of work. The Rays only managed five hits against four Red Sox pitchers, including first round pick Trey Ball. Adderly Rosa drew three walks. With the loss, the GCL Rays were eliminated from playoff contention.

CLICK HERE FOR ALL BOX SCORES

Star of the day- Edwards seems to be finishing up his Appy League season strong.

Goat of the day- Castillo has allowed runs in all but one of his 11 appearances for the GCL Rays.

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

Durham @ Norfolk 7:05 PM (MiLB.TV)
J.D. Martin (15-4, 2.84) v. Freddy Garcia (8-3, 2.84)

Montgomery v. Jacksoville 8:05 PM (MiLB.TV)
TBA v. Anthony DeSclafini (5-3, 3.61)

Charlotte v. Jupiter 6:30 PM
Felipe Rivero* (8-7, 3.68) v. Angel Sanchez* (3-2, 2.83)

Bowling Green v. West Michigan 8:05 PM
Austin Pruitt (0-2, 1.33) v. Montreal Robertson (2-7, 6.57)

Hudson Valley v. Lowell 7:05 PM
Derek Loera* (1-1, 3.33) v. Daniel McGrath* (2-1, 3.43)

Princeton v. Bristol 7:05 PM
Hunter Wood* (2-3, 4.50) v. Robinson Leyer (2-6, 5.98)

GCL Rays @ GCL Orioles 12 PM
TBA v. TBA

*Listed as TBA on milb.com

Scouting the opposition

Norfolk Tides (Baltimore)
70-63 (2nd in IL South)
Offense: 602 R (4th) .734 OPS (4th)
Pitching: 3.92 ERA (7th) 1.35 WHIP (7th)
Top 30 Prospects: RHP Kevin Gausman (2), IF Jonathan Schoop (3), OF Xavier Avery (11), OF Henry Urrutia (13), RHP Steve Johnson (16), LHP Tsuyoshi Wada (21), LHP Michael Belfiore (24)

Jacksonville Suns (Miami)
34-25 (1st in SL South)
Offense: 510 R (6th) .690 OPS (4th)
Pitching: 3.37 ERA (4th) 1.22 WHIP (1st)
Top 30 Prospects: LHP Andrew Heaney (3), LHP Justin Nicolino (6), C J.T. Realmuto (9), LHP Adam Conley (10), 2B Derek Dietrich (12), 3B Zack Cox (15), LHP Raudel Lazo (22), LHP Grant Dayton (25), SS Danny Black (28), C Austin Barnes (29)

Jupiter Hammerheads (Miami)
28-31 (5th in FSL South)
Offense: 481 R (11th) .662 OPS (11th)
Pitching: 3.17 ERA (1st) 1.25 WHIP (1st)
Top 30 Prospects: RHP Jose Urena (8), RHP Jake Esch (23), RHP Angel Sanchez (25), OF Brent Keys (30), 2B Noah Perio (34)

West Michigan Whitecaps (Detroit)
27-30 (6th in MWL East)
Offense: 538 R (13th) .698 OPS (10th)
Pitching: 3.73 ERA (7th) 1.35 WHIP (9th)
Top 30 Prospects: RHP Jake Thompson (4), 2B Harold Castro (17), RHP Montreal Robertson (18), RHP Endrys Briceno (22), RHP Edgar De La Rosa (29), 1B Dean Green (33), RHP Corey Knebel

Lowell Spinners (Boston)
35-25 (2nd in Stedler)
Offense: 219 R (11th) .627 OPS (11th)
Pitching: 2.74 ERA (3rd) 1.12 WHIP (2nd)
Top 30 Prospects: SS Tzu-Wei Lin (16), OF Manuel Margot (20), RHP Ty Buttrey (26), RHP Simon Mercedes (28)

Bristol White Sox
16-41 (5th in APP West)
Offense: 198 R (10th) .609 OPS (9th)
Pitching: 4.88 ERA (10th) 1.49 WHIP (10th)
Top 30 Prospects: C Sammy Ayala (22)

GCL Orioles
28-26 (2nd in GCL South)
Offense: 205 R (12th) .648 OPS (11th)
Pitching: 3.28 ERA (5th) 1.25 WHIP (5th)
Top 30 Prospects: None