Rays down on the farm April 25: Mateo dominates again

He was backed by a nice game from Jake Hager who is off to a good start.

Triple-A Durham Bulls (15-7)

A Matt Andriese throwing error proved to be crucial in Durham's 4-3 loss to Charlotte.  The teams were tied entering the sixth inning, and the Knights worked quickly to retake the lead.  After Andriese hit a batter and a single put two on with no outs, Andriese's throwing error on a bunt attempt allowed a run to score and the runners to take an extra base.  A sac fly and wild pitch made it a 4-1 Knights lead, but Andriese did manage to pitch another inning, finishing with four runs (three earned) allowed on five hits and two walks in seven innings with four strikeouts.  Former Rays prospect Frank De Los Santos was credited with the win for Charlotte, striking out four in three scoreless innings.

The Bulls got their first run of the game in the second on a Wilson Betemit solo home run, but the bats were largely silent for the rest of the game.  Thanks to some wildness from Knights relievers Donnie Veal and David Purcey, Durham was able to score two runs in the eighth without the benefit of a hit.  They took advantage of five walks, two wild pitches and an RBI groundout by Jerry Sands to pull within one, but they couldn't push the tying run across.  Durham only collected four total hits in the game, but they did walk seven times.  Betemit reached base three times.

Double-A Montgomery Biscuits (14-7)

Victor Mateo was very sharp in Montgomery's 4-0 win over Jacksonville.  Even though the Suns had a big leaguer in Rafael Furcal in their lineup, Mateo was able to throw seven scoreless innings for his second straight start.  In his seven innings, only two batters got as far as second base.  Mateo finished with five hits, a walk and nine strikeouts before Andrew Bellatti took over to throw the final two innings.

Curt Casali's two out RBI single in the third inning would have been the only run the Biscuits needed, but they continued adding runs.  Up 2-0 in the ninth inning, Jake Hager and Taylor Motter each hit solo home runs to extend the lead to four.  It was part of a four hit day for Hager who did not hit any home runs in 2013 with Charlotte.  Ryan Brett had three hits, and Casali had two.

Class-A Advanced Charlotte Stone Crabs (8-12)

Charlotte pummeled Bradenton early and cruised to a 13-6 win over the Marauders.  In the first three innings, the Stone Crabs piled up 10 runs and chased Bradenton's starter out after an inning.  Andrew Toles led off the five run first with a double and scored the first run of the game on a bases loaded walk by Kes Carter.  Tyler Goeddel then singled home two more.  In the four run fourth, Josh Sale delivered a big hit with an RBI double, and a two out Bradenton error helped Charlotte score two more runs.

Charlotte's bullpen was taxed and needed innings from starter Austin Pruitt, and it looked like they would get them.  After allowing one run through the first five innings, Bradenton got to Pruitt for four in the sixth, including a bases clearing triple that knocked him out of the game.  He would finish with five runs allowed on five hits and three walks in 5.1 innings with a strikeout.  Jorge Rodriguez struck out three in 3.1 innings of work but did allow an inherited runner to score.  Goeddel had four hits and drove in four Charlotte runs.  Toles hit two doubles as part of a three hit game, and he also walked once.

Class A Bowling Green Hot Rods (5-14)

Bowling Green got some more late inning magic in their 4-3 win over West Michigan.  Down 3-1 in the seventh, the Hot Rods inched a run closer when a two out single by Armando Araiza scored Johnny Field.  Two innings later, Araiza did it again with with two outs, hitting a single that plated the tying and go-ahead runs, and Ian Kendall threw a 1-2-3 ninth to wrap up the game.  Araiza had three hits, and Johnny Field and Ty Young each had two.

Starter Jordan Harrison was charged with all three Whitecap runs, but shoddy Bowling Green defense led to four errors and only one of those runs being earned.  That earned run came in the first inning to put West Michigan up 1-0, but Harrison settled in and finished with the three runs allowed in five innings on six hits and no walks with a strikeout.  Two out errors by Pat Blair and Yoel Araujo proved to be costly in West Michigan's two run sixth inning.

CLICK HERE FOR ALL BOX SCORES

Star of the day- Any players who have been on the Suns the last two years is probably sick of seeing Mateo.

Goat of the day- Andriese's final line wasn't awful, but he created a lot of trouble for himself.

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

Durham @ Charlotte 7:05 PM (MiLB.TV, radio stream)
Enny Romero (2-2, 4.43) v. TBA

Montgomery @ Jacksonville 7:05 PM (MiLB.TV, radio stream)
Dylan Floro (1-1, 6.86) v. Andrew Heaney (2-0, 1.48)

Charlotte @ Jupiter 6:35 PM (Radio stream)
Leonel Santiago* (0-2, 10.38) v. Trevor Williams (1-3, 5.29)

Bowling Green @ Lansing 7:05 PM (Radio stream)
Chris Kirsch (0-3, 8.36) v. Tom Robson (0-2, 11.05)

*Listed as TBA on milb.com

Scouting the opposition

Charlotte Knights (White Sox)
8-13 (3rd in IL South)
Offense: 72 R (13th) .648 OPS (13th)
Pitching: 4.04 ERA (7th) 1.50 WHIP (13th)
Top 30 Prospects: 3B Matt Davidson (4), 2B Carlos Sanchez (12), OF Jared Mitchell (13), RHP Jake Petricka (21)

Jacksonville Suns (Miami)
10-11 (3rd in SL South)
Offense: 84 R (T-6th) .683 OPS (4th)
Pitching: 4.35 ERA (10th) 1.41 WHIP (8th)
Top 30 Prospects: LHP Andrew Heaney (1), LHP Justin Nicolino (4), RHP Anthony DeSclafani (5), RHP Jose Urena (7), C J.T. Realmuto (10), RHP Angel Sanchez (16), RHP Nick Wittgren (18), LHP Grant Dayton (21), LHP Edgar Olmos (23), RHP Tyler Higgins (25)

Jupiter Hammerheads (Miami)
8-12 (T-5th in FSL South)
Offense: 90 R (7th) .663 OPS (8th)
Pitching: 4.40 ERA (10th) 1.39 WHIP (9th)
Top 30 Prospects: 3B Colin Moran (2), RHP Trevor Williams (11), RHP Colby Suggs (17), C Austin Barnes (20), RHP Austin Brice (27), RHP Josh Hodges (29)

Lansing Lugnuts (Toronto)
8-11 (T-5th in MWL East)
Offense: 87 R (5th) .674 OPS (9th)
Pitching: 3.95 ERA (10th) 1.46 WHIP (14th)
Top 30 Prospects: OF D.J. Davis (3), 3B Mitch Nay (4), RHP Alberto Tirado (8), SS Dawel Lugo (9), RHP Chase De Jong (11), LHP Jairo Labourt (12), RHP Tom Robson (16), C Santiago Nessy (23), 1B Matt Dean (25)