Rays down on the farm August 8: Romero helps Bulls split doubleheader

Hunter Lockwood's power was never a question, but he could really cool it with the strikeouts.  So far in his career, he's striking out at just above a 30% rate, and it's hard to imagine him having success if he keeps that up as he gets promoted.  He's now tied for second in the New York-Penn League in home runs with 12.  The player in first is now playing in the Midwest League, and the player he's tied with left last night's game against Hudson Valley with a hand injury after being hit by a pitch.

Triple-A Durham Bulls (62-56)

One run wasn't enough in Durham's 5-1 game one loss to Buffalo.  That run came in the fourth inning, right after Merrill Kelly had already given up two Bison runs.  Nick Franklin led off the inning with a single, and he eventually scored on a Jeremy Moore sac fly.  Kelly finished with two runs allowed on four hits and three walks in four innings with five strikeouts.  Brandon Gomes was charged with the final three Buffalo runs in 1.1 innings.

Thanks to Enny Romero, one run was enough in their game two 1-0 win.  That run was significant too, because it came on a Nick Franklin home run, his first in the organization.  Romero completely dominated the Bisons, and with 89 pitches (59 strikes), he probably could've finished the game.  Instead, he exited with one hit and two walks allowed in six scoreless innings with six strikeouts.

Double-A Montgomery Biscuits (22-25)

Dylan Floro struggled again in Montgomery's 8-2 loss to Chattanooga.  After he allowed a run in the second inning, Floro allowed four runs on five hits, including one on a double by Dodgers prospect Corey Seager.  The Biscuits would try to get Floro through another inning, but he finished with seven runs allowed on 10 hits and a walk in 3.2 innings with four strikeouts.  Since throwing a shutout on July 4th, Floro has allowed 27 earned runs in 32.1 innings.

Montgomery's offense wasn't able to really respond most of the game.  They needed a wild pitch to score their first run in the third inning, and their second came an inning later on back to back two out doubles by Jeff Malm and Luke Maile.  Justin O'Conner and Alejandro Segovia each had two hit nights.

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

Charlotte's offense was mostly missing in their 4-1 loss to Palm Beach.  Already down 3-0 in the fourth, Josh Sale's two out double scored Patrick Leonard, and only three Stone Crabs would reach base the rest of the game.  Leonard would be the only Charlotte batter to reach base more than once.

After having his start pushed back a day, Jared Mortensen struggled.  Palm Beach took a second inning 1-0 lead, and an inning later, a two run home run against Mortensen provided what proved to be the winning run plus some insurance.  Mortensen finished with three runs (two earned) allowed on five hits and three walks in four innings with two strikeouts.

Class A Bowling Green Hot Rods (20-25)

Bowling Green was postponed.

Short-Season Hudson Valley Renegades (38-15)

Hunter Wood rebounded from a pair of rough starts in Hudson Valley's 5-2 win over Williamsport.  With a 1-0 lead in the fourth, the Renegades conceded a Crosscutter run, and an inning later, Cord Sandberg hit a solo home run right after Hudson Valley took a 4-1 lead.  Wood would pitch one more inning, finishing with two runs allowed on five hits and a walk in six innings with five strikeouts.

Hunter Lockwood's 12th home run of the season gave the Renegades a 1-0 lead, and they got all the offense they would need two innings later.  The first run of the inning came on a Grant Kay sac fly, and Lockwood would deliver what proved to be the winning run with a triple.  Coty Blanchard's single scored the third run of the inning.  In addition to his sac fly, Kay finished the game with three hits, including his 12th double.

Rookie Princeton Rays (25-20)

Cristian Toribio was once again a factor in Princeton's 4-2 win over Bluefield.  With the Rays down 1-0, Toribio's second inning home run, his fourth of the year, tied the game.  An inning later, after Patrick Grady was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to give the Rays a 2-1 lead, the Blue Jays conceded what ended up being the winning run on a Nick Ciuffo groundout.  Toribio had two hits, and Riley Unroe and Thomas Milone each had a hit and drew a walk.

Starter Freddy Alvarez only pitched four innings, allowing Kyle Bird to get credited with the win with just one inning pitched.  Alvarez allowed two runs on five hits and two walks with two strikeouts, but the standout pitching performance would be Roel Ramirez finishing the game.  He threw the final four innings with five strikeouts, and he only faced the minimum when a double play erased a single he allowed.

Rookie Gulf Coast League Rays (24-18)

A 10-1 hole was too much for the GCL Rays in their 10-6 loss to the GCL Red Sox.  Already down 2-1 in the fifth, the Red Sox allowed a three run home run, but the sixth would be even worse.  They scored five runs using three extra base hits, including a grand slam by rising Red Sox prospect Rafael Devers.  Roberto Gomez was charged with two runs in three innings on his rehab assignment, Jose Castillo was charged with a run in 1.1 innings, and Deivy Mendez was charged with seven runs in an inning.

With that nine run deficit, the Rays scored five runs in the eighth to at least make the score more respectable.  In that inning, Bill Pujols singled home two runs, and he scored the fifth on a Zacrey Law single.  Law was among four Rays that had two hit games, and all four hit doubles.  Oscar Sanay reached base three times.

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Star of the day- Romero has had a rough year, but it's nice to see him turn in a start like this.

Goat of the day- Offense was a bit lacking for the full-season affiliates.

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

Durham v. Buffalo 7:05 PM (MiLB.TV, radio stream)
Matt Andriese (11-6, 3.55) v. Sean Nolin (3-4, 3.02)

Montgomery v. Chattanooga 8:05 PM (MiLB.TV, radio stream)
Albert Suarez* (3-2, 3.18) v. Matt Shelton (3-3, 4.59)

Charlotte @ Palm Beach 5:35 PM (Radio stream)
Reinaldo Lopez (6-4, 3.40) v. Nick Petree* (5-3, 2.05)

Bowling Green v. Dayton 6 PM (Radio stream) DOUBLEHEADER
D.J. Slaton (0-2, 8.76) v. Dan Langfield (3-2, 3.88)
Jake Faria (7-6, 3.48) v. Sal Romano (7-10, 4.12)

Both games will be seven innings

Hudson Valley v. Williamsport 7:05 PM (Radio stream)
Jose Alonzo* (0-1, 12.71) v. Ricardo Pinto (0-3, 2.86)

Princeton @ Bluefield 7:05 PM (Radio stream)
Hyrum Formo (10-, 4.61) v. Evan Smith (2-1, 3.86)

GCL Rays v. GCL Orioles 12 PM
TBA v. TBA

*Listed as TBA on milb.com

Scouting the opposition

Buffalo Bisons (Toronto)
62-56 (4th in IL North)
Offense: 483 R (12th) .717 OPS (8th)
Pitching: 3.56 ERA (3rd) 1.29 WHIP (4th)
Top 30 Prospects: LHP Sean Nolin (10), C A.J. Jimenez (14), OF Kevin Pillar (20), RHP John Stilson (21)

Chattanooga Lookouts (Los Angeles)
20-25 (5th in SL North)
Offense: 489 R (8th) .716 OPS (4th)
Pitching: 4.33 ERA (9th) 1.49 WHIP (10th)
Top 30 Prospects: SS Corey Seager (2), LHP Chris Reed (8), OF Scott Schebler (17), IF Darnell Sweeney (25)

Palm Beach Cardinals
28-18 (2nd in FSL South)
Offense: 537 R (2nd) .715 OPS (3rd)
Pitching: 3.42 ERA (5th) 1.29 WHIP (5th)
Top 30 Prospects: RHP Tyrell Jenkins (17), RHP Luke Weaver

Dayton Dragons (Cincinnati)
22-23 (3rd in MWL East)
Offense: 480 R (10th) .668 OPS (13th)
Pitching: 3.46 ERA (5th) 1.26 WHIP (5th)
Top 30 Prospects: OF Phil Ervin (3), RHP Nick Travieso (8), LHP Amir Garrett (18), RHP Jackson Stephens (19), OF Jonathan Reynoso (20), RHP Sal Romano (25), 3B Tanner Rahier (27), RHP Dan Langfield (30), SS Alex Blandino

Williamsport Crosscutters (Philadelphia)
24-29 (T-3rd in Pinckney)
Offense: 208 R (12th) .662 OPS (9th)
Pitching: 3.50 ERA (6th) 1.28 WHIP (7th)
Top 30 Prospects: C Deivi Grullon (14), OF Cord Sandberg (21), RHP Mitch Gueller (24), OF Aaron Brown

Bluefield Blue Jays
22-25 (4th in APP East)
Offense: 207 R (5th) .671 OPS (7th)
Pitching: 3.75 ERA (7th) 1.34 WHIP (4th)
Top 30 Prospects: LHP Matt Smoral (13), 1B Rowdy Tellez (18), SS Richard Urena (24)

GCL Orioles
20-22 (3rd in GCL South)
Offense: 121 R (16th) .571 OPS (16th)
Pitching: 2.86 ERA (3rd) 1.15 WHIP (1st)
Top 30 Prospects: C Jonah Heim (26)