Rays prospects and minor leagues: Sanchez, Hot Rods sweep Clinton

To expand on Wednesday's discussion about player ages, let's look at the averages ages of all of the Rays' affiliates. Keep in mind the Triple-A stats are likely to be a bit skewed by the veterans hanging on.

Average Durham hitter: 26.0
Average International League hitter: 26.8

Average Durham pitcher: 26.2
Average International League pitcher: 26.8

He's off to a bit of a slow start, but Daniel Robertson started the season as the third-youngest hitter in the league.

Average Montgomery hitter: 22.6
Average Southern League hitter: 24.1

Average Montgomery pitcher: 24.2
Average Southern League pitcher: 24.2

The Biscuits pitching staff clearly isn't as young as the hitters, but Chih-Wei Hu, Jacob Faria and Taylor Guerrieri give them a nice trio younger than the average.

Average Charlotte hitter: 22.0
Average Florida State League hitter: 22.8

Average Charlotte pitcher: 22.9
Average Florida State League pitcher: 23.2

In case you weren't positive just how young Montgomery's lineup is, it's probably more clear now.

Average Bowling Green hitter: 20.8
Average Midwest League hitter: 21.6

Average Bowling Green pitcher: 21.0
Average Midwest League pitcher: 21.9

Hot Rods bats are tied for being the youngest in the league, and the arms are the second youngest. Having four players who aren't even 20 yet, including Kevin Padlo and Genesis Cabrera, helps.

Triple-A Durham Bulls (10-11)

Durham was mowed down by a rehabbing John Lamb in its 6-2 loss Wednesday. The former star prospect struck out five over eight efficient innings, and a four-run sixth put the Bulls in a hole they couldn't get out of. Knuckleballing Eddie Gamboa stepped into the rotation and allowed just a run in 4 2/3 innings with four strikeouts, and the Bats did much of their damage against Andrew Bellatti, who was charged with three runs. Nick Franklin hit his second home run.

Double-A Montgomery Biscuits (11-8)

Montgomery was off.

Class-A Advanced Charlotte Stone Crabs (9-11)

Charlotte pitching failed to contain St. Lucie again in its 7-1 loss Wednesday. Already down 2-0, Jace Conrad singled in the Stone Crabs' only run in the fourth inning, and St. Lucie closed the game with five unanswered runs. Starter Chris Pike allowed four runs in five innings.

Class-A Bowling Green (10-10)

Bowling Green scored early in the first portion of Game 1 and held on for a 12-8 win over Clinton. After falling behind 3-0 in the first, the Hot Rods put up back-to-back five-run innings in the second and third. Jose Mujica struck out five but was tagged with four runs in four innings, and Yonny Chirinos was charged with three runs while only recording two outs. Manny Sanchez's second homer of the season, and third extra-base hit of the game, added insurance in the eighth.

Michael Russell drove in two runs in the Hot Rods' 3-2 win in Game 2. His first-inning single put Bowling Green up 2-0, and after the LumberKings tied the game in the fifth, his sacrifice fly in the bottom half of the inning provided the eventual winning run. Roel Ramirez allowed a pair of runs in five innings, and Diego Castillo recorded a save with two strikeouts over the final two innings.

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Notable Performances

AAA UT Taylor Motter: 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B
AAA IF/OF Richie Shaffer: 1-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 K
AAA IF Daniel Robertson: 1-for-4

AAA RHP Eddie Gamboa: 4 2/3 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
AAA RHP Andrew Bellatti: 1 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

A+ OF Thomas Milone: 0-for-3, 2 K
A+ C Nick Ciuffo: 1-for-4

A+ RHP Chris Pike: 5 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
A+ RHP Jeff Howell: 3 IP, 3 H, 3 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 4 K

A IF Jake Cronenworth: 3-for-6, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 K (1)
A 3B Kevin Padlo: 1-for-5, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K (1)
A 3B Kevin Padlo: 1-for-2, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB (2)
A C David Rodriguez: 1-for-3, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 K (1)
A C Brett Sullivan: 3-for-5, 2 R, 2 2B, 2 K (1)
A OF Manny Sanchez: 4-for-4, 4 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB (1)
A 2B Brandon Lowe: 2-for-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 1 BB (1)
A OF Angel Moreno: 3-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 SB (1)

A RHP Jose Mujica: 4 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 K (1)
A RHP Yonny Chirinos: two-thirds IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 0 K (1)
A RHP Roel Ramirez: 5 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K (2)

Today's probables (All probables courtesy milb.com)

Durham v. Louisville 7:05 PM ET (MiLB.tv, radio stream)
Matt Andriese (1-2, 4.03) v. Josh Smith (2-1, 0.50)

Montgomery @ Chattanooga 7:15 PM ET (radio stream)
Chih-Wei Hu (0-0, 0.00) v. Jason Wheeler (1-1, 1.88)

Charlotte v. St. Lucie 6:35 PM ET (radio stream)
Brent Honeywell (1-0, 0.73) v. Corey Oswalt (1-0, 3.14)

Bowling Green v. Clinton 7:35 PM ET (radio stream)
TBA v Lukas Schiraldi (2-1, 2.25)

*Listed as TBA on milb.com

Scouting the opposition