Rays prospects and minor leagues: Padlo heating up

In his last five games, Kevin Padlo is 9-for-18 with five extra base hits. The first game in that stretch was his first multi-hit game of the season. It seems like contact has been a problem -- his strikeout rate for the season is 29 percent, and he has struck out in all but four games this season. We'll see what happens, because after all, it's still the first week of May.

Triple-A Durham Bulls (12-16)

Durham's offensive malaise continued in a 6-0 loss to Indianapolis Wednesday. Since a 6-1 win on April 24, the Bulls have scored just 13 runs in 10 games. Blake Snell struck out four but walked five and allowed three runs in five innings.

Double-A Montgomery Biscuits (14-11)

Chih-Wei Hu was finally charged with an earned run in the Southern League, but he was still sharp in Montgomery's 2-1 win over Birmingham. The Biscuits wanted to get him through the seventh inning, but he could only get one out before Parker Markel allowed an inherited runner to score. Hu struck out eight, walked none and allowed just six hits. Casey Gillaspie drove in both runs with a solo home run and a run-scoring double.

Class-A Advanced Charlotte Stone Crabs (14-12)

Charlotte was postponed.

Class-A Bowling Green Hot Rods (14-13)

Kevin Padlo's recent surge continued in Bowling Green's 11-2 win over Peoria. The third base prospect hit a home run in his second straight game and his third in five when he reached base four times in Wednesday's game. Brandon Lowe cleared the bases with a triple in a four-run first, and the Hot Rods rolled from there. Starter Henry Centeno allowed two runs -- one earned -- on nine hits in five innings.

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Notable Performances

AAA IF Daniel Robertson: 1-for-4
AAA UT Taylor Motter: 2-for-4, 1 K

AAA LHP Blake Snell: 5 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 4 K

AA OF Jake Bauers: 1-for-4
AA SS Willy Adames: 0-for-2, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K
AA 1B Casey Gillaspie: 3-for-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI

AA RHP Chih-Wei Hu: 6 1/3 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K

A IF Jake Cronenworth: 4-for-6, 3 R, 2 SB
A 3B Kevin Padlo: 3-for-5, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
A IF Michael Russell: 4-for-5, 2 R, 1 2B
A OF Manny Sanchez: 0-for-6, 1 K
A 2B Brandon Lowe: 3-for-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K

A RHP Henry Centeno: 5 IP, 9 H, 2 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K

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

Durham is off

Montgomery v. Birmingham 8:05 PM ET (MiLB.TV, radio stream)
Jacob Faria (0-3, 6.12) v. Jordan Guerrero (0-0, 5.57)

Charlotte @ Bradenton 6:30 PM ET (radio stream)
TBA v. Colten Brewer (1-4, 3.60)

Bowling Green @ Burlington 7:30 PM ET (radio stream)
Genesis Cabrera (2-1, 1.04) v. Luis Pena (0-1, 4.22)

*Listed as TBA on milb.com

Scouting the opposition

Birmingham Barons (White Sox)
10-16 (5th in SL North)
Offense: 112 R (4th) .701 OPS (4th)
Pitching: 5.04 ERA (10th) 1.50 WHIP (9th)
Top 30 Prospects: RHP Carson Fulmer (2), 3B Trey Michalczewski (6), RHP Tyler Danish (9), OF Adam Engel (10), LHP Jordan Guerrero (11), OF Courtney Hawkins (12), LHP Brian Clark (14), 2B Jake Peter (22), RHP Robinson Leyer (24), SS Eddy Alvarez (28), RHP Matt Lollis

Bradenton Marauders (Pittsburgh)
12-14 (5th in FSL South)
Offense: 101 R (6th) .656 OPS (5th)
Pitching: 3.09 ERA (5th) 1.23 WHIP (5th)
Top 30 Prospects: SS Kevin Newman (8), 3B Jordan Luplow (14), RHP Yeudy Garcia (16), 2B Kevin Kramer (28)

Burlington Bees (Angels)
11-15 (T-6th in MWL West)
Offense: 91 R (12th) .612 OPS (11th)
Pitching: 2.99 ERA (6th) 1.36 WHIP (13th)
Top 30 Prospects: RHP Grayson Long (6), RHP Joe Gatto (7), RHP Jaime Barria (9), IF Brendon Sanger (15), OF Jared Foster (20), RHP Adam Fohacket (24)