Rays prospects and minor leagues: Biscuits, Hot Rods keep seasons alive

The Rays affiliates still playing demonstrate the differences in minor league playoff systems. The Renegades are through to the championship with two wins, but the Hot Rods would only get to the semifinal round with the same two wins. Montgomery needs to win three out of five (or now two out of two) to reach its championship.

Double-A Montgomery Biscuits (76-64)

Jake DePew was the hero with a walkoff double to extend Montgomery's season in a 4-3, Game 3 win over Jackson. The Biscuits actually held a 3-0 lead after Jake Bauers' two-run homer in the third, but the offense proceeded to shut down. With one out in the ninth, Granden Goetzman doubled and came home to score on DePew's big hit. Although he lost a three-run lead, starter Chris Kirsch had a good outing. He allowed three runs -- two earned -- on four hits and two walks in 7 1/3 innings with nine punchouts. Kyle Winkler retired all five batters he faced.

Class-A Bowling Green Hot Rods (84-55)

Bowling Green earned its first-ever playoff win with an 8-6 decision over Great Lakes to force a decisive Game 3 Saturday. In fact, when the Hot Rods scored four in the seventh, it marked the first time they ever led in a postseason game. The Loons led 6-2 after 2 1/2 innings, but the Hot Rods gradually chipped away. David Rodriguez's sacrifice fly in the seventh pulled them within one, and three runs scored on an error later in the inning.

The player of the game was likely Yoel Espinal. In relief of Genesis Cabrera, who allowed six runs in three innings, Espinal struck out six over five innings and gave his offense a chance to come back. Fernando Baez earned a save, but not without making the game interesting by putting the potential tying run on base.

Short-Season Hudson Valley Renegades (47-27)

Hudson Valley was off, but it found out its opponent will be the State College Spikes in the three-game final. They're a Cardinals affiliate.

The preceding stories were not generated by the Associated Press computer using data from and in cooperation with MLBAM.

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Notable performances

Double-A

SS Willy Adames: 0-for-4, 1 K
1B Jake Bauers: 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB
OF Justin Williams: 0-for-4, 1 K
OF Granden Goetzman: 2-for-3, 1 R, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB

LHP Chris Kirsch: 7 1/3 IP, 4 H, 3 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 9 K
RHP Kyle Winkler: 1 2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Class-A

3B Kevin Padlo: 0-for-4, 1 R, 1 BB
C Brett Sullivan: 2-for-3, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 K

LHP Genesis Cabrera: 3 IP, 5 H, 6 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
RHP Yoen Espinal: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K

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

Montgomery v. Jackson 7:35 PM ET (MiLB.TV, radio stream)
Hunter Wood (6-2, 3.28) v. Bryan Evans (0-1, 3.44)

Game 4 of a best-of-five series (Montgomery trails, 2-1)

Bowling Green v. Great Lakes 7:35 PM ET (radio stream)
TBA v. Walker Buehler (0-0, 0.00)

Game 3 of a best-of-three series (Series tied, 1-1)

Hudson Valley is off

*Listed as TBA on milb.com

Scouting the opposition

Jackson Generals (Seattle)
84-55
Offense: 625 R (3rd) .717 OPS (1st)
Pitching: 3.49 ERA (3rd) 1.28 WHIP (5th)
Top 30 Prospects: OF Tyler O'Neill (4), RHP Andrew Moore (8), LHP Ryan Yarbrough (14), OF Dario Pizzano (26), OF Ian Miller (31), RHP Paul Blackburn

Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers)
65-75
Offense: 537 R (10th) .659 OPS (12th)
Pitching: 3.30 ERA (4th) 1.20 WHIP (1st)
Top 30 Prospects: RHP Walker Buehler (11), 2B Omar Estevez (10), IF Brendon Davis (25), RHP Jordan Sheffield