Rays prospects and minor leagues: Burke dominant in Hot Rods win

It's probably time to pay attention to Brock Burke if you weren't already. Some among us were convinced of this months ago.

While his walk rate is still too high in the double digits, the former third-round pick has been pitching pretty effectively for a wild now. After Monday's win, his strikeout rate is now 23.2 percent. The organization isn't too deep in left-handed starters, but Burke is now showing why he should be on everyone's radar.

Triple-A Durham Bulls (28-14)

Durham was off.

Double-A Montgomery Biscuits (25-20)

Untimely errors helped Montgomery to a 3-2 win over Jackson in 11 innings in game one of the doubleheader. With one out, Grant Kay reached on an error. After Justin O'Conner's single moved him into scoring position, he came home to score on an error committed on a ball Nick Ciuffo put in play. Tyler Brashears allowed three runs -- one earned -- in five innings, and three relievers combined to hold the Generals scoreless over the last six innings.

The Biscuits' early 2-0 lead didn't hold up in their 5-2 loss in game two. Cade Gotta and Joe McCarthy each hit RBI singles in the first inning, but the team could only manage two more hits over the final six innings. Yoel Espinal made the spot start and dominated for four scoreless innings, yielding just one hit while striking out eight and walking none, but the bullpen was not nearly as effective.

C Nick Ciuffo (1): 0-for-5, 1 K
C Nick Ciuffo (2): 1-for-3, 1 K
1B Joe McCarthy (2): 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 K
IF Michael Russell (1): 0-for-5, 1 K
C Justin O'Conner (1): 3-for-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
2B Riley Unroe (1): 0-for-4, 2 K

RHP Tyler Brashears (1): 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 0 K
RHP Yoel Espinal (2): 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K
RHP Diego Castillo (1): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
RHP Edwin Fierro (2): 1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 3 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 1 K

Class A-Advanced Charlotte Stone Crabs (19-23)

Charlotte's game was postponed.

Class-A Bowling Green Hot Rods (18-24)

Josh Lowe and Robbie Tenerowicz homered, and Brock Burke tossed another great start in Bowling Green's 11-1 win over South Bend. Both home runs came in the five-run fifth that blew the game open. Tenerowicz reached base four times, and Garrett Whitley had three hits and drove in three Hot Rods runs. On the mound, Burke set a career high with nine strikeouts in seven innings. He has not allowed more than one earned run in all eight starts this season.

SS Lucius Fox: 2-for-5, 1 R, 1 K
OF Jesus Sanchez: 1-for-5, 1 R, 1 K
3B Adrian Rondon: 1-for-2, 2 R, 1 RBI
CF Josh Lowe: 1-for-2, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
OF Garrett Whitley: 3-for-4, 3 RBI, 1 K
IF Robbie Tenerowicz: 3-for-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB

LHP Brock Burke: 7 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K

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

CLICK HERE FOR ALL BOX SCORES

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

Durham @ Rochester 7:05 PM (MiLB.TV, radio stream)
Ryan Yarbrough (3-2, 3.45) v. Jason Wheeler (3-1, 5.35)

Montgomery is off

Charlotte v. Daytona 6:35 PM (radio stream)
Eduar Lopez (3-4, 4.28) v. Jesus Reyes (4-1, 3.73)

Bowling Green v. South Bend 7:35 PM (MiLB.TV, radio stream)
Travis Ott* (4-2, 2.09) v. TBA

*Listed as TBA on milb.com

Scouting the opposition

Rochester Red Wings (Minnesota)
19-19 (4th in IL North)
Offense: 154 R (13th) .697 OPS (8th)
Pitching: 3.27 ERA (4th) 1.21 WHIP (2nd)
Top 30 Prospects: OF Daniel Palka (9), RHP J.T. Chargois (11), C Mitch Garver (17), OF Zack Granite (18), SS Engelb Vielma (25), RHP Trevor Hildenberger (27), IF Leonardo Reginatto

Daytona Tortugas (Cincinnati)
24-20 (T-1st in FSL North)
Offense: 175 R (7th) .678 OPS (8th)
Pitching: 3.91 ERA (10th) 1.31 WHIP (6th)
Top 30 Prospects: 3B Nick Senzel (1), RHP Vladimir Gutierrez (9), C Chris Okey (14), 2B Shed Long (16), SS Alfredo Rodriguez (22), RHP Tanner Rainey (25)

South Bend Cubs
26-17 (3rd in MWL East)
Offense: 215 R (3rd) .718 OPS (4th)
Pitching: 3.29 ERA (3rd) 1.25 WHIP (5th)
Top 30 Prospects: RHP Dylan Cease (4), OF D.J. Wilson (9), 3B Wladimir Galindo (18), RHP Erling Moreno (20), LHP Jose Paulino (21), LHP Bryan Hudson (25), SS Isaac Paredes (29), 1B Chris Pieters (30), C Marcus Mastrobuoni