Rays prospects and minor leagues: Hot Rods advance to first championship

After an early-season promotion to Double-A Montgomery, catcher David Rodriguez struggled. In 277 plate appearances, he batted just .229 with a .285 on-base percentage and .336 slugging percentage. But in his last 11 regular season games, he batted .333/.409/.487. In four playoff games, he slugged three home runs with a 1.638 OPS.

Triple-A Durham Bulls (3-1)

Durham was off. The International League Championship begins Tuesday.

Double-A Montgomery Biscuits (2-3)

Montgomery couldn’t contain Jackson in a season-ending, 11-7 loss. The Generals got off to a fast start with a run in the first, three more in the second, and two in the third. David Rodriguez homered twice, but the game got away in the seventh when Jackson scored five times to take an 11-3 lead. Starter Brandon Lawson was charged with four runs in 1 ¹⁄₃ innings.

2B Nick Solak: 1-for-5, 1 RBI, 1 K
RF Jesus Sanchez: 0-for-4, 1 K
SS Lucius Fox: 1-for-3, 1 R
PH Jermaine Palacios: 0-for-1
C David Rodriguez: 2-for-4, 2 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 1 K

RHP Brandon Lawson: 1 ¹⁄₃ IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
LHP Matt Krook: 1 ²⁄₃ IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

Class-A Bowling Green Hot Rods (4-0)

Bowling Green advanced to its first championship with a 3-1 win over West Michigan. The Hot Rods got on the board early to ensure the game wouldn’t be in doubt. Ronaldo Hernandez plated two with a first-inning single, and Carl Chester hit an RBI single in the second. With the early run support, Paul Campbell delivered a strong start, striking out six and allowing just a run in seven innings.

2B Vidal Brujan: 0-for-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K
SS Taylor Walls: 2-for-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB
C Ronaldo Hernandez: 2-for-4, 2 RBI
CF Carl Chester: 2-for-2, 1 RBI, 1 SB, 1 HBP

RHP Paul Campbell: 7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
RHP Jhonleider Salinas: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K

Short-Season Hudson Valley Renegades (2-2)

Hudson Valley’s season ended with a 12-inning, 4-2 loss to Tri-City. After getting shut out in Game 1 of the championship Saturday, the Renegades got off to a better start Sunday with two runs in the first inning. Erik Ostberg hit an RBI groundout, and Jacson McGowan followed with a sacrifice fly. However, they only had four hits over the next 11 innings. Trailing by two with two outs in the 12th, three straight walks loaded the bases, but McGowan flied out. Cristopher Sanchez allowed just an unearned run in five innings.

SS Ford Proctor: 1-for-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 BB
PH Tyler Frank: 0-for-1, 1 K
CF Michael Smith: 1-for-4, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 SB
C Chris Betts: 2-for-4, 1 BB, 2 K

LHP Cristopher Sanchez: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Tanner Dodson: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K

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Monday’s games (probables courtesy of milb.com)

Durham is off.

Montgomery’s season is over.

Bowling Green is off.

Hudson Valley’s season is over.

*Listed as TBA on milb.com

Daily news and links

MiLB.com recapped the Bulls’ series-clinching win.

Minor League Ball previewed players to watch in Durham’s upcoming series against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.