Rays prospects and minor leagues: Matthew Liberatore makes season debut

The Durham Bulls and Bowling Green Hot Rods offenses exploded for double digit runs. Nick Solak (Durham), Chris Betts (Bowling Green), and Ford Proctor (Bowling Green) homered. Matthew Liberatore (Bowling Green) made his season debut with 5.0 scoreless innings.

Triple-A Durham Bulls (23-15)

The Durham Bulls blew out the Lehigh Valley IronPigs 12-1. The Bulls didn’t waste anytime taking a lead with a four run first capped off by Nick Solak’s fourth homer of the season. Jake Smolinski added a two run homer in the fourth. Jose De Leon made his first appearance with Durham. De Leon went three scoreless picking up five strikeouts. Jake Faria came in for four quality innings of relief including six strikeouts.

Prospect Notes: De Leon sat mostly in the 92-94 range with the fastball. This is much more in line with reports from his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Before going under the knife he had a few starts where he was sitting 85-87. The slider showed good actions and was able to get swinging strikes. His changeup sat 84-85.

RF Jake Smolinski: 1-for-3, HR (4), 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, HBP
SS Jake Cronenworth: 1-for-4, 2 R, K, 2 BB
3B Kean Wong: 2-for-4, 2 R, RBI, K, HBP
DH Nate Lowe: 1-for-3, 2B (11), 2 R, RBI, 2 BB
1B Mike Brosseau: 1-for-4, 3 RBI, K
2B Nick Solak: 2-for-3, HR (4), 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB

RHP Jose De Leon

Double-A Montgomery Biscuits (25-14)

The Montgomery Biscuits fell to the Mississippi Braves 4-3 in extras. Teams traded runs in the third wiht the Biscuits run scoring on an RBI double by Jesus Sanchez. Kenny Rosenberg allowed one unearned run in 7.0 innings of work. The score remained tied at one through regulation. In the top of the tenth the Braves scored three including two on bases loaded walks. The Biscuits responded with two in the bottom of the frame, but ended up a run short.

LF Brett Sullivan: 2-for-4, RBI, BB
1B Dlaton Kelly: 1-for-4, R, HBP
RF Jesus Sanchez: 2-for-4, 2B (5), RBI
3B Tristan Gray: 0-for-4, 2 K
SS Lucius Fox: 0-for-4, K, 2 SB (14)

LHP Kenny Rosenberg: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 5 K, 3 BB, 1 HBP
RHP Tyler Zombro: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 K, 0 BB
RHP Phoenix Sanders (L, 2-1): 1.0 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 1 K, 2 BB

Class A-Advanced Charlotte Stone Crabs (19-20)

The Charlotte Stone Crabs were defeated by the Daytona Tortugas 8-4. The Tortugas sprinted out to a 8-0 lead through the seventh inning stretch. The Stone Crabs mounted rallies in the final three frames, but ultimately came up short. Catcher Joey Roach picked up three hits. Matt Duffy continued his rehab assignment playing five innings in the field while going hitless in two at bats.

SS Vidal Brujan: 1-for-5, RBI
3B Matt Duffy: 0-for-2
DH Taylor Walls: 2-for-5, 3B (1), R
RF Carl Chester: 1-for-3, 2B (6), R, BB
1B-3B Jim Haley: 2-for-4, 2B (5), R, 2 RBI
CF Tanner Dodson: 0-for-3, BB
LF Garrett Whitley: 0-for-3, R, 2 K, BB
2B Zach Rutherford: 0-for-4, 2 K

RHP Stephen Woods (L, 1-1): 4.2 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 3 K, 4 BB
RHP Alex Valverde: 2.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 5 K, 1 BB, 1 HBP
RHP Justin Marsden: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 K, 1 BB

Class A Bowling Green Hot Rods (19-14)

The Bowling Green Hot Rods demolished the South Bend Cubs 17-0. Matthew Liberatore made his season debut with 5.0 scoreless innings while striking out four and walking one. Offensively the Hot Rods collected 21 hits with every starter picking up at least two. Wander Franco picked up two hits including a double and two walks. Ford Proctor hit a solo homer in the first. Chris Betts hit a grand slam in the eighth inning.

CF Michael Smith: 2-for-5, 2 K, BB
DH Ford Proctor: 3-for-5, HR (3), 3 R, 2 RBI, BB
SS Wander Franco: 2-for-3, 2B (8), 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB
1B Kaleo Johnson: 3-for-6, 2 R, 2 RBI, K
C Chris Betts: 2-for-6, HR (5), 2 R, 4 RBI
3B Jake Palomaki: 2-for-6, 3B (2), 3 R, 2 RBI
RF Tony Pena: 3-for-5, 2B (5), R, 2 RBI, K
2B Osmy Gregorio: 2-for-4, 2 R, RBI, K, BB
LF Beau Brundage: 2-for-3, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB

LHP Matthew Liberatore (W, 1-0): 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 4 K, 1 BB
RHP Miller Hogan (H, 1): 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 K, 0 BB
RHP Nicholas Padilla: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 K, 0 BB

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