Triple-A roundup: Howard goes yard
Jordany Valdespin homered in the third inning, then delivered a walk-off infield single in the ninth to give Buffalo a 5-4 win over Durham. Collin McHugh recorded a season-high 10 strikeouts and gave up a run on four hits over 6 1/3 frames for the Bisons, while Matt Mangini had two hits and drove in two runs for the Bulls.
Clete Thomas and Rene Rivera hit back-to-back homers in a five-run seventh inning that carried Rochester past Pawtucket, 5-3. Bobby Lanigan retired the only batter he faced to get the win, while Red Sox No. 17 prospect J.C. Linares went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in a losing cause.
Thad Weber gave up a run on six hits over seven innings to end a personal four-game losing streak as Toledo beat visiting Columbus, 4-2. Bryan Holaday went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs for the Mud Hens, who got three hits and two runs scored from Bryan Pounds. Matt LaPorta slugged his 17th homer for the Clippers.
Yamaico Navarro was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored and fell a triple shy of the cycle in Indianapolis' 7-3 triumph at Louisville. Jordy Mercer added a two-run homer, doubled and scored twice for the Indians, while Dioner Navarro collected three hits and scored a run for the Bats.
Oscar Villarreal tossed 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, helping Norfolk hold on for a 4-3 victory over Syracuse. Nate McLouth homered for the second straight game for the Tides, while Jim Negrych had two hits and two RBIs for the Chiefs.
Carlos Peguero went deep for the fourth straight game and Mariners top prospect Danny Hultzen allowed two runs over five innings to earn his first Triple-A win as Tacoma trumped Fresno, 8-2. Mike Wilson mashed a pair of solo homers for the Rainiers, while Nick Franklin knocked in two runs. Brett Pill went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored for the Grizzlies.
Dodgers No. 12 prospect Alex Castellanos and Josh Bard hit three-run homers, while Matt Angle went 4-for-4 as Albuquerque topped Omaha, 11-7. Johnny Giavotella led the Storm Chasers with a homer, double and three RBIs. Kevin Kouzmanoff chipped in a bases-loaded triple for Omaha.
Logan Schafer fell a triple short of the cycle while plating two runs, but it was not enough in Nashville's 3-2 loss to Iowa. Cubs No. 10 prospect Josh Vitters knocked in a pair in the win, giving him 10 RBIs in his last nine games. Randy Wells earned the victory after limiting the Sounds to a run on three hits over five frames.
Fernandez Martinez connected on a two-run, walk-off homer in the 10th inning to give Oklahoma City an 11-10 victory over Memphis. Teammate Mark Hessman went deep for the 26th time, drawing within one of Omaha's Wil Myers for the Minor League lead. Mark Hamilton went 2-for-3 with a homer and four RBIs in the losing effort.
Marlins top prospect Matt Dominguez collected three hits and Luke Montz swatted a grand slam as New Orleans defeated Round Rock, 9-4. Luis Hernandez delivered a bases-loaded triple in the sixth for the Express, while Mike Bianucci recorded the other RBI. Elih Villanueva (5-3) gave up four runs on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings to get the win.
Andrew Brown slugged a two-run homer as Colorado Springs scored seven times over the first four innings and defeated Sacramento, 7-4. Brandon Roberts also plated a pair for the Sky Sox, while Anthony Recker and Adam Rosales went deep for the River Cats.
Barry Enright yielded three runs over six innings, besting 49-year-old Jamie Moyer and leading Reno to a 7-3 win over Las Vegas. Moyer allowed all seven runs on 10 hits over six frames, bringing his ERA to 8.18 in two starts for the 51s. Cole Gillespie homered and drove in three runs for the Aces, who got two hits apiece from Jake Elmore, D-backs No. 17 prospect Ryan Wheeler and Taylor Harbin.
Luis Jimenez recorded three RBIs and Doug Deeds scored three times as Salt lake defeated Tucson, 8-3. Padres No. 4 prospect Jedd Gyorko posted the only multi-hit effort for Tucson, going 2-for-4 with a homer and two runs scored. In 45 games at Triple-A, he's batting .351 with 11 longballs and 42 RBIs.