Triple-A roundup: Montgomery wins
New Orleans shortstop Donovan Solano went 3-for-4 out of the No. 2 hole while starter J.D. Martin (1-1) homered and allowed two runs on five hits over 6 2/3 innings in the Zephrys' 3-2 win over the Memphis Redbirds. Outfielders Kevin Mattison and Scott Cousins also slugged solo longballs in the victory. Memphis shortstop Pete Kozma collected two hits, an RBI and a run scored in the losing cause, but it was not enough to keep Nick Additon (0-1) off the hook. The left-hander surrendered three runs on seven hits and a walk over 6 2/3 innings. He struck out seven batters in his third start of the season.
Major Leaguer Matt Palmer (1-1) yielded one unearned run on two hits and a walk over six dominant innings to earn his first victory of the season in the Tucson Padres' 10-2 win against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. He also helped his own cause with a bases-clearing three-run double in the sixth inning to give his team a 7-1 lead. Friars' center fielder Blake Tekotte collected two doubles and two runs scored and third baseman James Darnell reached base safely three times and scored three runs in the win. Eighth-rounder Rob Scahill (1-2) struck out 11 batters for the hosts, but he lost his second consecutive decision after allowing five runs -- one earned -- over 5 1/3 innings.
Oklahoma City second baseman Brian Bixler went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored and third baseman Scott Moore drove in a pair of runs to lead the RedHawks past the Nashville Sounds in Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader. Jordan Lyles allowed three runs on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings, but improved to 3-0 with the win. Sounds starter Josh Butler (0-3) yielded three runs on five hits and four walks over five innings in the loss.
In the second half of the twinbill, the RedHawks' other second baseman, Jimmy Paredes, carried the team to a sweep on the road. He went 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs and the Oklahoma City pitching staff gave up just two runs over seven innings. Reliever Fernando Abad (1-0) struck out four batters over two one-hit innings to record his first victory of the year. Nashville center fielder Logan Schafer -- who picked up a pair of singles in the opener -- went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI, and Corey Patterson was 2-for-3 with a solo homer.
Top Cubs prospect Anthony Rizzo recorded his third multi-homer game of the season, but Iowa fell in Albuquerque, 4-3. 'Topes third baseman Josh Fields hit his third roundtripper of the year and backstop Josh Bard was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI in support of John Ely (1-1), who fanned five batters but gave up three runs over seven innings. I-Cubs starter Travis Wood (1-1) also collected five punchouts, but he yielded four runs on nine hits and a walk over 6 1/3 frames in the loss.
Las Vegas first baseman David Cooper went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs and outfielder Travis Snider collected two hits, two runs, a walk and an RBI in the 51s' 8-4 victory on the road against the Salt Lake Bees. Scott Richmond (1-1) struck out seven batters and allowed three runs for the visitors, who rallied for 10 hits and seven runs off Bees starter Taylor Bell (1-2). Salt Lake catcher Robinzon Diaz tripled, doubled and scored two runs, and second baseman Ed Lucas was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs in the win. MLB.com's No. 3 prospect Mike Trout went 0-for-2 with an RBI to snap a 14-game hitting streak.
Trailing by three runs headed into the seventh inning, Fresno posted an eight-spot to edge Reno, 10-8. Grizzlies' leadoff batter Justin Christian smacked a two-run homer and Roger Kieschnick and Todd Linden each drove home two runs in the win. Fresno starter Yusmeiro Petit allowed five unearned runs and did not factor in the decision, and Wilmin Rodriguez (1-0) scattered two hits over 2 1/3 scoreless frames to earn the win. Aces first baseman Randy Ruiz had a big night in the loss, homering twice and plating a career-high seven runs, while Jake Elmore collected three hits to lift his average to .378.
A lone run -- a solo homer off the bat of Tacoma catcher Guillermo Quiroz in the third inning -- proved to be the difference in a pitchers' duel in Sacramento. Rainiers starter Anthony Vasquez (3-0) surrendered four hits and two walks over 7 2/3 innings and Oliver Perez and Shawn Kelley combined for the final four outs. River Cats starter Fabio Castro (1-1) gave up a run on four hits and three walks in six strong innings, but the hosts were unable to overcome Quiroz's early blast. No. 9 hitter Brandon Hicks was the only Sacramento batter to reach base more than once.
In the International League, Ezequiel Carrera tripled and doubled and Lonnie Chisenhall added three hits as Columbus topped Indianapolis, 4-0. Chris Seddon worked six scoreless frames to earn the win for the Clippers, while Brandon Boggs led the Indians with a 3-for-4 showing.
Five players picked up at least two hits for Pawtucket as the Red Sox beat Syracuse, 11-7. Will Middlebrooks supplied the power with a home run and four RBIs while Alex Hassan knocked three doubles. Tyler Moore led the Chiefs' effort with three hits, including a double, and three RBIs.
Jordan Parraz drove in four runs and Ernesto Mejia homered and drove in three to lead Gwinnett over Norfolk, 9-2. Jose Constanza scored twice and drove in a run for the Braves, and Xavier Avery and Matt Antonelli each supplied the Tides with a pair of hits.
Lehigh Valley struck for five runs in the eighth to surge past Buffalo, 8-4. Cody Overbeck doubled twice as part of a 4-for-5 effort, while Scott Podsednik and Erik Kratz each drove in two. Scott Elarton started and pitched five scoreless innings in a no-decision for the IronPigs. Jordany Valdespin and Val Pascucci both homered for the Bisons.
Brad Eldred extended his hitting streak to 14 games with an eighth-inning home run and Ryan Strieby tacked on another longball in Toledo's 10-4 win over Louisville. Denis Phipps went yard and drove in three to lead the Bats.
Adam Warren gave Scranton/Wilkes-Barre six strong one-run innings to earn his second win in the Yankees' 5-3 win over Rochester. Steve Pearce backed up Warren with a three-run homer in the fifth and Mike Hollimon went yard for the Red Wings.
Charlotte overcame a 2-1 deficit in the eighth with a four-run inning to top Durham at home, 5-2. Dallas McPherson collected three RBIs for the Knights and Terry Doyle struck out nine over six one-run innings but didn't factor into the decision. Juan Miranda and Will Rhymes drove in the Bulls' two runs.