Cannonballs coming: Hayes returns, Brault struggles

-- Indianapolis (64-64) lost to Louisville, 11-7.  The Indians got six early runs against longtime Reds' top prospect Robert Stephenson, but Steven Brault had a rough start.  He was charged with seven runs, six earned, in four and a third innings, although Edgar Santana let the last three runs score.  Brault allowed four hits, walked three and struck out four.  After a lengthy rain delay, Indy tied the game 7-7, but Dovydas Neverauskas gave up four runs in the seventh.  Alen Hanson went 2-5 with his eighth HR and Danny Ortiz 2-4 with his 15th.

Austin Meadows:  0-2, 3 BB, 2 K, 2 SB
Jose Osuna:  1-5, 2B
Elias Diaz:  1-4

-- Altoona (68-57) lost to New Hampshire, 3-2.  John Kuchno pitched very well in a spot start, allowing one run on two hits in six innings.  He walked none and struck out five.  Kuchno left with a 2-1 lead, but Jhondaniel Medina coughed up a two-run HR in the eighth.  Elvis Escobar hit his first AA HR to provide both Altoona runs.  The Curve had just five hits.

Kevin Newman:  0-4
Eric Wood:  0-4
Chris Stewart:  1-3
Jared Lakind:  IP, 2 H

-- Bradenton (65-59) stomped Charlotte, 11-2, in the first game of a doubleheader.  Stephen Tarpley recovered from some recent, mostly control-related struggles to go six innings, throwing 47 of 73 pitches for strikes.  Tarpley allowed two runs, one earned, on just two hits and a walk.  He struck out three.  Justin Maffei went 2-4 with a grand slam, his first HR since joining the Marauders.  Michael Suchy hit his seventh HR and Pablo Reyes his fifth.  Tito Polo was 3-4.

Cole Tucker:  1-4
Kevin Kramer:  1-4
Connor Joe:  0-3

The Marauders completed the sweep with a 6-0 win.  Buddy Borden, who's been struggling badly since returning to the organization, threw five shutout innings.  He gave up two hits and three walks, and fanned seven.  Reyes went 3-3 and Jerrick Suiter 2-4 with three RBIs.

Kramer:  1-2, 2B, 2 BB
Joe:  2-4
Christian Kelley:  2-4

-- West Virginia (62-62) lost to Kannapolis, 4-0.  Dario Agrazal threw six shutout innings before allowing two runs in the seventh, his final inning.  He gave up seven hits, walked none and struck out five.  The Power had just three hits:  a double by Jordan George, and singles by Logan Hill and Daniel Arribas.  Stephen Alemais made his full season debut, going 0-3.

-- Morgantown (27-33) lost to Batavia, 7-2.  Stephan Meyer gave up four runs in four innings.  Sandy Santos' first HR provided all the offense.

-- Bristol (22-33) lost to Johnson City, 4-2.  Matt Eckelman gave up three runs, two earned, on seven hits in five innings.  He walked none and struck out three.  Adrian Valerio was 1-4.

-- The GCL Pirates (20-28) blew a three-run lead in the ninth and lost to the Blue Jays, 6-5, in ten innings.  Jacob Taylor continued his return from Tommy John surgery, allowing an unearned run and no hits in two and two-thirds innings, with two strikeouts.  Taylor had some control problems, as he walked two and hit two, leading to a slightly early exit.  Julian Villamar and Vince Deyzel gave up the last four runs as they combined to walk seven batters in just an inning and a third.  Jeremias Portorreal made his GCL debut, going 0-3 with a walk.  Ke'Bryan Hayes (pictured) started a rehab after missing about a month due to upper back problems.  He played five innings at third and went 1-2 with a walk and a strikeout.

-- The DSL Pirates (26-40) lost to the Cubs1, 3-2.  Roger Santana started and went three and two-thirds innings, giving up two runs on four hits and a walk, with three strikeouts.  Francisco Mepris and Sherten Apostel each went 2-4.  Apostel had a double.

Kevin Sanchez:  1-4, BB
Larry Alcime:  0-3, BB (now batting .136)