Montgomery Biscuits Top Mobile Bay Bears 4-1 - AA, Southern League

MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com - MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Southpaw Jake McGee is one of the top prospects in the Tampa Bay Rays' system, and the BayBears found out why on Wednesday night in their 4-1 loss to the Montgomery Biscuits at Riverwalk Stadium.
 
McGee (4-2) was filthy from the start with a fastball that topped out at 97 mph. He fanned a season-high nine batters while surrendering just three hits in seven innings. McGee was never in trouble, and the BayBears (19-27) didn't have a runner reach third base until the ninth when McGee was long gone from the contest.
 
Montgomery (21-25) scored early as the BayBears' first-inning woes continued. The first three batters in the Biscuit lineup reached against Brooks Brown (2-5). With one out and the bases full, Chris Nowak hit into a fielder's choice to bring home former BayBear Ronnie Merrill. A two-out, two-run single by Gaby Martinez put the Biscuits in front by three.
 

ADVERTISEMENT Brown was solid for the rest of the game as he worked six innings. His only other trouble spot was in the fourth when Martinez doubled and scored on a hit by Sergio Pedroza. Bryan Byrne knocked home Rusty Ryal in the ninth for the BayBear tally. Another former BayBear, Roger Deago, pitched a perfect eighth while Steve Andrade worked the ninth for the Biscuits.
 
Tony Barnette (2-5, 6.60) takes the ball in the finale of this seven-game road trip for the BayBears at 7:05 p.m. on Thursday night. The BayBears host the Biscuits on Friday at 7:05 p.m. with fireworks following the ballgame at Hank Aaron Stadium. For tickets, call (251) 479-BEAR or log on to www.mobilebaybears.com.
 
BEAR CLAWS
            After going 17-6 against the Biscuits in 2004, the BayBears are 25-37 against their rivals from I-65 since 2005.
       The BayBears have scored 37 runs in the ninth inning this year, but they've allowed 35 in the first.
         Including Merrill and Deago, the Biscuits have had five former BayBears on their club throughout the last five seasons with Rico Washington, Dale Thayer and Joey Gomes.

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