Friday Evening Game Thread

Durham Bulls (54-44) vs. Norfolk Tides (54-43) at 7:05. Jeremy Hellickson (AAA debut) vs. Jake Arrieta (3-3, 4.10). The battle for the IL South continues tonight:

International League, South Division

Team W L Pct GB Norfolk 54 43 .557 -- Durham 54 44 .551 0.5 Gwinnett 54 45 .545 1 Charlotte 45 53 .459 9.5

Montgomery Biscuits (12-16) at Birmingham Barons (17-11) at 7:05. Rayner Oliveros (3-0, 4.28) takes Hellickson's spot vs. Daniel Hudson (4-0, 2.48). Montgomery enters the game 6 games out of first in the Southern League South 2nd half standings.

Charlotte Stone Crabs (16-11) vs. Clearwater Threshers (12-13) at 7:05. Brian Flores (0-4, 6.20) vs. Darren Byrd (2-3, 5.48). Charlotte looks to extend it's lead in the FSL Southern:

Florida State League, Southern Division, 2nd half

Team W L Pct GB Charlotte 16 11 .593 -- Fort Myers 13 14 .481 3 Palm Beach 12 15 .444 4 Sarasota 12 15 .444 4 St. Lucie 9 15 .375 5.5 Jupiter 9 19 .321 7.5

Bowling Green Hot Rods (16-10) vs. Hagerstown Suns (9-18) at 7:05. Nick Barnese (4-3, 2.03) vs. Paul Demny (2-8, 5.61). Bowling Green looks to hold on to first in the Sally Southern:

South Atlantic League, Southern Division, 2nd half

Team W L Pct GB Bowling Green 16 10 .615 -- Asheville 16 10 .615 -- Augusta 16 11 .593 0.5 Savannah 16 11 .593 0.5 Greenville 12 14 .462 4 Lexington 12 14 .462 4 Charleston 11 16 .407 5.5 Rome 10 17 .370 6.5

Hudson Valley Renegades (18-15) vs. Aberdeen IronBirds (13-20) at 7:05. I think Jason McEachern will start for Hudson Valley. The Renegades are 4 games out of first in the NY-P McNamara.

Princeton Rays (16-13) vs. Johnson City Cardinals (16-14) at 7:00. The P-Rays are 4.5 games out of first in the Appy Eastern.

As always, feel free to discuss anything to do with the Rays minor leaguers.