Minor league report: Ray earns first victory with Cannon Ballers, while Martin piles up strikeouts

QUINCY — A trio of minor league pitchers with Quincy ties enjoyed a stellar week as the season is starting to find some rhythm.

In the Class A Carolina League, Quincy Notre Dame graduate Johnny Ray made his first start last Saturday night and earned his first victory for the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.

Starting against the Down East Wood Ducks, the right-handed Ray worked five innings, allowing only one unearned run and four hits. He struck out seven and walked one as the Cannon Ballers won 5-1.

Ray is 4-0 in his career, having won three games last year in the rookie league after being drafted in the 12th round by the White Sox last July. 

Also in the Carolina League, former Quincy University All-American left-hander Riley Martin enjoyed his most dominant effort as a member of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.

Coming out of the bullpen with two on and one out in the fourth inning last Wednesday and the Pelicans trailing the Augusta Greenjackets 1-0, Martin got out of the inning with a strikeout and a groundout. He then worked four more hitless, scoreless innings, finishing with eight strikeouts and one walk in what ended up a 1-0 loss.

So far, the QU leader in career, single-season and single-game strikeouts has struck out 10 batters in six innings for the Pelicans.

In the Class AAA International League, former QU right-hander Graham Spraker is settling into his role in the bullpen for the Buffalo Bisons, an affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.

He made two appearances last week in a series against the Rochester Red Wings. In last Tuesday’s 6-4 victory, Spraker got an early call from the bullpen as he entered in the fourth inning. He allowed one hit, one earned run and two walks to go with a strikeout in 1 ⅔ innings of work.

Three nights later, Spraker punctuated a 9-4 victory over the Red Wings with a dominant final inning. After a popout to the second baseman, Spraker struck out the next two batters, throwing strikes on eight of his 12 pitches.