Monday Pebble Report:

Colorado Springs: Alexis Gomez had three hits, and Joe Koshansky homered for the eighteenth time this year, but the Sky Sox lost to Albuquerque nonetheless, six to four. Mike Gallo and Denny Bautista each allowed their inherited runners to score in a three run seventh that would prove the Springs' undoing. Omar Quintanilla and Clint Barmes also had two hits apiece.

Tulsa: The Drillers held on for a six to five victory over Springfield. Samuel Deduno bounced back somewhat from most of his recent performances. The K's (four in five and two thirds innings) weren't quite to the point we'd want to see form him yet, and two walks plus an HBP isn't ideal, but it is a step in the right direction from the numbers he had been putting up, and the 10/3 GB/FB rate was very good and he allowed only four hits. Matt Macri had two fielding errors playing shortstop that led to some of the damage against Tulsa, but he also got aboard three time with two doubles and a walk, and helped drive the offense to a six to five win. Jordan Czarniecki scored twice and Rick Guarno drove in two in the win.

Modesto: Brandon Durden gave a yeoman's effort and put up a quality start, but the offense (and defense) behind him couldn't back him up in yesterday's four to one loss. Still, there were plenty of signs that Durden didn't have his best stuff, despite only allowing five hits and a walk in six innings. He also hit three batters, and his usual groundball tendency was reversed with a 4/8 rate on his outs. Two of the five hits went for extra bases. Eric Young had an error, but also doubled, stole his 61st base of the season and scored Modesto's run.

Asheville: The Tourists' lost to Delmarva, three to one, as Andy Graham was another tough luck starter who didn't get the support his performance deserved. Graham pitched six innings and didn't allow a run with five hits and three walks, but Asheville didn't score in that span and the T's scored only once in the last three innings, while Delmarva scored three times for the win.

Tri-City: Sheng An Kuo returned to the starting rotation with disastrous results. In two innings Kuo allowed four walks and four hits, all for extra bases, before being pulled with six runs having crossed the plate. The Dust Devils' offense couldn't recover and wound up losing nine to three. Darin Holcomb got aboard three times with two hits and a walk. His double was one of two Dust Devil extra base hits.

Casper: Scott Robinson returned to Casper with a homerun and double in four at bats and starter Brandon Miller came home with another fine start against the only team he's seen from the Pioneer League, but the rest of the team seems to have been stuck on the bus. Miller pitched five innings and struck out three with one walk. He allowed two runs and had an 8/4 GB/FB rate. The Rockies wound up losing six to two.