Thursday Pebble Report: Esmil Rogers twirls yet another gem

Pebble Star of the Night

Esmil Rogers (4-1, 2.56) allowed three singles, one double and two walks in eight shutout innings in the Tulsa's 4-0 win at Frisco.  He also recorded 5 strikeouts in lowering his ERA to a season low 2.56.

Esmil Rogers

#61 / Pitcher / Colorado Rockies

Height: 6-1

Weight: 150

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: Aug 14, 1985

Rogers has been a man possessed of late - he has been unscored upon in four of his last six outings and has allowed just four runs covering 40.1 IP (good for a 0.89 ERA) in that span.  He has allowed just one HR this season and is also tied for the Texas League lead in strikeouts with 55 (against just 14 BBs), matched by Frisco's Kasey Kiker, whom Rogers has faced in consecutive starts, both Sky Sox wins.

AAA Colorado Springs, L 1-3 - (31-21, 1st)

The Twilight Zone visited Colorado Springs last night - Carlos Gonzalez failed to notch a hit, and it was a pitcher's duel at Security Service Field, as the Fresno Grizzlies (Giants) beat the Sky Sox 3-1.  Matt Belisle scattered seven hits and a walk over six shutout innings, and Matt Daley pitched another scoreless inning.  In the eighth, Damian Moss allowed a single, and after a fielding error by Jonathan Herrera, permitted a double and single for the Grizzlies' three runs of the night.  Only one was earned.

The Springs managed just four hits on the night and two came in the second.  Dan Ortmeier doubled, and new Sky Sox catcher Alan Austin Rauch singled him home.  Matt Miller singled and Chris Frey doubled.  Gonzalez flied out and grounded out twice each, making him hitless for just the second time in 12 games.  Box Score

Colorado Springs locks horns with Fresno again tonight at 7:05 MDT.

AA Tulsa, W 4-0 - (27-23, 2.0 GB)

Esmil Rogers' gem was plenty for Ron Gideon's Drillers to beat the Frisco RoughRiders (Rangers).  Rex Rundgren cashed in a Michael McKenry walk and Darin Holcomb single by doubling off of Andrew Laughter (can't help but...chuckle...at the poor guy's name).  Daniel Carte drove in a run with a walk and scored on a wild pitch.  Tulsa is now a season-high four games above .500  Box Score

Tyler Brandon Durden (1-0, 0.00) will take the hill for his second time with Tulsa against Frisco's Michael Ballard tonight at 6:00MDT.

High-A Modesto, W 8-3 - (31-22, 2.0 GB)

Radames Nazario and Matt Repec each collected four hits in helping Modesto defeat the last-place Lancaster JetHawks (Astros) 8-3.  The game was never in question after a 7-run second inning gave starter Bruce Billings (4-5, 4.33) an 8-0 lead.  The inning featured three singles, two doubles, a triple and a two walks as Modesto cracked JetHawk starter Leandro Cespedes.  Repec is now six for his last eight and has 5 RBIs in his last two games.  Billings struck out nine in five innings, allowing two runs.  Box Score

Modesto opens a four game set at home against the Cal North leading Visalia Rawhide (Diamondbacks) tonight at 8:05MDT.   The Nuts can earn at least a share of the division lead with a series win.

Low-A Asheville, L 4-7 - (20-32, 10.0 GB)

Parker Frazier (1-5, 6.48) got knocked around for his second straight start in the Tourists' 7-4 loss to the Greenville Drive (Red Sox).  He allowed 7 runs on 11 hits with two K's in just 4.1 IP.  Hitters are hitting .357 off of him this year, helped by a .388 BABip.  He checks in with a career BABip of .362, so that's a tiny part of it - note that his FIP is just 4.05. 

Jordan Pacheco homered in the top of the first for a short lived lead, and Scott Robinson hit a practically meaningless 2-run shot while down 6 in the 9th.  Delta Cleary was hit by a pitch, stole second, and scored on a James Cesario single for the final run.  Asheville is now a half game out of last place in the entire South Atlantic League. Box Score

Joe Mikulik's club tries to avoid the sweep at Greenville tonight at 5:00MDT.