Monday Pebble Report: Cole Garner homers twice, Christian Friedrich wild, Rex Brothers promoted to Asheville

Colorado Springs: W 5-3

Kurt Birkins pitched well and Matt Miller hit his eighth home run of the season for the Sky Sox.

Tulsa: L 5-10

Cole Garner continues his torrid August by hitting two home runs in the loss to Midland. Garner's August has put his overall numbers right in line with what Brad Hawpe had at Tulsa in a similar age/season, and he should have legitimate top 20 consideration in our PuRPs poll we'll start tomorrow as our most polished, legitimate corner outfield prospect. It's taken him awhile to show his potential, but he certainly seems to be now.

Keith Weiser took the loss and did not pitch well.

Modesto: W 5-4

I haven't actually looked it up yet, but I'm guessing this was Christian Friedrich's worst start of the season, as he was pulled with two outs in the fourth after giving up four runs, walking four, plunking another guy and throwing two wild pitches. To say he had control problems might be a bit of an understatement.

The Nuts were able to mount a comeback, however, by having some brilliant relief work and scoring two runs in both the bottom of the eighth and the bottom of the ninth and ended up winning with a walkoff single by Maikol Gonzalez. 

Asheville: L 2-7

I'm not sure if there was much positive in this except for reliever Rex Brothers making his Tourists debut and fellow reliever Stephen Dodson continuing a scoreless appearance (9) and inning streak (12.1). For Brothers, this certainly indicates the lefty's on a fast track to the Rockies bullpen. 2011 is still the most likely timetable, but late 2010 is not out of the question given our usual need for left handed relief late in the season.

Tri-City: W 8-3

Catcher Jose Gonzalez had his best game of the season with a pair of doubles, a pair of walks and three RBI in the Dust Devils win. Joe Sanders also had a pair of hits and Carlos Luna had what may have been his best start of the season (5 IP, 0 R, 2 H,1 BB, 3 K).

Casper: Postponed. 

I think this is the third straight day Casper's been postponed.