Friday Pebble Report: Three Rockies affiliates go down in defeat in playoff contests

Modesto 6, Bakersfield 13 (series tied, 1-1)

Christian Friedrich struck out ten in five innings, but Bakersfield's Sam Lynn Ballpark proved too much for him and Nuts relievers as the Blaze hit five home runs on their way to a big victory. Friedrich gave up two of the HR's and three runs overall in his five innings, but the worst of the night came in the sixth after he was pulled for Xavier Cedeno. Cedeno didn't retire a single hitter and left after giving up four more hits including two homeruns, allowing all four hitters he faced to score. Nuts hitters had four home runs themselves, with Matt Repec, Charlie Blackmon, Jeff Cunningham and Jay Cox all going deep, but the Blaze wound up roasting the Nuts to even the series at one game apiece with a decisive game three to determine the series winner tonight in Bakersfield.

• Blaze forces decisive Game 3 with Modesto - Bakersfield.com

Asheville 2, Greenville 3 (Asheville trails 0-1)

Adam Jorgenson led the South Atlantic League in saves this season, but he couldn't shut down the Greenville Drive last night in Asheville, as a two run ninth inning rally proved to undo the Tourists in the first game of their three game playoff series. As painful as it is to watch a blown save, a large part of the burden of this loss has to fall on a Tourists offense that only managed two runs, both driven in by Delta Cleary who doubled twice. Jimmy Cesario also had two hits, but the Tourists wound up hitting just 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position.

Juan Nicasio pitched seven great innings, allowing just one run on six hits and two walks, and Michael Marbry and Rex Brothers combined for a scoreless eighth before the Drive broke through on Jorgenson in the ninth.

• T's blow 9th-inning playoff lead 

Tri-City 1, Salem-Keizer 2 (Tri-City loses series, 3-1)

In an eleimination game, the Dust Devils couldn't scratch out more than one run in 13 innings, allowing Salem Keizer to finally break through for the victory to end their season. Rob Scahill pitched six shutout innings as the starter and Craig Bennigson struck out six while allowing just one run in three innings of relief. Rhett Ballard and Paul Bargas each also contributed scoreless innings as the game got extended. Rod Scurry also pitched one scoreless inning in the twelfth, but called on to come back for the thirteenth, Scurry ran into serious trouble by allowing the first three batters he faced to reach safely and load the bases. Charlie Ruiz was called on to work out of a very difficult situation, but after retiring one hitter, gave up a walk-off single to Ryan Lollis. Tim Wheeler scored the Dust Devils only run in the top of the first inning after leading off with a single and scoring on a Ben Paulsen double. The Volcanoes shut down the Dust Devils for twelve straight innings after that.

• Volcanoes win Northwest crown... again