Wednesday Pebble Report: Tri-City and Casper have trouble playing defense

Colorado Springs, W 3-2
A Jonathan Herrera two-run single and a Matt Miller RBI force out in the bottom of the fifth provided all the runs for the Sky Sox last night. And it was all nearly undone in the top of the sixth when Esmil Rogers allowed back-to-back sac flies. Rogers was uneven, having allowed those two runs and also allowing five hits, walking four, and striking out four.

Tulsa, W 4-2
Darin Holcomb hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the second as part of a four-run inning. He also hit his 25th double of the season in this game. Daniel Carte hit a solo homer, his fifth, in the fifth inning.

Keith Weiser allowed two unearned runs on a homer in the sixth inning, but other than that he was pretty good. He went seven innings, saw two hits, and struck out nine.

Modesto, W 9-4
The Nuts scored at least one run in each of the first four innings and none after. Score early and often worked here. Jeff Cunningham went 2-for-2 with a double, a three-run homer (8), three runs scored, and three walks. Jay Cox hit a two-run homer earlier in the second inning. Charlie Blackmon, Hector Gomez, and Scott Beerer each had two hits, and the latter two drove in a run each.

Cory Riordan went five innings, allowed all four runs, walked two, and struck out four. Xavier Cedeno and Austin Chambliss each pitched two innings of effective relief.

Asheville, L 1-3
Alan Deratt, Kurt Yacko, and Rex Brothers each allowed a run, but depending on how you see things Brothers had the worst of it. Deratt allowed his run on a double play with no outs and Yacko served his up on a homer. Brothers, though, walked the first batter he faced and then hit the next two to load the bases. After a strike out, Lexington hit into a sacrifice double play to score a run before the third out was recorded.

Mike Zuanich had two hits, one for a double.

Tri-City, W 9-5
Sheng-An Kuo wanted some better defense behind him in the bottom of the second when he allowed five runs. Joe Sanders committed back-to-back errors (throwing then fielding), and the second one plated the first run. Singles and a sac fly scored the rest. Other than that, Kuo went a full four innings and struck out five. Aaron Weatherford struck out three over the next two innings.

Leonardo Reyes drove in three runs as aprt for his 2-for-3, 2 BB night. Ben Paulsen went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored, and an RBI. Joe Sanders, who committed a total of three errors in the game, collected two hits and scored a run.

Casper, L 2-11
Jared Clark hits his 10th homer of the season in this dismal outcome for Casper. The biggest culprit on the pitching staff last night was Clint Tilford who allowed six runs in 1 1/3 innings. Nicholas Schnaitmann started and allowed four runs, one earned. The Casper defense committed a fielding error, two pickoffs gone awry, and a throwing error.