Sunday Pebble Report: Matzek knocked around a bit, while two affiliates drop extra-innings affairs

AAA - Colorado Springs: L 5-4 (21-27)
The free fall continued last night as the Sky Sox dropped a tough one to the Portland Beavers despite getting an acceptable pitching performance out of Greg Smith. Smith lasted 5.1 innings and allowed three runs on six hits, but none of the runs were earned because of a surefire double play that was botched by Kazuo Matsui in which no outs were recorded. Damian Moss recorded five outs without allowing a baserunner in relief, but Matt Reynolds' recent issues were prolonged as he allowed a couple of runs on three hits and two walks and took the loss. Offensively, Colorado Springs only had seven hits - all of which were singles with the exception of a solo home run by Brad Eldred (11). Two of the six singles came off the bat of Cole Garner.

AA - Tulsa: L 4-3 in 11 innings (19-28)
Cory Riordan was solid last night, as he went six innings and gave up just two runs on eight hits. He did not walk anybody and struck out four. However, the offense just wasn't able to convert enough of their scoring opportunities to keep the pressure off of the Drillers' bullpen, which faltered in the seventh and eleventh innings. Ching-Lung Lo allowed a run to score due to too much traffic, as the run scored on a double play. In the 11th, Andrew Graham allowed a two-out single that plated the winning run. Tulsa's offense managed to get ten hits off of Frisco starter Ryan Tatusko in five innings, but only got three runs across the plate. They managed just four hits and no runs in the remaining six innings. Scott Beerer led the Drillers with three hits, while Bronson Sardinha, Daniel Mayora, and Wilin Rosario each recorded two.

A-Ball recaps after the jump...

High-A - Modesto: W 7-3 (27-21)
Juan Nicasio and the Nuts' bullpen had a very impressive performance last night, especially when taking into consideration the ballpark in which they pitched. Nicasio tossed 5.1 strong innings, allowing one earned run on six hits while punching out eight batters. After Stephen Dodson danced through a bunch of traffic unscathed, Kurt Yacko and Rex Brothers combined for 3.1 innings of scoreless ball. Yacko rung up two batters, while Brothers K'd one. Ben Paulsen had three hits (including two doubles) and knocked in a run for Modesto, while Brian Rike chipped in two hits and two RBI's of his own.

A - Asheville: L 7-5 in 13 innings (20-28)
Tyler Matzek was hit around a little bit in his second professional start, as he allowed three runs on five hits in four innings. He also walked two batters but on the plus side, he struck out five. It was another one-time Rockies draft pick who really burned the Tourists last night though, as Chris Dominguez homered off of Matzek in the fourth inning and then hit the game winner in the 13th inning off of Daniel Perkins. Jonathan Vargas, who is usually a starter, cruised through two innings of relief before running into a tiny bit of trouble in the 13th. After striking out three batters and not allowing a baserunner in the 11th and 12th innings, he sandwiched a hit by pitch between a couple of contact outs. He was removed in place of Perkins with two outs, and Perkins ended up serving up the walk-off blast. Eliezer Mesa tacked on four more hits to his total, including a two-out homer in the fifth inning which was his first of the year. Nolan Arenado added three more hits and two RBI's, and Avery Barnes contributed a couple of hits (including a triple) and an RBI.