Tuesday Pebble Report: Nicasio, Drillers Pitch to Victory

AAA Colorado Springs: L 10-6

In yet another offensively charged PCL game, the Sky Sox ended up on the short end of the stick after Daniel Perkins, who is not a AAA level pitcher and has been hanging around the Sky Sox in emergency capacity during all the reshuffling Greg Reynolds, Alan Johnson, and Clay Mortensen, finally landed the opportunity to start (the start would have been Mortensen's were he not called up for relief duty). Perkins allowed six earned runs on ten combined hits and walks (five each) in just one inning and two thirds of work. Bruce Billings was first in line for relief, finishing the second inning and then two more allowing one run. Jesus Colome, new to the Sky Sox roster, pitched an effective inning as his first of the season, followed by two more good innings from Eric Stults. Sean White, however, cemented any chance of a Sky Sox comeback deep in the concrete by allowing three more runs to Reno in the eighth inning.

Aside from Perkins and first baseman Mike Jacobs (who did walk twice), every starting Sky Sox got a hit in the game. The strongest offensive performance was from Eric Young Jr. at the top of the lineup, going three for four with a triple and a RBI on a sacrifice fly, while scoring two runs himself. Charlie Blackmon knocked in another two runs. Alfredo Amezaga continued his hot season off the Sky Sox bench this year with a pinch hit single in the sixth, an inning that would eventually see Jordan Pacheco and Josh Fields score.

AA Tulsa: W 6-1

First baseman Ben Paulsen led the Drillers to victory with four hits, including two doubles. Wilin Rosario, Mike Daniel and Hector Gomez also helped contribute with two hits apiece. Daniel also walked twice. Starting pitcher Juan Nicasio also helped his own cause with an RBI single in the second inning to get Tulsa on the board.

Nicasio allowed two hits, a walk and a run while striking out the side in the first inning, but that was the only offensive production from the San Antonio Missions for the rest of the game. He allowed eight hits and seven strikeouts over 5 innings of work, just enough to qualify for his second win of the season. Keith Weiser and Stephen Dodson each pitched two innings in relief. Because Dodson entered the eight inning with only a three run lead, he was credited with a save even after the lead was stretched to five.

A+ Modesto: L 14-1

Is creamed nuts an edible food anywhere? Must be in at least Bakersfield, where Nuts starter Nicholas Schnaitmann gave up nine runs on 11 hits and three walks in four innings, leading to his second loss of the season. Third base prospect Nolan Arenado and always hot starter Mike Zuanich did their best to try and produce runs on a combined five hits between the two including a double by Zuanich, but the only Modesto run of the game would come when Kala Ka'aihue, serving as DH, singled in Arenado in the sixth. Schnaitmann, Zuanich and second baseman Maikol Gonzalez each had an error in the game.

In relief of Schnaitmann was Kaimi Mead, who pitched fine until the seventh inning when he allowed two home runs to the Bakersfield Blaze. Mead also walked four batters in his two and two thirds on the mound. Chad Rose pitched a largely effective final inning and a third for the Nuts pitching staff.

A Asheville: W 4-1

Right fielder Tyler Massey was the star of the Tourists offense last night. He hit two doubles as part of three total hits, and batted in three of the four runs scored. Third baseman Brett Tanos also had a productive night with a double and two walks.

On the pitching side, Edwar Cabrera threw a fantastic game to gather his second win of the season. He threw 7 and a third innings with eight strikeouts and no earned runs; the only run of the game for Lexington was charged to Cabrera despite scoring on reliever Bruce Kern, but it was unearned due to a base advancement on a throwing error by catcher Dustin Garneau. After Kern, Juan Perez pitched the ninth for his second save on the season.