Saturday Pebble Report: Offensive Bonanza Across System Leads to Organizational Sweep

Whatever it was that the Colorado Rockies' offense figured out last night, they let the rest of their organizational affiliates know about it too. The farm went 4-0 last night, outscoring their opponents 50-21 on the evening.

Colorado Springs 19, Iowa 9

Whenever I see someone get very excited about a hitter's line at Colorado Springs, I'm going to point them toward the fact that Willy Taveras has four homers in AAA this year already. Also, the worst batting average in Colorado Springs' starting lineup last night was .278.

In addition to Taveras' two run shot last night, the Sky Sox (16-20) also got long balls from Chris Nelson (PuRP 5, SS/2B, 4th homer), 3B Josh Fields (7), and two from 2B Matt Macri (3 and 4). Four of the five homers were two-run shots. Fields and Macri had four hits each, while Taveras and Eric Young Jr. had three. In all, the Sky Sox scored 19 runs on 19 hits (12 of them for extra bases). What was especially great about that was the Sky Sox only scored in four innings, getting outbursts of 8, 4, 4, and 3 runs in the 3rd, 4th, 7th, and 8th respectively. Edgmer Escalona got the win (1-0) with 1.1 IP of scoreless relief.

Josh Fields' line this season: .380/.449/.750, 19 XBHs. EY2 is hitting .350/.459/.521 with 15 XBHs. Several other Sky Sox have similar lines -- just remember that when evaluating this team.

Tulsa 9, Arkansas 1

The Drillers (20-13) pounded out 14 hits to take this game handily. In fact, Tulsa scored in each of the first five innings of the game. OF (and former P) Scott Beerer continued his assault on AA pitching with two solo homers (his 6th and 7th) -- his line is currently .330/.372/.585. CF Tim Wheeler (PuRP 16) kept raking with a 4-5 night, raising his line to .326/.417/.667 with 22 XBHs. That's insane. 2B Thomas Field (PuRP 24) added three hits for Tulsa.

Meanwhile, on the mound PuRP 3 LHP Christian Friedrich delivered his finest outing of the season, going seven innings and giving up only one run on five hits while striking out seven men and not walking anyone to get the win (3-2). PuRP 18 Casey Weathers threw two scoreless innings of relief and struck out three, his fourth straight scoreless outing.

Look after the jump of the offensive shenanigans at the lower two affiliates.

Modesto 10, Stockton 4

The Nuts (16-19) scored two in the first and five in the second to pull away early. In all, Modesto scored 10 runs on 9 hits in a game that featured 7 errors. RF Kent Matthes was the offensive star of this game, going 3-5 with a three run shot (4) and five RBIs. 3B Nolan Arenado (PuRP 4) added a two run shot, his first of the year. Dan Houston went six innings and allowed four runs (two earned) to get the win (3-1).

Asheville 12, Lexington 7

The Tourists (18-17) imitated their parent club's final score, with 12 runs on 12 hits, including 8 runs in the first inning. RF Chandler Laurent led the Tourists with a 3-5 night, including a triple and a solo HR (2). CF Rafael Ortega (PuRP 10) was a homer short of a cycle and had 3 RBIs on his 3-6 night. Craig Bennigson got the win (2-0) with two innings of one-run relief.

Catcher Bryce Massanari continued his scalding start to 2011 with a 2-4 showing, including a 3-run HR (8) and 4 RBIs. Massanari has a .367/.434/.650 line with 18 XBHs so far. I'd be a little more excited if he weren't already 25 years old, but that's still an awesome offensive line for a catcher.