Wednesday Pebble Report: Wilin Rosario, Tim Wheeler, Tulsa Roster Drills Big Flies

Eye On:  Wilin Rosario, C - AA

Colorado's #1 prospect, according to Purple Row, fell out of favor enough this season that he didn't make any Top 50 overall prospect lists.  A ~.285 OBP while repeating a level will do that for you.  Those concerned would be happy to know the catcher has begun rampaging his way through Texas League pitchers once again.  Despite making five outs last night (three via strikeout), Rosario hit another a home run last night, his fourth in four games.  In his last four games, he is 9-for-16 with 4 HR, 4 BB's and 3 K's.  Before last night he was .349/.417/.674 in July.  

AAA Colorado Springs - W 5-3, W 10-4 (44-53, 3rd, 16.0 GB)

Game 1:  The Sky Sox hung on just long enough to beat Toronto's top prospect Kyle Drabek.   #26 PuRP Cole Garner (2003, 26th round) hit a two run two out double in the third to tie the game, but Clayton Mortensen (2011, trade) gave up the third run to the 51s in the top of the fifth inning.  Mortensen allowed all three runs on seven hits in five innings.  In the Sky Sox' final at-bat in the sixth inning, Brad Jacobs (2011, MiLB FA) followed a Garner walk with a go-ahead two run home run.  #14 PuRP Jordan Pacheco (2007, 9th round) would follow with a triple and score on a sacrifice fly.  

Game 2:  Alfredo Amezaga (2011, MiLB FA) had three hits including a home run,  recent pick-up Joe Mather (2011, MiLB FA) hit a long ball as well, and Eric Young Jr. (2003, 30th round) hit his 2nd home run of the season - a 3-run shot - to help the Sky Sox take the nightcap from Las Vegas.  Andy Graham (2006, 21st round) and Sean White (2011, MiLB FA) effectively tag-teamed the bullpen start.  

AA Tulsa - W 17-11 (12-12, 2nd, 1.0 GB) 

#10 PuRP Tim Wheeler (2009, 1st round) had himself a bad game, striking out four times, but hey, he hit another home run (of course!), his 28th.  Read more about Wheeler chasing down home run records here.  His home run last night was not only diminished in notoriety by his strikeouts, but the rest of the lineup homered too.  Seriously.  Well, almost.  Erik Wetzel (2008, 13th round) didn't, but Brian Rike (2007, 2nd round), #18 PuRP Hector Gomez (2005, DR) , #19 PuRP Ben Paulsen (2009, 3rd round), Bronson Sardinha (2010, MiLB FA), #27 PuRP Thomas Field (2008, 24th round) and the aforementioned #1 PuRP Wilin Rosario (2007, DR) also went deep for the Drillers in Springfield.  Paulsen added a couple doubles.  

Dan Houston picked the right day to have the worst start of his AA career - either that, or the wind was unkind to hurdlers on the night.  Houston was tagged for 10 runs, seven earned, in 6.2 IP.  He allowed just one home run of the 11 base knocks, struck out six and walked two.  After Houston helped give the Cardinals a 6-spot in the seventh inning, turning a 9-5 lead into an 11-9 deficit, Tulsa responded with a 6-run 8th and 2-run 9th.  The eighth was capped by back-to-back-to-back home runs from Wheeler, Field and Paulsen.

High-A Modesto -  Off Day (10-15, 4th, 9.0 GB)

After being swept in Rancho Cucamonga, the Nuts return to Modesto to open a home series against the Stockton Ports (Athletics).  They have lost five straight games and 10 of 13 after winning their first five games of July.

Low-A Asheville -  Off Day (13-12, 3rd, 2.5 GB)

The Tourists were off last night as they traveled back to Asheville from Greensboro.  They will open a home series against Kannapolis, but more importantly, Tyler Matzek will make his return to the Tourists rotation tonight at 5:05 MDT.  Make sure to listen to the streaming feed if you can.

Short Season-A Tri-City - W 6-3  (13-13, 2nd, 1.0 GB)

Ryan Casteel (2010, 17th round) tripled home a run in the second and scored for Tri-City's first two runs of the game.  Trailing 3-2 going into the bottom of the seventh after three single tallies, the Dust Devils were fortunate that Yakima did all they could to give the lead away.  Preceding Simon's big home run was a walk, wild pitch, balk, error, stolen base, reached base via strikeout/wild pitch, and a passed ball.  Two outs later,  Jared Simon (2010, 6th round) went deep for a three-run home run and the winning margin.  Simon also doubled and walked twice.  Kenneth Roberts (2010, 25th round) struck out two of the three he faced for his fourth save.

Rookie Casper -  L 4-11  (9-20, 4th, 10.0 GB)

The Ghosts lost in much the same fashion as the Braves against the parent club last night.  Carl Thomore (2011, 2nd round) doubled twice and scored both times, Matt Argyropoulos (2011, 27th round) homered and Rosell Herrera (2009, DR) tripled and walked.  Otherwise, there wasn't much offense for the Ghosts.  Geoff Parker (2010, 9th round) was hit around for seven runs in just 2 IP, with half of the eight hits he allowed going for extra bases.

DSL Rockies - L 2-6  (25-19, 4th, 3.5 GB)

Seventeen year old Joel Payamps had by far his rockiest start of his very short career.  After allowing just 2ER in his 19IP coming in, the right-hander was tagged for four runs in just two innings pitched.  The right-handed didn't walk anyone, but he didn't strike out anyone either.  One run scored on an infield hit, an error by Payamps himself and two wild pitches.  Three more runs scored in his second inning after he hit a batter, then permitted a triple and two singles.  Cesar Galvez singled three times and scored one of the Rockies' runs.  The loss snapped an eight game winning streak.