Rockies prospects Tim Wheeler and Kyle Parker drove in all but one of the Salt River Rafters' runs in their 8-6 loss to the Surprise Saguaros in Arizona Fall League action on Wednesday.
Wheeler went 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk and three runs batted in while hitting behind organizational teammate Kyle Parker, who added three hits -- including a double -- and a pair of RBI. Wheeler's homer was a two-run shot off of Cleveland Indians farmhand Will Roberts with two outs in the first inning that gave the Rafters a 3-0 lead. The long ball scored Parker, who drove in the game's first run with a line-drive single.
Two innings later, Parker plated another run with a double into left field to put Salt River ahead, 4-0. Wheeler singled in the next at-bat, scoring Parker and extending his team's advantage to 5-0.
The Salt River bullpen, particularly Cardinals minor league reliever Dean Kiekhefer, quickly squandered the lead. Rockies farmhand Dan Houston allowed a run on three hits in 1⅔ innings but was credited with a hold. Unfortunately for the Rafters, they had lost the lead completely by the time fellow Rockies farmhand Cole White got the final out of the ninth inning.
Rockies minor league catcher Dustin Garneau started behind the plate and went 0-for-4 and made a throwing error.
The Rafters are back on the field at 1:35 p.m. MT on Thursday against Surprise.