AAA Colorado Springs - L 7-8 (7-6)
Corey Dickerson (#7 PuRP) nearly hit for the cycle as the Sky Sox lost to the Aces 8-7 in Reno on Wednesday. Colorado Springs took an early seven run lead with the help of a home run and double from Dickerson who extended his hitting streak to 12 games. Last season Corey had three different hitting streaks of at least 12 games between Modesto and the Arizona Fall League. Nolan Arenado (#2 PuRP) ended his streak of seven straight games with a double, instead launching his third home run of the season and DJ LeMahieu also tripled in the game.
Tyler Chatwood threw just 46 of his 80 pitches for strikes, but finished with six strikeouts in four shutout innings and only three hits allowed. Josh Outman and Bobby Cassevah combined for another two shutout innings before the wheels came off and the Sky Sox lost control of their seven run lead. Reno capped the ninth off with four runs off closer Mike McClendon. The game was nearly salvaged until it was ruled that LeMahieu was off second base on a double play attempt. The Aces next batter struck out and then Reno's Matt Davidson singled, scoring two runs for the walk off.
High-A Modesto - W 6-2 (7-7)
The Nuts defeated Visalia by a score of 6-2 on Wednesday night in Modesto. Outfielder David Kandilas (HM PuRP) began the scoring by driving in Tyler Massey in the first. Kandilas had two RBI on the night and is hitting .327 on the year. Harold Riggins (#20 PuRP) continued the scoring in the second when he walked and scored on a Niko Gallego double. Later Harold was part of a four-run fourth inning as he doubled in Tim Smalling and came around to score on a Tyler Massey double with the bases loaded. Will Swanner (#5 PuRP) went 0-for-3, but walked and came around to score in the fourth.
Starting pitcher Daniel Winkler (HM PuRP) faced off against his nemesis Kyle Winkler - not sure if that's true, but it sounds good - and went five innings allowing only one earned run and earned three strikeouts. Winkler holds a 1.62 ERA after three starts. William Rankin came on in the ninth and held Visalia scoreless, striking out the final two batters.
Low-A Asheville - L 5-6 in the 10th (6-8)
Asheville honored former manager Joe Mikulik before the game Thursday with a ceremony presenting him with his 2012 South Atlantic League championship ring. Mikulik was the Tourists manager from 2000 until last year where he set a record for the franchise with 938 wins. Joe is now with the Texas Rangers working as a roving instructor. Video Link
Shortstop Rosell Herrera (#16 PuRP) continued his torrid campaign going 1-for-3 with two walks and lifting his OPS to 1.092 on the year. Centerfielder Francisco Sosa added two hits and a RBI for an average of .280 on the season.
The Asheville relievers gave up a 5-3 lead after allowing runs in the eighth, ninth and tenth innings of the game. Jonathan Vargas was pulled in the fifth inning after allowing three hits and three runs. Asheville pitchers allowed three home runs, including two to Rangers third base prospect Joey Gallo. Tourist pitchers shouldn't hang their head however, as Gallo was graded by John Sickels as having a power rating of 80 on the 20-80 scale.