News on Eddie Butler
On Friday night, Rockies pitching prospect Eddie Butler was pulled after only 59 pitches in the fifth inning. Afterwards I reached out to Eddie to find out why he was lifted so early. He reported to me, that the Rockies have him on a five inning limit for the time being and that he was notified of the change before the game started.
Butler stated that he felt like the reason his innings were being limited, wasn't to cut down on his total innings for the year, but because of his lack of experience pitching professionally. Eddie was drafted by the Rockies in the supplemental first round out of Radford college last year. He pitched a combined 165.2 innings between college and the minor leagues and then did extra work in the fall instructs.
This season Butler earned a promotion after nine starts in Low-A Asheville where he posted a 1.66 ERA in 54 innings. Eddie continued his strong pitching in High-A Modesto, throwing well enough to earn praise from Rockies owner Dick Monfort in Saturday's Fan Forum with season ticket holders, where he said that Eddie was pitching well and is on a fast track this season.
After being informed of the compliment, Eddie responded, "It's an honor (that he said that). For the owner to make a comment like that means a lot to me. I hope to continue on this path and make it to the big Rockies soon."
Triple-A Colorado Springs - L 5-11 (37-30)
Outfielder Corey Dickerson continues to dominate against the PCL, batting 2-for-4 and leading the entire minor leagues in hitting with a .376 average. Corey also completed his sixth outfield assist of the year on a play at second base. Corey leads the Sky Sox in defensive outfield assists and currently ranks fifth among outfielders in the PCL.
The Sky Sox were limited at the plate and benefited from poor defense in the fifth inning to put crooked numbers on the board. With two men on, Charlie Blackmon reached on an error by shortstop Brandon Hicks. Then Hernan Iribarren was gift wrapped a free base when second baseman Wilmer Flores failed to catch a ball from shortstop Brandon Hicks, two runners scored on the play and Blackmon ended up at third base. Charlie later scored on an errant pick off play by 51's pitcher Rafael Montero.
Parker Frazier started and went 2.1 innings allowing two earned runs and lowering his Triple-A ERA to 9.72. The following three relievers combined to allow nine earned runs and Brett Jacobson received credit for the loss. Four batters for Las Vegas homered in the warm 98 degree night.
Double-A Tulsa L 0-1 (34-34)
The Drillers dropped a heart-breaker in Arkansas Saturday night, but narrowly held on to their first place lead in the Northern division of the Texas league. Tyler Matzek continued his streak of good pitching, throwing six shutout innings and allowing only four hits, while striking out six. Six strikeouts is tied for his season high this year.
The Drillers offense was held in check by pitcher Mike Piazza, who allowed only two base hits in six innings. Rafael Ortega reached base the most with a pair of walks. Outfielder Kent Matthes had a base hit and two strikeouts.
High-A Modesto W 6-4 (32-37)
Story of the night was Daniel Winkler's no hitter that he carried into the seventh inning. The only hit given up by the tall right-hander was a double with one out in the seventh. Dan left the scoreless game with eight strikeouts, one walk, a hit batter and one hit allowed on the night. Clearly, Dan pitches better when he interviews with Purple Row. Scott Oberg came on in the ninth and earned his league leading 15th save of the year.
Designated hitter Ryan Casteel paced the Nuts with three hits and three RBI in the game. Will Swanner contributed a hit and two RBI towards the win and also threw out his ninth base runner of the season.
Low-A Asheville W 6-1 (37-30)
Tourists starter Ryan Arrowood made his third start of the season, each one he has allowed one earned run or less. In this start Ryan went six innings, gave up six hits, one earned run and struck out three batters.
Catcher Tom Murphy and shortstop Rosell Herrera each doubled and had a pair of hits in the game. Herrera leads the SAL league with a .353 batting average. Left fielder Derek Jones clubbed a home run in the third inning to tally three RBI in the game.
Short-season Tri-City W 4-3 (1-1)
Jayson Aquino made his 2013 debut for the Dust Devils on Saturday and started out rocky, getting into trouble in both the first and second innings. After giving up a pair of runs in the first inning, Aquino allowed consecutive singles with no outs to load the bases in the third before getting out of trouble without a run scored. In the second inning, Jayson had allowed two runners on with no outs before escaping with a clean inning. Aquino finished with five innings pitched, two earned runs and two strike outs in the game.
Right fielder Jose Monzon doubled and scored two runs and added a RBI to his game score. Left fielder Jeffrey Popick went 1-for-2 on the night with a run scored, he was removed on a double switch in the sixth inning.
DSL Rockies L 4-8 (7-6)
Rockies pitcher Hector Villarroel earned his second loss of the year, going three innings and allowing six earned runs on nine hits and inducing one strike out. Catcher Hamlet Marte led the Rockies in hitting with two hits. Omar Carrizales had a hit and stole his fourth base of the year. First baseman Henry Garcia had a double and two RBI, but also a pair of strike outs on the night.