Rockies infield/catching prospect Ryan Casteel went 2-for-4 with an RBI to help the Salt River Rafters improve to 7-2 with a 5-1 victory in Arizona Fall League play on Thursday.
Casteel singled with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning to drive in Andrew Aplin and give the Rafters a 2-1 lead. Three batters later, Casteel scored the Rafters' fourth run of the inning -- and game -- on Chad Wallach's sacrifice fly. Casteel used his two-hit performance to raise his AFL batting line to .296/.406/.407 in 32 plate appearances.
Rockies pitching prospect Jayson Aquino started for the Rafters and allowed a run in three innings of work. Aquino surrendered four hits and two walks and also made a throwing error on a pick off, but the 22-year-old left-hander used three strikeouts and three ground-ball outs to minimize the damage. Aquino has allowed just the one run in seven innings spanning two starts. He's struck out six and walked two while allowing only five hits in those outings.
Colorado minor league reliever Nelson Gonzalez worked a scorless fourth, navigating around a one-out double by inducing three ground outs.. The 24-year-old righty hasn't allowed a run in 4⅓ innings spanning three appearances.
Since we haven't provided a comprehensive update in a few days, here's what each of the Rockies farmhands participating in AFL play have done thus far.
Hitters
AB | AVG | OBP | SLG | HR | BB | SO | |
Ryan Casteel | 27 | ..296 | .409 | .407 | 0 | 5 | 6 |
Taylor Featherston | 16 | .188 | .278 | .375 | 1 | 2 | 11 |
Chris O'Dowd | 3 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Trevor Story | 24 | .250 | .308 | .375 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
Pitchers
IP | ERA | H | BB | SO | |
Jayson Aquino | 7 | 1.29 | 5 | 2 | 6 |
Christian Bergman | 6 | 3.00 | 6 | 1 | 4 |
Nelson Gonzalez | 4⅓ | 0.00 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Ken Roberts | 4 | 0.00 | 1 | 1 | 3 |