Tri-City Dust Devils 21 Spokane Indians 12
In the immortal words of Benjamin Franklin, "What the crap?" At least I think that was Franklin.
What you see above is not a typo. Do not adjust your screen or clean your glasses. Monday night the Tri-City Dust Devils and Spokane Indians combined to score 33 runs in a nine-inning baseball game. Ummmmmm ... wow.
Miguel Dilone had what would be a nice week at the plate for most of us, going 3-4 with four runs scored, a walk, two home runs, and eight RBI. I suppose there was a reason he was listed as a designated hitter.
Center fielder Wilson Soriano, who is a defensive wizard at all three outfield spots and at second and third base, went 4-6 with a triple and three RBI, bringing his batting average in his first four games in Tri-City to .421.
Sean Dwyer and Sam Bumpers each added three hits of their own, which included a double and three runs scored. Bumpers added a triple for good measure. Ryan Garvey was 2-5 with three RBI.
No pitcher for either team threw more than two innings in this game, partly by design and partly because nobody could get anybody out.
All told, the Dust Devils racked up 19 hits. Spokane didn't lag too far behind with 17 and the game also included four errors (one from Tri-City on Sam Bumpers) so if you went to this one, keep your ticket stub. Well, it's not like you were going to forget it anyway.
Colorado Springs Sky Sox 0, Fresno Grizzlies 5
Every time Cristhian Adames gets a hit, an angel gets its wings. Or something like that.
In stark contrast to the Tri-City team, Colorado Springs was held to just three hits in a complete game shutout performance by the Grizzlies' Austin Fleet. Fleet struck out seven batters and walked no one, giving up mere singles to Rafael Ynoa, Jason Pridie, and Adames.
As such, it is even more promising to me to see Adames grab a hit off a pitcher who was clearly throwing some of his best stuff. Adames has been highly touted for his defensive abilities up the middle so if his offense can be a useful tool at all, he becomes a much more valuable member of this organization.
With the general consensus that if the Rockies are going to keep Troy Tulowitzki, they need to have a strong contingency plan for when he misses time, Adames should get opportunities in September at the MLB level to show what he can do. He may at worst be an all-defense utility man -- which the Rockies could have desperately used this season with all the injuries to the infield -- or could maybe even take a shot at winning the second base job and leaving the utility role for DJ LeMahieu.
Either way, it's almost time for the Rockies to see what they have in Adames and what value he could provide the big league club moving into 2015.
Grand Junction Rockies 5, Great Falls Voyagers 3
In the 35 games Hamlet Marte has played for Grand Junction this season, he has failed to reach base in three of them.
He had another hit and walk in this one bringing his slashline to .343/.421/.545 with an 18.4 strikeout percentage and a walk percent of 9.9.
He has four home runs and four stolen bases.
Outfielder Wes Rogers seems to be rounding into shape after injury and went 2-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored. Forrest Wall had a single and an RBI to keep his average over the .320 mark. Terry McClure was 1-3 with a run scored and big first baseman Nate Causey hit a solo home run to help lead to the win.
It was a patchwork day on the mound, Craig Schlitter getting the start and tossing three innings, giving up two hits, and not allowing any runs. The Voyagers scored both of their runs off of Anthony Bryant who came on in relief, and then Christian Quintin, Yoely Bello, and Taylor Black kept the scoreboard clean through the ninth.
Modesto Nuts 3, Visalia Rawhide 5
Jordan Ribera had four hits, two doubles, and two RBI but it wasn't enough as the Nuts fell to the Rawhide.Patrick Valaika also had a double in four at bats but no one but Ribera could tally an RBI.
Devin Burke pitched six innings, gave up four hits and one run, and struck out six. Peter Tago took the loss, giving up two runs in the final frame.