Rockies pitching prospect Jon Gray (PuRP No. 1) allowed three runs on five hits in two innings in Double-A Tulsa's 7-3 win over Arkansas on Wednesday.
Gray really labored through the first, giving up three singles and a double, resulting in the Drillers falling into a 3-0 hole. Gray bounced back OK in a scoreless second, working around a single while notching his second consecutive inning-ending strikeout. However, it took the Rockies' 2013 first-round pick 68 pitches -- 45 of which were strikes -- to get through those two frames.
Provided Gray is healthy, his subpar outing isn't the worst thing in the world. But it also goes to show that, despite all of the clamoring from desperate fans and media types, the promising right-hander simply isn't ready for the jump to the big leagues, especially in what is already a lost season for the Rockies.
Ryan Casteel (PuRP No. 15), Jayson Langfels and Jared Simon had two hits apiece for the Drillers, who took advantage of three Arkansas errors to rally for the win. Chris O'Dowd singled and walked three times. Ryan Arrowood tossed four innings of scoreless relief, allowing only one hit and a pair of walks while striking out two to earn the victory.
Dahl homers in loss
David Dahl (PuRP No. 2) hit a game-tying, two-run home run in the eighth inning but High-A Modesto went on to lose in the 10th inning anyway. The Nuts now sit at 39-90 on the season with 11 games left. That means Modesto still has a chance to become the first affiliated minor league team in more than 50 years to lose 100 games. Let's hope that doesn't happen; it would be a tremendous source of pride for these kids to avoid that mark and finish as strongly as possible.
Other games
Albuquerque 7, Colorado Springs 4: Tim Wheeler and Rafael Ynoa had three hits a piece and Jason Pridie hit his 11th home run of the season. Brian Burres struck out five and allowed four runs in six innings. Christian Friedrich took the loss after allowing two runs in an inning of relief.
Asheville 8, Kannapolis 6: Read Charlie's recap of the game that was posted last night.
Salem-Keizer 5, Tri-City 2: The Dust Devils lost the battle of the hyphens despite Shane Hoelscher's two-hit, one-walk performance that included a home run. Hoelscher, a 22-year-old third baseman, is hitting .322/.422/.449. 2014 second rounder Ryan Castellani (PuRP No. 25) took the loss after allowing four earned runs on five hits in five innings.
Grand Junction 7, Idaho Falls 3 (seven innings): Wes Rogers went 3-for-3 with a home run in a rain-shortened affair in which Idaho Falls was robbed of the bottom half of the final inning. Dom Nunez (PuRP No. 19) added a pair of hits. Sam Howard started for GJ and tossed two scoreless innings, working around three hits, before giving way to winning pitcher Javier Palacios.
Game 2 of the doubleheader was postponed.
DSL Red Sox 2, DSL Rockies 0: The baby Rockies outhit the Red Sox, 6-1, but were hurt by three errors. Rockies outfielder Luis Brito doubled for the only extra-base hit of the game.