Casper: Not a pretty game for the Casper Rockies battery, starter Brandon Durden only allowed three of Orem's twelve runs, but was only used until one out in the fifth due to pitch limitations. Strange lines were put up back to back by Sean Ruthven (1/3 inning, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K's, 4 R) and Ross Hipke (2/3 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K's, 1 R) in the seventh as five strikeouts were recorded that inning yet five runners crossed the plate. Only one of the runs was earned as catcher Ramon Rodriguez continues to struggle (three passed balls last night) this season after being demoted from Tri-City. On the basepaths the Caspies went four for four, with Dexter Fowler getting a pair and Corey Wimberly and EY Jr one each. Fowler had two hits and a walk in four plate appearances and continues to heat up after a little bit of a slow start.
Travis Becktel in Spartan-gear
Tri-City: Losing eleven to seven, most of the good for the Dust Devils came on offense. Travis Becktel hit a double, a homerun and had two walks in three AB's. Over the last two nights he's gone six for eight with three doubles and a homer and two walks; sizzling! Pedro Strop and Philip Cuadrado each homered as well, and Daniel Carte had a rare multi-hit game going two for four with a double.
Asheville: The Tourists' Matt Miller has really taken exception to being deemed a McCormick only threat, and hit two more homers last night to give him three in the last two days at Greensboro. He also hit a double in five at bats and led the comeback eight to five victory. Chris Nelson has gone zero for nine in these last two after getting three hits in game one of the series.
Modesto: The Nuts had to go to extra frames to produce the four to three victory. Juan Morillo hardly dominated, scattering eight hits and three walks over six innings (only one K) and allowed only three runs with all that. Bakersfield starter Cody Smith was even luckier, the Nuts got a dozen baserunners (11 H, 1 BB)aboard against him in six, but managed only two runs before tying the game off the bullpen (Ian Stewart doubled leading off and came around to score) and winning in the eleventh on a bases loaded Stewart single. Besides Stewart's late game heroics (he had another single to make him three for six overall), Joe Gaetti had three hits including tripling for the second straight night and Seth Smith had three hits and a walk. Had the Nuts not had four GIDP's (two by Christian Colonel), perhaps the game would have ended a lot sooner.
Tulsa: The Drillers won in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4, sweeping the double-header from Wichita. Game one showcased some minor league veterans, as we saw Sandy Nin returning to form and Sean Barker (two for three with his twelfth homerun) and Corey Slavik (two for two) doing the damage on offense. Game two featured Tulsa's younger players, Zach Parker picked up the win and the offense was led by Jayson Nix (two for three with a double and a walk), Chris Ianetta (two walks and a single in two AB's) and Jordan Czarniecki (a three run homerun).
Colorado Springs: Mike Esposito had his second fantastic start in a row for the Sky Sox, allowing only five hits and a run (no walks!) in seven innings to go along with seven K's. Really people, Esposito will show you all someday pretty soon why I'm so high on him. The Sky Sox themselves remain on a tear, winning somethinlg like ten of their last eleven games. Last night they needed the pitching gem as they only managed to cobble together three runs. Ryan Spilborghs had two hits including a double in the win.