Casper: Xavier Cedeno gave up seven hits in only four innings, but contained the damage to only two runs on two strikeouts and no walks. Of course, after he left the floodgates opened on Robinson Fabian who gave up four runs in the seven to three loss.
Tri-City: Neither James Freeman nor Ethan Katz could stop the Yakima Bears from scoring at will, both gave up four earned runs in limited action. Freeman's control issues which had seemed resolved the last few times he took the mound returned as he walked six in three and two thirds. Michael Paulk, Daniel Carte and Jason Van Kooten all had two hits in the ten to six loss.
Asheville: The Tourists used a stellar outing by Frankie Morales who ranked as the eleventh best prospect in the system in our initial Top 30 PuRPs poll and looking back, I really think that's a bit low for the nineteen year old southpaw. He's pitched as much this season as number ten prospect Samuel Deduno now and although he lags a little in the K/9 rate, he exceeds Deduno everywhwere else, while being two years younger. His stat rates as a nineteen year old in the SAL are comparable to those put up by highly touted Mets prospect, Gaby Hernandez (ranked #4 in that organization by BA). In fact, talking him up, I regret putting him ninth on my own poll as Morales really is quite special (Heltonfan from the Rockies' Scout.com forum astutely had him ranked the highest, at number five) and he should definitely be somewhere in our top ten.
Back to the game, Jose Valdez had his second two homerun game in a row and continues an incredible tear of late that ought to finally wake up the folks at BA and other prospect sites that he's gone off the hook. Joe Koshansky hit another homerun as well and is now just one behind Brandon Wood for the overall minor league lead. Chris Nelson also homered, and he, Matt Miller and Jeff Dragicevich added multiple hit games in the eleven to three rout. Finally, Trevor Allen also had a multiple hit game in his Tourists' debut. Allen, from Haxton, Colorado, was signed last year as a nondrafted free agent, and has been tearing up the inexperienced Pioneer League, so it's good to see him against a little stiffer competition.
Modesto: Ian Stewart had a two run homerun for his only hit and that was about all that was required from the struggling Modesto offense as the pitching staff gave up just one run. Larry Robles walked five and gave up five more hits in six innings but still managed to scratch through without much damage, and Jason Burch picked up his third save.
Tulsa: Ubaldo Jimenez started slow, but finished okay for the Drillers, giving up three runs on three hits and three walks with five K's in six innings. The bullpen then came in and shut down Corpus Christi for five more before the Hooks finally broke through on Edwardo Sierra in the twelfth. The three pitchers between U-Ball and Sierra, are part of what makes Tulsa's team so tough, Jentry Beckstead, Judd Songster and Jim Miller are all quality arms and Sierra is usually considered one as well. Miller hasn't allowed an earned run since his call up from Modesto and Songster is featured in this diary by psports be sure to check it out if you haven't already.
Chris Iannetta had a rough night, going zero for three with a walk and a strikeout and allowing all three attempted baserunners to steal off him on D.
Colorado Springs: The Sky Sox lost nine to four due to another rough outing by Zach Day. Ryan Spilborghs and Jeff Pickler had two hits apiece, but that was about it as far as offense goes.