Colorado Springs: Seth Smith was given one shot to extend his hitting streak to eighteen games last night -as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the ninth with the score tied at six. That one chance was all he and the Sky Sox needed, as a walk-off homerun was the result of the AB. Smith's July continues to be extremely impressive, with a .551 OBP and an .844 SLG. Mike Esposito had a solid start, allowing one earned run and three more unearned, but he avoided the walks, went seven innings and kept the ball on the ground. He even added a couple of hits with an RBI and a score to help himself on the other end.
Tulsa: Ryan Mattheus had one of his worst outings of the year, allowing all eight runs scored against Tulsa in six and a third innings. The offense couldn't break through against Miguel Gonzalez to keep up, and the final wound up being eight to one.
Modesto: Xavier Cedeno had another dominant start, his fourth out of the last five, and a nice bounce back from his last outing when he couldn't get out of the third inning. This time around he only allowed three hits and zero walks (one HBP) in seven, six strikeouts and had an 11/4 GB/FB rate on his outs in play. Justin Nelson homered twice and Jeff Kindel and Daniel Carte also homered to fuel the ten to four victory.
Asheville: Casey Weathers made his Rockies' system debut last night, and it's clear with his 27.00 ERA that he's a certain bust of a draft pick. Kidding. Weathers' rust was obvious, but most of the rest of the Tourists were solid, including starter Esmil Rogers who put in six scoreless innings with seven K's against two walks. Although looking at it, maybe it was just a bad night to be a former SEC closer, as normally reliable Will Harris was the other Tourist pitcher to have a rough appearance. Mike McKenry went three for three with a homerun, and Jay Cox also homered in the seven to four victory.
Tri-City: Drew Coffey pitched eight innings of two hit ball, striking out six and walking none. Everth Cabrera had three hits and drove in three in the nine to nothing win.
Casper: Jhoulys Chacin finally pitched like I, for one, have been waiting for, going seven innings and allowing just three hits with seven K's, two walks and an HBP. He had an 11/3 GB/FB rate on his outs. The Casper offense benefitted from the presence of a rehabbing Phillip Cuadrado, who homered, doubled, and drove in two. Chad Lembeck also homered in the six to one victory.