Colorado Springs, W 9-5 - A six-run third inning helped secure the victory for the Sky Sox last night. Cory Sullivan doubled in Clint Barmes (who started the inning with single), Joe Koshansky hit a two-run homer (17), pitcher Sean Smith drove in two on a single, and Barmes drove in the first of his two RBI on a single. Barmes and Rick Guarno each had three hits.
Sean Smith picked up his first win after allowing four runs in the sixth inning. He pitched 5 2/3 innings. Alberto Arias did not allow the two inherited runners to score.
Tulsa, W 8-1 - The Drillers had a big fifth inning. The scoring started when Xavier Cedeno drew a bases-loaded walk. EY Jr. followed with an RBI single before Dexter Fowler drove in two on a double. Matt Miller then singled in EY and Fowler. Tony Blanco drove in EY and Fowler in the previous inning.
Xavier Cedeno threw eight strong innings. He allowed one run on five hits.
Modesto, W 8-5 - The Nuts scored four in the fourth and three in the fifth on their way to the victory. Mike Paulk went 2-for-4 with two RBI and Mike McKenry went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI. Anthony Jackson went 3-for-5 and scored twice.
Aneury Rodriguez allowed two runs over five innings and struck out four. Andrew Johnston loaded the bases in the ninth, allowed one run to score, and then recorded the final out of the game.
Asheville, L 0-5 - The Tourists had five hits (Holcomb had two), but combined to strike out 14 times. Augusta starter Madison Bumgarner struck out 10.
Bruce Billings went five innings and allowed five runs, only two earned. Three errors (Warren Schaeffer, Helder Velazquez, and Lars Davis) contributed to that. Robinson Fabian, Edgmer Escalona, and Joey Williamson combined for three innings of one-hit relief.
Tri-City, W 7-1 - We have a Josh Sullivan sighting. He went three innings, allowed two hits, walked one, and struck out two. He also had a wild pitch and hit a batter. Sullivan is making his way back from tendinitis in his right elbow. Brad McAtee went four innings, allowed his opponent's one run, and struck out four in picking up the win.
In the fourth inning, Josh Banda drove in Bo Bowman who reached on a triple. In the fifth, Chad Lembeck scored on a throwing error on a force attempt and Austin Rauch scored on a sac fly. In the ninth, Austin Rauch drove in two, Leonardo Reyes singled in one, and Radames Nazario hit a sac fly.
Casper, W 9-4 - The balls were flying out of the yard last night. Outfielder Eliezer Mesa went 3-for-4 with two homers (solo and two-run) and four RBI. Wilin Rosario, last night's designated hitter, stroked two homers (two-run and solo). James Sims didn't hit his first two homers of the season as Mesa and Rosario did, but he did have his first, a two-run shot. Carlos Martinez added two hits and stolen base.
Dan Houston allowed his two runs on a two-run homer in the third inning. He went three inning and struck out three. Alan Deratt allowed two hits over the next four innings and struck out four. Andres Marrero surrendered a two-run homer in the top of the ninth.