AAA Colorado Springs, Off Day - (13-6, t-1st)
The Sky Sox were off Wednesday night. They will take on the defending PCL champion Sacramento River Cats (A's) tonight at 6:05MDT in Colorado Springs. Alan Johnson (3-0, 1.96) will try to win his fourth start in as many games and will face the equally dominant Vin Mazzaro.
AA Tulsa, L 7-5 - (8-11, 3 GB)
Esmil Rogers struck out seven in 5.1 IP but allowed 5 runs on 7 hits against the Arkansas Travelers (Angels). The gangly Rogers (he is listed at 6 inches taller than David Eckstein and 27 pounds lighter) was let off the hook with a three run eighth inning, highlighted by a Cole Garner triple, a Chris Nelson walk, and a Jeff Kindel home run. Peter Bourjos hit a two run triple in the ninth inning off of Andrew Johnston (0-2) for the winning margin. Box Score
The Drillers managed just five hits, yet every position player reached base with the help of six free passes. Tulsa closes out their 4 game set with Arkansas tonight at 6:05MDT in Tulsa with Chaz Roe (1-0, 1.29) on the hill. Roe is coming off of consecutive scoreless starts.
High-A Modesto, 3-1 lead, play suspended - (13-6, 1 GB)
The power went out on the Nuts Wednesday night. Literally. With two outs in the bottom of the first inning against the Bakersfield Blaze (Rangers), the lights went out at Sam Lynn Ballpark in Bakerfield, California and could not be turned back on. The game will resume in the bottom of the first inning as part of a double header May 14.
Thankfully for manager Jerry Weinstein, Modesto had plenty of power before the stadium went black. The first six hitters had productive at-bats in the first inning off of Kennil Gomez. Charlie Blackmon led off with a single, and Radames Nazario singled him to third. After a sacrifice fly by Hector Gomez, Brian Rike launched a two run home run for a 3-0 lead. Jason van Kooten walked and Lars Davis singled before Gomez stopped the bleeding by striking out Jeffrey Cunningham and Jay Cox.
Modesto will close their four game series with the Blaze with a separate game tonight at 8:15MDT.
Low-A Asheville, W 12-10 - (9-11, 3 GB)
The Tourists came from behind twice to defeat the Charleston River Dogs (Yankees) Wednesday night. The final comeback was highlighted by David Christensen, who hit a clutch, game-typing home run - his third of the season - to lead off the eighth inning. Christensen was 3-for-4, just a triple shy of the cycle and is 9 for his last 16. Kiel Roling also connected for his first home run.
Nine different Tourists scored and seven different players recorded RBIs in the offensive onslaught. Tyler Massey, James Cesario, Thomas Field and Delta Cleary all pilfered second base. Parker Frazier and Jonnathan Aristil gave up most of the damage off the mound. Box Score
Christian Friedrich (1-0, 0.53) will pitch against Charleston tonight at 5:05MDT. Friedrich probably won't be a Tourist long. He has allowed just one run (a solo homer) in his three starts and sports a stout 25/4 K/BB ratio over 17 innings.