AAA Colorado Springs, W 2-0 - (41-31, 1st)
Adam Eaton (3-0, 0.95) tossed his third consecutive dominant start, going 6 scoreless innings against the Sacramento River Cats (Athletics). He allowed just three singles and one walk against five strikeouts. The River Cats have the best record in the Pacific Coast League, five games ahead of the second place Sky Sox. Eaton now has both his ERA and WHIP under 1.00. The shutout was completed by Matt Belisle, Damian Moss and Matt Wilhite.
Jonathan Herrera walked twice, stole two bases and scored both Sky Sox runs. Mike McCoy drove him in both times, once with a single, and once on a fielding error by the shortstop. After setting the Sky Sox record hit streak, Matt Murton went hitless for his second consecutive game. Two Matt Miller singles and a Daniel Ortmeier double were the only other offensive contributions.
Colorado Springs plays Sacramento again tonight at 8:05 MDT.
AA Tulsa, Rained Out - (0-0, 0.5 GB)
Rain postponed the first game of the second half of the season for Tulsa against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Royals). The game will be made up as a double-header July 29.
Chaz Roe (2-0, 2.97) will make his first start in Tulsa since April tonight against NW Arkansas' Everett Teaford (1-1, 11.74 ERA).
High-A Modesto, Off Day - (40-30, 2.0 GB)
Modesto opens the second half of their season tonight at 8:05 MDT at the Visalia Rawhide (Diamondbacks), who lost six straight to finish off the first half. Christian Beltre (1-4, 7.05) will start for Visalia; the Nut starter has yet to be announced.
Low-A Asheville, Off Day - (26-43, 13.5 GB)
The Tourists open their second half tonight at 5:05 MDT against the Greenville Drive (Red Sox). Ethan Hollingsworth (5-4, 3.49) gets the ball for Joe Mikulik.
SS A Tri-City, W 2-1 - (5-0, 1st)
The Dust Devils opened their season with offensive explosions in Boise but have won with pitching in their two home games. 8th rounder Rob Scahill got the start and pitched three perfect innings, striking out four Vancouver Canadiens (Athletics). 9th rounder Wes Musick allowed an unearned run in 2.1 IP. 39th round RHP Eric Federico recorded the last five outs and earned the win when the Joey Wong gave the Dust Devils the walk-off win with a bases loaded hit-by-pitch. That's grit isn't it? Well, it was the only AB on the night that Wong didn't strike out.
Tim Wheeler made a quiet Rockies debut, going 0-for-3 with a walk and strikeout. He also stole third base on a double steal with 4th rounder Kent Matthes, who had two thefts on the night and a single. First baseman Bo Bowman drove in Matthes for the tying run in the sixth for one of his three hits. Dust Devil pitchers recorded 17 GO's, just 4 FO's and 6 K's.
Tri City locks up with Vancouver again tonight at 8:15 MDT.
Rookie Casper, L 7-4 - (0-2, 2 GB)
Jonathan Vargas got beat up for 5 runs (4 earned) in four innings of work against the Idaho Falls Chukars (Royals). 28th round RF David Dinatale and 14th round SS Jeffrey Squier each went 0-4 with 3 K's, and Squier also had two errors. Vargas and 16th round 3B Dominic Altobelli also had errors.
CF Eliezer Mesa had the best game for Casper, knocking a double and two singles while being one of two Ghosts to avoid the strikeout. 1B Chad Jacobsen singled twice and scored both times.
The Ghosts play the Chukars again tonight at 7:15 MDT.