The teams will also play tonight at 7:05MDT.
AA Tulsa, L 0-8 - (22-17, 1 GB)
Tulsa suffered an eerily similar fate to their parent club last night, getting a poor performance from their lefty as well as getting shut out at the NW Arkansas (Royals). Keith Weiser (7-11, 4.96) was tagged for 6 runs (4 earned) on 10 hits in 6.0 IP. The Drillers' offense failed to advance a runner past second the entire game, with a Mike McKenry double as the only extra base hit. Mike Paulk walked twice, and Tulsa scratched out five scattered singles from McKenry, Darin Holcomb, Danny Sandoval, Cole Garner and Rex Rundgren. The loss dropped Tulsa a game out of first place with NW Arkansas in the North Division of the Texas League.
Andy Graham (2-4, 4.95 ERA) face the Naturals' Anthony Lerew (6-6, 4.62 ERA) tonight at 6:05MDT.
High-A Modesto, W 9-8 - (20-20, 9 GB)
Christian Friedrich continues to dominate. He allowed two unearned runs to score last night in 5.2 IP, allowing three singles and striking out only 10 against the Bakersfield Blaze (
Rangers).
Friedrich (2-0, 1.70) struck out 11 in each of his past two outings, so he's now at 32 against 6 walks in his last three starts whileallowing just one run. In his 8 Modesto starts, he has struck out over 11 per 9, has not allowed more than two runs in any start and has a lower ERA and WHIP than at any other stop of his minor league career. If you feel like nitpicking, however, he induced zero groundballs against seven flyouts and has only made it past the sixth inning twice all season. Still, the 2008 1st-rounder will be in AA Tulsa soon. Just because I can, here's my amateur spring training video of the man again:
Friedrich K's.
Despite Friedrich's great start and solid offense, the bullpen nearly blew the game though the Nuts never trailed. Sean Jarrett was lit up for four runs (2 earned) in the 7th including a HR, and Craig Baker earned his third win and second blown save by allowing two runs to score in the top of the ninth. Lars Davis drove in Maikol Gonzalez with a walkoff sac fly for the win in the ninth. It was Davis' second walkoff RBI vs the Blaze in barely a month. Gonzalez had doubled - Charlie Blackmon, Hector Gomez, Jay Cox, Michael Mitchell and Davis (twice) also laced two-baggers of their own, while Matt Repec had a HR (6) and 3 RBI.
The teams square off again tonight at 8:05 MDT.
Low-A Asheville, Rain Out - (23-13, 1st)
The Tourists' game vs the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Rays) was rained out. It will be made up as a traditional double header today, starting at 3:35 MDT.
SS A Tri-City, L 1-3 - (27-18, 1st)
The Dust Devils could only manage four hits and an unearned run in a loss to the Eugene Emeralds (
Padres).
Joseph Sanders doubled while
Matthew Sanders, Bo Bowman and
Kent Matthes singled.
Tim Wheeler and
Ben Paulsen were 0-4 with a K each. Rob Scahill (0-2, 4.00) pitched decently, allowing an unearned run in four innings.
Tri-City matches up at the Ems again tonight at 8:05MDT.
Rookie Casper, W 12-9 - (2-1, 1st)
The second half of the Rookie League season started Monday, and the Ghosts started it by facing the Pioneer League champion Ogden Raptors (Dodgers). After exploding for a season high 12 hits last night, Casper is technically in first place in their division after a 12-24 first half. Jared Clark hit his 7th HR already while Nolan Arenado and Eliezer Mesa hit their first professional HR. The trio each had at least two hits, as did Avery Barnes, Chandler Laurent, Angelys Nina and David Hernandez. The Ghosts crushed Dodger 3rd round pick Brett Wallach, son of MLBer Tim, for 7 runs. He got just 4 outs and gave up two round-trippers.
The bullpen defense tried to do their best to give the game away by surrendering 6 runs (only 1 earned) including a 5-run ninth. A two-out error by Dominic Altobelli in the ninth saved David Born's ERA, but he did allow two HRs. Ricardo Ferrer allowed 3 runs in 6 IP for the win.
