AAA Colorado Springs, L 6-9 - (13-12, 1st)
The Sky Sox lost their second straight game to the Fresno Grizzlies (Giants). Fresno starter Joe Martinez surrended three consecutive singles to spot Chaz Roe (1-4, 5.76) (2005, sandwich pick) a two run lead he would not hold. Roe was battered around for six runs on 11 hits, two walks, a home run and just two strikeouts. Team RBI leader Travis Metcalf (2010, MiLB FA) led a late charge in the eighth with a two-run double, but Shane Lindsay (2003, Australia) effectively put the game out of reach in the top half of the inning.
Chris Iannetta (2004, 4th round) doubled and walked in five plate appearances while playing catcher and first base. Among the oddities of the game: Brad Eldred (2010, MiLB FA) played made his second professional appearance at third base, recording an out; former Rockies Denny Bautista earned the save for Fresno, and both teams scored three runs on one hit in the eighth inning. Alan Johnson (1-0, 3.00) (2005, undrafted FA) will face Horacio Ramirez (1-0, 3.78) tonight 6:05 PM.
AA Tulsa, W 2-1 - (10-15, 4th, 6.5 GB)
Keith Weiser (2-2, 2.97) (2006, 3rd round) pitched a gem, going seven innings, surrendering one run on seven hits while maintaining a 10-3 GO/FO ratio. With Arkansas Travelers' (Angels) starter Tim Kiely dominating the Drillers in a similar fashion, the game took just two hours and six minutes to complete. Tulsa runs scored on a solo home run from Daniel Mayora (2005, Venezuela) in the first, then Ryan Harvey (2009, MiLB FA) led off the fourth with a single, advanced to second on a passed ball and touched home plate after two fly balls.
Ching-Lung Lo (0-0, 1.35 ERA) (2002, Taiwan) will try to take down the Travs and Ryan Brasier (2-1, 3.28 ERA), who threw a no-hitter against the Drillers last week, this morning 9:05AM MT.
High-A Modesto, W 5-4 - (15-8, 1st)
ESPN's Jason Grey was on site to watch Rex Brothers (2009, sandwich pick) pitch, but he came away impressed with catcher Jordan Pacheco (2007, 9th round). The 24-year-old Albuquerque native hit a two run home run in the first and singled twice for an all-around good night. After hitting .322 with an .373 wOBA last season in Asheville, he's hitting .405 with .440 wOBA in Modesto. Shortstop Thomas Field (2008, 24th round) also had a three hit night with a triple and Ben Paulsen (2009, 3rd round) raised his average over .300 with two singles.
Kenny Durst (3-0, 3.38) (2007, 15th round) got the win by holding the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Angels) to three runs (two earned) on three hits in five innings. Brothers struck out two in a perfect inning, dropping his ERA to 2.31. He has struck out at least one batter in 7 of his last 9 appearances and 8 of 11 for the season.
Low-A Asheville, L 4-5 (13th) - (9-16, 6th, 7.5 GB)
Juan Gonzalez (2007, Venezuela) pitched effectively for the Tourists, holding the Hickory Crawdads (Rangers) to two runs through seven innings. Unfortunately, Alan DeRatt (2008, 17th round) was unable to hold the lead, surrendering a game-tying solo home run in the bottom of the ninth. After Avery Barnes (2009, 11th round) singled in Eliezer Mesa (2009, DR) for the lead in the 12th, Chad Rose (2008, 16th round) surrendered two doubles to push the game to the 13th, where the Crawdads won in walk-off fashion, as Christian Santana hit a two-out solo shot off Leuris Gomez (2009, DR).
Barnes rapped three hits, while Mesa raised his average to .357 with two singles.