It was a good day for offenses in the Rockies' system yesterday, as three of the four affiliates produced at least ten hits and three out of four won.
The Sky Sox (32-35, 3 GB) scored six runs in the fifth inning (four unearned) on their way to a win. While nobody got one big hit, the Sky Sox pounded out 12 hits, 9 of them singles. Jay Payton went 3-4 with two doubles, while Dexter Fowler went 3-5 with a triple. In case you were wondering, that puts Dexter's slash stats in Colorado Springs at .338/.444/.544. I think that he's ready for another go at major league pitching.
The Rockies' 2005 supplemental first rounder Chaz Roe (5-7, 5.86), who scattered seven hits and three runs over six innings and striking out six, won his fourth consecutive start.
Tulsa (28-35, 10 GB) got three runs on seven hits and rode the strong pitching of 2007 sixth rounder Cory Riordan (3-4, 4.14) to secure the win. Riordan struck out eight men, allowing only one run on six hits over 6.2 IP. Jason Van Kooten (6) and Scott Beerer (1) hit solo shots for the Drillers to pace the offense.
Although they smacked ten hits, Modesto (35-31, 8 GB) only got three runs to show for it in a loss to Bakersfield. The Nuts scored first (two runs in the first) and last (a run in the eighth), but it wasn't enough for the win, as a fielding error by 3B Ryan Peisel on a ball that would have ended the second inning allowed Bakersfield to push across four runs in the inning. 2007 15th rounder Kenny Durst (7-4, 4.96) allowed ten hits and six runs (only two earned) over six innings to take the loss.
Behind the standout pitching of Juan Gonzalez, an amateur free agent out of Venezuela, and 11 hits, the Tourists (26-34, 9.5 GB) got the victory. Gonzalez (3-2, 3.27), a prospect that I've been watching closely this year, went eight innings, giving up one run on six hits. Asheville scored all five of their runs in the sixth inning (on seven hits).
To update you on my Nolan Arenado fan status: he went 2-4 last night, bringing his slash stats to .354/.385/.556 over a sample of 99 ABs. Again, he just turned 19 and is hitting against pitchers 2-3 years older than him. In other words, I'm becoming a bigger fan by the day.