AAA - Colorado Springs: W 6-4 (42-48)
Out of the 13 hits that the Sky Sox racked up, only one (a Paul Phillips double) went for extra bases. Still, the Springs were able to string together singles in bunches - especially in the fourth and sixth innings, in which all their runs were scored - on their way to victory. Jay Payton and Chris Nelson (both of whom are hitting .330) had three hits apiece, while Phillips and Omar Quintanilla each had two. Esmil Rogers started the game for the Sky Sox but only lasted 47 pitches before getting himself in enough trouble to get pulled during the fourth inning. He allowed two runs on three hits and two walks and struck out four. Edgmer Escalona allowed a couple of inherited runners to score on a single, but finished up the inning. Franklin Morales showed improvement, tossing two scoreless innings without allowing a hit. He walked one and struck out two. Matt Reynolds earned the save - his fifth of the year - with a perfect ninth in which he struck out a batter. He has now 51 Ks and 12 walks in 44.2 innings.
AA - Tulsa: L 2-1, W 4-1 (40-44)
In Game 1, Brandon Durden tossed a minor league doubleheader-style complete game but ended up on the losing side. He allowed two runs on only three hits, but one of the hits was a two-run homer that came in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Drillers countered with one in the top of the seventh on an RBI single by Bronson Sardinha, but they ended up falling short.
In Game 2, Tulsa exacted their revenge by plating four in the top of the seventh inning on their way to the come-from-behind victory. The runs weren't scored in terribly exciting fashion, as a bases-loaded walk, a wild pitch, and a two-run single (again off the bat of Sardinha) provided the offense. The recently-promoted Jonnathan Aristil tossed five shutout innings, giving up only one hit and one walk while striking out five in his first AA start.
It is fair to say the doubleheader was a pitcher's duel; in the two games, the teams combined for just eight runs on 13 hits.
Class A and Rookie recaps after the jump...
A Advanced - Modesto: W 11-9 (46-42)
Beau Seabury led the Nuts' offense with three hits (including a double) and a couple of RBIs. Jordan Pacheco also had a double and drove in a couple of runs as part of his two-hit day, in addition to scoring three times. Other than the two doubles mentioned above, all of Modesto's 13 hits were singles. Thomas Field and Erik Wetzel each had two of those. Dan Houston picked up the win despite allowing six runs on nine hits (three of which were home runs) in 5.2 innings. Casey Weathers allowed two runs on three hits and a walk in his first appearance with Modesto. He only recorded one out. Fortunately, Adam Jorgenson cleaned things up nicely; after allowing the first batter to hit a single, he struck out the final two batters of the game to earn his 19th save. He didn't allow either of the two runners that he inherited from Weathers to score.
A - Asheville: Suspended (38-48)
The game was called after Savannah scored two runs in the top half of the eighth inning to take a 3-2 lead. Delta Cleary Jr. homered in the first and drove in the Tourists' other run in the second on a bases-loaded walk. Wes Musick went six innings and allowed just a run on six hits while fanning six. Rhett Ballard appears to have blown the save after getting touched for two runs on three hits while only recording one out.
A Short-Season - Tri-City: W 10-0 (10-12)
Chad Bettis started for the Dust Devils and tossed five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and two walks while punching out two. Bradley McAtee, Kraig Sitton, and Billy Vopinek combined for four innings of scoreless relief to polish off the shutout. Bryce Massanari had a big-time game for Tri-City. He went 3-for-5 with a double, two homers, and five batted in. Russell Wilson also had three hits, including his second long ball of the year. Jared Simon and Dominic Altobelli each contributed two hits as well.
Rookie - Casper: W 10-9 (9-12)
David Kandilas went 3-for-5 with a three-run homer and drove in four to lead the Ghosts' offense as they came back to win a game that they trailed 9-3 after the fifth inning. Brett Tanos had three hits as well, while Corey Dickerson, Blake McDade, Rafael Ortega, and Yafistel Roja each had two. Four relievers combined to basically shut down Orem's offense for the final five frames after starter Alejandro Barraza allowed eight runs on ten hits in four innings.
Rookie - DSL Rockies: Off