AAA Colorado Springs, W 5-3 - (46-58, 3rd, 13.5 GB)
You can't ask for a better start than the Sky Sox got from Esmil Rogers (2006, DR). For the second straight start, he struck out eight, walked one and allowed just four hits. This time, he worked into the eighth inning and had a fantastic 11/4 GB/FB ratio. After retiring the first two in the eighth, Corey Wimberly (remember him?) singled through the hole to right. Stu Cole then replaced Rogers with Franklin Morales (2004, VZ), who proceeded to walk two, allow two singles, and watch three runs score while on the mound. Matt Reynolds (2007, 20th round) turned in his typical outing by striking out two in a scoreless ninth for the save.
Eric Young Jr. (2003, 30th round) singled, doubled, walked, was hit by a pitch, scored three times and drove in two. Matt Miller rose his batting average to .337 with a single and double, while throwing in two walks for good measure.
AA Tulsa, L 3-5 - (19-13, 2nd, 1.5 GB)
Ethan Hollingsworth (2008, 4th round) had a very rough debut at AA on July 23 (5 IP, 8 ER), and last night didn't start better. A single, home run and walk to the first three batters resulted in an early 2-0 deficit, but as Hollingsworth learned, there's a pretty special player in a Drillers uniform. In the bottom of the first, Wilin Rosario (2006, DR) blasted his 19th home run, his 8th HR in his past 11 games, and 11th in 17. This from a guy that had just two home runs in rookie ball three seasons ago. Kevin Goldstein is a fan.
Hollingsworth would cough up the lead on two hits in the fourth, but he bounced back admirably after the tough first inning to finish five innings. Unfortunately, the offense went to sleep after Rosario's home run and Ching-Lung Lo (2002, TW) melted down in the seventh for the loss.
High-A Modesto, L 3-4 - (16-17, 3rd, 5.0 GB)
Ben Paulsen (2009, 3rd round) singled home a run in the first inning and Thomas Field (2008, 24th round) knocked another in with a double for an early 2-0 lead. Paulsen answered a solo home run from the Blaze with an RBI triple for a 3-1 lead that looked as if it would hold.
Dan Houston (2008, 7th run) pitched extremely well all night, striking out eight and walking none in six innings. But the first two batters reached against Houston in the seventh on hits. Kurt Yacko (2008, 8th round) came on in relief and allowed both runners to score, then surrendered the lead on a wild pitch for what proved to be the winning run.
Low-A Asheville, Off Day - (18-14, 2nd, 2.5 GB)
The Tourists had yesterday off as a travel day from Kannapolis back home. If you are single and want to get away from bad baseball, try flying to Asheville tonight. The Tourists have won seven straight home games, and there is a Speed Date Mix and Mingle tonight from 5:30-7:00 ET at the ballpark before the game.
Short-A Tri-City, W 7-0 - (1-0, 1st)
In the second half opener, Chad Bettis (2010, 2nd round) tossed 4.2 scoreless innings, the third time in four starts he has held his opponents scoreless. His only blemish was a single run on July 22. Eric Federico (2009, 39th round), Ricky Testa (2009, 18th round) and Kraig Sitton (2010, 7th round) polished off the combined shutout.
Offensively, Russell Wilson (2010, 4th round) tripled home a run and scored in the sixth, then singled home two runs in the seventh. Mark Tracy (2010, 22nd round) whacked an RBI double and scored, and Jared Simon (2010, 6th round) tripled home two and scored in the eighth just for good measure.
Rookie Casper, Off Day - (16-20, 3rd, 7.0 GB)
The Pioneer League was off last night. The Ghosts have lost four straight games.
DSL Rockies, W 2-1 - (30-18, 2nd, 4.0 GB)
Outfielder Juan Morales (2010, VZ), who just turn 18 last week, hit two RBI singles to account for the offense. DH Miguel de Leon (2008, DR) scored both runs after reaching via error and fielder's choice, and Raul Fernandez (4-1, 0.92) (2009, DR) extended his scoreless innings streak to 24.1 IP with 5.2 scoreless innings against the division-leading Cubs1 team. He has allowed just one earned run total in his last seven starts.