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AAA Colorado Springs, W 5-2 - (47-58, 3rd, 11.5 GB)
Former Rockie farmhand Corey Wimberly stole home in the first (his 42nd steal) off Alan Johnson (2005, undrafted), part of an early 2-run tally by the RiverCats. Johnson recovered to pitch 6.2 very effective innings for his ninth win.
The Sky Sox got all of their offense with a five-run sixth. Travis Metcalf (2010, MiLB FA) drove in two with a double, Mike Paulk (2005, 13th round) hit a two run home run (his fourth) and Joseph Scott (2009, 42nd run) singled in a run. Scott seems to have gotten an emergency start for injury (a la Warren Schaeffer in April), as he wasn't exactly hitting well in Modesto before appearing with the Sky Sox. Chris Nelson (2004, 1st round) hasn't played in the last two games, though I cannot find a reason why. Cole Garner (2003, 26th round) had a three hit game, though Edgmer Escalona (2006, VZ) struck out all four batters he faced, though it took 23 pitches to do so.
AA Tulsa, W 5-3 - (20-13, 2nd, 0.5 GB)
There is no denying that the Drillers' have Aaron Crow's number. The right hander was chosen immediately after Tyler Matzek last year in the first round by the Royals, but entering last night, he had surrendered at least five runs in 3 of 4 starts against the Tulsa. The suspense of that trend manifesting again ended early.
Bronson Sardinha (2010, MiLB FA) (whose middle name is Kiheimahanaomauiakeo incidentally) hit a two run home run. Warren Schaeffer (2007, 38th round) walked with the bases loaded, and Radames Nazario (2005, 22nd round) drove in two....all in the first inning, as the Drillers tagged Crow for a five run first. That's all the offense they would need. Cory Riordan (2007, 6th round) pitched very effectively for seven innings, striking out eight and allowing five hits (four doubles) for three runs. Wilin Rosario (2006, DR) doubled and walked in four plate appearances.
High-A Modesto L 2-5 - (16-18, t-3rd, 6.0 GB)
It appears Casey Weathers' (2007, 1st round) issues are not behind him. He entered with a 2-1 but allowed three runs on three hits, hit a batter and walked in a run. He finally got out of his inning after Miguel Velazquez drove in the go ahead runs with a single and was out trying to advance to second on the throw home. That performance masked a fantastic start from Parker Frazier (2007, 8th round), who was making his second start in Modesto. The son of FSN's color man struck out four and allowed just one run (and four baserunners) in six innings. Erik Wetzel (2008, 13th round) and James Cesario (2008, 46th round) both doubled and scored.
Low-A Asheville, L 6-7 - (18-15, 2nd, 2.0 GB)
Nolan Arenado (2009, 2nd round) struck out with the winning run on first base to end a 3-run ninth for the Tourists. The Rome Braves managed just one run in four innings of Asheville starter Juan Gonzalez (2007, VZ), but Leuris Gomez (2006, DR) surrendered four for the deficit the Tourists could not make up. Delta Cleary Jr. (2008, 37th round) and Angelys Nina (2007, DR) each had multi-hit games.
Short-A Tri-City, W 5-2 - (2-0, 1st)
Hector Gomez (2006, DR), Jeremiah Sammy (2009, undrafted), Nathan Hines (2009, 50th round) and Mark Tracy 2010, 22nd round) each had two hit games to help the Dust Devils defeat the Everett AquaSox. Josh Mueller (2010, 13th round) threw six innings, allowing just one unearned run. Craig Bennigson (2008, 9th round) struck out two in a perfect ninth for his fifth save. The lefty has allowed just one run in 11.1 with Tri City after being demoted from Tulsa at the end of June. The 23-year old had allowed just two runs in six innings at AA and had a 1.53 ERA in 53 IP at Tri-City last year. Sounds like a guy that should be moving up soon.
Rookie Casper, L 3-4 - (16-21, 3rd, 7.0 GB)
Leadoff hitter Rafael Ortega (2008, VZ) hit his third home run of the season to take sole possession over second place on the team behind Corey Dickerson (2010, 9th round). Juan Crousset (2007, DR) doubled in a run and Ryan Casteel (2010, 17th round) added an RBI single, but the Orem Owlz got all the offense they needed against Ghosts starter Alving Mejias (2009, VZ).
Mejias surrendered four runs on seven hits in six innings. He has allowed at least four runs in every home start. Vianney Mayo (2007, DR) tossed three scoreless innings in relief. It was Mayo's second appearance with Casper after being promoted from the DSL team a little over a week ago, where he had a 1.39 ERA in 32.1 IP. The 20-year old has allowed one run in six innings and just four baserunners with Casper.
DSL Rockies, W 3-0 - (31-18, 2nd, 4.0 GB)
Gustavo Brazoban (2008, DR) scattered four hits and two walks over six shutout innings, while Jefri Hernandez (2008, DR) and Raul Pena (2009, DR) allowed just two baserunners the rest of the way to complete the shutout. Juan Morales (2010, VZ) had three hits and Cesar Galvez (2010, DR) two, as the Rockies scored three unearned runs. The most ballyhooed international signing on the team, Rosell Herrera (2010, DR), went hitless again to drop his line to .108/.195/.108 over the last ten games.