AAA Colorado Springs, W 7-1 - (38-48, 3rd, 10.0 GB)
Kazuo Matsui (2006, trade) clobbered the Fresno Grizzlies last night, hitting two doubles as part of a 5-for-5 night. He singled and scored in the first, then drove in what proved to be the game-winning run in the second. Mike Paulk (2005, 13th round) had his first multi-hit game since June 20 and Matt Miller (2004, 13th round) singled twice.
Greg Smith (2008, trade) was very effective for 6.2 IP, Taylor Buchholz (2006, trade) worked around a walk and single for a scoreless inning, and Scott Rice (2010, MiLB FA) retired four of the five batters he faced. Rice, a 1st round pick of the Orioles eleven years ago, has now retired 10 of 11 batters at the AAA level since being promoted following his All-Star first half in the Texas League.
AA Tulsa, Off Day - (6-3, 2nd, 2.5 GB)
The Texas League was off yesterday, so compounded with Tuesday's rainout (which has been rescheduled as part of a doubleheader July 11), the Drillers have been off two days in a row. Christian Friedrich (1-5, 5.34) (2008, 1st round) gets the ball tonight for Tulsa at the Corpus Christi Hooks (Astros). He got his first win of the season against them last week.
High-A Modesto, W 9-5 - (8-6, 2nd, 2.0 GB)
Ethan Hollingsworth (6-7, 3.48) (2008, 4th round) held the first place Bakersfield Blaze in check all evening, striking out eight and allowing just two runs, both on solo home runs. Hollingsworth was 0-6 with a 5.23 ERA in his past seven starts. Tim Wheeler (2009, 1st round) exploded for four hits, while Jordan Pacheco (2007, 9th round) hit a three run-home run and Thomas Field (2008, 24th round) stroked an RBI double.
The rest after the jump.
Low-A Asheville, L 2-4 - (9-5, 2,d. 0.5 GB)
Eliezer Mesa (2008, DR) scored both Tourist runs, one on a groundout from Nolan Arenado (2009, 2nd round), and one on a single from Angelys Nina (2007, DR). They were otherwise held pretty much completely in check, notching just five singles, a triple and no walks on the evening. Avery Barnes (2009, 11th round) was hit in the chin with a pitch in the fourth inning. He was taken to a hospital to receive stitches, but the offiicial Tourists site says he "otherwise seemed unharmed."
Nicholas Schnaitmann (2008, 22nd round) and Leuris Gomez (2006, DR) pitched effectively overall, but Schnaitmann fell apart completely in the fourth inning, allowing all four runs in the game. Of the first seven batters, six reached base, two on hit batters, and one produced a sac fly. One HBP came with the bases loaded and another came with two on base, so it is highly unlikely the hit batters were retaliation for Barnes' injury in the top half of the inning.
Short-A Tri-City, W 6-1 - (8-10, 4th)
The Northwest League had an off day tomorrow, and the Dust Devils needed it. They had lost four straight games to drop from first to last in the Northwest East division. They open a five game home series with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Giants) tonight at 8:15 MDT.
Rookie Casper, L 2-4 - (7-10, 4th. 3.0 GB)
The Ghosts were the Cardinals and the Idaho Falls Chukars were the Rockies last night. Casper took an early 5-0 by grouping four hits with two walks in the fourth inning, the big blow being a two-out two-run triple by Robert de la Cruz (DR). Even though the starter (Alving Meijias (2009, VZ)) didn't surrender the lead, he did let the Chukars back in the game, surrendering a four run sixth (though only one had scored when he departed).
The bullpen allowed the home team to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth before finally breaking for good, watching the wrong kind of walk-off. With the loss, the Ghosts are losers of three straight and six of seven. Sorry, I have no pictures this time.
DSL Rockies, W 5-3 - (20-14, 3rd, 4.0 GB)
Rosel Herrera had three hits and Johendi Jiminian got his second win by allowing two runs over five innings.