One of my favorite baseball quotes is from Bull Durham: "Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains". Unfortunately for the affiliates yesterday, there was a lot more of the second option than the other two.
AAA: New Orleans 6, Colorado Springs 2
Jhoulys Chacin and the Sky Sox (50-62, 11 GB) dug themselves a hole early, giving up four runs in the first and another in the second, with only one of those runs being earned. The first inning alone was crazy, with three Sky Sox errors, a HBP, and an ejection (of a Zephyr). The second inning featured another error (the second of the game by Chacin), one of five in the game for the Springs.
As WolfMarauder noted in today's Rockpile, Chacin isn't yet stretched out enough to join the MLB rotation, so he'll likely need at least one more AAA start before he rejoins the big club. The right-hander threw 72 pitches and struck out 5 in his 4.2 IP of work. Baron Von er, Brad Eldred provided the only offense for the Sky Sox, smacking a 2-run HR (his 26th) in the sixth inning.
The only win the Rockies system got yesterday was countered by the torn ACL news of top prospect Wilin Rosario (who will still be in my top 3 of my PuRP list by the way), as noted by WM.
In terms of the actual game, the Drillers (23-17 2nd half, 1 GB) were paced by 2008 2nd rounder Charlie Blackmon's power surge. The outfielder struck two 3 run HRs (9 & 10) and went 4-6 overall. Rosario's replacement, Lars Davis (1), and OF Bronson Sardinha (8) also added long balls for the Drillers.
In terms of pitching, 2008 first rounder Christian Friedrich (remember him?) pitched very well, allowing only an unearned run on three hits in his six innings of work. Friedrich (3-6, 4.88) threw 80 pitches and had a mediocre 7/8 GB/FB ratio.
High A: HIgh Desert 11, Modesto 2
Newly demoted Ethan Hollingsworth and the Nuts (18-22, 8 GB) got pummeled last night. Hollingsworth (7-8, 3.68) only lasted 4.1 IP, giving up 7 runs on 9 hits. Mike Zuanich and Ryan Peisel were the bright spots for Modesto offensively with 2-4 nights.
Low A: Asheville vs. Hickory, Postponed
Sometimes it rains.
Short Season A: Vancouver 9, Tri-City 8
Tri-City (5-4 2nd half, 1 GB) got two home runs (2R and 3R), a double, and six RBIs from 3B Jason Langfels as well as a solo shot from Chandler Laurent in a losing effort. 2010 13th rounder Joshua Mueller started out well enough (4.1 IP, 2 R), but the bullpen couldn't hold the lead, losing in walk-off style.
Rookie: Ogden 3, Casper 2
Rafael Ortega went 3-4 and Albert Campos pitched reasonably well (6 IP, 2 R), but that was about it for the Ghosts. The loss dropped them to 3-2 in the second half, 1.5 GB of the division lead.
Dominican Summer League: DSL Cubs1 3, DSL Rockies 2
Gustavo Brazoban pitched well in a losing effort (6 IP, 1 R), but the bullpen couldn't hold a tenuous 2-1 lead, giving up a run in the eighth and ninth innings. The one-run loss dropped the Rockies' DSL affiliate to 31-23 (9 GB) and extended their losing streak to five games.