Colorado's minor league teams went 2-2 yesterday, with the top two affiliates splitting 9-6 decisions and the bottom two splitting 2-1 games.
Reno 9, Colorado Springs 6
The Sky Sox (3-6) brought their bats with them to Reno, but alas they forgot to bring their pitching. Second baseman Chris Nelson (PuRP 5) hit his first homer of the year, while OF Charlie Blackmon (PuRP 7 and mancrush of Fangraphs' Carson Cistulli) hit his fourth bomb of the year and collected three hits. First baseman Mike Jacobs also added a long ball for the Sky Sox (his 2nd), one of his three hits.
Unfortunately, as the big league club borrows liberally from the Sky Sox rotation, what remains has been pretty bad so far. This time it was Billy Buckner getting hit hard -- he went five innings and gave up 10 hits and 6 runs, while journeyman Eric Stults gave up three runs in his inning of work to take the loss (0-1).
The Drillers (4-4) had the sticks going early and often last night, as they abused Corpus Christi pitching to the tune of twenty hits. Down 6-4 entering the seventh, Tulsa erupted for five runs on seven hits, highlighted by a two run triple by catcher Wilin Rosario (PuRP 2). Six separate players had multi-hit games for the Drillers -- even their first two pitchers got a base knock. Jimmy Cesario led the parade with four hits, while Bronson Sardinha and Darin Holcomb had three each.
Cory Riordan had a rough outing as the starter, giving up six runs on six hits in four innings, but Stephen Dodson came to the rescue with three one-hit innings in relief to get the win (2-0). Adam Jorgenson pitched a clean ninth inning to get his third save on the year.
Stockton 2, Modesto 1 (F-10)
The Nuts (4-5) got a great game from their pitching staff but couldn't muster enough offense to take advantage of it. Outfielders Delta Cleary and Eliezer Mesa (PuRPs 30 and 26 respectively) as well as DH Scott Robinson all had multi-hit games. However, Modesto's lone run crossed the plate not on a hit but on a passed ball.
On the mound, Parker Frazier pitched well, allowing one run on five hits over 5.1 IP, and he was relieved admirably by Leuris Gomez, who struck out four in 2.2 innings of scoreless relief. Ultimately the bullpen couldn't keep throwing up goose eggs and Stockton pushed across a run in the tenth off of Kaimi Mead (0-1).
Asheville 2, Lexington 1 (F-5)
The Tourists (6-3) tied for first place in their division with the weather shortened victory. Asheville pushed across runs in the third and the fifth, and that was all she (Mother Nature that is) wrote. First baseman Heider Velazquez went 2-3 and scored both runs, while 3B Brett Tanos was 0-2 but drove in both runs.
Ricardo Ferrer went 4.2 IP, giving up one run on five hits, while Kraig Sitton struck out the only man he faced to receive the victory (2-0).