The affiliates went 2-2 last night, with all games decided by three runs or less.
It was a heartbreaking loss for the Sky Sox (11-11), who jumped out to an early 4-1 lead after two innings. Ian Stewart continued his hot AAA hitting with a solo shot in the first (his third in AAA), while a combination of three pitchers only allowed one run over seven innings. Unfortunately, LHP Rex Brothers (PuRP 12) picked a bad time to have his worst outing as a pro. He allowed a walk, 4 hits (one of them a 3-run HR), and 5 runs to blow the save and pick up the loss (1-1).
It started off well, as the Drillers (11-9) got back-to-back solo shots in the first from PuRPs 11 and 23 -- Hector Gomez (3) and Ben Paulsen (3) -- but starter Rob Scahill (1-2) allowed a 4-spot in the fourth and six runs overall in his five innings and Tulsa couldn't make up the difference.
The other two affiliates (if you've done the math correctly, you've deduced that they are the aforementioned winners) are after the jump.
The Nuts (8-14) came from behind with two runs in the sixth and eighth innings to erase a 4-1 deficit in this game. Modesto pounded out 10 hits, led by a three hit performance by SS Josh Rutledge, a 2-4 night by OF Scott Robinson (who doubled and stole 3 bases), and a 2-2 outing by SS/DH Carlos Martinez, who had a double and two RBIs. Three Nuts relievers had six scoreless innings pitched and seven strikeouts, with Alan DeRatt getting the win (1-0) for his 4 scoreless innings and 3 punchouts. Sheng-An Kuo struck out two in a clean ninth for his fourth save of the year.
The Tourists (13-9) overcame a 4-2 deficit with three runs in the sixth and a run in the eighth to defeat those perfidious Romans. Outfielder Corey Dickerson (PuRP 15) was the star of this game, going 2-3 with a bomb (his 3rd). Bruce Kern got the win (1-0) in relief with 2.2 innings of two-run ball, while closer Juan Perez made it interesting in ninth, giving up a run and allowing men to reach 2nd and 3rd before retiring the side to get his fourth save of the year.