Overall, the Rockies' minor league affiliates went 3-2 last night, with the two losses coming in extra innings. Please note that this will be the last week that I use the Fall 2010 PuRPs list. Next Saturday the Spring 2011 PuRPs List goes live.
The Sky Sox (29-33) won their third straight thanks in large part to a four-run second inning (highlighted by a bases-clearing double by SS Ryan Rohlinger) and a stellar performance from their bullpen (three pitchers combining for five scoreless innings). Cole Garner (PuRP 25) and Jordan Pacheco (PuRP 14) added two hits apiece, while PuRP 27 Bruce Billings got the win (5-2) in relief of John Maine, who only lasted four innings.
Springfield 10, Tulsa 9 (F-10)
The Drillers (29-30) lost an extra innings thriller last night. It was a tied 3-3 game entering the eighth inning, but Tulsa pushed across four runs in the top half on four hits and a walk, including a Tim Wheeler (PuRP 16) two-run triple. Given a 7-3 lead, Dan Turpen gave up three runs and only got one out in the eighth, making it 7-6.
Tulsa's offense responded with two runs in the ninth -- thanks in part a strikeout that reached base on a wild pitch and a run that scored on another wild pitch. So, the Drillers went into the bottom of the ninth with a 3-run lead--and Adam Jorgenson couldn't hold onto it, giving up two walks and two hits, including a triple. Needless to say, Springfield came back in the 10th and won on a walk-off single off of Casey Weathers (1-2), scoring a man who walked to lead off the inning. Not the bullpen's finest hour.
Lost in all of that nonsense is that Christian Friedrich (PuRP 3) was pretty sharp in his start, going 5.1 IP, striking out seven while walking two and giving up two runs (both on solo HRs). Wilin Rosario (PuRP 2) went 3-6 while Wheeler, Bronson Sardinha, and Thomas Field (PuRP 24) went 2-4 each on the night -- each getting a XBH.
The stuff I wrote about in the title after the jump.
As frustrating as the Tulsa loss was, Modesto's offensive futility must have been worse to watch. The Nuts (28-32) were shut out for 13 innings, managing only three hits in the process -- none off of San Jose's bullpen in six innings. They also struck out 13 times. Nolan Arenado (PuRP 4) had two of Modesto's three hits.
In failing so miserably, the offense wasted a wonderful pitching performance by Dan Houston, who went 8.2 scoreless IP, giving up only four hits and four walks while striking out six. San Jose finally pushed across two runs in the 13th on Will Harris (0-1), but let's not put this one on the pitching staff.
The story of this one was the great performance by pitcher Albert Campos (PuRP 20), who gave up a run in the first but then went six more scoreless innings, striking out six and walking one to get the win (4-4). Campos has had a rough campaign in Asheville (30-31) this year, but he's maintained a 3:1 K/BB ratio. Opposing batters are batting .332 against him, suggesting that with his K/BB ratio intact his ERA should regress downwards from the 6+ it is now.
Offensively, Russell Wilson went 2-3 and scored both runs, while PuRP 10 Rafael Ortega also went 2-3 and drove him in both times (he was only given a RBI once though).
DSL Rockies 4, DSL Diamondbacks 0
The DSL Rockies (5-5) rode the arm of 18 year-old (and future PuRP) Jayson Aquino to a win in this shortened seven inning game. Aquino (1-0, 0.56 ERA) went the distance in this one, allowing only one hit and striking out six. May I remind you that as a 17 year old last year, Aquino went 4-3 with a 1.02 ERA in 61.2 IP and sported a 59:9 K/BB ratio? I'm really excited to see what this guy can do in America.
Offensively, 1B Juan Morales went 2-3, while LF Yonathan Daza went 1-3 and drove in three runs with a bases-clearing double.