Colorado Springs Sky Sox: L 3-0
The Sky Sox were shut out in Las Vegas. The starting pitcher for the Sox was Edgar Gonzalez, a MLB veteran who spent time with the Diamondbacks and Athletics, and who was released from Tampa's AAA team in Durham earlier in the season. He replaced Claudio Vargas on the roster (he retired, and I'll cover that in more detail this Thursday in the transactions notes). Gonzalez allowed all three runs over six innings on six hits. He struck out seven and did not allow a walk. Two former Las Vegas 51s in Josh Roenicke and Eric Stults (though they pitched there with different organizations) pitched clean innings at the end of the game.
The offense didn't back up the decent organizational debut for Gonzalez. They produced only four hits, two of which came from first baseman Mike Jacobs. Center Fielder Willy Taveras doubled, while third baseman Ian Stewart accounted for the final hit. Designated hitter Jordan Pacheco and catcher Matt Pagnozzi also each walked. For active 2011 MLB roster players Stewart and left fielder Alfredo Amezaga struck out twice each. The opposing pitcher, Brett Cecil, pitched a complete game.
In contrast to the AAA game, the Drillers brought their bats with them to Northwest Arkansas. Four players had multiple hits, led by second baseman James Cesario who went 3 for 4 with a walk and a RBI. Shortstop Thomas Field (who has finally adjusted to AA pitching), catcher Lars Davis (who hit his third home run of the season to take the lead in the ninth inning) and left fielder Scott Beerer each had two hits, and together produced most of the runs, though first baseman Ben Paulsen and right fielder Bronson Sardinha also contributed. Center fielder and 2011 organizational star Tim Wheeler had a quiet game, going 1 for 5 with a K.
Starter Rob Scahill was hittable, allowing 4 earned runs (6 total) on 9 hits and 3 walks over 5 and a third innings. Sean Jarrett pitched the next two and two thirds in relief, allowing just one hit, a solo home run. Jarrett would pick up the win, his third of the year, all out of relief. In the absence of an effective closer, Joey Williamson pitched the ninth inning and was awarded his first save of the season. We have now seen Williamson as a starter, a long reliever, a traditional reliever and a closer at least once each this season.
A+, A and DSL after the jump.
Modesto Nuts W 8-3The Visalia Rawhide outhit the Nuts 10 to 9, but were unable to make great progress towards winning the game out of it. Even more unusual, the Nuts were able to score 8 runs with only one extra base hit in the game, a double by right fielder Kent Matthes. Matthes was also the only Nut with multiple hits, while center fielder Delta Cleary Jr. was the only player without one. Third baseman Nolan Arenado walked three times.
Leuris Gomez, who has been in a long relief role this season, started the game. He lasted two and a third innings, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk. Following Gomez was Will Harris who threw 3 and a third innings and allowed one run on three hits and a walk. Coty Woods threw two and a third innings cleanly and was awared the win, his third of the season. Sheng-An Kuo pitched a clean ninth.
Peter Tago got his first start in almost two weeks, as Asheville has been restructuring its rotation around the return of Tyler Matzek. Tago allowed four runs on four hits and three walks during six innings pitched. The game was blown open when reliever Juan Gonzalez, who recently joined Asheville after Extended Spring Training finished up, allowed four runs on four hits and a walk over just one inning. Taylor Reid allowed one more run in the final two innings of the game.
Offensively, center fielder Rafael Ortega and third baseman Brett Tanos each had three hits, while designated hitter Bryce Massanari had two. Left fielder Chandler Laurent had an ugly game, going 0-5 with 3 Ks. Seven runs weren't enough to overcome Hickory.
The DSL Orioles were no match for the Rockies, who managed 11 runs and 16 hits against them despite three errors. Every Rockies batter had at least one hit, while five had two, including three hit games from second baseman Cesar Galvez and third baseman Miguel Dilone. First baseman Eddy Morrobel hit his second home run of the young Dominican season.
Starter Helmis Rodriguez did not strike out a batter over his five innings, but he pitched effectively, allowing just 2 hits and a walk, with 2 runs crossing the plate, just one of them earned. Angel Marcano, Jhonriz Santana and Julio Sanchez combined to throw the rest of the game cleanly.