AAA Colorado Springs Sky Sox (32-29, 3rd in PCL Pacific North)
Sky Sox 2, Padres 4
After clinging to a 2-0 lead, Sky Sox reliever Jim Miller did this:
Eric Patterson walks.
With Steve Tolleson batting, Eric Patterson steals (1) 2nd base.
Steve Tolleson singles on a line drive to right fielder Mike Paulk. Eric Patterson to 3rd.
Matt Clark singles on a ground ball to right fielder Mike Paulk. Eric Patterson scores. Steve Tolleson to 3rd.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Luis Durango replaces Matt Clark.
With Kyle Blanks batting, Luis Durango steals (10) 2nd base.
Kyle Blanks singles on a ground ball to left fielder Cole Garner. Steve Tolleson scores. Luis Durango scores. Kyle Blanks to 2nd on the throw.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Aaron Cunningham replaces Colt Hynes.
Aaron Cunningham flies out to center fielder Dexter Fowler. Kyle Blanks to 3rd.
Eric Stults gave up a sac fly to CF to Kyle Phillips and then forced Cedric Hunter to pop out to foul ground. The Sky Sox had runners at the corners with 2 outs in the 9th when Ian Stewart struck out looking to end the game.
Billy Buckner pitched like a boss, going 5IP, striking out 4 and walking 2 while scattering 3 hits, none of which resulted in a run (obviously). Cole Garner, Dexter Fowler, and Mike Paulk all contributed multi-hit games. Interestingly enough, Garner was batting leadoff while Fowler batted 2nd. Precursor to a possible Cargo-Fowler-Helton top 3? Maybe even Blackmon-Fowler-Cargo/Helton?
AA Tulsa Drillers (32-36, 3rd in TEX North)
Drillers 1, Travelers 3
Thomas Field, Darin Holcomb, Wilin Rosario, and James Cesario combined for 8 of the Drillers' 12 hits, but the only one that put up anything more than a goose egg on the scoreboard was Field's solo shot in the 3rd inning. Josh Sullivan pitched really well, going 7 innings, only allowing the 2 runs on 2 solo home runs, striking out 6 and walking 2, yet was still saddled with the loss. Travelers' starter Trevor Reckling gave up 11 of the Drillers' hits.
A+ Modesto Nuts (32-27, 4th in the CAL North)
Nuts 1, Giants 2
Tight, tough game for Modesto on Sunday. Daniel Perkins went 5 strong, scattering 7 hits while striking out 1. Daniel Rose and Kurt Yacko both surrendered a run over their combined 3 innings of relief, which was enough for the strong Giants' pitching (headed up by Craig Wescott's 6 innings of 1 run ball) to seal a win. 9 hits for Modesto, 1 run. 12 hits for San Jose, 2 runs.
A Asheville Tourists (31-28, 4th in the SAL Southern)
Tourists 0, GreenJackets 6
Juan Gonzalez allowed all 6 runs during his 4 innings of work on 10 hits, 3 strikeouts, and no walks. Erik Stavert went another 4, allowing 0 runs on 3 hits, 4K, 0BB. Heider Velazquez had a 2-hit day, Bryce Massanari added a double and Christhian Adames poked a single of his own, but nothing really got cooking for the Tourists in the daycap of the doubleheader.
Tourists 8, GreenJackets 7
Peter Tago started off the nightcap similar to Juan Gonzalez, allowing 6 runs over 4.1 innings, striking out none and walking 4. Bruce Kern allowed a 7th run, but the bullpen held on just tight enough to give the Tourists their victory. Every GreenJacket pitcher allowed a run, and the Tourists somehow scored 8 runs on 7 hits and 6 walks. Michael Kickham even had a shutout going into the 5th inning. Bummer for him.
A- Tri-City Dust Devils (1-2, 3rd NOR East)
Dust Devils 4, AquaSox (seriously) 5
Entering the 12th inning, the Dust Devils
Tyler Massey and Jordan Ribera both dropped 2 hits for the Dust Devils during this extra innings affair, but it ultimately came down to which bullpen wanted it more. After seemingly nailing shut the game in the 12th with a 3-run barrage off of Clint Tilford (1IP, 2H, 2BB, 3R), the Dust Devils clawed back to within 1 run. Blake McDade struck out looking with the tying run on 2B, and the Dust Deivls lost their 2nd of the season.
Despite pitching well (6IP, 3H, 2R, 5K, 0BB), Ricardo Ferrer wasn't able to walk away with the Win. At least he wasn't on the hook for the loss, either.
DSL Rockies (9-4, 4th BC Baseball City)
Off Day