The seven affiliates played eight games last night, going 2-6 on the night. As is usual in the minors, however, few games lacked offense.
The Sky Sox (34-42) amassed only six hits in this game, five of them going for extra bases (none of them homers), all by different players, getting three runs out of it. Unfortunately, they needed at least double that amount, as Billy Buckner gave up ten hits and six runs in five innings to get the loss (1-3). Former Rockies farmhand Chaz Roe was dominant against his former team in relief, striking out six in three one-hit innings. Dexter Fowler continued to struggle, going 0-4 with two punchouts -- he's hitting .065 in AAA.
The Drillers (34-39) got a great night from PuRP 1B Ben Paulsen, but it was to no avail. Paulsen went 2-5 with a triple and four RBIs, while OF Scott Beerer added a solo shot (his 11th). On the mound, Josh Sullivan lasted only four innings, allowing eight runs on ten hits in taking the loss (2-6).
The Nuts (33-38) put on a hitting clinic last night, pounding out 21 hits in all. PuRP 5 3B Nolan Arenado had four of those hits, including a double and a two-run HR (his 7th), driving in six on the night. After a bit of a slow start in High A, the 20 year-old Arenado has improved his line to .297/.344/.448, including a .400 average in his last ten games. Not to be outdone, outfielder Kent Matthes went 5-6 with two doubles and three runs on the night, while four other Modesto players had multi-hit games. Interestingly, neither team's starter made it out of the second inning, in which 13 runs were scored (7 by Modesto).
The Tourists (32-39) found themselves in an early 6-0 hole after a six run second by their opponents last night and they couldn't quite climb out of it. Second baseman Russell Wilson had himself a nice game, going 2-3 with a 3 run blast (his 3rd), while CF Rafael Ortega (PuRP 12) went 3-5. Juan Gonzalez (0-3) was the pitcher doing the digging, lasting six innings but allowing seven runs (four earned) on eight hits.
Short season ball below after the fold.
The Dust Devils (4-4) got the bats going (nine hits), but their pitchers couldn't stop the opposing team from doing the same (14 hits). Tri-City was led by multi-hit games by 2011 draftees SS Timothy Smalling (15th round) and 1B Jordan Ribera (21st round) as well as 2009 signee 2B David Hernandez. The Dust Devils scored all six of their runs in the fourth inning to erase a 5-0 deficit, but they couldn't do it again as Boise scored five unanswered.
The Ghosts (2-3) only really needed two players on offense today, PuRP 17 catcher Will Swanner and Aussie outfielder David Kandilas. Kandlias, repeating the Pioneer League for the second time, went 4-6 with one of everything for his first career cycle. He drove in four men on the night. Meanwhile, Swanner flexed the power that got him on the PuRPs list, going 2-6 with his first two long balls of the season, a 2-run and a 3-run shot. 2011 27th-rounder Matthew Argyropoulos added three hits for the Ghosts. After going scoreless in the first two innings, Casper scored in six of the next seven, including five multi-run innings.
Game 1: DSL Reds 3, DSL Rockies 0
The DSL Rockies outhit their opponents 8-6 but didn't push any runs across. Carlos Estevez only allowed two hits in five innings, but one of them was solo HR, enough to give him the loss (0-1).
Game 2: DSL Reds 11, DSL Rockies 7
Things did not go much better in the second game for the DSL Rockies (12-11), who committed six errors in this game, including three by the first baseman! Catcher Franmy Pena led the team with a three hit night, while OF Yonathan Daza had a double and a triple. Potential PuRP Jayson Acquino had an uncharacteristically rough outing, going only 3.1 IP and allowing three runs on four hits. His ERA is still only 1.69, so I'm not overly concerned.