Only four Rockies affiliates played yesterday, but the games mirrored each other in strange ways. Two Rockies affiliates lost in 3-1 affairs, while the American short season leagues both participated in games where a team lost by ten runs or more.
An impressive turn from Drillers bullpen wasn't enough to salvage the game after an early collapse from starter Rob Scahill. In the second inning, Scahill allowed all three San Antonio runs (only two were earned, as a throwing error from shortstop Hector Gomez and a passed ball by catcher Lars Davis didn't help matters). Scahill was removed from the game after this inning (unsure at this point if this was injury related), having allowed 3 hits, 3 walks, and of course, the 3 runs. In relief, Joey Williamson pitched the 3rd-5th innings cleanly, with Stephen Dodson, Casey Weathers and Adam Jorgenson each throwing a clean inning as well. Scahill would ultimately be stuck with his seventh loss of the season.
The only Drillers run was manufactured when right fielder Michael Mitchell singled in the sixth inning. He came around to score off the bat of second baseman Thomas Field, who reached base on a throwing error during the at bat, but was still credited with a RBI. Mitchell and third baseman Darin Holcomb were the only multi-hit players for Tulsa, while left fielder Scott Beerer hit the only extra base hit, a double. In addition to his throwing error, Gomez struck out three times, capping off an ugly night for the middle infielder.
A- Tri-City Dust Devils: W 12-2
The Dust Devils laid a beating on the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes scoring 12 runs on 20 hits. Every one of the seven players that got a hit actually had multiple hits in the game, including four hit nights for 2011 draftees center fielder Brian Humphries and first baseman Jordan Ribera. Three hit nights belonged to second baseman Timothy Smalling and third baseman Jayson Langfels, with left fielder Tyler Massey, catcher Ryan Casteel and designated hitter Jaron Shepherd. Only shortstop Taylor Featherston (who is hitting just .043 after beginning his pro career a couple weeks ago) and right fielder Jared Simon (who struck out four times in six at bats) did not get hits. Massey hit is fourth home run of the year, trying to prove that the organization shouldn't give up on him after being unable to advance past A ball the past three seasons.
Starting the game for Tri-City was Ben Alsup, the first 2011 draftee to sign his contract with us, the day after the draft ended. Alsup pitched four and a third innings allowing one earned run (a solo home run), three hits, one walk, and striking out four. Nelson Gonzalez threw the next three and two thirds, also allowing one earned run while allowing four hits and not walking or striking out a batter. Kenneth Roberts threw the final inning cleanly. Gonzalez picked up the win, his third of the year.
Casper and Dominican after the jump.
The Ghosts were not able to do much against the Ogden Raptors last night, despite only striking out four times. Of the starting lineup, only second baseman Juan Ciriaco had multiple hits, while catcher Will Swanner's double was the only extra base hit. The Ghosts scored early, when center fielder David Kandilas singled, stole second base, advanced to third base on a balk, and scored on a groundout by Swanner in the first inning, but two runs would cross for Ogden in the bottom of the inning, and Casper would never see a lead again.
Starter Raul Fernandez (7 runs allowed) and relievers Alejandro Barraza (4 runs allowed) and Kyle Roliard (2 runs allowed) each pitched between two and three innings while getting touched up for runs, though Roliard struck out five batters.. Only Michael Wolford would allow no runs in his inning of work. Fernandez received his fourth loss of the year.
A relatively uneventful game, as the DSL Rockies gathered only three singles and a walk against the DSL Reds. Second baseman Miguel Dilone batted in catcher Jose Briceno for their only run in the game. Third baseman Cesar Galvez and first baseman Eddy Morrobel had the other singles, while shortstop Jose De La Cruz got the walk.
The pitching staff did not walk a single batter in the game, but were unable to make the key outs. Starter Angel Lezama got his second loss of the season, allowing three runs and five hits over four and two thirds innings pitched. He struck out four.. Relief in the forms of Jose Medina (two and a third IP) and Radhames Valerio (two IP) were effective, each giving up two hits, with Medina striking out three. As mentioned above, none of the three pitchers allowed a walk.