Thursday Pebble Report: Edwar Cabrera K's Eight, Nuts Win Walkoff

Eye On:  Antonia Senzatela, Venezuelan P  

The Rockies have reportedly signed this 16-year-old right-handed pitcher out of Venezuela as of yesterday.   He is already 6'1" and 170 and was ranked by Ben Badler as the 27th best available international player.  He already has good size and projects to have more, which could come together nicely in adding velocity to a fastball that already sits 88-92mph and can touch 93mph.  Not surprisingly, the breaking stuff needs work.  

High-A Modesto -  W 5-4 (10-10, 3rd, 6.0 GB)

#21 PuRP Edwar Cabrera continues to dominate hitters, but when he shows weakness, the bats really brutally bash him.  The MiLB strikeout leader punched out eight more in 6.2 innings, but he allowed three runs, all in a rough stretch to lead off the third inning.  A double began the inning, followed by a home run.  Three more singles produced the third run charged to Cabrera, though that last RBI single also resulted in your tailor-made 7-5-6-4-3-4 double play.

The score stood 3-3 after that inning through the top of the 8th, when Inland Empire scratched a run across the stingy Michael Marbry (2007, undrafted), utilizing a walk and two singles.  #5 PuRP Nolan Arenado (2009, 2nd round) followed a walk and a #24 PuRP Josh Rutledge (2010, 3rd round) double in the ninth inning with a game-tying sacrifice fly, and Kiel Roling (2008, 6th round) provided the walk-off win with a two out single to right.

Low-A Asheville -  W 8-2 (10-10, t-3rd, 4.0 GB)

#28 PurP Josh Slaats continued his bounceback with his best outing of the year.  After walking two to start his day, Slaats retired 16 men in a row.  That thudded in the sixth inning, when two walks and two infield hits produced a run.  Dustin Garneau (2009, 19th round) homered for the second straight game, Mark Tracy (2010, 22nd round) was a home run shy of the cycle, and Brett Tanos (2010, 10th round) walked thrice and tripled.

There is video of Will Swanner and Rosell Herrera after the jump

Short Season-A Tri-City -  W 4-0  (13-13, 2nd, 1.0 GB)

The Eugene Emeralds had lost just 4 times in 25 games this season, but that didn't seem to matter to the Dust Devils.  Tri-City shutout the Em's behind 5.2 innings of 6K ball from starter Christian Bergman (2010, 24th round) and three shutout innings by Rafael Suarez (2005, VZ).  Tyler Massey (2008, 14th round) drove in two runs, and Ryan Casteel (2010, 17th round) doubled, singled and drove in a run.  Talyor Featherston (2011, 5th round) was the only Dust Devil not to figure into the offense - his 0-for-3 night dropped his season line to just 1-for-26, though he has struck out just six times.

Rookie Casper -  L 4-7  (7-16, 4th, 9.5 GB)

Last night was the home debut of Trevor Story (2011, sandwich).  It also happened to be the pro debut of Patrick Johnson (2011, 25th rounder).  The 5'10" right-hander showed strong control but little in the way of velocity or movement, and the Osprey jumped on him.  He retired just five men in allowing five runs on seven well-struck hits.  Alving Mejias (2008, DR) saved the pen with 5.1 solid innings, and Matthew Crocker posted two goose eggs.

Story had a quiet game, walking and going 0-for-3.  He showed a very strong arm at third base - though his accuracy was quite suspect, a recent move to the hot corner is likely to blame.  PuRP #17 Will Swanner (2010, 15th round) had a great night, fighting off a 3-2 pitch for a single to center, clubbing a double to right-center field (that could have been a triple) and even walking.  

Swanner did strike out, but in showing better plate discipline, he swung at just one of the five pitches offered.  Two were perfectly placed fastballs on the corner.  Rosell Herrera (2009, DR) added a triple down the right field line, a walk, and possible infield single (called out) to end the game.

DSL Rockies - W 2-0  (20-18, 4th, 5.0 GB)

Seventeen year old Joel Payamps, one of Ben Badler's favorite international signings last July, continues to mow down the Dominican Summer League.  The right-hander threw five shutout innings and struck out six to lower his ERA to 0.96.  18-year-old 3B Miguel Dilone committed his 13th and 14th errors of the season already, but he made up for it by driving in the game's only runs with a double in the 6th inning.

***

AAA Colorado Springs - Off Day (41-49, 3rd, 12.5 GB)

It was the Pacific Coast League vs. International League All-Star game last night.  After promotions to Eric Young Jr., Chris Nelson and Charlie Blackmon and a release of Josh Fields, there were no obvious All-Stars for the Sky Sox.  29-year-old closer Jim Miller (2011, MiLB FA) was the lone Sky Sox representative despite a 6.12 ERA.  He did get in the game, walking Yonder Alonso and permitting a single before inducing a groundout.

 

AA Tulsa - Off Day (8-10, 2nd, 3.0 GB) 

The Drillers had a day of rest yesterday after traveling back to Tulsa from San Antonio.  They open a three game series tonight at home against the Arkansas Travelers with Dan Houston (2008, 7th round) on the mound.  Houston is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA with Tulsa following a midseason promotion after an All-Star first half in Modesto.