The minor league affiliates went 2-5 last night, with both wins and two of the losses coming by one run.
The Sky Sox (41-51) continued their poor road play (15-30), scoring only three runs on ten hits. Eric Young Jr., Willy Taveras, and PuRP 14 Jordan Pacheco led the team with multi-hit games. Greg Reynolds gave up five runs on eight hits in six innings to take the loss (5-3).
The Drillers (33-37, 9-11 2nd Half) won a tight extra innings affair thanks to a two-run eighth inning rally that saw catcher (and PuRP 1) Wilin Rosario hit his second homer of the night, a 2-run shot that tied the game at 6. Rosario went 2-2 on the night with 2 HRs (13th and 14th), 3 walks, and 3 RBIs. Third-baseman Erik Wetzel added two hits and two RBIs for the Drillers, who were out-hit 13-7 on the night.
On the hill, Cory Riordan went six innings, allowing four runs on eight hits. After Adam Jorgenson allowed two runs in an inning of work (raising his ERA to 7.27), three Tulsa relievers combined for four scoreless innings of relief, with Joe Torres getting the win (2-1).
The Nuts (43-49, 10-12 2nd Half) fell behind 12-0 after a disastrous eight run first (which included two errors by SS Josh Rutledge) and four run fourth by their opponents, and their late rally (which included a four run sixth and a five run ninth) fell short. Modesto was led offensively by RF Kent Matthes and DH Kiel Roling, both of whom had three hit nights, while 1B Jared Clark added two hits and three RBIs. Two other players had multi-hit games for the Nuts, who had 16 hits in all.
Parker Frazier (7-8) had a nightmare start, getting only two outs and allowing eight runs on six hits (only two of which were earned). Leuris Gomez went 3.1 IP in relief, allowing four runs on seven hits, but after the fourth the Nuts shut the opposition down. This included two scoreless, hitless innings by Coty Woods, who lowered his seasonal ERA to 0.97 (6 runs allowed in 55.2 IP, 65/23 K/BB). Woods is definitely a promotion candidate.
Delmarva 6, Asheville 5 (F-13)
The Tourists (41-50, 10-12 2nd half) tied the game with a two-run 9th inning, but were unable to win it in extras. PuRP 25 SS Cristhian Adames led the team with a 4-7 night, while CF Chandler Laurent added three hits and two others added two. Every Asheville pitcher that took the mound allowed a run, with Kraig Sitton taking his first loss of the year (5-1).
Short season ball after the fold.
The Dust Devils (14-14) had a rally fall short as well, getting two runs in the eighth to pull within one but coming no closer. 1B Jordan Ribera continued to pound the NW league (.317/.384/.554), going 3-4 with 2 RBIs. Ricardo Ferrer took the loss (0-3) for the Dust Devils after allowing four runs on eight hits in seven innings. The game was saved by a guy named Quackenbush. How droll.
The Ghosts (7-18) lost their seventh straight game despite the first professional homerun from 2011 sandwich pick SS Trevor Story, a solo shot in the seventh. 2B Yafistel Roja also added a solo shot (his first professional HR as well) for the Ghosts, who only mustered five hits on the night. Alex Gillingham (1-2) took the loss after allowing three runs in five innings.
The Rockies' DSL affiliate (22-18) won their fifth straight contest once again due to their solid pitching. This time it was Helmis Rodriguez who carried the load. The 17 year-old (3-2, 2.38 ERA) went seven innings, allowing five hits and one run. Offensively, the Rockies were led by SS Jose De La Cruz, who went 3-4 with a double.