AAA Colorado Springs Sly Sox: W 12-4
The Sky Sox put up 18 hits against the Las Vegas 51s, with everybody in the starting lineup providing at least one of them. The offense was led by recent MLB castoffs Eric Young Jr. (a home run short of a cycle) and Chris Nelson (a triple short of a cycle, having hit his seventh MiLB home run of the season in the game). Right fielder Joe Mather also got three hits in the game, while Cole Garner, Mike Paulk and Jordan Pacheco had two. Every batter scored at least one run except for second baseman Alfredo Amezaga. The Sky Sox offense was entirely hit-based, as they did not walk a single time in the game.
Starting pitcher Billy Buckner was hittable, giving up nine total hits over his six innings pitched, and allowing four earned runs. He also walked two and struck out six. Sean White and Edgmer Escalona combined for three innings of effective relief to finish the game. Buckner received his second win of the season.
Catcher Wilin Rosario continued his fiery July with a four hit night (all singles), but he wasn't the only one to accomplish that challenge. Shortstop Hector Gomez had a fantastic game, notching four hits of his own, which included his ninth and tenth home runs of the season, one of which was a third inning grand slam. He batted in seven of Tulsa's 13 runs. Center fielder Tim Wheeler hit his organization leading 27th home run, while right fielder Brian Rike hit his fourth. Both outfielders also had two hits each on the night.
Starter Josh Sullivan was effective early against Springfield, but struggled in the third and fourth innings, which was as far into the game as he made it (he was pulled in the fifth after giving up a leadoff homer). Sullivan allowed three home runs in the game, which accounted for half of the total hits he allowed in the game. He also walked four batters, while striking out five. Joey Williamson gave up one run in two innings of relief, and Joe Torres a run in one. The seventh and eighth innings were pitched cleanly by Stephen Dodson, who got his seventh win of the season, all of which have come in relief.
A+ Modesto Nuts: L 7-6 (10 innings)For the first time since being promoted, Edwar Cabrera was touched up for six runs over seven innings. He allowed eight hits and two walks, while striking out six. Breakout reliever Coty Woods allowed an unearned run in the tenth inning, leaving his shiny 0.94 ERA undamaged, but he was stuck with his second loss on the year. The run was Woods' fault nonetheless; he threw away the ball while attempting to pickoff a runner at first base, allowing the runner at third to score. That Rancho Cucamonga batter at first had been intentionally walked. Ouch.
All 11 Modesto hits came from the top five batters in the Nuts lineup: three each from second baseman Angelys Nina and third baseman Nolan Arenado, two each from right fielder Kent Matthes and first baseman Kiel Roling, with shortstop Josh Rutledge providing the last, a game tying single in the top of the ninth. Matthes knocked in three runs, while Arenado scored twice.
Despite striking out eleven times, the Tourists found homered their way to victory. Center fielder Rafael Ortega (fourth), left fielder Corey Dickerson (20th) and shortstop Joey Wong (second) each hit multi-run home runs to contribute to Asheville's lead. Ortega and Wong were also both two-hit players, along with second baseman Brett Tanos and first baseman Mark Tracy.
Josh Slaats threw very well, allowing five hits and two walks over seven innings pitched. He struck out eight. The Greensboro Grasshoppers didn't do damage until the eigth inning when pitching convert Stephen Head, who did well with the Dust Devils but has struggled with the Tourists so far, allowed three runs including a two run home run. Taylor Reid walked two batters in the ninth, but no further damage was done. Slaats was awarded his fifth win of the year.
A- Tri-City Dust Devils: L 9-6
The Dust Devils tried to mount an eleventh hour offensive charge against the Yakima Bears, scoring five runs in the final two innings, but it would not be enough. Center fielder Jaron Shepherd, second baseman Timothy Smalling and right fielder Jared Simon each had two hit nights, accounting for six of the seven Tri-City hits. A triple from Smalling was the only extra base hit they could manage.
Starter Christian Bergman allowed five runs over six innings on eight hits and a walk, leading to his third loss of the year. He struck out four. Ching Lung Lo threw very well in the seventh and eighth, but a run was charged to him after he walked a batter in the ninth, which would come around to score as part of a three run rally off of Chris Dennis that would cement the game in Yakima's favor.
The Ghosts managed just three hits against the Helena Brewers. Catcher Angel Reyes hit his third home run of the year, a solo shot, and a two run double from right fielder Robert De La Cruz was all the run production created. The third hit was a single from third baseman Samuel Mende, off to a hot start to his professional career. The Ghosts did manage to walk six times against Helena pitching, including three from center fielder David Kandilas.
Ghosts pitching struggled. Starter Patrick Johnson got his second loss of the season after allowing five runs on seven hits and a walk over just three innings, though he did net four strikeouts. Alving Mejias threw four innings of relief, allowing another three runs on six more hits and another walk. Another four runs over two innings from Jeremiah Sammy finally ended the massacre,
DSL Rockies: Double header
Down 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh, the DSL Rockies came back to win on a double from catcher Jose Briceno. Briceno was the only batter on the team to have multiple hits. Starter Jayson Aquino pitched the complete seven inning game, allowing the two earned runs on seven hits and three walks. He struck out seven and received his fourth win of the season.
This time, the Rockies were the away team, and despite only getting six hits in this second game, 10 runs were scored. This is due to a whopping fourteen walks given up by the DSL Padres. The top six batters in the lineup each had one hit to account for them all. Starter Johendi Jiminian allowed three runs, though they were all unearned (the Rockies made four errors, three of which came from third baseman Eddy Morrobel). He allowed four hits and struck out seven. Reliever Julio Sanchez struck out the side in his inning of work. In the seventh inning, Angel Marcano allowed four earned runs on three hits, including a three run home run, while recording just one out. Carlos Leon allowed two hits and an unearned run in Marcano's stead, but finished off the inning with two strikeouts, leading to his first save of the year and awarding Jiminian his fourth 2011 win.