AAA Colorado Springs - L 3-10 (54-65, 4th, 12.5 GB)
Jason Giambi singled three times, including RBI singles in the first and second innings, and Joe Mather drove in three in the first two innings as well. Greg Reynolds pitched fairly well, as he took the mound in the eighth inning having allowed just 2 runs on just three hits, with seven punchouts. Three of the first four hitters in the eighth would reach via hit before he was pulled, but all three eventually came around to score.
AA Tulsa - L 9-10 (21-24, t-3rd, 2.0 GB)
#27 PuRP Thomas Field (2008, 24th round) homered for the third time in four days, this one a two-out two-run shot that broke a 7-7 tie in the eighth inning that gave Tulsa a lead going into the bottom of the ninth inning. Daniel Turpen (2011, trade) walked one and allowed four singles to blow the save. #10 PuRP Tim Wheeler (2009, 1st round) had three hitsand #18 PuRP Hector Gomez (2005, DR), Bronson Sardinha (2010, MiLB FA) and Erik Wetzel (2008, 13th round) had had two knocks on the night, but it wasn't enough offense. After four strong starts following his promotion to AA, Dan Houston (2008, 7th round) had his fourth uneven start in his last five starts. The right hander allowed seven runs on ten hits in just three innings for his worst start of the season.
High-A Modesto - Off Day (27-18, t-1st)
The Nuts have the best record in the California League, tied with the Stockton Ports in the North Division. The South Division leaders are the Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres), whom the Nuts open a road series with tonight at 8:05 MDT after having the night off last night. #11 PuRP Chad Bettis (2010, sandwich pick) will be on the hill tonight.
Low-A Asheville - L 3-6 (25-20, 4th, 3.0 GB)
#28 PuRP Josh Slaats (2010, 5th round) continues to pitch well, if not always dominant. The right-hander surrendered three run (two earned) on four hits (the cycle) in six innings. #25 PuRP Cristhian Adames (2009, DR) doubled and scored and Rafael Ortega (2009, VZ) singled twice on a night where offense was tough to come by for Asheville. Still, they were tied in the eighth inning when Bruce Kern (2010, 23rd round) surrendered an RBI single. Joey Wong (2009, 24th round) threw the ball away for an error with two out to directly lead to two runs, turning a close game into a difficult rally which the Tourists could not overcome. #3 PuRP Kyle Parker (2010, 1st round) walked twice, but he also struck out three times. #15 PuRP Corey Dickerson (2010, 8th round) went 0-for-5, but he still leads the South Atlantic League in home runs with 23.
Short Season-A Tri-City - W 18-7 (11-4, 1st)
The Dust Devils scored 18 runs last night, nearly doubling their output for the month. Tim Smalling (2011, 15th round), one of two Dust Devils with a batting average over .261 at .301, doubled twice and singled, scoring three times. Jared Simon (2010, 6th round) went bonkers on the Aqua Sox, going deep twice, doubling, singling twice, driving in six and scoring four runs. David Hernandez (2009, undrafted) and Leonardo Reyes (2006, VZ) each homered as part of a three hit night, and Matt Argyroupoulos (2011, 27th round) drove in four, thanks in part to a bases clearing double in a 7-run fifth inning. Ricardo Ferrer (2007, VZ) allowed five runs, and Rafael Suarez (2006, VZ) spotted Everett two pity runs in the ninth.
Rookie Casper - L 4-6 (8-3, 1st)
The previously hot Ghosts have gone on the road and lost all momentum. After a 6-0 loss in the opener yesterday, Casper dropped another one in Idaho Falls last night. Patrick Johnson (2011, 25th round) allowed five runs on nine hits, which was a hole the Ghosts couldn't recover from. Francisco Sosa (2008, DR) hit a two run home run, and #17 PuRP Will Swanner (2010, 15th round) hit his first home run since July 26, just his second since his 3-HR barrage on July 4. David Kandilas (2009, Australia) doubled and scored on a Rosell Herrera (2009, DR) strikeout/wild pitch/catcher throwing error, but Carl Thomore (2011, 2nd round) struck out representing the tying run to end the game.
DSL Rockies - W 2-1 (36-24, 3rd, 1.5 GB)
We haven't outlined Helmis Rodriguez much, but the starting pitcher is having a strong season in the DSL. He has held opponents to 1 ER or less in 9 of his 10 games, including last night, when he struck out nine against just two walks and three hits in seven innings. He is sitting on a 42/14 K/BB ratio in 49.1 IP, but the best part is that he just turned 17 and is left-handed. Franmy Pena doubled and scored, and Jose Briceno collected two hits to provide just enough offense.