Rookie Casper - W 7-5 (9-3, 1st)
David Kandilas (2009, Australia) did something on a baseball diamond last night you may never see again in your lifetime. It stems mostly from his at-bat in the second inning, when he hit a 3-RBI single over the left field wall. Yes really. In actuality, Kandilas hit a legitimate grand slam over the wall, but due to a rarely enacted rule, he was awarded just a single (and was ruled out) after he passed Carl Thomore (2011, 2nd round) on the bases. Truly, a bases clearing single. To make matters worse, Kandilas also singled, doubled and tripled, so his grand slam would have completed the cycle with a cherry on top. Instead, no cycle, no grand slam. Oops. For video highlights, click here.
Samuel Mende (2011, 31 st round) hit a two run home run later in the inning, as the Ghosts beat up the Chukars early. #17 PuRP Will Swanner (2010, 15th round) smacked an RBI double, but the game was closer than it seemed due to a four run fourth allowed by starter Jefri Hernandez (2008, DR).
High-A Modesto - L 1-2 (11) (27-19, t-1st)
#11 PuRP Chad Bettis (2010, sandwich pick) was good again, but of course you expected that. The right-hander allowed just one run on three hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked two. The Nuts pitching staff as a whole allowed just four hits in 11 innings; unfortunately, one of them was a walk-off home run off Kurt Yacko (2008, 8th round), who was probably distracted with his disappointment at being ousted in the first round of MiLB.com's Moniker Madness bracket to Jurickson Profar. #30 PuRP Delta Cleary Jr. (2008, 37th round) singled four times, scoring the only Modesto run on a double by....#24 PuRP Josh Rutledge (2010, 3rd round)...of course.
AAA Colorado Springs - Off Day (54-65, 4th, 12.5 GB)
The Sky Sox had the night off as they traveled from Colorado Springs to Oklahoma City.
AA Tulsa - PPD (21-24, 3rd, 1.5 GB)
Inclement weather prevented the Drillers from reasserting themselves after a difficult loss on Wednesday. They will make up for the lost game with a double header today, starting at 4:00 MDT. Newly acquired Joe Gardner will start one of the two games.
Low-A Asheville - L 2-4 (25-21, 4th, 4.0 GB)
#5 PuRP Tyler Matzek (2009, 1st round) got his fifth start since returning to the organization and was decent. The lefty struck out five in six innings, walking three, throwing two wild pitches and permitting three runs. #3 PuRP Kyle Parker (2010, 1st round) drove in a run with a fielder's choice to follow an RBI single by Helder Velazquez (2006, 5th round), but the Tourists offense was otherwise held mostly in check by a Braves staff that included Braves 2011 1st round pick Sean Gilmartin.
AAA Colorado Springs - Off Day (54-65, 4th, 12.5 GB)
The Sky Sox had the night off as they traveled from Colorado Springs to Oklahoma City.
AA Tulsa - PPD (21-24, 3rd, 1.5 GB)
Inclement weather prevented the Drillers from reasserting themselves after a difficult loss on Wednesday. They will make up for the lost game with a double header today, starting at 4:00 MDT. Newly acquired Joe Gardner will start one of the two games.
Short Season-A Tri-City - L 3-4 (11-5, 1st)
Back to back doubles by Brian Humphries (2011, 14th round) and Tim Smalling (2011, 15th round) produced a run, and Ryan Casteel (2010, 17th round) and Juan Crousset (2007, DR) mirrored that feat in the sixth after a walk to produce two more. Unfortunately, the Dust Devils pitching staff didn't make that enough Thursday night, as Tyler Gagnon (2009, 15th round) had his scoreless innings streak snapped at 21. The right-hander was chased after four plus innings after allowing ten hits (nine of them singles) and three runs. Craig Bennigson (2008, 9th round) gave Everett the lead on a solo home run in the sixth inning, a deficit that held the remainder of the game.
DSL Rockies - W 3-1 (37-24, 3rd, 1.5 GB)
The Rockies managed just five hits, but they made them count in scoring three runs. Carlos Estevez tossed six shutout innings for the win.