The affiliates went 3-5 last night, though several once and future PuRPs had good games. Maybe this is because their top three affiliates scored only 4 runs in 4 games.
Oklahoma City 9, Colorado Springs 2
The Sky Sox (54-66) continued their forgettable season with yet another blowout loss. Five players got multi-hit nights, including Ian Stewart's 2 doubles, but Billy Buckner's (4-7) 7 runs allowed in 5 innings was too much to overcome. Our AAA team is so bad, it's losing to the Astros' AAA team.
The Drillers dropped game 1 of the doubleheader by mustering only 1 run on 5 hits. PuRP 27 2B Thomas Field had two of those hits and the lone RBI for Tulsa. Meanwhile, Cory Riordan ran his W-L record to 1-12 on the year by allowing 4 runs (2 earned) over 5 innings.
It was a frustrating game 2 for the Drillers (21-26 2nd half, 54-63), who lost despite outhitting their opponents 10 to 5. Unfortunately, all of those hits were singles. Joe Gardner (0-2) got his second loss since coming over in the Ubaldo Jimenez trade, giving up 2 runs on 5 hits in 5 innings
The Nuts (27-20 2nd half, 60-57 overall) had 7 hits (all singles), including 3 from Delta Cleary Jr, but couldn't scratch a run out. Parker Frazier took the loss (9-10), lasting 6.2 IP and giving up 3 runs on 9 hits.
Lower level ball below the fold.
Asheville 4, Rome 3The Tourists (26-21 2nd half, 57-59 overall) got yet another strong performance by former PR punching bag Nick Schnaitmann, who went 7 innings and allowed 3 runs on 5 hits to get the win (3-1). Since his demotion to Asheville, Schnaitmann has maintained a 1.91 ERA over 33 IP. Offensively, Asheville was led by multi-hit nights from 3B Brett Tanos, PuRP 12 CF Rafael Ortega, and PuRP 15 OF Corey Dickerson (who had a 2B and 3B).
The Dust Devils (12-5 2nd half, 34-21 overall) continued their domination of the Northwest league with a 13 hit, 8 run effort. Tri-City got three hits each from CF Brian Humphries and 2B David Hernandez, as well as multi-hit games by DH Leonardo Reyes and SS Taylor Featherston, who hit a 2 run HR (2). On the mound, Ben Alsup continued his strong season (3-1, 2.63 ERA) by going 6.2 IP with 7 strikeouts, allowing 5 runs on 7 hits.
The Ghosts (9-4 2nd half, 20-31 overall) pounded out 9 hits and 3 homers, but it wasn't enough for the victory. The aforementioned sluggers were PuRP 17 C Will Swanner (10), 3B Sam Mende (11), and 1B Harold Riggins (4) -- all were solo shots. On a holy OBP watch Batman note, Riggins is sporting a .289/.436/.467 line so far this year.
The Rockies' Dominican Summer League affiliate (38-24, 1.5 GB) got yet another brilliant pitching performance from Jayson Aquino, who threw 6 scoreless innings, allowing 5 hits and punching out 7 to get the win (7-2). The 18 year-old Aquino has a 1.44 ERA in 81 IP in the DSL, allowing opponents to hit only .188 off of him, and striking out 75 while walking only 20. The game was a nailbiter until the 7th inning, when the Rockies scored 7 runs to put the game away. Catcher Jairo Rosario had three hits while SS Jose De La Cruz had two hits and three RBIs to lead the team.