AAA Colorado Springs: W 9-7 (10 innings)
Rehabbing outfielder Ryan Spilborghs homered twice as part of a three hit night, one of which was the game winning hit. Mike Paulk also had a three hit game. Joe Mather tripled and homered, while Willy Taveras, Jordan Pacheco and Ryan Rohlinger also had two hit nights. Edgar Gonzalez returned to starting after being outrighted from the Rockies, lasting just three and two thirds innings while allowing two earned runs on three hits and two walks. The bullpen was busy, with Blake Johnson, Sean White and Jim Miller (who earned his eighth win of 2011) seeing action, but both Huston Street and Matt Lindstrom got time too. Each pitched an inning; Street allowed no hits or walks while striking out one. Lindstrom struck out two, but allowed two runs on three hits.
Christian Friedrich lasted four and two thirds innings, giving up three earned runs on seven hits and three walks. He struck out six, but ended up with his ninth loss of the year. Cory Riordan saw action in relief behind him, throwing the next three and a third, allowing a solo home run as one of five hits, the only run of that period. The Drillers managed just five hits, two of which came from third baseman Erik Wetzel. Brian Rike hit his tenth home run of the season.
A+ Modesto Nuts: L 5-3The Nuts did plenty of hitting, just not a lot of scoring against Lake Elsinore (my favorite non-Rockies minor league team). Positional prospects Eliezer Mesa, Josh Rutledge and Nolan Arenado each had multi-hit games. David Christensen hit his fifth home run of the year, though he struck out in all three of his other at bats. Parker Frazier pitched just short of seven innings, but the five runs he allowed on six hits and a walk were enough to stick him with his 11th 2011 loss.
Outfield prospects Kyle Parker (21st) and Corey Dickerson (27th) each hit a home run in the game as their only hit. Avery Barnes, Brett Tanos and Dominic Altobelli had two hits each. Nick Schnaitmann continued his success in the Asheville phase of his 2011 season. The starter is 5-1 with the Tourists this season. He allowed four earned runs over seven innings pitched.The bullpen in Isaiah Froneberger and Bruce Kern held the lead for Asheville.
A- Tri-City Dust Devils: L 8-1
Despite only allowing one earned run (two total) over five and a third innings pitched, Ben Alsup got his second loss of the season. Most of the Spokane runs came off of reliever Rafael Suarez, who up until now had been doing much better with Tri-City since being demoted from Asheville. Suarez allowed four earned runs over two innings. He didn't walk anyone, but allowed six hits. Brian Humphries and Taylor Featherston each got two hits in the game.
Juan Ciriaco's two hit game in the leadoff spot was the only major offensive standout. The Ghosts had just five hits, but were also walked five times by the Great Falls Voyagers. Alex Gillingham threw the entire eight innings of Casper's field time, but got his fourth loss in what seems like the 90th organizational complete game loss this year. He allowed the five runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out four.
Sunday was the conclusion of 2011's DSL season.