:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/3703571/121304357.jpg)
Colorado Springs, W 11-7
Chris Nelson, in his first act back in Triple-A ball, blasted a three-run homer in the first inning and then hit a solo shot off Chaz Roe in the sixth inning. Clayton Mortensen allowed five runs in 5.1 innings and struck out nine.
Tulsa, W 5-4
Tim Wheeler wasted no time in hitting another home run, coming up with his 31st of the season on a two-runner in the fourth inning. He went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI. Matt McBride drove in a run in the first inning when he was hit by pitch with the bases loaded. The decisive offensive play of the game came in the sixth. Mike Mitchell tripled in Matt McBride and scored on the same play due to an error by the second baseman.
Joe Gardner allowed all four runs, none earned though, because of his own error in the second inning. On a force attempt, he made an errant throw that allowed two runs to score. A single a couple of batters later drove in the other two runs.
Asheville, L 4-5 (10 innings)
This Sally League game didn't go 19 innings like another one did on Thursday night, but the Tourists still wound up on the wrong end of things. Juan Perez allowed Delino DeShields to score when Telvin Nash singled him in for the winning run.
Starter Joshua Slaats struck out 11 batters in seven innings and allowed a DeShields solo homer in the fourth inning.
Avery Barnes and Brett Tanos combined for three RBI in the second inning on a ground out and a two-run double, respectively. Barnes drove in the fourth run in the sixth inning on his sixth homer of the season.
Tri-City, L 5-7
Ricardo Ferrer had a tough time in the fourth inning, allowing four of his five runs. A couple of doubles, a single and a wild pitch put the runners across home plate. Rafael Suarez and Nelson Gonzalez allowed runs in the seventh and eighth innings to extend Vancouver's lead.
On offense, Tri-City's Timothy Smalling started the four-run third inning with a triple (he went 3-for-4 with two runs scored). Tyler Massey, Jared Simon and Leonardo Reyes each followed with an RBI. Jordan Ribera plated the other run in the eighth inning.
Casper, L 6-7
Up 6-4 in the bottom of the ninth, Casper's Michael Wolford started off with a strikeout. But then he walked a batter and allowed him to move to second on a wild pitch. A single brought the game to within one, which was followed by a fielder's choice that erased a possible runner at third but had one at second base. A single and a double blew the save and lost the game for Casper.
Catcher Angel Reyes hit a three-run home run in the second inning, and Rosell Herrera hit his sixth of the season on a solo shot in the eighth inning.