Following Jeff’s lead from yesterday, we’re going to start with the lower levels and work our way up. No matter how you slice it though, it's four straight wins on what was a great night all the way around.
Low-A Asheville – W 10-3, (21-13, 2nd, 3.0 GB)
Down on the farm last night, there was a buzz surrounding a highly anticipated start by a first round, left handed, pitching prospect in the Rockies organization named Tyler; but for the first time, his last name wasn’t Matzek. Instead, it was 2011 first round pick and #14 PuRP Tyler Anderson making his Rockies organizational debut – And he wasn’t bad. Anderson got the win as he went five innings, gave up two earned runs, scattered seven hits, only stuck out two, but also only walked one. It’s odd, but the biggest thing to take away from this start is that there really is nothing to take away from it. He wasn’t great, but he wasn’t terrible either. It’s exactly the type of outing that leaves you eager to see what he does the next time he takes the mound.
At the plate, the Tourist offense came alive and scored double digit runs for the first time since April 29th. #12 PuRP Trevor Story, Tyler Massey, Harold Riggins, Brian Humphries, and Jared Simon all scored two runs while every Tourist had at least one hit with the exception of #11 PuRP Rosell Herrera. If you had to pick an offensive star from this game, it would be Jared Simon who went 2-3 with a home run and three RBI.
High-A Modesto – W 5-1, (18-18, 3rd, 5.0 GB)
This was supposed to be #7 PuRP Kyle Parker’s night as he returned from a wrist injury to make just his third start of the season, but he went 0-4 with a strikeout and had the spotlight stolen by fellow Nuts outfielder and #15 PuRP Rafael Ortega. The speedy centerfielder had three hits on the night, including a triple to open the game. Ortega now has four multi hit games in a row and has raised his OPS on the season to .863. #19 PuRP Cory Dickerson also had big night at the plate but his season has been so magnificent that it would almost be a bigger story if he didn’t at this point. In this game, he had two hits; a double in the first and a home run in the 4th that would give Modesto the lead for good.
On the mound, Christian Bergman rebounded nicely from his tough outing last time out against Bakersfield. He line on the night: 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 5 K’s, 1 BB. With the win, the Nuts got back to .500 for the second time this week. A win tonight would push them over that mark for the first time all season.
AA Tulsa – W 3-2, (22-12, 1st)
Despite only collecting six hits and not having a single player record a multi hit game, Tulsa was able to squeeze out three runs against the Arkansas pitching staff. The most notable of which came in the first inning off the bat of #2 PuRP Nolan Arenado; a solo shot to left, his second on the season. The rest of the scoring came in the 4th on a Lars Davis double which scored both #26 PuRP Ben Paulsen and Mike Zaunich.
That would be all the offense the Driller pitching staff would need as Parker Frazier turned in another solid outing, only giving up two runs in seven innings. In seven starts this season, Frazier has now gone six innings or more six times, and has surrendered two runs or fewer six times. His ERA currently stands at an impressive 2.45. In addition, Tulsa closer Coty Woods is quietly torturing hitters. He picked up his 7th save of the season last night to keep his season ERA at a sparkling 0.00. The 24 year old from Christiana, Tennessee also has peripherals which suggest it’s not much of a fluke either. He has now racked up 16 strikeouts while walking just one on the season. Not bad for a 33rd round pick.
There’s even more excitement on the pitching front coming from Tulsa tonight as Jorge De La Rosa will make his third rehab start (First for the Drillers). The hard throwing lefty is scheduled to throw 85 pitches in this game and if he has a good night, it won’t be long before he’s ready to rejoin the Rockies rotation.
AAA Colorado Springs – W 6-2, (17-18, 3rd, 1.5 GB)
Brandon Wood had a pair of RBI’s, Matt McBride had and pair of hits, and Andrew Brown had both. The Sky Sox would draw first blood in the 4th inning on a Brown bases loaded walk and then would score two more times in the 6th on a Brendan Harris single and a Brown double. The scoring was capped in the 8th with a Brandon Wood home run, his third on the season.
On the mound, Edgar Gonzalez turned in his best outing of the season in only his third start, going five shutout innings while striking out five and only walking one.
Odd Fact of the Night: #9 PuRP Josh Rutledge has now gone 91 consecutive plate appearances without drawing a walk.