Saturday Pebble Report: Two Encouraging Signs on the Mound

AAA Colorado Springs – W 4-2, (22-19, 1st)

A sellout crowd of 8,777 packed Security Service Field Friday night hoping to get a glimpse of why #1 PuRP Drew Pomeranz might one day become an ace for the Rockies. They were not disappointed as Pomeranz got the win and twirled 5.2 shutout innings while giving up just three hits and striking out four. In three minor league starts this season, the big lefty has a 0.00 ERA and a K/BB ratio of 13 to 2 in 15.2 innings pitched. This will probably leave many fans demanding his return to the majors immediately but at this point, keeping him in the minors for at least nine more days means his service clock will be delayed to the point where the Rockies will retain control of him through the end of an additional season (2018).

Offensively Matt McBride had three hits and Andrew Brown had three RBI giving the Sky Sox all the runs they would need. For McBride, it’s his third multi hit game in the last four contests breaking him out of the mini slump he seemed to be going into a week ago.

AA Tulsa – L 6-3, (24-17, 1st)

The Drillers longest losing streak of the season was extended to five games Friday as Parker Frazier was unable to keep the ball on the ground against the Springfield Cardinals. Frazier allowed 5 ER, eight hits (three of which were home runs) and three walks in six bumpy innings.

The news wasn’t all bad though as #2 PuRP Nolan Arenado launched his third home run of the season, a first inning shot that gave the Drillers an early 2-0 lead they were unable to hold on to. It would turn out to be the only extra base hit Tulsa would record all night. Also of note was a first inning walk by #9 PuRP Josh Rutledge. Normally this wouldn’t be significant but it was the first time in an astounding 121 plate appearances that the shortstop drew a free pass.

High-A Modesto – W 9-4, (21-21, 3rd, 6.0 GB)

The Nuts offense made life easy for the pitching staff as they put a half dozen runs on the board in the first inning and never looked back. Jarred Clark got things started with a three run shot, his first of two home runs on the night, and Dustin Gameau and Jayson Langfels each had RBI triples later in the inning. By the time this game was over, #19 PuRP Cory Dickerson had taken over the organizational home run lead (he hit his 8th of the season in the 6th) and all but two of the Modesto starting nine multi hit games.

The only real damper on all of this was that it probably had as much to do with Stockton starter A.J. Cole as it did with Modesto’s offense. The 20 year old and #57 Baseball America prospect who was traded to Oakland as part of the Gio Gonzalez deal in the offseason is now 0-7 on the season with a 7.82 ERA.

Low-A Asheville – W 6-2, (24-15, 2nd, 2.5 GB)

Last week when #14 PuRP Tyler Anderson made his organizational debut for the Rockies, I said he had “exactly the type of outing that leaves you eager to see what he does the next time he takes the mound”. Well the results are in and they were worth the wait. Anderson was in control as he only gave up 2 ER in 7.0 IP while striking out six and only walking one. Anderson is projected as a guy who can advance through the minors quickly, and if he can string together a line of starts like last night, he’ll do exactly that.

The Asheville bats weren’t bad in this game either. Sam Mende and Jose Rivera each had two hits and two RBI, #12 PuRP Trevor Story had a pair of walks, and six different Tourists scored the team’s six runs.