AAA Colorado Springs - W 22-8, (26-27, W1, 2nd, 2.5 GB)
This game did not occur in Colorado Springs, but at just 1000 feet lower than Denver, Salt Lake City is a decent enough launching pad. Oddly though, among the 22 runs and 27 hits the Sky Sox pounded out, none were home runs. Nineteen were singles. Every member of the lineup had at least one hit and an RBI, led by Brandon Roberts' (2012, MiLB FA) three doubles, two singles and 4 RBI, Dallas Tarleton's (2009, 20th round) three singles and 5 RBI, and Matt McBride's (2011, trade) four hits and 5 RBI. The Sky Sox pounded out 8 runs on starter Eddie McKiernan, who was called up from AA on a spot start, then poured 11 runs on reliever Sean White, who was on the Colorado Springs roster in 2011. Guillermo Moscoso (2012, trade) allowed 7 runs in 6 innings.
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AA Tulsa - L 0-6, (29-22, L1, 1st)
The Drillers' offense requires sharpening. Tulsa has struggled to plate runs all month, and this time they got shut out by Justin Grimm and the Rough Riders despite outhitting Frisco. The Drillers managed six hits on the night, all singles, two by Kiel Roling (2008, 6th round). Parker Frazier (2007, 8thr ound) was strong for most of the night, but he walked Jurickson Profar in the sixth and gave up two subsequent doubles and a single. It also may be time to start a Coty Woods (2009, 33rd round) watch. The sidearmer threw a perfect eighth inning and has still not allowed a run in 22.2 IP this season. The last time he allowed a run was August 31, 2011.
High-A Modesto - W 9-1, (26-27, W1, 4th, 6.5 GB)
Tyler Matzek seems to have rebounded from his stretch of two wild starts quite nicely, to put it lightly. He is pitching better now than he ever has in his pro career, and his bar of excellence continues to rise. Matzek threw 95 pitches over eight dominant innings, the first time he has worked more than 7.0 IP in a game, struck out nine, walked one, and allowed one run on three hits. Oh, and he had an 11:2 GO/AO ratio in a game that took just 132 minutes. Over his last three starts, Matzek is now 3-0 with 2 ER, 10 hits, 23 K's and 5 BB's over 22 IP.
Offensively, the Nuts got a two-run home run from Jared Clark (2010, 12th round) and doubles from an intriguing trio in the top of the lineup - Cristhian Adames (2007, DR), Rafael Ortega (2008, VZ), and Corey Dickerson (2010, 8th round)
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Low-A Asheville - L 6-19, W 10-5 (36-17, W1, 1st)
Game 1: This game started Tuesday night but was suspended by weather and completed Wednesday. In this one, #12 PuRP Trevor Story (2011, sandwich pick) doubled twice and homered, but the pitching fell apart. Chris Jensen (2011, 6th round)spotted Charleston a 6-run first inning. The Tourists battled back to cut it to within two runs, but Geoff Parker (2010, 9th round), Russell Brewer (2010, 31st round) and Taylor Reid (2010, 14th round) combined to cough up 11 runs in the last two innings, four of which came on a grand slam by Gary Sanchez.
Game 2: #12 PuRP Trevor Story (2011, sandwich pick) homered, again. That is a three-game home run streak he has going, with five in his last ten games. He has a hit in nine of those games and is now on pace for 30 home runs. Delta Cleary Jr (2008, 37th round) also homered while Taylor Featherston (2011, 5th round) doubled, tripled and drove in three. Daniel Winkler (2011, 20th round) allowed four runs in five innings for his seventh win.