Since I spent most of this morning writing up the top 5 of the Spring 2012 PuRPs list, this Pebble Report will be a little more brief than usual. Today marks the first day that the new list is in effect, so the rankings you'll see below are from the Spring 2012 list. The affiliates went 4-3 yesterday.
AAA: Colorado Springs 9, Salt Lake City 5
The Sky Sox (35-38, 9.5 GB) were able to get 9 runs across on 11 hits. HM PuRP Tommy Field had a double and a triple, while Brandon Wood and Brandon Roberts both had multi-hit games and Andrew Brown hit a 2-run shot (10). Newly minted PuRP 30 Rob Scahill got the win (5-9), striking out 7 in 5.1 IP, but allowing 9 hits and 5 runs (4 earned).
The Drillers (41-31 overall, 1-1 2nd half) scored all 5 runs in the 6th inning. It was PuRP 8 Josh Rutledge provided the big hit with a 3 run homer (10). Tulsa also got a 3 hit night from Kiel Roling -- including a double and a homer (8), while Angelys Nina had two hits. PuRP 11 Edwar Cabrera got the win (9-3), striking out 9 in 7 strong innings while allowing 5 hits and 3 runs (2 earned).
High A: Modesto 6, Stockton 5 (F-11)
The Nuts (35-36 overall, 1-0 2nd half) started the 2nd half off right with an extra innings victory. Modesto scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th and won in extras on a walkoff walk. In the game, Modesto pounded out 14 hits -- and it was PuRP 12 Rafael Ortega who got the most, with a 5-5 game (including a double and a steal) that raised his batting line to .301/.348/.419. Brett Tanos and Juan Crousset both had multi-hit games (and triples) for the Nuts. There was also a Hector Gomez sighting -- the injury prone SS (playing 2B here) went 1-2 in the game in his 2012 debut.
Low A: Rome 7, Asheville 3
Every time I see Rome in a minor league box score, I resist the urge to tell the same lame joke about Rome...and the streak continues today, but it was a struggle. The Tourists (47-24, 0-1 2nd half) got into a 6-0 deficit early and weren't able to claw their way back despite getting 11 hits. Jared Simon had 3 knocks, while Taylor Featherston and Brian Humphries both had 2. Ben Alsup was roughed up (6 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 3 K) to get the loss (7-3).
Short season ball, including David Dahl's debut, below the fold.
Short Season: Vancouver 3, Tri-City 1The Dust Devils (3-4, 1st) saw their scoring woes continue (they've averaged only 3 per game thus far), as the team got only one run across despite getting 10 hits on the night. Both Derrick Jones and Robert De La Cruz had 2 hits to lead Tri-City. The Dust Devils got a good outing from former PuRP Josh Slaats who allowed 1 run on 3 hits while walking 4 and striking out 5 in 6 innings.
Rookie League: Grand Junction 4, Idaho Falls 3
The GJ Rockies (1-3) got their first win of the year, withstanding a 2 run rally by the home team in the 9th. Colorado's 1st round pick in 2012, outfielder David Dahl, made his professional debut, going 0-3 with a BB and a RBI. So too did the Rockies' 3rd round pick, local prep pitcher Ryan Warner, who threw 2 innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits to get the win. Julian Yan, Jason Stolz, and Matt Wessinger all had multi-hit games for the GJ Rockies.
Dominican Summer League: DSL White Sox 7, DSL Rockies 6 (F-12)
It was yet another heart-breaking loss for the DSL Rockies (8-9, 3 GB), who allowed 5 runs in the bottom of the 9th, then lost the game in extras. Raimel Tapia and Wilson Soriano both had 3 hits -- 2 extra base hits each -- while Marcos Derkes and Henry Garcia added 2 hits as well.