AAA Colorado Springs - L 1-5, (45-45. L1, 2nd, 7.5 GB)
Blake Beaven tied up the Sky Sox all night, and by the time Colorado Springs hit the showers, they had just four hits and a run. Chad Tracy (2012, trade) avoided the shutout with a run-scoring double in the ninth, but other than a #19 PuRP DJ LeMahieu (2012, trade) double and singles from #15 PuRP Charlie Blackmon (2008, 2nd round) and Brandon Wood (2012, MiLB FA), there was no offense for the Sky Sox. Guillermo Moscoso (2012, trade) did strike out seven in six frames, though the Rainiers managed to push three runs across against the Venezuelan.
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AA Tulsa - L 5-7, (8-10, 2nd, 3.5 GB)
Ben Paulsen (2009, 3rd round) hit two home runs, drove in three and scored three times to lead the Drillers offense. #14 PuRP Corey Dickerson (2010, 8th round) doubled and singled twice, and very quietly, he now has a better batting average (.277) than #1 PuRP Nolan Arenado (.276). Arenado went hitless, though he did walk twice, and is now in a 3-for-29 lull. Josh Outman (2012, trade) continues to struggle, as the lefty threw 89 pitches and retired just 12 batters, allowing five runs in the process.
High-A Modesto - L 0-4, (13-8, L1, 2nd, 1.0 GB)
The Nuts' offense had nothing last night, as the Rockies minor leaguers got shutout by the San Jose Giants. Jayson Langfels (2010, 16th round) doubled and singled, but that accounted for 40% of the Modesto baserunners last night. Leuris Gomez (2005, DR) allowed a three-run first inning but rebounded to hold San Jose to one run in the next 4+ innings. Chad Rose (2008, 16th round) came into a bases-loaded no out situation in the sixth and stranded two, then tossed more two shutout innings for good measure.
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Low-A Asheville - L 1-2, (11-10, L2, 4th, 2.5 GB)
The Tourists have scored more runs than any team in the Sally League, but their offense was kept completely under wraps in Charleston. Asheville managed just two hits, but naturally, they were by #3 PuRP Trevor Story (2011, sandwich pick) and #13 PuRP Will Swanner (2010, 15th round). Daniel Winkler was the victim of the poor offense, as the right-hander allowed two runs in six innings and took the L. Kenneth Roberts (2010, 25th round) worked two innings, and not a single batter put the ball in play. He struck out six and walked one.
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Short Season A Tri City - L 3-9, (13-14, L2, 2nd, 4.0 GB)
Tom Murphy (2012, 3rd round) hit a 2-run double in the first inning, but Josh Slaats (2010, 5th round) allowed four runs over four innings to erase the early lead. Andrew Brown (2012, 23nd round) allowed three runs while retiring just two batters to further the damage, and #16 PuRP Rosell Herrera (2009, DR) lowered his batting average to .357 despite collecting a hit, walk and RBI.
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Rookie Grand Junction - W 4-3, (11-13, W1, t-2nd, 3.0 GB)
Max White (2012, 2nd round) continues to really struggle, as the 18-year-old struck out three times in four hitless at-bats to drop his batting average to .137. Julian Yan (2008, DR) and Jose Briceno (2009, VZ) both hit a home run, Briceno's coming as a clutch game-tying two run job in the eighth inning. Ben Waldrip (2012, 10th round) then smacked his fifth home run of the year for the winning margin in the ninth. Eddie Butler (2012, sandwich pick) allowed three runs (two earned) in five innings. The unearned run came thanks to the first of two errors by Matt Wessinger (2012, 5th round). That is now 13 errors in 18 games. Ryan Warner (2012, 3rd round) worked three shutout innings for the win.
DSL Rockies - W 2-1, (21-14, W1, 1st)
The Rockies want to make really, really sure Jayson Aquino is ready to pitch in the States. Jayson Aquino is making it harder for the Rockies to continue their conservative plan. We heard yesterday that Aquino will come to Grand Junction "soon," though he pitched Thursday in the DSL. Once again, he was dominant, striking out eight and allowing one run in seven innings of work. Despite Aquino's effort, he nearly took the loss for the first time on the season. Two two-out eighth-inning singles preceded a wild pitch and throwing error on the same play that turned a one run deficit into a one run win. Raimel Tapia was at the plate during the wild pitch, who no doubt intimidated the pitcher with his two singles earlier in the game.