:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/2976943/GYI0065074499.jpg)
AAA Colorado Springs: W 7-4 in 11 innings (47-46, 2nd, 8 GB)
Charlie Blackmon hit a two-out, three-run homer in the top of the 11th inning to lead the Sky Sox to a victory in Tacoma. Blackmon doubled as well as part of his 2-for-5 day. Chad Tracy and Tommy Field each had two hits as well, and Field's was a big one as it came in the top of the ninth inning and sent the game into extra frames. Everyone in the Sky Sox lineup had at least one hit. Red-hot Andrew Brown only had one hit, but he also walked three times and scored twice.
Rob Scahill had a mostly Rob Scahill start, as he struck out six and walked five in six innings, while allowing two earned runs on three hits. Will Harris was good in direct relief of Scahill, striking out three batters in two perfect innings. Coty Woods blew the save by allowing a game-tying homer to Luis Rodriguez in the tenth inning, but Edgmer Escalona was able to shut the door in the 11th despite loading the bases.
A Asheville: L 6-5 in 11 innings (60-34, 1st)
Tyler Anderson came up solid again for the Tourists, going 7.2 innings and allowing just one run on four hits and a walk. He only struck out two, but he once again mastered the art of the ground ball, inducing 12 groundouts compared to just six flyouts. It all went downhill from there in terms of pitching for Asheville, though, as three relievers combined to allow five runs on 11 hits in just three innings of work.
Brian Humphries, Taylor Featherston, and Ryan Casteel each had two hits to pace the Tourists' offense. Both of Casteel's hits were doubles and he drove in two runs, as did Humphries.
A+ Modesto: L 12-8 (48-46, t-2nd, 4 GB)
Tyler Matzek's struggles continued yesterday, as he allowed seven runs on seven hits and four walks without even being able to get out of the second inning. Matzek has seen his ERA balloon from around 3.00 to almost 5.00 within about a month due to some really poor outings. Aside from Isaiah Froneberger (who tossed a scoreless eighth), none of the relievers were much better. Nuts' pitchers allowed four homers on the day.
Luckily, the offense kept Modesto somewhat in the game with three homers of their own. Kyle Parker is now 8-for-9 in his last two games after going 3-for-4 with a homer. Brett Tanos also had three hits including a homer, and Jared Clark went deep as well, for the second straight game, to increase his season total to 20.
Continue past the jump for the rest of the recaps, including a "wild" ninth-inning in Billings as well as Rockies prospects in the DSL All-Star Game.
AA Tulsa: W 1-0 (50-42, 2nd, 0.5 GB)
The Drillers were dominated by the criminally unlucky John Hellweg, who tossed eight innings of one-run ball while striking out eight and only allowing four hits (and no walks). However, despite his 3.31 ERA, he fell to 4-9 on the season because of Brandon Hynick, who nearly matched Hellweg with 7 2/3 innings of shutout ball. He allowed two hits and three walks while striking out six. Josh Sullivan picked up a four-out save, striking out three while allowing a hit and a walk.
Ben Paulsen provided most of the offense for Tulsa, as he had two of their four hits, including a double. Tim Torres drove in the only run on an RBI single in the top of the eighth inning. Jimmy Cesario had Tulsa's only other hit, as well as their only run scored. Nolan Arenado went 0-for-4, dropping his batting average to .266. Paulsen has nearly caught up with him in that department. Ouch.
A- (SS) Tri-City: W 7-0 (14-16, 2nd, 5 GB)
Shane Broyles dominated Everett's offense to the tune of eight scoreless innings. He allowed just four hits and struck out three without walking a batter. Broyles, the Rockies 14th round pick in the 2012 Draft out of Texas Tech, had his groundball magic working as well, inducing 13 of them for outs. Brook Hart kept the shutout intact by pitching a scoreless inning that included two punchouts.
Rosell Herrera, Francisco Sosa, Derek Jones, and Zach Osborne each had two hits for the Dust Devils. Sosa had four runs batted in to go with his two knocks. Herrera, who tripled, drove in a run, and scored a run as part of his two-hit day, is hitting .360 since being demoted from Asheville.
RK Grand Junction: L 9-3 (13-14, 2nd, 3 GB)
David Dahl (.311 BA) took a rare 0-fer at the plate, while Max White (.148 BA) had a rare hit. Jeffery Popick's double and Matt Wessinger's fourth-inning solo homer accounted for the Rockies' other two hits. As a side note, the GJ Rox scored two runs in the ninth inning without the benefit of a hit, and while striking out four times, as Billings pitchers Erik Miler and Jimmy Moran combined for five wild pitches, two walks, and a hit-by-pitch. Ben Waldrip also reached despite striking out as the pitch got away from Billings' catcher. There was also a passed ball in the inning. Wild stuff, indeed (get it?).
Brian Rike was the Rockies' bright spot on the mound, as he tossed two scoreless innings while allowing two hits and striking out two. Jordan Mejia pitched a scoreless eighth as well, notching a K of his own.
DSL AL All-Stars 6, DSL NL All-Stars 3
The Dominican Summer League held its All-Star game yesterday, and Rockies' prospect Miguel Dilone, who started at second base, represented his organization very well by going 2-for-2 with an RBI. Shortstop Wilson Soriano and outfielder Raimel Tapia also appeared in the game, but they combined to go 0-for-3 at the plate.