With Edwar Cabrera being recalled to start for the Rockies last night, the Sky Sox had to improvise. Recent free agent addition Ricky Brooks was slotted to make a spot start, and is often the case in these situations, it did not go well. Brooks allowed five runs on nine hits over three and two thirds innings pitched for his first loss of the year. Jason Bergmann and Edgmer Escalona kept the game in reach with solid middle relief performances. Coty Woods allowed another run to Reno in the ninth on two hits.
The Sky Sox plated all four of their runs in the sixth inning, thanks to a ground rule double from Brendan Harris and a fielding error on a ball in play off the bat of Brandon Wood. Tommy Field had one of his bets games of the 2012 season, going 3 for 5 with a triple. Wil Nieves had two hits in this first game of his rehab assignment.
Tyler Chatwood got his first win at the AA level this year, throwing six innings while allowing two runs on four hits and two walks. He struck out seven. Zach Simons and Josh Sullivan, who have been two of Tulsa's best relievers this season, finished the game cleanly.
Kent Matthes continues to break out after a miserable first half. The outfielder went 3 for 5 with his 16th home run of the year and was also one of five Drillers to get a double. Matthes wasn't the only struggling player to have a 3 hit game; Mike Zuanich, who struggled before landing on the disabled list in late May, was activated a week ago but had continued to struggle until last night. Lars Davis doubled as one of his two hits in the game, with Zuanich, Nolan Arenado and Michael Mitchell accounting for the others.
Modesto to DSL after the jump.
Starter Juan Gonzalez picked up his fifth win of the year, allowing two runs over five innings on four hits and two walks, with four members of the Modesto pen finishing off the game with ease. Cristhian Adames and Delta Cleary Jr. had three hit games, while Kyle Parker hit his 11th home run as one of two hits.
Starter Chris Jensen picked up his 11th win of 2012 with a fairly effective outing, allowing the three Greenville runs on five hits over six innings, but the real story here, of course, was the offense, who were actually scoreless for the first third of the game and still managed to score 16 runs by the end. Jared Simon led the Tourists (all of whom had at least one hit) to this wild domination of Greenvile by going 5 for 5 with two home runs, and also doubling twice. He knocked in seven runs in the game. Will Swanner and David Kandilas each had a home run as one of their three hits in the game, while Jordan Ribera homered with his only hit in the game. Taylor Featherston also got three hits in the game.
Starter Roberto Padilla allowed two runs on five hits over four innings. Though Ryan Arrowood put up four excellent innings, keeping the game tied at two, Seth Willoughby allowed a run on two hits in the ninth to Spokane, leading to the Dust Devils' demise and notching the 2012 draftee his first professional loss. Francisco Sosa doubled in both Tri-City runs in the third inning, and also walked twice. Patrick Hutcheson was the only multi0hit batter in the game, with two singles.
Every player in the Grand Junction lineup had at least one hit, including two from each of Wilfredo Rodriguez and Correlle Prime, two of my favorite names from the 2012 draft. Ben Waldrip hit his seventh home run of the year, knocking in two runs, while Juan Ciriaco doubled to knock in another. Though it is good to see the struggling Max White starting to get some hits, including one in this game, he still struck out in his other three at bats. Starter Matthew Carasiti allowed two runs on six hits and a walk over five innings. Reliever Brian Rike picked up his third win since converting to a pitcher this Spring. Despite allowing an unearned run, Scott Oberg is now 7 for 7 in saves and is off to an excellent start to his career.
After an explosive start (9 runs scored between the two teams in the first inning), the bats fell largely silent until the end of the game in which the Cubs would tie the Rockies in the top of the ninth, with the Rockies taking the win just after. Raimel Tapia had three hits and knocked in three runs. Wilson Soriano tripled as one of two hits, while Marcos Derkes had two hits as well. In his last two starts, Joel Payamps has not made it out of the second inning. Payamps was not helped by the Rockies' defense (who committed five errors in the game), but allowed five runs on three hits and a walk in his first and only inning. Manuel Montilla picked up his fourth win, despite blowing the save with another unearned run crossing the plate.