AAA Colorado Springs - L 9-17, (54-50, L2, 2nd, 7.5 GB)
#30 PuRP Rob Scahill (2008, 6th round) had a first inning to forget in Reno, allowing six runs on five hits and two walks against the Diamondbacks' AAA affiliate. He then put three straight shutout innings together before he and Cory Riordan got blown up in the fifth. Reno pieced together seven singles, a double play, a sac fly and an error for an 8-run inning. Matt McBride (2011, trade) continues to be a bright spot, as he fell a double shy of the cycle, with each of the other three legs coming in the first four innings. #9 PuRP Tim Wheeler (2009, 1st round) had two hits, and #16 PuRP Charlie Blackmon (2008, 2nd round) singled and walked twice.
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AA Tulsa - W 6-3, (15-17, 3rd, W3, 7.5 GB)
The Drillers didn't have much offense last night, at least through the first eight innings. A solo home run by Mike Zuanich (2008, 28th round) and a double by #1 PuRP Nolan Arenado (2009, 2nd round) was all the Drillers managed. Then #22 PuRP Kent Matthes (2009, 4th round) walked with the bases loaded after two singles and a walk, and Jimmy Cesario (2008, 46th round) followed with a grand slam.
It is a good thing Tulsa's offense exploded in the ninth, because the Naturals finally broke through themselves in the bottom half against Tim Sexton (2012, MiLB FA) with three runs and five hits. When the smoke cleared, the Drillers ended up with double the runs as Northwest Arkansas on half the hits. Brandon Hynick (2012, MiLB FA) threw seven scoreless innings, allowing just three hits, for the win.
High-A Modesto - L 3-10, (20-13, L1, 1st)
#10 PuRP Kyle Parker (2010, 1st round) hears your concerns about power and is confused. The right fielder homered again last night, a majestic shot over the batter's eye in center field. It is his third consecutive game with a long ball and seventh straight game scoring a run. He has reached base in all 23 games in July, and has 5 HR and 19 RBI with equal walks and strikeouts in consecutive months. Parker also gunned a runner down at third from right field. Helder Velazquez (2006, 5th round) hit a 2-run homer, but there wasn't much else to get excited about in this one. Kennil Gomez (2012, MiLB FA) allowed three-run innings in the first two frames.
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Low-A Asheville - L 3-9 (17-16, L1, 2nd, 2.0 GB)
A day after the Tourists exploded for 16 runs, Asheville managed just three hits; not surprisingly, the offense was not lacking with #3 PuRP Trevor Story (2011, sandwich pick) and #13 Will Swanner (2010, 15th round). Story doubled, walked and scored two runs, and Swanner had one of the three Tourist hits. Taylor Featherston (2011, 5th round) doubled home Story for one of the runs.
Starter Daniel Winkler (2011, 20th round) struck out eight in six innings, bringing his season total to 104. That total is within three of the South Atlantic League lead. Unfortunately, Winkler allows enough baserunners (18 HBP that leads all of pro baseball doesn't help) that he carries a 4.70 ERA on the season. The Greenville Drive scored four runs in those six innings, with a 3-run home run being the big blow.
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Short-Season A Tri City - W 6-5, (1-1, W1, t-1st)
Tom Murphy (2012, 3rd round) hit his 2nd home run of the season, a 2-run shot, and Rosell Herrera (2009, DR) hit a two run single. Herrera later doubled to lead off the 9th inning in a tie game. After a wild pitch and two walks, Francisco Sosa (2007, DR) delivered the walk-off hit.
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Rookie Grand Junction - L 11-12 (10), (19-17, L1, t-1st)
With the end of the season's first half coming soon, the Rockies have been fighting and clawing to win or at least match the older, more experienced Ogden Raptors for a first half division title. They continued to claw offensively yesterday, erasing deficits of 5-1, 6-5 and 11-10, scoring in eight separate innings. Matt Wessinger (2012, 5th round) singled in the ninth and scored on two wild pitches to turn the seesaw battle into the first extra innings game in Grand Junction Rockies history. Jeffrey Popick (2012, 16th round) homered and singled, David Dahl (2012, 1st round) tripled and singled twice.
It was a bad day for the pitchers - every one of them. Three separate relievers earned a blown save, and another allowed the winning run in the tenth for the loss. Reliever Patrick Johnson (2011, 25th round) allowed two runs and retired just four men. Starter Ryan Warner (2012, 3rd round) threw three wild pitches and allowed six runs in four innings.
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DSL Rockies - W 4-1, (27-18, W4, 1st)
The Rockies were outhit 7-6, but they concentrated half their hits in a 4-run 5th inning. Miguel Dilone doubled, then scored on a subsequent bunt (yes really). Yonathan Daza cashed in a run with a single and Marcos Derkes doubled home two more. Seventeen year-old Antonio Senzatela (2011, VZ) improved to 3-1 with a 0.63 ERA after 9 appearances by tossing six shutout innings. This winning streak pushed the Rockies back into first place in the BC Baseball City division.
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Today's Schedule
AAA Colorado Springs 8:05 pm Nick Schmidt (2-2, 6.55) @ Patrick Corbin,(3-2, 3.11). MiLB.tv
AA Tulsa 6:00 pm Parker Frazier (4-11, 3.80) @ Ryan Dennick (5-4, 5.05). MiLB.tv
High-A Modesto 8:05 pm Tyler Matzek, (5-7, 4.86) vs. Brett Shankin (3-1, 9.20)
Low-A Asheville 5:05 pm Ben Alsup (11-4, 4.11) vs Luis Diaz (2-6, 6.35)
SS A Tri-City 8:15 pm Peter Tago (2-4, 5.89) vs. Eric Brooks (1-1, 3.00)
Rookie Grand Junction - Off Day