There were 3 one-run games last night for Colorado affiliates, and they lost them all. Thank goodness for the DSL Rockies, or the club would have been shut out altogether.
AAA: Reno 11, Colorado Springs 10 (F-11)
This was an unfortunate ending for an extremely dramatic comeback from deficits of 7-0, 8-1, and 10-4. The Sky Sox (54-51, 8.5 GB) had 3 runs in each of the 6th, 7th, and 9th to pull even at 10, only lose in 11 innings on a HBP, bunt, and wild pitch by Coty Woods.
Colorado Springs had 13 hits in the game (though only 3 went for extra bases), with new pick-up Chris Pettit leading the way with 3. Tommy Field, PuRP 15 Charlie Blackmon, and Wil Nieves all had 2 hits each. Nick Schmidt had an outing to forget, allowing 12 hits and 7 runs in 4 innings pitched to put the Sky Sox in a deep hole.
It was yet another night of low offensive output for the Drillers (15-18 2nd half, 7.5 GB), who mustered 7 hits and 2 runs in this one, only 2 for extra bases. Of course, their opponents scored 3 runs on only 5 hits. Angelys Nina and Jose Gonzalez had 2 hits apiece, while PuRP 25 Kent Matthes smacked his 17th homer, a solo shot. Though he has struggled mightily this year, Matthes is hitting .387/.472/.935 with 5 HR in his last 10 games.
Parker Frazier was good, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits in 7 innings, but he got the no-decision. Meanwhile, former Rockies farmhand Ethan Hollingsworth got his first win of the season (1-7) despite blowing a 2-0 lead in relief.
High A: High Desert 6, Modesto 3
The Nuts (20-14 2nd half, 1st place) were lucky to get as close to winning this game as they did, because their opponents only managed 6 runs on the 15 hits they pounded out (as you would expect, 14 were singles). PuRP 4 Tyler Matzek allowed 8 of those hits and 2 runs in 5 innings, walking 4 and striking out 3. PuRP 20 Cristhian Adames was 2-4 with 2 RBI to lead the Nuts on offense.
Low A: Greenville 10, Asheville 3
The Tourists (17-17 2nd half, 3 GB) allowed innings of 2, 3, and 4 runs in this one on their way to a blowout loss. Starter Ben Alsup allowed 5 runs on 4 hits and 4 walks in 4.1 IP to get the loss (11-5). Jared Simon had two hits for Asheville, including a 2 run homer (12), while PuRP 3 Trevor Story also had a multi-hit night.
Short season after the fold.
Short-season: Spokane 2, Tri-City 1This was a very strange game, as the two teams combined for 20 hits (including 5 for extra bases) but only 3 runs. The Dust Devils (1-2 2nd half, 1 GB) and their opponents both scored a run in the first inning, with Tri-City getting a double and a run from PuRP 16 Rosell Herrera, but that was about it for offense. Tom Murphy and Miguel De Leon both had multi-hit games for the Dust Devils.
On the mound, PuRP 17 Peter Tago was the hard luck loser after 6.2 innings of 2 run ball. Tago allowed 8 hits and struck out 2 on the night.
Rookie: Off Night 1, Grand Junction 0 -- the entire Pioneer League was off last night
DSL: DSL Rockies 9, DSL White Sox 1
The DSL Rockies (28-18, 1st place) continued their run of success by extending their winning streak to 5 in this laugher. Carlos Estevez pitched 5 shutout innings, while Marcos Derkes, Henry Garcia, and Wilson Soriano all had 3 hit games. It needs to be said that Soriano has a triple slash of .409/.481/.496 with 20 steals over a full season in the pitching rich DSL. Since he is in his 4th year in the league, it's pretty safe to say that we'll be seeing Soriano, a 3B by trade, stateside next year.