Thursday Pebble Report: Tyler Matzek Gets Wild Again, Sky Sox Bats Explode

AAA Colorado Springs - W 19-5, (43-42, W3, 2nd, 7.0 GB)

The Sky Sox busted out the - ahem - fireworks last night for their hometown crowd. Colorado Springs abused the Diamondbacks' AAA squad to the tune of 19 runs and 21 hits, including an 8-run 7th when the game was well in hand. Andrew Brown (2012, waivers) led the way with a 5-for-5 night that included 2 home runs, 5 RBI and 4 runs. #18 PuRP DJ LeMahieu (2012, trade) had four hits, including two doubles, and Chad Tracy (2012, trade) homered off the bench. Last night also saw the return of #15 PuRP Charlie Blackmon to AAA after rehabbing with Tri City, and the beginning of Ramon Hernandez' rehab assignment. Blackmon singled in five trips, and Hernandez reached on a single and hit by pitch in his four plate appearances. Guillermo Moscoso (2012, trade) got the win with four runs in five innings.

.

High-A Modesto - L 2-8, (9-5, L1, t-1st)

#4 PuRP Tyler Matzek (2009, 1st round) struggled mightily with control last night, throwing nearly half of his pitches (48 of 102) for balls. He walked five (including Aubrey Huff twice), the second time he has hit that mark in nine starts since his erratic two start stretch in early May. He unleashed a wild pitch and also struck out just three, the second time in those nine starts he failed to reach seven punchouts. Matzek lasted just one out into the fifth inning, allowing five runs (four earned) to the Giants' squad. Matzek continues to provide sporadic reminders of his volatility. Any talk of moving the 21-year-old up a level this season really ought to be curbed.

#10 PuRP Kyle Parker (2010, 1st round) and Delta Cleary Jr (2008, 37th round) had two hit nights, and #12 PuRP Rafael Ortega (2006, VZ) sprayed a triple. Kraig Sitton (2010, 7th round) utilized a Helder Velazquez (2006, 5th round) error to produce a strange line - 3 runs (all unearned) on 5 hits in one inning of work. Modesto actually outhit San Jose 11-10 in the drubbing.

AA Tulsa - L 3-4, (3-8, L1, 4th, 5.5 GB)

Like Modesto, the Drillers outhit their opponents but were undone by walks. Tulsa allowed just four hits on the night, but they also walked five, including a two-out walk ahead of a 3-run home run in the sixth that turned a 3-1 lead into the ultimate 4-3 deficit. #18 PuRP Joe Gardner (2011, trade) left one batter before that home run and ended up with three earned runs in 5.2 IP. #1 PuRP Nolan Arenado (2009, 2nd round), Ben Paulsen (2009, 3rd round) and #14 PuRP Corey Dickerson (2010, 8th round) were a combined 0-for-11 in the game, and while #8 PuRP Josh Rutledge (2010, 3rd round) doubled, he also struck out on three occasions.

.

Low-A Asheville - W 8-4, (7-7, W2, 4th, 4.0 GB)

#7 PuRP Tyler Anderson (2011, 1st round) wasn't dominant, but he was certainly strong enough to record his seventh win on the year. The lefty walked three against four strikeouts in 5.2 IP, allowing just an unearned run (due to Trevor Story's 17th error) in the process. #13 PuRP Will Swanner (2010, 15th round) continues to wield a damaging bat, as the DH homered, singled and walked in five trips. Taylor Featherston (2011, 5th round) added his fifth home run on the year in the win.

.

Short Season A Tri City - W 5-3, (9-11, W4, 2nd, 2.0 GB)

Francisco Sosa (2007, DR) doubled and tripled and Kyle von Tungeln (2012, 13th round) doubled and scored three times out of the leadoff spot to keep the Dust Devils undefeated in July. Shane Broyles (2012, 14th round) struck out six in five strong innings, as the 20-year-old from Texas Tech continues to get more stretched out. Tyler Gagnon (2009, 15th round) pitched in relief, his first appearance on the mound since September 11. He allowed a run but struck out five in two innings.

.

Rookie Grand Junction - W 7-2, (8-9, W2, 3rd, 3.0 GB)

It turns out that David Dahl (2012, 1st round) can hit a little bit. He has hit in 12 of his 14 career games after throwing out a 3-hit game last night and a sacrifice fly. He is hitting .375/.438/.625 in his young career. Juan Ciriaco (2009, DR) and Wilfredo Rodriguez (2012, 7th round) also had three hits last night. Ben Waldrip (2012, 10th round) also had two hits, including his third home run of the year. Alving Mejias (2008, VZ) threw six shutout innings for the win.

.

DSL Rockies - W 7-4, (15-13, W1, t-2nd, 2.0 GB)

Joel Payamps (2010, DR) lasted three skittish innings, walking two, hitting two batters and allowing three runs on four hits. His ERA has improved from 3.05 last season to 2.45 this year, but his 15 free passes (including 8 hit batsmen) to 16 strikeouts in 33 innings is a bit alarming. He signed for nearly a quarter million in 2010, but he's still just 18 years old. With the exception of Dawin Garcia (hitting .091), every member of the lineup had a hit, led by Raimel Tapia with three. Luis Jean, Hamlet Marte and Yonathan Daza each had two knocks.

.

Thursday's Scheduled Starters

AAA Colorado Springs - Alex White (1-3, 3.45) vs. Reno (Diamondbacks), 7:05 MDT, MiLB.tv

AA Tulsa - Parker Frazier (3-9, 4.06) vs. San Antonio (Padres), 6:05 MDT, MiLB.tv

High-A Modesto - Christian Bergman (10-5, 3.34) @ San Jose (Giants), 8:00 MDT, MiLB.tv

Low-A Asheville - Chris Jensen (8-2, 4.71) vs. Augusta (Giants), 5:05 MDT

Short-Season A Tri City - Ryan Arrowood (0-0, 0.77) @ Boise (Cubs), 7:15 MDT, MiLB.tv

Rookie Grand Junction - Johendi Jiminian (0-0, 7.20) vs. Idaho Falls (Royals), 7:05 MDT