Sunday Pebble Report: Edwar Cabrera Wins Second AAA Start, Hits Grand Slam

AAA Colorado Springs - W 9-8, (44-44, W1, t-2nd, 8.0 GB)

#11 PuRP Edwar Cabrera (2008, DR) actually did not pitch that well. He struggled with control all night, walking four, throwing a wild pitch and needing 91 pitches to get through 15 outs. At the end of the night, though, he was 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in two AAA starts since his MLB debut, and that was mostly thanks to his bat. We did not get to see Cabrera bat in his MLB debut, but he has the ability to hit. This year in Tulsa, he hit .288 with a .373 OBP, one home run and seven stolen bases. His grand slam was not a cheap shot - a deep fly to right field off Charles Brewer. As Rowbot CM85 pointed out, the Cabrera grand slam was the first home run by a Sky Sox pitcher in three years, then done by Brandon Hynick, who homered twice in 2009. The last grand slam by a Sky Sox pitcher was by Brian Conroy in 1994. The pitcher who allowed it had given up that leadoff home opener home run by Eric Young in 1993 - Kent Bottenfield.

Andrew Brown (2012, waivers) and HM PuRP Matt McBride (2011, trade) continue to scream to be noticed, as both homered, doubled and drove in two. #18 PuRP DJ LeMahieu (2012, trade) had three hits, and Zach Putnam (2012, trade) closed the door for his 12th save after Edgmer Escalona (2004, VZ) nearly gave up the lead. Archive footage will soon be available on milb.tv to watch Cabrera's homer.

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AA Tulsa - L 0-7, (6-9, L1, t-2nd, 3.0 GB)

After hitting .206 in June after his promotion to AA, #14 PuRP Corey Dickerson (2010, 8th round) has been raining hits on Texas League pitchers in his first seven July games. After collecting two hits last night, he is 11-for-23 in July to raise his AA average to .279 with an .815 OPS. Nolan Arenado, who had the night off, has a .739 OPS. Angelys Nina (2007, DR) singled, but the rest of the Drillers lineup go no-hit as Tulsa got shut out at home by Donn Roach, the pitching prospect from the Ernesto Frieri trade, and three relievers.

Dan Houston (2008, 7th round) allowed more runs than he pitched innings for the first time since August 10, with San Antonio tallying five scores in his four innings of work.

High-A Modesto - W 18-13, (12-5, W3, 1st)

The Nuts played in High Desert last night, as the score would indicate. The Nuts outslugged the Mavericks despite being outhit. Jared Clark (2009, 12th round) homered twice, #12 PuRP Rafael Ortega (2008, VZ) and Delta Cleary (2008, 37th round) each knocked four hits, and all nine in the starting lineup had at least one extra base hit. Welcome to High Desert. Juan Gonzalez (2006, VZ) allowed 8 runs (7 earned) in 4.1 IP, and Roberto Padilla (2011, 8th round) "earned" the win despite allowing three runs and getting two outs. Chad Rose (2008, 16th round) worked three imperative scoreless innings for the less glamorous "hold."

Also, here's a video of Rafael Ortega throwing a rope from center field home to throw out Aubrey Huff by thirty feet on Thursday.

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Low-A Asheville - W 4-2, (9-8, W1, 3rd, 3.0 GB)

The Tourists' two sluggers did what they do, as #13 PuRP Will Swanner (2010, 15th round) and #3 PuRP Trevor Story (2011, sandwich pick) both homered. Ben Alsup (2011, 18th round) held the Giants' affiliate to two runs despite ten hits, a wild pitch and a hit batter over the course of eight innings. He struck out five and did not walk a batter.

#16 PuRP Rosell Herrera (2009, DR) was demoted to Tri City yesterday. He has the tools, swagger and hustle to make fans immediately fall in love with him, but he struggled significantly with the adjustment to A-ball pitchers. He hit just .202/.271/.272 over 63 games, but it should be noted that he actually cut his strikeout rate from 22.5% in Casper to 20.7% in Asheville. His struggles were a result of rolling over on pitches and grounding out.

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Short Season A Tri City - W 9-0, (11-12, W2, 2nd, 2.0 GB)

Benjamin Hughes (2011, 10th round) struck out seven and allowed just two singles in six shutout innings. Eric Federico (2009, 39th round) and Andrew Brown (2012, 23rd round) picked up the last three innings to complete the shutout. Michael Ramirez (2007, DR) doubled twice among his three hits, and shortstop Zach Osborne (2012, undrafted) singled three times. The Dust Devils collected 14 hits on the night.

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Rookie Grand Junction - L 4-7, (10-10, L1, 2nd, 2.0 GB)

Matt Carasiti (2012, 6th round) had his best outing of his pro career, but he still allowed three runs in five innings. The Rockies committed five errors on the night, three by shortstop Matt Wessinger (2012, 5th round). Two of Wessinger's errors came in the eighth inning, and Franmy Pena (2010, DR) dropped a throw home for another error as Ogden broke a 4-4 tie with three unearned runs. Pena and Wessinger also had tough offensive games, as both were the only hitters in the lineup who failed to reach base.

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DSL Rockies - W 6-4, (18-13, t-1st)

The Rockies strung together a HBP, double from Wilson Soriano and four singles to score five runs in the eighth inning to break a 1-1 tie. Soriano, Miguel Dilone, Raimel Tapia, Jairo Garcia and Marcos Derkes all had two hits. Carlos Estevez allowed one run in five innings for a no decision. With the win, the Rockies moved into first place in the BC Baseball City league for the first time since the first week of the season.