Sunday Pebble Report: Corey Dickerson - Hero

AAA Colorado Springs - L 1-5, (60-55,L1, 2nd, 7.0 GB)

Swingman Cory Riordan (2007, 6th round) had his best start of the year with the Sky Sox, allowing one run on five hits in six innings. Unfortunately, the offense was almost completely held at bay in Des Moines against the Cubs. Doubles in the first inning by Chris Nelson (2004, 1st round) and Charlie Culberson (2012, trade) gave the Sky Sox their only run. Jason Bergman (2012, MiLB FA) worked a scoreless seventh, but he loaded the bases with one out before giving way to #19 PuRP Zach Putnam (2012, trade) with the score tied. After a run scoring groundout, Putnam gave up a 3-run home run to Josh Vitters to decide the game.

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AA Tulsa - W 7-3, (12), (18-24, W1, 3rd, 10.5 GB)

#14 PuRP Corey Dickerson (2010, 8th round) was just 3-for-21 in the first five games after breaking his nose. I'm told he missed Thursday's game getting surgery, but he returned Friday and is apparently not bothered anymore. After a three-hit game Friday, Dickerson launched two home runs, singled and drove in six runs last night in Springfield. One of them came off of Jaime Garcia, who was making his second rehab start of the year. The other was a 12th inning grand slam to give Tulsa a convincing win over the first-place Cardinals. Dickerson now has 9 home runs at AA to match his Modesto total in 81 fewer plate appearances. He's hitting .289/.344/.549 in Tulsa with the lowest strikeout rate of his pro career.

#1 PuRP Nolan Arenado (2009, 2nd round) has started to turn things around and fell a triple shy of the cycle. #22 PuRP Joe Gardner (2011, trade) got the spot start with Tyler Chatwood (2012, trade) getting called up to Coors Field for today's game. He allowed two runs over five innings, and Josh Sullivan (2005, 5th round) blew the save in the ninth. Oscar Taveras singled, stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Jose Gonzalez (2005, VZ), then scored on a wild pitch. Joe Torres (2011, MiLB FA) got the win with two scoreless innings in relief.

High-A Modesto - L 3-5, (22-20, L6, 2nd, 1.0 GB)

Delta Cleary Jr. (2008, 37th round) and #12 PuRP Rafael Ortega (2008, VZ) each had two hits, and #20 PurP Cristhian Adames (2007, DR) had a productive hitless night, producing runs in with sacrifice flies in his first two at-bats. Josh Mueller (2010, 13th round) allowed two runs over four innings, and Craig Bennigson (2008, 9th round) allowed three in three innings of relief.

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Low-A Asheville - W 9-1, (23-20, W2, 2nd, 6.0 GB)

The Tourists scored in each of the first seven innings of the game, and every member of the lineup except #3 PuRP Trevor Story (2011, sandwich pick) recorded a hit. Taylor Featherston (2011, 5th round) unloaded two solo home runs, walked twice and scored four times and Jordan Ribera (2011, 21st round)hit a home run as well, driving in three runs. Alex Gillingham (2011, 11th round) scattered seven hits over eight strong innings, allowing just one run. He struck out just one but had the sinker working, inducing 16 ground outs.

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Short-season A Tri City - W 9-4, (4-7, W1, 4th, 3.0 GB)

The Dust Devils broke out the bats early, and the bullpen left no doubt the lead would hold. Zach Osborne (2012, undrafted FA) doubled twice, and Kyle von Tungeln fell a home run shy of the cycle. Tom Murphy (2012, 3rd round) and Matt Argyropoulos (2011, 27th round) each doubled and singled, driving home five runs between them. Tyler Gagnon (2009, 15th round) allowed four runs in five innings, earning the win, while Chris Dennis (2011, 34th round) and Trent Blank (2012, 30th round) each tossed two scoreless innings of relief.

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Rookie Grand Junction - L 9-10, (11), (2-5, L1, 4th, 3.0 GB)

The Rockies also broke out the bats early, but their bullpen would prove incapable of delivering the win. Grand Junction put a 5-spot up in the bottom of the first, highlighted by a 3-run home run from Julian Yan (2008, DR)and a solo shot by Chris Cowell (2012, 34th round). Yan added a 2-run shot in the 4th inning. Corelle Prime (2012, 12th round)seems to be finding his way much more of late, as the first baseman doubled, singled and walked. David Dahl (2012, 1st round) remains a superstud, as the centerfielder single twice and doubled.

Johendi Jiminian (2010, DR) got hit around a lot, allowing 12 hits in four innings, seven for extra bases. Seven runs scored on him, six earned, but he didn't walk anybody. After the dust settled, the Rockies had a 9-8 lead in the 9th, but Scott Oberg (2012, 15th round) blew the save by allowing a solo home run. Brian Rike (2007, 2nd round) struck out the side in the 11th inning but allowed a solo shot as well, which turned out to be the game-winning run when Grand Junction went down in order in the bottom half.

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DSL Rockies - L 2-3, (32-22, L1, 1st)

Emerson Jimenez had two more errors, his 27th and 28th of the year at shortstop. The 28th led to the winning Padres run in the 7th inning. Angel Lezama was the victim of poor defense as well, allowing two runs (one earned) in 4.2 IP. Marcos Derkes singled and doubled and Raimel Tapia hit a run-scoring triple.