Friday Pebble Report: Drillers win in 9th, Asheville clubs their way to victory

Triple-A: Colorado Springs 7-4 L (43-35)

Parker Frazier got the spot start in game one of a doubleheader on Thursday for Colorado Springs. Frazier gave up two runs in 2 2/3 innings on six hits and one walk. C.J Fick took the loss, allowing three runs, two earned, 1 1/3 innings. Newly acquired Hisanori Takahashi pitched two scoreless innings and was the only pitcher to not surrender any runs for the Sky Sox.

Charlie Blacmon and Tim Wheeler both collected two hits and an RBI, but the offense could overcome a poor pitching performance in this one.

Game 2: 5-4 L (43-36)

Once again four runs wasn't enough to overcome a poor pitching performance for Colorado Springs on Thursday. Starter Cory Riordan went just 3 2/3 innings allowing eight hits and three runs. It took Riordan 87 pitches. Mike McClendon took the loss in relief after tossing 2 1/3 innings and coughing up two more runs and the lead.

The offense had a base runner in every inning except the third. Hernan Iribarren had two hits and an RBI. Ryan Wheeler, Ben Paulsen, and Lars Davis all had one hit and one RBI.

Double A: Tulsa 4-2 W (37-39)

It was a dramatic win for Tulsa, who entered the top of the ninth inning down 2-1. Two singles (including a pinch single by Kyle Parker) and an error on a sac bunt set the stage for Tyler Kuhn's go-ahead two run double. Kiel Roling was 3-5, while Dustin Garneau and Angelys Nina both had multi-hit nights as part of Tulsa's 11 hit effort.

Tim Gustafson was solid, going six innings and allowing just one run on six hits, striking out six and walking two in 83 pitches. Juan Gonzalez let in a run in relief but got the win anyway, while Cole White recorded his 7th save.

High A: Modesto 9-7 L (39-39)

Modesto suffered their first loss of the second half of the season as they dug themselves a big hole early (down 9-2 after four) and were unable to complete the comeback. Tyler Gagnon (6-6) gave up six runs in the second, one in the third, and two in the fourth as part of his five inning, nine run, nine hit day.

Harold Riggins went 2-3 with his 11th homer (a two-run shot in the 8th) to pace Modesto, while Brian Humphries, Trevor Story, and newly minted PuRP Ryan Casteel all had multi-hit nights.

Low A: Asheville 10-6 W (42-34)

The Tourists only scored in three innings in this one despite pounding out 17 hits (including 10 for extra bases), but they made those innings count (6 in the 3rd, 2 in the 5th and 8th). Matt Wessinger led the charge by going 4-5, while Juan Ciriaco (3-4 including his first homer and two doubles), Tom Murphy (3-5 with two doubles), and Francisco Sosa (also 3-5 with two doubles) had three hit nights. Derek Jones also added his 11th homer, a two-run shot in the 3rd.

Ben Hughes got the win (6-6) by lasting six innings and allowing five runs on nine hits with three punchouts. The bullpen only allowed one more run along the way to preserve the win.

Short Season: Tri-City 3-2 L (F/11) (5-9)

The red headed stepchild of Rockies affiliates fell 3-2 in extra innings last night to drop their record to 5-9. Ryan Warner was solid in the start, hurling five innings and giving up just two runs on six hits. The bullpen piled up five more scoreless innings before Huascar Brazoban let in an unearned run in the 11th. The Dust Devils had two errors in the game, both of which led to unearned runs.

Alec Mehrten (who had one of those errors) and Michael Tauchman led the team with three hit nights, though all 11 of Tri-City's hits were just singles.

Rookie: Grand Junction 7-1 L (6-2)

The GJ Rockies took a 1-0 lead in the 4th on a Ryan McMahon RBI double, but were unable to push across any more runs in this one. McMahon and Zach Osborne both had multi-hit games to pace the Rockies, but their third inning doubles were the only extra base hits the team managed all game.

Helmis Rodriguez held Ogden scoreless until a three run sixth, which was more than enough to tag him with the loss (1-1). In all, Rodriguez lasted seven innings, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out three.

DSL: DSL Rockies 6-1 L (14-9)

Jonathan Piran had three hits while Yonathan Daza and Henry Garcia both added two, but the DSL Rockies' 11 hits in all only added up to one run in a 6-1 loss. Hector Villarroel only went three innings, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks to take the loss (1-3).