Thursday Pebble Report: Jonathan Gray debut obscured by Raimel Tapia's fireworks

Short-season Grand Junction - W 10-6 (12-8)

The temperature was 102 degrees when Jonathan Gray (No. 1 PuRP) took the mound for his first professional start on Wednesday. The Rockies' first-round pick in the 2013 MLB Draft hadn't pitched in a month and it showed as he struggled to locate his fastball, but the heat and altitude also played a factor in his debut.

The Reds' affiliate was able to put runners on in the first with two weak ground balls up the middle, but they came around to score when Gray left fastballs up in the zone that were struck for doubles. The first double appeared to be an easy fly ball to Jordan Patterson that carried over the right fielder's head and hit off the base of the wall. The second double was a line drive to left field, and because Terry McClure (HM PuRP) was shaded toward right, even with a diving effort the ball landed just out of his reach.

Gray showed some positive signs, including striking out Carlos Sanchez in the first with a well-placed changeup. Jonathan was also able to throw his slider and induce a double play in the second inning. He left the game after the third as he was scheduled to only pitch three innings in his debut. Gray's final line was three innings, seven hits allowed, three earned runs, no walks and one strikeout.

Offensively the Rockies saw Raimel Tapia go supernova as he went 5-for-5 with a home run and three doubles, finishing a triple short of the cycle. Tapia is a left-handed hitter who starred in the Dominican Summer League last year. He's batting .405 on the season. First baseman Corelle Prime also homered in a 2-for-5 effort.

Triple-A Colorado Springs - W 8-3 (50-42)

Jeff Manship became a late replacement for Juan Nicasio, who was scratched before his start. No details were given as to why he didn't pitch, though it's likely because he will make a start in the Rockies' upcoming series against the Dodgers. Manship turned in one of his best outings in a Sky Sox uniform, going seven innings and allowing just two earned runs and striking out four. Nick Schmidt and Logan Kensing pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless relief.

First baseman Ben Paulsen had a pair of hits including a double that scored Xavier Nady. Paulsen leads the PCL with 46 extra-base hits. Shortstop Charlie Culberson (No. 28 PuRP) added two runs on a double and a walk and is batting .290 on the season. Third baseman Ryan Wheeler extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a single against the A's affiliate.

Double-A Tulsa L 2-7 (41-46)

Starter Sean Gallagher had his toughest outing of the season, allowing four earned runs on nine hits. Gallagher struck out three and saw his ERA rise to 2.17 on the season. Leuris Gomez pitched the ninth in relief and recorded the impressive feat of four strikeouts in an inning.

The Drillers took an early lead against former Rockies farmhand Brandon Hynick when Kyle Parker (No. 5 PuRP) blasted a two run homer into left center. The home run nearly landed in the parking lot which sits behind the short berm. It was Parker's 14th home run of the season. Shortstop Cristhian Adames (No. 20 PuRP) reached base prior to Parker's at-bat with a line-drive single into center field.

High-A Modesto - W 8-4 (45-46)

Starter Ben Alsup was wild, giving up five walks and hitting a batter, but finished with just four hits allowed and two earned runs. Nuts pitchers struggled to wrangle Addison Russell, Oakland's top organizational prospect, who went 3-for-5 and finished a home run short of the cycle.

The Nuts had a breakout game, garnering twelve hits and scoring eight runs on six extra-base hits. Trevor Story (No. 4 PuRP) batted leadoff and had a double and a walk. Ryan Casteel (No. 24 PuRP) pitched in a pair of hits. Second baseman Taylor Featherston (No. 25 PuRP) had two hits as well, including a double. Right fielder David Kandilas drove in two while going 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.

Short-season Tri City - W 4-1 (11-15)

Starter Sam Moll (No. 27 PuRP) had an impressive outing for the Dust Devils, going five innings and allowing just two hits and an earned run. Moll had three walks and five strikeouts, getting seven outs via the groundball and only inducing two flyouts. Moll's ERA sits at 3.07 on the year.

The Dust Devlis were held to just four hits, but catcher Chris O'Dowd made the most of his with a triple and a run scored. Kyle Von Tungeln scored two runs from the leadoff position. Designated hitter Wilfredo Rodriguez (No. 19 PuRP) was hitless in four at bats and is batting a mere .169 on the season.

DSL Rockies - (17-16)

Postponed due to rain.

Low-A Asheville - (45-40)

Suspended due to rain in the third inning.