Friday Pebble Report: Rockies affiliates split six games on the Fourth

Triple-A: Colorado Springs 9-2 L (45-41)

Xavier Nady and Ryan Wheeler collected two hits apiece, but Colorado Springs plated just two runs and lost 9-2 on Independence Day.

Starting pitcher Jeff Francis pitched five innings allowing five hits and two runs with four strikeouts and he left the game with the score all even at two. However, reliever Nick Schmidt and the bullpen struggled. Schmidt took the loss, giving up the lead and three runs in the sixth inning, his only inning of work.

Ryan Wheeler had the lone RBI for the Sky Sox as the second run came around on a Tim Wheeler double play groundout after Nady had advanced to third due to a throwing error and wild pitch. Colorado Springs also got doubles from Charlie Culberson and Ben Paulsen, but the team was just 1-for-13 with RISP.

Double-A: Tulsa 4-2 L (41-41)

Tulsa fell back to .500 on the Fourth as they managed just three hits en route to a 4-2 loss.

Starter Tim Gustafson, who has been pitching well of late, couldn’t overcome a a three-run third as he took his sixth loss of the year. Gustafson gave up all four runs in six innings of work off of seven hits and three walks, he struck out seven.

Jayson Langfels hit his sixth home run of the year and Kyle Parker added an RBI single in the seventh, but Dustin Garneau was thrown out at third on the play, stunting any rally that Tulsa may have had.

Class A Advanced: Modesto 5-4 W (42-43)

Modesto used a three run eighth inning to up end Stockton and pull to within one game of .500 on the season.

Dan Winkler, who has been excellent all season long, turned in another good performance. Winkler worked six innings and gave up three runs on six hits and one walk, he struck out seven. The three runs were scored for Stockton on solo home runs off of Winkler. Giving up three home runs is usually a good recipe for disaster for a starting pitcher, but Winkler limited the damage as all three home runs were hit with no one on base.

David Kandilas lead off the game with his fourth home run, but it was Jared Simon and Will Swanner who delivered the late inning fireworks. Simon and Swanner went back-to-back in the eighth inning to give Modesto the lead for good. For Simon, his two-run shot was his sixth of the year and Swanner’s solo shot was his eighth.

Class A: Asheville Postponed due to rain

Class A Short-Season: Tri City 7-5 W (7-14)

Tri-City used a two-run eighth inning to beat Boise 7-5 in a back-and-forth affair on Thursday.

Tri-City was out hit 10-5, but Boise gave up three unearned runs to the Dust Devils in a losing effort. For Tri-City, starter Sam Moll woked 4.2 innings and gave up four runs, three earned on five hits and a walk, he struck out two. Jerad McCrummen got the win with 1.2 innings of scoreless relief and Trent Daniel recorded his second save on the year. McCrummen has yet to surrender a run in eight innings of relief and Daniel has been scoreless so far through 4.2 innings.

Alex Mehrten hit his first home run of the season and drove in a pair. Michael Tauchman was hitless, but he drove in a run, scored a run, and stole two bases.

Rookie: DSL Rockies 9-4 L (15-14)

The DSL Rockies couldn’t overcome a six-run fourth inning as Lorenz Ozuna struggled in the loss. Ozuna relieved starter Ismael Viloria and gave up nine runs in 4.1 innings.

Hamlet Marte had two hits, including a triple, and raised his average to .348. Luis Jean was 3-for-3 with a walk.

Rookie: Grand Junction 12-2 W (10-5)

Grand Junction beat up on Idaho Falls with a 12-2 victory on Thursday. Starter Peter Tago gave up just one earned run in 6.2 innings despite walking five and giving up six hits as he improved to 1-1 on the season.

Raimel Tapia had three hits and three RBIs and Jordan Patterson had three hits and hit his first home run of the season in the ninth inning.