Friday Pebble Report: Eddie Butler's dominance continues

Tulsa: 8-0 W (62-65)

In case you missed it, Kevin V. Minor wrote in yesterday's Rockpile just how great Eddie Butler has been in 2013. Well, Butler was at it again Thursday night, once again throwing five shut out innings. Tulsa won 8-0 and Butler picked up his first win in a Tulsa uniform after surrendering just one hit and one walk. Butler struck out three and was extremely efficient, needing just 61 pitches, 45 for strikes, to get through his five innings of work. His ERA dipped even lower to 0.45.

Butler got something this time he hasn't been getting, run support. Butler departed with a 6-0 lead thanks to the Tulsa offense. Tom Murphy smacked his second home run with Tulsa on a 2-for-3 night, en route to driving in two runs. Juan Crousset had two RBIs, Angelys Nina, Tyler Kuhn and Delta Cleary Jr. each drove in a run.

Modesto: 8-7 L (67-62)

Modesto blew a 6-1 lead and lost 8-7 on a walk off to see their nine game winning streak come to an end. Starter Tyler Gagnon gave up six runs in 3.2 innings, but it was Ryan Buch who gave up the walk off home run to Jake Lamb, the first batter for Visalia in the ninth.

Taylor Featherston was 4-for-4 from the leadoff spot with three runs scored and two stolen bases. Ryan Casteel belted his 22nd home run in picking up his 74th RBI and Harold Riggins was 3-for-5.

Asheville: 7-4 W (60-67)

Asheville pitching allowed three home runs, but still pitched well enough for the victory on Friday. Matt Flemer started and pitched well, going 6.2 innings allowing two runs, one earned, on just four hits. He walked two, but struck out 11. Alving Mejias came in and gave up two solo home runs in 1.1 innings before Raul Fernandez pitched a perfect ninth for his 14th save. Fernandez had a rare four strike out inning since the first batter he struck out reached base because of a passed ball by catcher Michael Ramirez.

Jason Stolz hit his third home run of the year. Francisco Sosa his his 30th double and drove in two to see his RBI total climb to 86. Juan Ciriaco collected three RBIs and Derek Jones hit his 27th double.

Tri-City: 7-2 W (31-35)

Konner Wade pitched 5 innings allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits and one walk. Shawn Stuart pitched two scoreless innings in relief before Anthony Bryant and Jerad McCrummen pitched perfect eighth and ninth innings respectively.

Four Tri-City players enjoyed multi-hit games. Catcher Wilfredo Rodriguez had three hits. Patrick Hutcheson, Michael Benjamin, and Julian Yan all had two hits. Six players combined to drive in seven runs for the Dust Devils.

Grand Junction: 10-3 L (26-33)

Starter Alex Balog got roughed up - he allowed seven runs, five earned, in 4.2 innings off of 10 hits. Four relievers combined to finish the game, but Helmis Rodriguez was the only pitched not to surrender a run for GJ in 1.1 innings.

GJ was out hit 15-5. Emerson Jimenez hit his third home run of the year and Raimel Tapia drove in his 35th. Dom Nunuez had two hits.

DSL Rockies: 10-0 L (31-37)

The DSL Rockies lost 10-0 nothing to the DSL Rangers on Thursday. The DSL Rangers are 50-18, so apparently they are really good.

Javier Palacios gave up seven runs in 3.1 innings and Gustavo Brazoban gave up the final three runs in 3.2 innings. However, both pitchers ERAs are solid as Palacios sits at 3.13 and Brazoban at 3.64.

Omar Carrizales was 2-for-4 with his 29th stolen base and Joel Diaz hit a double. Other then that, the Rockies offense was listless, collecting just five total hits in getting shut out.