Sunday Pebble Report: 4 homers in 4 days for Kent Matthes

Triple-A Colorado Springs - W 3-1 (64-68)

The Sky Sox had two big home runs to lead them to a win against the A's Triple-A affiliate on Saturday. A solo shot by Xavier Nady in the second inning gave Colorado Springs their first lead of the day. Later in the sixth Kent Matthes drove a two-run blast to put the Sky Sox up for good. Matthes has four home runs in his last four games and 19 total on the season between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Former Cubs prospect Sean Gallagher had his best outing of the season, pitching 7.1 innings of one run ball on four hits and four strikeouts. The right hander has a 3.86 ERA in the Springs after putting up a 3.00 ERA previously in Tulsa.

Double-A Tulsa - L 1-4 (62-67)

Starter Dan Winkler saw his team down early when the Cardinals affiliate put up a three spot in the first inning. The right hander finished strong however, allowing just three hits and keeping Springfield scoreless for his remaining four innings. Winkler earned his first Double-A loss of the season with a line of three earned runs on six hits, two walks and five strikeouts in five innings pitched. Winkler's ERA sits at 3.48 for the season.

The Drillers offense had their hands full with Springfield's starter Jonathan Cornelius, no relation to Yukon Cornelius, who held Tulsa to just three hits and one earned run. First baseman Kyle Parker reached base via a walk in the fourth right after Shortstop Joey Wong had the Drillers first hit of the game. Wong scored on a Dustin Garneau single and when Parker attempted to score on a Tyler Kuhn base hit, only to be thrown out at home.

High-A Modesto - W 5-4 (69-62)

The Nuts offense struck first against the Padres affiliate, scoring Tyler Massey on a Matt Wessinger ground out in the third inning. After reaching with a double, Taylor Featherston crossed home on a Trevor Story infield single. Story finished 3-for-4 with a walk. There were more fireworks in the fifth, when Matt Wessinger and Trevor Story pulled off a double steal of second and third base to place them in scoring position for a Jordan Ribera double. Ribera then scored on a David Kandilas liner to right field.

Lake Elsinore pecked away with a solo home run in the fifth and sixth off of starter Tyler Anderson. The Oregon alum finished with seven innings pitched, allowing two earned runs on four hits and seven strikeouts. Reliever Patrick Johnson gave up more of the lead with a two run homer in the eighth. Scott Oberg nailed down the game with his 32nd save in the ninth.

Low-A Asheville - L 2-8 (61-68)

Terrific start by T.J. Oakes, who went six shutout innings, allowing six hits and striking out six. Oakes threw 58 of his 90 pitches for strikes and worked low in the zone with eight ground ball outs. The Tourists took a 2-0 lead into the ninth when Raul Fernandez coughed up the lead. The right hander allowed eight runs to cross home in the inning, with a three run blast by Daniel Aldrich causing the most damage. It was Aldrich's first homer of the season.

Shortstop Rosell Herrera kick-started the Tourists offense in the fourth when he singled to right and then moved to third on a Francisco Sosa double to left. Herrera came in to score on a David Bergin ground out and then Sosa followed when Jose Briceno reached on an error. The double was Sosa's 32nd of the year, second to Rosell Herrera's 33 in the organization.

Short-Season Tri-City - L 1-5 (31-37)

Starter Logan Norris allowed too much traffic on the bases with 10 hits and a walk issued in six innings leading to four runs. Norris struck out five and saw his ERA go up to 4.13 on the season. Left hander Sam Moll made his return to the Dust Devils, pitching one clean inning with a strikeout. The Tennessee native hadn't pitched since July 20th when he pitched a five inning shutout.

Right fielder Julian Yan led the Dust Devils in hitting with a 2-for-4 performance. The only run for Tri-City was scored by Michael Benjamin after reaching base on a walk. Sean Dwyer drove in Benjamin with a double in the fourth for his 19th RBI of the season.

Rookie Grand Junction - W 9-6 (27-34)

Starter Zach Jemiola dug the Rockies an early hole, giving up four earned runs in just 0.2 innings pitched to start the game. He allowed four hits and two walks while striking out two batters before being lifted for Angel Lezama. The Dominican worked a splendid 4.1 innings of shutout relief, allowing just two hits and striking out three. In a boxscore that is somewhat fitting for Peter Tago, the right hander earned the blown save and the win as he gave up the tying run and then worked three total innings, allowing five hits and getting two strikeouts.

The middle of the Rockies order was dangerous as the 3-4-5-6 hitters went 9-for-19 with three doubles, a triple and a home run. Raimel Tapia scored twice and raised his average to .367 with the three hits, including a double and triple. First baseman Jordan Patterson hit his 10th homer of the season, a two run shot in the first to keep Grand Junction close.

DSL Rockies - L 0-5 (32-39)

The Rockies were nearly no-hit in their loss to the DSL Pirates on Saturday in their final game of the DSL season. Designated hitter Randy Reyes was the only player with a base hit for the Rockies when he led off the fifth inning with a scorcher to left. Reyes went to second on a botched pickoff attempt, before ending up at third on a sacrifice fly. Then with just one out the Rockies failed to bring him home as Luis Brito and Antony Brito both struck out to end the inning.

Hector Villarroel lasted just 1.1 innings, giving up two hits and earning a strikeout in the shutout appearance. The lefty saw his ERA fall to 3.83 on the season with his 13th start of the season. Ronald Harvey earned the loss with two earned runs allowed on two hits in 2.2 innings of relief.