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The affiliates were 2-2 on the day, splitting two extra innings games.
AAA: Round Rock 16, Colorado Springs 12
If you like pitcher's duels, this was not the game for you. Each team had 19 hits in the game - 10 of them went for extra bases - and only the 6th inning failed to produce a run. On the Sky Sox side, each of Michael McKenry, Kyle Parker (PuRP 5), and Tim Wheeler (PuRP 27) had three hits and a homer on the night - though Wheeler's (which tied the game at 11 in the 8th inning) was of the inside-the-park variety. Matt McBride and Ben Paulsen also added three hits apiece for the Sky Sox.
Wheeler (who also had two doubles on the night) is off to a .364/.400/.818 start to 2014, pretty shocking stuff from a player who slugged .355 last year. Meanwhile, Parker continues to tear the cover off the ball, just as he has at nearly every minor league stop. Both he and Wheeler are vying for a major league call-up should disaster befall the Colorado outfield, though they're likely behind Corey Dickerson (who didn't play in this one).
The less said about the pitching, the better. Pedro Hernandez, who has pitched in the big leagues (without much distinction) for the Twins, allowed ten runs on ten hits in four innings of work, while erstwhile closer Chris Martin allowed five runs on six hits in the top of the 9th inning to put the game out of reach.
AA: Corpus Christi 3, Tulsa 2 (F-10)
While his team didn't get the win in this one, it was good to see Tyler Anderson (PuRP 10) continue his strong start to 2014. Anderson went six innings in this one, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks with two strikeouts. He was efficient, needing just 73 pitches, and he threw 51 of them for strikes. In addition, Anderson induced 11 groundball outs in the game, showing the kind of profile that will allow him to succeed at Coors Field.
On offense, Tulsa was held to six hits in this one, with both runs coming in the 7th inning on a sac fly and a Taylor Featherston (PuRP 22) single to tie the game up at two. Delta Cleary was the only Driller with two hits in the game.
High A: Modesto 3, Rancho Cucamonga 2
This year Modesto is a roster mostly devoid of top prospects, but Trevor Story (PuRP 6) has really made the most of the limited spotlight so far. Last night, Story was a one man wrecking crew for the Nuts. He was 2-2 with four stolen bases (!?!), two runs, and two walks (and no strikeouts!) - bringing his 2014 line so far to .415/.478/.615 with nine steals in ten games. For a player who hit just .233/.305/.394 last year in the same league, that's one heck of an encouraging start.
On the mound, Matt Flemer turned into a good outing for the Nuts to get the win. Flemer allowed one run (unearned) over 5 2/3 innings of work, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out five. The opposing starting pitcher had some control problems, walking six in the game and balking in the go-ahead run.
Low A: Asheville 7, Hickory 5 (F-10)
David Dahl (PuRP 3) continued his great start to 2014 with a 3-4 night and a homer, his 4th on the year - bringing his season line to .300/.349/.675. Not to be outdone, both Corelle Prime and Pat Valaika (PuRP 21) hit 10th inning homers for the Tourists to seal the win - bringing the HR total for Asheville over their last five games to 11 (h/t Doug Maurer). Jordan Patterson (PuRP 23) also added two hits for Asheville, who had nine in the game.
Devin Burke went five innings for Asheville, allowing three runs on four hits with five strikeouts. Dylan Stamey got the win in relief despite blowing the save in the 9th inning and allowing another run in the 10th, while Logan Norris came in to shut the door for the save.