Monday Pebble Report: Tourists continue winning ways, Nuts lose again

The Colorado Springs Sky Sox game was postponed due to weather. It will be made up today as part of a double header. The starters will be Yohan Flande and Christian Friedrich.

Tulsa 4, San Antonio 3

San Antonio buried the Drillers early, scoring all three of their runs in the first inning off of starter Richard Castillo. Castillo settled in afterward, though, and held them scoreless for the next five innings. Carlos Hernandez, Kraig Sitton and Scott Oberg each pitched solid relief innings, with Oberg securing his second save of the young season.

Tim Smalling, Ryan Casteel and Brian Humphries, all off to excellent starts with the Drillers, led the offense with a single and a double each. Casteel knocked in two runs and scored a third. Delta Cleary Jr. walked twice, one of which was with the bases loaded, giving him a RBI.

Rancho Cucamonga 7, Modesto 4

Ben Alsup continued his 2014 struggles, laboring heavily through just four innings, walking five and allowing three hits and five runs which led to his third loss in as many starts. Peter Tago allowed two more runs to cross in his two and two thirds, though both runs were unearned due to an error by left fielder Sean Dwyer. Tago's two wild pitches didn't help either. Only Jacob Newberry was effective on the mound for Modesto, throwing the final two and a third scoreless with just a hit and a walk allowed.

Will Swanner, who is showing significant improvement at the plate this year, went three for four with a triple and scored two of the Nuts' runs. Trevor Story batted in two runs, while Rosell Herrera got two hits of his own. Jordan Ribera, still rehabbing from an injury, walked twice in addition to a hit. Unfortunately, most of Modesto's offense has been struggling heavily this year, and that trend continued for the rest of the lineup.

Asheville 5, Hickory 4

In contrast to the Nuts, the Tourists are off to a solid 2014 start, in large part due to the offense of Patrick Valaika, Correlle Prime and Michael Benjamin, all of which were right there in the forefront of this win. Benjamin hit his third home run of the year, one of three hits on the day for the second baseman, as well as stealing his third base. Prime also recorded three hits, including his third double, while knocking in a run. Valaika batted in two runs on his two hits, while WIlfredo Rodriguez hit his first homer of the season as one of two more. The final multi-hit games belonged to Jordan Patterson and to Max White, who had been struggling to start the year. Ryan McMahon walked twice, though he didn't join the hit parade. With 14 total hits and four walks, it's surprising they didn't score more than five runs.

Konner Wade bounced back from a disappointing first start, allowing two earned runs in six innings. He allowed five hits, but walked just one and struck out six. Matt Carasiti, fresh off of the temporarily inactive list, struggled to get two outs in the seventh, walking three in the process. However, Troy Neiman and Trent Daniel regained control of the game with two clean innings. Neiman picked up the win, and Daniel his first save of the season.