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The affiliates were 1-4 on the night, dropping their collective record to 35-54 on the year. Modesto takes most of the blame at 5-18, but none of the affiliates are above .500 at this time, including a Tulsa team that might have four future major league pitchers in its rotation.
AAA: Iowa 9, Colorado Springs 6 (F-13)
This was a wild one, as many Pacific Coast League games tend to be, with both teams accruing 16 hits. It was a back and forth game with four lead changes and it took four extra innings to sort things out after Greg Burke allowed a run on a two out infield single in the top of the 9th to blow the save.
Christian Friedrich took the ball in this one and pitched into the 6th inning. Unfortunately, he got knocked around for five runs on eight hits with two walks and five strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. In terms of the relief corps, both Manny Corpas and Wilton Lopez had scoreless outings, while Dan Houston pitched well too. Unfortunately for Houston (who threw 2 2/3 innings in relief), he took the loss in this one after he was pulled with two out and a man on second because Rob Scahill promptly allowed three straight hits to score three in the frame.
On the offensive side of the bill, Mike McKenry (4-6, HR, 3 RBI), Ben Paulsen (3-5, HR, 2B), Paul Janish (3-6), and PuRP 5 Kyle Parker (2-5, 2B) all acquitted themselves well for the Sky Sox.
Eddie Butler went as deep into a game as he's gone in quite some time in this one, powering into the 8th inning on 92 pitches in what was unfortunately a losing effort. Butler went 7 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits with a walk and four strikeouts. Kraig Sitton and Cole White were scoreless in relief, but two runs was too many for this anemic Tulsa offense.
The Drillers, who have scored two runs or fewer in five of their past six games, managed just three hits in this one, with Jared Simon providing the only production with a solo homer in the 3rd inning, his first of the season.
High A: Visalia 8, Modesto 2 (Game 1)
In the continuation of Friday's suspended game, Modesto started with a 6-1 deficit in the bottom of the 4th inning and couldn't close the gap despite 2 1/3 hitless relief innings from Peter Tago. Sean Dwyer had two of Modesto's five hits while Trevor Story (PuRP 6) continued to blaze on the basepaths, going 1-3 with his 14th steal of the year. Story has been one of the only bright spots for the Nuts this season, hitting .293/.396/.463 with the aforementioned 14 steals in his age 21 season.
Visalia 4, Modesto 2 (Game 2 - 7 innings)
The Nuts managed just three hits in this one, with Jordan Ribera providing two of them - including a solo homer in the 7th inning. Modesto used a compilation of relievers to get through this one, including 40 man roster member Raul Fernandez, who allowed a run on two hits in his inning of work.
The Tourists provided the organization's lone win last night thanks in large part to a strong outing from Konner Wade. In six innings of work, Wade allowed seven hits and two runs with two walks and two strikeouts. This was complemented by scoreless innings from Matt Carasiti, Troy Neiman, and Dylan Stamey.
On offense, Mike Benjamin and Wilfredo Rodriguez (PuRP 18) each had three hits in this one, while David Dahl (PuRP 3) and Pat Valaika (PuRP 21) each added a hit. Some quick stat lines for the above players, presented without further comment:
Benjamin (2B, 22): .375/.418/.583
Rodriguez (C, 20): .390/.468/.512
Dahl (CF, 20): .262/.295/.476
Valaika (SS, 21): .383/.400/.567
Today's Starters
AAA: Christian Bergman
AA: Dan Winkler (PuRP 12)
High A: Andrew Brown
Low A: Johendi Jiminian