Saturday Pebble Report: Anderson impresses, Tri-City opens their season with a loss

A pair of lefties got the start for the Rockies' two highest farm teams Friday night. Both made it through their first five innings scoreless, but one found disaster in the sixth.

Triple-A: Salt Lake 8, Colorado Springs 6

Christian Friedrich's nightmarish 2014 season continued on Friday. After pitching five scoreless to open the game and being handed a six run lead, he came unraveled. In the sixth inning, Friedrich was chased from the game after only getting one out while giving up seven runs. For the night, Friedrich allowed seven earned runs on 11 hits, three strike outs, and one walk. This outing raises Friedrich's ERA for the year to an unsightly 7.89.

The middle of the Sky Sox order did the most damage in the early offensive output. Kyle Parker picked up three hits which included a double and two RBI while Ben Paulsen also had two RBI, which came on a two run home run in the fifth inning to raise his OPS on the season to .981.

Double-A: Tulsa 2, Arkansas 1

Tyler Anderson continued his impressive season as he spun 5.2 scoreless innings on his way to a win in a tight pitching duel. Anderson's three strikeouts without allowing a free pass once again showcased his ability to control the ball, but he's still not the most economical pitcher, and this is the ninth consecutive game where he's failed to make it through six complete innings.

Offensively, the bottom of the order did all the damage as Jose Gonzalez and Jose Rivera (batting seventh and eighth) rack up five of the nine Driller hits as well as both RBI.

High-A: Modesto 8, Bakersfield 5

The Nuts scored early and scored late to overcome a rough middle of the game. They started off by grabbing three in the top of the first with three singles, a walk, and a Bakersfield fielding error before the Blaze recorded a single out. They wouldn't score again until the seventh however when Jordan Ribera notched a bases loaded single and Matt Wessinger followed with a run scoring double. Derek Jones with add some insurance in the eighth with his sixth home run of the season.

In between, Matt Flemer's up and down season continued as he allowed five runs (three earned) on seven hits, four strike outs, and a pair of walks.

Low-A: Asheville 7, Rome 6 (Ten Innings)

This team is amazing to track. After blowing a 6-2 lead, the Tourists still find a way to pull out a win on a David Dahl sac fly in the bottom of the tenth. In all, the Tourists had 15 hits including one from Dahl (who also had a walk to go along with his game winning sac fly), two a piece from Raimel Tapia, Max White, Correlle Prime, and Wilfredo Rodriguez, and three from Zach Osborne at the bottom of the order. One of White's hits was a home run.

On the mound, Alex Balog had the type of outing we've kind of come to expect from him. 6.1 innings, four earned runs, two strikeouts, and two walks. Nothing horrendous, but certainly nothing to get excited about either.

Northwest League: Boise 4, Tri-City 2

The Dust Devils dropped their season opener as they were shut down by Hawks' starter Tyler Ihrig for the opening five innings, recording just one hit while failing to draw a walk or score a run. Trevor Story started this game and picked up a double, one of only two extra base hits for Tri City all night.

Helmis Rodriguez pitched well for the Dust Devils, but not well enough to win as his 5.1 innings of one run baseball wasn't supported by the bats on the other side of the coin.

Judging by the box score, this was a pretty underwhelming game as the two teams combined to go 1-17 with runners in scoring position.

DSL: Rockies 2, Orioles 1

This was a typical low scoring DSL game. Jorge Oviedo had another brief but strong start for the Rockies as he picked up seven strike outs while walking just two in in four scoreless innings of work. At just 17-years-old, this left handed arm from Venezuela may be one to watch.

Offensively, Jose Gomez had two of the Rockies' six hits including the game winning double in the eighth inning. Right fielder Ramon Marcelino drove in the other run.

Saturday Probables:

Sky Sox: Brian Burres (0-0, -.--)

Drillers: Richard Castillo (2-4, 4.47)

Nuts: Ryan Carpenter (1-2, 2.76)

Tourists: Konner Wade (4-6, 4.97)

Dust Devils: Anthony Bryant (0-0, -.--)

DSL Rockies: No starter listed