Rockies prospects: DSL alumni Helmis Rodriguez, Carlos Polanco dominant

Right-handed starter Carlos Polanco on Wednesday had a stateside debut to remember.

The 20-year-old graduate of the Rockies' Dominican camp struck out nine and allowed only one hit in six scoreless innings in Rookie-level Grand Junction's 14-3 win over Ogden. Polanco did walk three batters, but one was erased on a double play in the second inning while the other two were stranded on the bases in the fourth. Polanco induced five ground-ball outs compared to three fly outs.

The Rookie Rockies mashed three home runs, which plated a total of nine runs. Outfielder Randy Reyes was responsible for the big blow, launching a grand slam over the left field wall with one out in the fifth. Wilson Soriano piled on with a two-run homer two batters later. Hamlet Marte hit a three-run shot off of Scott Elbert, the rehabbing reliever who posted a 2.32 ERA for the Dodgers in 2011 and 2012, in the top of the first to open up the scoring.

Right-handed reliever Gavin Glanz, a native of Arvada, tossed two scoreless innings after Polanco's exit. Glanz struck out three batters and didn't allow a baserunner. Fellow righty reliever Matt Pierpont did not have that sort of success in his inning of work, surrendering three runs on four hits -- including a home run -- in the ninth.

Rodriguez posts second consecutive solid start for Tri-City

Helmis Rodriguez struggled to get batters out in Grand Junction last season, but the 20-year-old southpaw hasn't had that problem in two outings for Short-Season-A Tri-City. Rodriguez tossed six scoreless innings on Wednesday, surrendering only four singles while walking a pair of batters and striking out three in the Dust Devils' 10-1 win over Everett.

Rodriguez induced 10 ground-ball outs, using the help of a defense that didn't make any errors. He also got plenty of offensive support; every hitter in the Tri-City lineup had at least one hit with the exception of Michael Tauchman, who made up for that by walking twice, scoring a run and notching an RBI. Outfielders Drew Weeks and Francisco Sosa led the Dust Devils with two hits apiece.

Anderson takes a step back in Tulsa's loss

Rockies pitching prospect Tyler Anderson lasted only three innings on Wednesday for Double-A Tulsa, allowing four runs on four hits and three walks in the Drillers' 7-5 loss to Springfield.

Anderson, who is going to need to be a strike-thrower to succeed at high levels of professional baseball, made good only only 39 of his 68 pitches, though he did notch four strikeouts against a fairly aggressive offense. The 2011 first-rounder dealt with traffic from the outset, surrendering a leadoff double before giving up two more run-scoring hits in the first. After a 1-2-3 second, Anderson issued a couple of walks in the third that came back to haunt him when he allowed a one-out single that put the Cardinals ahead, 4-0.

Tulsa climbed back into it with five runs in the sixth through eighth innings, but the three-run homer allowed by reliever Nelson Gonzalez in the seventh essentially put the game away for Springfield.

Jared Simon hit a two-run homer for the Drillers and was one of five Tulsa players with two hits. Another one of those was shortstop Cristhian Adames, who is seemingly throwing out a couple of knocks every night.

Sky Sox fall

Not much to write about in Triple-A Colorado Springs' 4-2 loss to Tacoma. Tim Smalling hit a solo homer in the first as part of a two-hit game had the team's only RBI. Manny Corpas gave up two home runs in relief. Former big leaguer Mike McClendon started for the Sky Sox and allowed a pair of runs on three hits and two walks in three innings.

DSL Rockies held to three hits

The Rookie-level DSL Rockies managed only three hits in a 6-3 loss to the DSL Red Sox. Jose Rodriguez's run-scoring double was the only hit of the extra-base variety for the Rockies, who were done in by the three runs reliever Salvador Justo allowed in the top of the ninth.

Hector Villaroel started the game for the Rockies and did not allow an earned run in five innings. He gave up only one hit while walking four batters and striking out six.