Jon Gray has a rough time in PCL debut

Colorado Rockies Affiliates for Thursday, April 9, 2015.

Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes

Reno 8, Albuquerque 2

W: Nuno (1-0, 1.80) ; L: Gray (0-1, 11.25)

This was a tough one. Jorge De La Rosa got the start and went four innings, walked three, and allowed four hits in his rehab appearance. He allowed a run on a solo shot to former Rockies draft pick Peter O’Brien but otherwise kept Reno off the board. What made this one rough was No. 1 PuRP Jon Gray's tough outing. Gray got knocked around to the tune of eight hits and six runs, five of them earned, in his first trip back to altitude since dominating the Pioneer League two years ago. Bright spots included Brandon Barnes collecting two hits, one of which was a double, and No. 11 PuRP Kyle Parker hitting a home run in the third inning. But on the whole, Gray’s last two trips to the mound have been a little disconcerting.

Double-A: New Britain Rock Cats

Postponed Due to Rain

Class A Advanced: Modesto Nuts

Lake Elsinore 10, Modesto 3

W: Butler (1-0, 1.80) ; L: Senzatela (0-1, 0.00)

As bad as things went in Albuquerque, this might have been worse. The game had high points: No. 10 PuRP Rosell Herrera hit a home run, No. 7 PuRP Ryan McMahon got a double and a walk in four plate appearances, No. 5 PuRP Raimel Tapia collected two hits, and second baseman Michael Benjamin did so as well. Benjamin is interesting. He's a middle infielder who quietly hit .341/.385/.566 in Asheville last year. A strong start in the California League could see him in Double-A by mid-season and claiming the PuRP list. That all sounds pretty good, right? What turned this game sour was that No. 14 PuRP Antonio Sensately left the game after just one and two thirds innings, so far without explanation. Let's just hope he's healthy.

Class A: Asheville Tourists

Asheville 4, Rome 3

W: Jemiola (1-0, 1.50) ; L: Povse (0-1, 3.60) ; SV: Michalec (1)

Last year the Tourists were the most successful, and only league winning, team among Rockies affiliates. Having 13 of the top 30 PuRPs spend time there will do that for you. But Asheville isn’t ready to fade away, as the team is restocked for this year. They've added six PuRPs for this season to go along with a collection of talented sleepers who are likely to be on that midseason list. In yesterday's game the Tourists received a fine performance from Zach Jemiola, who went six innings while striking out seven and walking two. Notable hitting performances included No. 20 PuRP Kevin Padlo, who walked twice and scored a run. Padlo is just 18 years old in a league where he will routinely be facing pitchers five and six years older than him and is someone I will be watching very closely this year.