Diamondbacks Farm Round-Up 6/11: Rocky Mountain High Edition

A rocky mountain high was exactly the euphoria felt tonight amongst the Triple-A Reno squad.  The Aces obliterated the SkySox in a game that was even more of a lop-sided victory for Reno than the scoreboard indicates, as Colorado Spring tacked on three meaningless runs in the bottom of the ninth inning.  That game came with some awesome individual performances, but none more spectacular than the line of Wily Mo Pena.

Snakelet of the Day:

Wily Mo Pena (Triple-A): 5-6, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R, K

Triple-A: Reno 14, Colorado Springs 4.  (37-26)  As you can see, Wily Mo was awesome again for the Aces, coming up in the top of the ninth with the chance to go 6-6 at the plate.  Unfortunately, he struck out in his final plate appearance, but a 5-6 day with 7 total bases is nothing to be ashamed of.  Pretty much everybody in the lineup hit well.  Cody Ransom went 2-4 with a homer and a walk.  Collin Cowgill was 2-5 with a double and a walk.  Mark Hallberg went 3-5 with a triple.  Tony Abreu went 2-6 with a triple.  Kyle Greene went 2-2 with a double and a walk.  Even Barry Enright went 2-3 with a double.  Enright also shined on the mound, giving up just one run on a solo homer in six innings of work, posting a 4:1 K:BB ratio with a HBP and a 5:7 GO:AO ratio.  Enright's Triple-A ERA is now down to 3.29, providing a glimmer of hope that Enright could have re-discovered some of his mojo from 2010.

Double-A: Mobile 1, Birmingham 6.  (36-27)  It was a rough day at the plate all-around for Mobile, as the BayBears managed just three hits - all singles - and four walks on the night.  Things didn't go much better on the mound, either, as Wes Roemer's mediocre peripherals continue to catch up to him.  Roemer lasted just five innings before being pulled, allowing 12 hits, two walks, and six runs while striking out just two.  The only real bright side for Mobile was that Clay Zavada and Bryan Woodall were good in relief.  Zavada struck out one in two scoreless innings of work, and Woodall K'd one in a scoreless eighth inning.  Your Daily Goldschmidt: Paul failed to reach base, going 0-4 with a strikeout.

Hi-A: Visalia 4, Rancho Cucamonga 8.  (28-33)  Things went south quickly for the Rawhide after taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, as the Quakes came storming back to put up crooked numbers in the first three innings off of Trevor Harden, who had nothing going for him.  Harden gave up six runs in two-plus innings, pitching just two batters into the third inning and leaving after allowing a home run to Quakes catcher J.T. Wise.  That was the second home run he allowed, to go with eight hits and three walks, striking out just one batter.  He then gave way to Mike Belfiore, who calmed the flames with three innings of relief, striking out three with no walks or runs.  After posting a 7.30 ERA in 37 innings as a starter with a 33:30 K:BB and 13 home runs allowed, Belfiore looks like he may be turning his season around in a relief role.  In four appearances out of the bullpen, Belfiore has thrown eight innings with an 8:1 K:BB ratio and no home runs allowed, giving up just one earned run (1.13 ERA).  Hopefully this is a sign of things to come, even if Belfiore has to be moved to the bullpen full-time.  Offensively, the Rawhide received a solo home run from Jon Mark Owings, his ninth of the year, to go with a triple from Raoul Torrez and doubles from Chris Owings and Matt Davidson.

Low-A: South Bend 6, Peoria 11.  (31-31)  Young stud right-hander Tyler Green had the first truly rough outing of his pro career, lasting five batters into the fourth inning and retiring none of them.  Green surrendered 11 hits, two walks, and a pair of homers while striking out nobody.  He gave up nine runs, eight of which were earned, before being yanked.  On the bright side, Jeremy Erben continued his successful year out of the bullpen, striking out three and giving up just one hit in two scoreless innings.  The offense did its job, led by Zach Walters, who went 1-3 with a triple and a pair of walks, and Ender Inciarte, who went 2-4 with a double and a walk.  Chris Jarrett and Mike Freeman each added doubles, and Yazy Arbelo reached base three times on a single and two walks.

DSL: D-backs 7, Reds 2.  (4-7)  Just to catch up on Friday's action, the DSL D-backs were swept in yesterday's double-header (keeping in line with the rest of the organization) against the Rockies, collecting seven hits and three runs in fourteen innings.  It was an all-around uninspiring performance, so let's just move on to the action today, as it was much more, well, inspiring.  Saturday, though, the offense came out swinging, led by high-profile sign infielder Ronny Mejias, who reached base four times on a triple, a single, and a pair of walks.  The team drew 14 walks total, including four from first baseman Samuel Valdez.