While I generally like to reserve the opener to talk about guys who who still qualify for "prospect" status, I can't ignore what an amazing hitting streak Reno outfielder Cole Gillespie is on. Plus, none of our top prospects really did much of note yesterday. But back to Gillespie, he is simply killing it right now. He went 3 for 3 with another home run last night and in his last 10 games he's 17 for 35 with 2 doubles, 6 home runs and a whopping 18 RBI. So hats off to Cole. Here's hoping he keeps it up. One low level prospect who's really got my eye of late is 1st-year SS/2B Andrew Velazquez who is playing in the AZL League. Every night he's doing something of note. I remember reading an interview by one scout who said he had major league defensive skills already and was a legit 4-tool guy, lacking only home run power. He was always overlooked because he's only 5-8 but he's off to an outstanding start and had 2 more hits again yesterday. He'd probably be playing SS everyday if not for the presence of 2nd-round pick Jose Munoz who he is outperforming by a lot so far.
Snake Stars
3 Stars: Taylor Siemens, Visalia 8 IP, 6 H, 0 BB, 6 K, 0 ER
2 Stars: Cole Gillespie, Reno 3 for 3, 2 BB, 3 R, 1 DBL, 1 HR, 2 RBI
1 Star: Yazy Arbelo, Visalia 4 for 5, 2 R, 1 DBL, 1 HR, 4 RBI
0 Stars: Fidel Pena, South Bend 0 for 5, 4 K
Game summaries after the jump.
Triple A: Reno 8 @ Col Springs 9. Charles Brewer started and while he wasn't his best, he wasn't his worst either. His defense didn't help matters as an error by Josh Bell preceded a grand slam that blew the game open. Reno battled back and got within 1 in the top of the 9th thanks to a bases-loaded double by Taylor Harbin. But with runners on 1st and 3rd and 1 out Ryan Budde ground into a game-ending double play. As noted above Gillespie had another big night going 3 for 3 including his 10th homer of the season. Adam Eaton went 3 for 5 with 2 more doubles, his 31st of the year. Taylor Harbin went 2 for 5 with 4 RBI.
Double A: Mobile 2 @ Pensacola 8. Mobile was shut down by fast-rising Cincinnati prospect Anthony Cingrani out of Rice University. Chase Anderson started and kept the Bay Bears in the game with 5 innings of 3-run ball, but the offense did nothing until scoring a pair in the 9th in mop-up time. Kevin Munson got shelled again and he's about to disappear from most prospect lists. Ed Easley had two hits and delivered the two 9th-inning RBI. Matt Davidson went 0 for 2 with 2 walks and a caught-stealing. Bobby Borchering went 1 for 4 with 2 Ks.
High A: Visalia 9 @ Inland Empire 2. Taylor Siemens pitched perhaps his best game as a professional with 8 shutout innings after getting blasted in his last start. He struck out 6 and walked none. Yazy Arbelo made our Snake Stars list for the 2nd day in a row with a 4-hit night that featured his 8th home run, a double and 4 RBI. He has 6 home runs in his last 9 games. Keon Broxton had another good night with 3 hits, a walk, a triple and an RBI. He has 8 hits in his last 15 at bats. Raywilly Gomez added 3 hits of his own including a double.
Low A: South Bend 3 Fort Wayne 2. Matt Helm hit a solo home run leading off the bottom of the 9th to tie the game at 2, then hit a lead-off double in the bottom of the 11th before scoring the winning run on a walk-off single by Eric Groff. Starter Tyler Green was superb going 8 innings with 2 runs allowed on 3 hits and 3 walks. Seth Simmons pitched 2 scoreless innings of relief with 4 Ks. Kaleb Fleck got the win with a scoreless 11th.
High Rookie: Yakima 0 Boise 4. The Yakima offense couldn't get anything going off Boise starter Taylor Scott. Cuban starter Alexander Carreras was effective in allowing 2 earned runs in 5 innings with 7 Ks and 0 walks. Yakima managed just 6 singles with Kevin Medrano and Ronnie Freeman getting two each.
Low Rookie: Missoula 1 @ Helena 8. The Osprey got manhandled in this one as relievers Patrick Smith and Bobby O'Neil surrendered 7 runs in the last two innings. Starter Jared Ray was fairly effective pitching out of several jams, due primarily to 6 Ks in 4.1 innings. Missoula rapped 9 base hits but could only plate 1 in the 9th to ruin the shutout. Rudy Flores went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI, and Yosbel Gutierrez collected 3 singles on the night.
AZL Rookie: Dbacks 10 Athletics 6. After getting behind early when Helena scored 5 runs in the first two innings, the D-backs offense came to life with single runs in the 4th through 7th innings, then blew up the party with a 6-spot in the 8th. 2B Andrew Velazquez had 2 more hits and notched 2 RBI. Alex Glenn also had a pair of hits including a triple.