Wednesday Farm Report: Groin Strain Slows Senzatela MLB Return
Antonio Senzatela's effort to build up his innings count at Triple-A Albuquerque so he would be ready to step into the Rockies rotation has been slowed by a slight right groin strain. Senzatela, who opened the season in the Rockies bullpen, suffered the injury during a May 15 start for the Isotopes, in which he went five innings.
Senzatela has made three starts since being sent down from the Rockies, compiling a 2.57 ERA. He is 2-0, having allowed four runs on 11 hits and four walks while striking out 18 in 14 innings.
Meanwhile, Rayan Gonzalez, ranked No. 30 on the Rockies list of prospects in the off-season, has been promoted to Double-A Hartford as the next step in his return from Tommy John surgery, which sidelined him for the 2017 season. Gonzalez made three appearances at High-A Lancaster in his first step back from the surgery.
In Tuesday's Games
AAA Albuquerque (25-21) won 4-3 against Salt Lake City, moving into a tie for first place in the Pacific South Division with Salt Lake City. The winning run scored on a balk. Jerry Vasto (2-0, 2.12) worked 2 1/3 scoreless innings for the win, and Scott Oberg (0.73 ERA) earned his second save. Oberg has allowed one run in 12 appearances since being sent down from the Rockies. He has allowed one run on nine hits and two walks, striking out nine in 12 2/3 innings.
AA Hartford (24-20) won 5-3 at Portland. For the second game in a row Brendan Rodgers, the Rockies' No. 1 rated prospect, delivered a game-winning home run. Rodgers' 10th home run was a two-run score that broke a 3-3 tie. Sean Nolin, in his Hartford debut, was charged with a blown save, but picked up the win. Matt Pierpont earned earned his Eastern League-leading 12th save. Jesus Tinco started and allowed one run on four hits, striking out seven, in five innings.
High A Lancaster (22-23) lost 2-1 at Lake Elsinore. Rico Garcia (5-4, 3.19) allowed two runs, the second one on his throwing error in the fourth, on seven hits and a walk, striking out eight in seven innings. Garcia, who suffered the loss, turned in his sixth consecutive start of six or more innings, and increased his Cal League-leading inning total to 62 in which he has walked 12 and struck out 65.
Low A Asheville (17-25) won 5-3 against Greenville. Antonio Santos allowed two unearned runs on seven hits, striking out six, in 6 2/3 innings. It is his first victory in six decisions despite a 3.88 ERA. Tommy Doyle earned his fourth save. Taylor Snyder, son of former big-leaguer Cory Snyder, was 2-for-4 with a double and run scored.