Thursday Farm Report: Fireworks Create Fanfare
It wasn't just Coors Field that was filled with fans, excited as much about post-game fireworks as a baseball game on July 4.
All six United States-based Rockies farm clubs were at home and had sellouts -- and then some -- on Wednesday night.
Triple-A Albuquerque drew 15,652, the seventh largest turnout in the history of Isotopes Park.
Double-A Hartford's crowd of 6,386 was the team's ninth consecutive sell out, the 16th in 20 games, and 24th overall.
High-A Lancaster had a sellout of 5,377.
Low-A Asheville had a sellout of 4,271.
Short-Season A Boise's attendance of 4,758 was the franchise's largest in 17 years.
And Rookie Grand Junction drew a franchise-record 6,429.
In Wednesday's Games
AAA Albuquerque (43-42) won 8-2 against Tacoma. Peter Lambert (1-0, 3.00) made his Triple-A debut, allowing two runs on seventh hits, striking out two in six innings. Lambert opened the season at Double-A Hartford, where he was 8-2 with an Eastern League-leading 2.23 ERA. Ryan McMahon (.265) was 2-for-4 with two home runs, three runs scored and four RBI.
AA Hartford (41-42) lost 7-5 against Portland. Portland's Luke Tender hit a two-run, pinch-hit home run with two out in the top of the ninth. Logan Cozart (6-3, 2.76) worked the final 1 2/3 innings and suffered the loss. Jack Wynkoop (6.85) started and retired only two batters, giving up three runs on five hits and a walk.
High A Lancaster (8-6 2nd half; 41-43) won 9-3 against Modesto. Every player had at least one hit and seven players had an RBI. The Jet Hawks scored six runs in the second on six consecutive RBI hits. Alan Trejo (.275) was 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Matt Dennis (6-8, 5.11) allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks, striking out five in 6 2/3 innings.
Low A Asheville (8-4 2nd half; 35-46) won 8-6 against Rome, moving into a tie for first place in the second half. Bret Boswell (.300) and Ryan Vilade (.242) hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth, Boswell's 13th and Vilade's fourth. Chad Spanberger (.305) hit his 21st home run, a two-run shot, in the third. Nate Harris (2-0, 4.04) worked 2 2/3 innings, allowing one run, to earn the victory. Tommy Doyle (3.12) retired all four batters he faced to earn his seventh save. Frederis Parra (11.25) started and allowed five runs on nine hits and three walks, striking out five, in four innings.
Short-season A Boise (11-9) won 11-2 against Eugene. Willie MacIver (.192) hit a three-run home run and Kyle Datres (.333) had a solo shot in the fourth, and Luis Castro (.328) hit a two-run home run in the eighth to go with a triple and single in his four at-bats. Peyton Gray (1-0, 0.00) earned the win. Alec Byrd (3.38) started and pitched three hitless innings, walking three and striking out five.
Rookie Grand Junction (9-11) lost 22-7 to Ogden. Coco Montes (.467) was 3-for-5, running his hitting streak to 16 games with his 10th multi-hit effort in 18 games in which he has played. Trent Fennell (0-1, 6.00) allowed four runs on five hits and a walk, striking out four, in two innings. Niko Decolati (.333) had three hits, including a triple and his second home run, driving in four runs.
Dominican Summer League South (11-17) won 6-3 at the Cardinals Blue. Felix Ramires (1-1, 3.79) allowed one run on four hits and a walk, striking out two, in 4 1/3 innings of relieve for the victory. Helcris Olivares (3.92) started and allowed three runs, two earned, on three hits and two walks, striking out four, in three innings. Anderson Pilar (2.20) registered the final five outs for his second save. Gerard Ramos (.261) was 2-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI.
Dominican Summer League Northeast (15-13) lost 9-8 to the Tigers 2 in 10 innings. Roger Contreras (1-3, 8.49) allowed an unearned run in the 10th and suffered the loss. Wuardo Fernandez (5.68) started and allowed three runs on three hits and two walks, striking out one, in two innings.