Thursday Farm Report: Holliday Makes Grand Junction Debut
Twenty years later, Matt Holliday took a step back in time on Wednesday. Holliday joined the Rockies rookie-level Grand Junction affiliate in an effort at the age of 38 to show he still could provide pennant-stretch help to the Rockies. The Rockies are in third place in the NL West, but only one game back of the D-backs and Dodgers, who are tied for first.
In his Grand Junction debut as a DH, he went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk, coming out for a pinch-runner after the eighth-inning double, which drove in a run.
Holliday became a free agent after last season and did not sign with a team for the current season. He, however, began working out this summer, and last week agreed to a minor-league deal with the Rockies.
He was back in rookie ball 20 years after being the Rockies' seventh-round draft choice in the June draft and hitting .342 in 32 games with the Rockies affiliate in the rookie-level Arizona Summer League.
The Rockies are going to watch Holliday and decide if they think he can help them in a stretch drive. They took similar approaches with Jason Giambi om 2009, and Ryan Howard a year ago.
Giambi had an impact, and wound up playing for the Rockies through 2012, hitting 22 home runs in 518 at-bats and becoming a key figure in the clubhouse. Howard struggled at Triple-A Albuquerque, hitting .192 in 54 at-bats, although three of his 10 hits were home runs, and was not called up for the final month of the season.
In Wednesday's Games
AAA Albuquerque (51-57) had its game with Round Rock suspended because of rain with one out in the top of the second, and Round Rock leading 3-0. The game will resume today. Peter Lambert started for the Isotopes, and was ejected by home plate umpire Brett Terry at the time the game was suspended. Lambert (3.47) was charged with three unearned runs in the first inning. Brendan Rodgers, the top prospect in the Rockies system who was promoted from Double-A Hartford this week, made his Triple-A debut and singled in his lone at-bat.
AA Hartford (51-56) lost 2-0 at Binghamton. Omar Carrizales (.226), who doubled and singled in his first three at-bats, grounded out to end the game with the bases loaded. Jesus Tinoco (6-10, 5.35) allowed two runs on five hits and a walk, striking out five, in five innings. The Yard Goats failed to score despite two innings in which they had lead-off doubles, having runners on first and third with no outs in the eighth, and the bases loaded on three consecutive two-out singles in the ninth.
High A Lancaster (24-16 2nd half; 57-53) won 9-1 at Inland Empire. Brandon Gold (9-6, 5.44) allowed one run on six hits and a walk, striking out eight, in seven innings. Brett Boswell, promoted this week from Low A Asheville, maintained his .400 average with a two-run home run in the first, and RBI single in the third. Colton Welker (.317) and Wes Rogers (.300) both had two-run singles in the seventh, and both extended their hitting streaks to 16 games.
Low A Asheville (19-19 2nd half; 46-41) came up with two victories in one day at Greenville. The Tourists won the completion of a game suspended from Tuesday, 4-2, and then won a 1-0 game in which Garrett Schilling (5-4, 3.42) pitched six shutout innings, giving up five hits, and striking out seven, without a walk. Hunter Williams struck out two of three batters he faced in an inning of relief for his first save in his third appearance since being promoted from Short-season A Boise. Casey Golden (.275) drove in the game's only run with a base-loaded, infield single in the top of the seventh and final inning.
Moises Ceja (1-0, 5.52) was credited with the victory in the suspended game, allowing one run on three hits and a walk, striking out four, in three innings. Tommy Doyle (2.82) was credited with his 10th save. Sean Bouchard (.266) had a two-run single in the third. Nate Harris (4.01) pitched two innings, allowing one run on one hit and a walk, striking out three, before the suspension was called on Tuesday.
Short-Season A Boise (2-7 2nd half; 23-24) lost 10-3 at Everett. Jeffri Ocando (1-3, 9.00) was credited with two innings pitched after failing to retire a batter while giving up eight runs on 10 hits, including three home runs, in the third inning. Danny Edgeworth (.281) was 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI.
Grand Junction (5-3 2nd half; 25-21) lost 7-5 against Ogden. Trent Fennell (0-2, 2.89) allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits and a walk, striking out one, in three innings. Coco Montes (.377) was 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in the ninth.
Dominican Summer League South (14-23) lost 8-4 to the Angels. Richard Cespedes (1-2, 5.67) allowed four runs, all in the ninth, and gave up a total of seven hits and two walks, striking out three, in 2 1/3 innings. Victor Azor (4.15) started and pitched three shutout inning, giving up two hits and a walk, striking out one. Gerard Ramos (.247) was 2-for-4 with an RBI-double.
Dominican Summer League Northeast (34-16) won 8-4 at the Pirates. Anderson Amarista (5-5, 3.61) allowed three runs on seven hits, striking out three, in eight innings. Eddy Diaz (.307), Yolki Perez (.255) and Ronaiker Palma (.371) had two RBI apiece.