Luke Wortman & Mac Lyons | July 9, 2024
The Albuquerque Isotopes had a mixed week with standout performances from players like Willie MacIver and Jimmy Herron, but ultimately struggled, winning and losing games in the series. The Hartford Yard Goats experienced a similar pattern, with players like Zach Kokoska and Warming Bernabel shining in some games but facing challenges in others. The Spokane Indians and Fresno Grizzlies both had strong series, showcasing notable players like Cole Carrigg and Michael Prosecky. Keep reading for more Colorado Rockies minor-league news!
Table of Contents
Albuquerque Isotopes
Series Record: 3-3 | Season Record: 32-55
Notable Performers
Willie MacIver: 20 PAs, .556/.550/1.167 (1.717 OPS), 10 H, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 SB
Jimmy Herron: 23 PAs, .500/.522/.778 (1.300 OPS), 9 H, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 3 BB, 2 K, 1 SB
Sean Bouchard: 15 PAs, .462/.533/.769 (1.302 OPS), 6 H, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K
Julio Carreras: 23 PAs, .400/.455/.550 (1.005 OPS), 8 H, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 SB
Elehuris Montero: 15 PAs, .357/.400/.571 (.971 OPS), 5 H, 5 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K
Drew Romo: 18 PAs, .353/.389/.529 (.918 OPS), 6 H, 1 RBI, 2 K
Hunter Stovall: 27 PAs, .320/.370/.320 (.690 OPS), 8 H, 2 BB, 5 K, 2 SB
Jeff Criswell: 3.2 IP, 2.45 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 1 BB, 9 K
Stephen Gonsalves: 2.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 2 BB, 4 K
Dugan Darnell: 2.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 0 BB, 3 K
Riley Pint: 2.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 1 BB, 3 K
Recap
In terms of transactions this week, the team added reliever Riley Pint and first baseman Elehuris Montero to the squad. Both players were reassigned from the big league club. Righty Tanner Gordon was called up to the Show last week to bolster the team’s rotation after Dakota Hudson was cut. Gordon had a solid 5.35 ERA in 33.2 innings with the Isotopes this season.
The Isotopes started July with a great start, winning 5-2 on Tuesday. Outfielder Jimmy Herron collected two hits with a walk, while Julio Carreras added two hits of his own. Trevor Boone and Willie MacIver each had a home run and combined for 4 RBI’s. Karl Kauffmann tossed a “complete game” in this 6 ½ inning game. He only allowed 2 runs and struck out 3.
The Chihuahuas struck back on Wednesday, winning 8-5 despite the ‘Topes collecting 12 hits. Drew Romo led the way for the team collecting three hits, while Hinter Stovall, Julio Carreras, and Willie MacIver each had two hits. MacIver added his 10th home run of the season in the 8th inning. Peyton Battenfield started the game and tossed 5 innings, but was undone by walks as he walked 6 and gave up 4 runs. Lefty Ryan Rolison stopped the damage, tossing 2 innings. Unfortunately, the team wasn’t able to keep the lead as they gave up 4 runs in the eighth inning to lose the game.
Thankfully, the Isotopes were able to bounce back the next day winning 6-2. The team collected 11 hits with five different players each having 2 hits. Jimmy Herron had three RBI’s along with a home run; while Grant Lavigne added his 12th home run of the season. Tyler Danish started the game, tossing 3 innings while giving up a run. Seth Jones collected the win tossing a crucial two scoreless innings. Righty Jeff Criswell struck out 4 batters in two innings, with Geoff Hartlieb and John Curtiss tossing a scoreless inning each.
The winning streak continued on Friday, with the Isotopes winning the offensive slugfest 12-7. The team collected 16 hits, with Sean Bouchard, Jimmy Herron, and Willie MacIver each having 3 hits. Elehuris Montero, Hunter Stovall, and Julio Carreras had two hits apiece. Almost as impressive as the 16 hits, the team walked 10 times. Willie Mac added his 3rd homerun of the season in the 6th inning. Juan Hillman started the game and struggled, giving up 4 runs in 2.2 innings. Lefty Stephen Gonsalvez got the win by tossing two scoreless innings with 4 Ks.
The Isotopes dropped Saturday’s game 5-6, with the Chihuhuas winning via walkoff in the 9th inning. The lineup collected 8 hits total, with Sean Bouchard adding two hits. Connor Kaiser had two RBI’s thanks to a two-run single in the 1st inning. Trevor Boone added his 2nd home run of the series. Reliever Dugan Darnell started the game, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings while striking out 3. Noah Davis gave up 4 runs in 4.2 innings in relief, while lefty Ryan Rolison collected the loss.
The Series closed out with an Isotopes loss. Willie MacIver continued to dominate against El Paso’s pitching staff, collecting two hits. Elehuris Montero went 2-4 with an RBI. Karl Kauffmann got the loss, giving up 6 runs in 4.1 innings. Jeff Criswell struck out 5 in 2.1 innings.
Call-Up Power Rankings
- Willie MacIver – C: .318 AVG | 11 HR | 24 BB | 4 SB
- Jeff Criswell – RHP: 6.75 ERA | 1.89 WHIP | 44.0 IP | 59 K
- Drew Romo – C: .305 AVG | 10 HR | 8 BB | 3 SB
Looking Ahead
This week the Isotopes will take on the Tacoma Rainiers. The Rainiers are the affiliate of the Seattle Mariners and they have a great 49-38 record this season.
Hartford Yard Goats
Series Record: 3-3 | Season Record: 44-35
Notable Performers
Zach Kokoska: 23 PAs, .278/.435/.833 (1.268 OPS), 5 H, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 5 BB, 6 K, 1 SB
Warming Bernabel: 24 PAs, .375/.375/.667 (1.042 OPS), 9 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 4 K
Sterlin Thompson: 24 PAs, .333/.500/.667 (1.167 OPS), 6 H, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 6 BB, 4 K, 1 SB
Yanquiel Fernandez: 24 PAs, .333/.417/.524 (.941 OPS), 7 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 5 K
Adael Amador: 19 PAs, .125/.263/.125 (.388 OPS), 2 H, 1 RBI, 3 BB, 10 K
Braxton Fulford: 19 PAs, .412/.444/.412 (.856 OPS), 7 H, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
Carson Palmquist: 7.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.29 WHIP, 1 BB, 13 K
Brendan Hardy: 3.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.33 WHIP, 0 BB, 4 K
Seth Halvorsen: 2.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 0 BB, 2 K
German Marquez: 3.2 IP, 2.45 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 1 BB, 2 K
Recap
The series against the Binghampton Rumble Ponies got off to a great start for the Yard Goats. The team won 6-1 and collected 10 hits. Yanquiel Fernandez, Sterlin Thompson, and Bladimir Restituyo each collected two hits in the contest. Fernandez added his 7th home of the season in the eighth inning. Andrew Quezada got the win, tossing a great 7 innings while only giving up 1 run. Jaden Hill and Zach Agnos closed out the game, tossing two scoreless innings.
While it was much closer, the Yard Goats were able to secure the victory the next day, winning 8-7. Yanquiel Fernandez, Warming Bernabel, Braiden Ward, and Bladimir Restituyo all had two hits in the game. Top prospect Adael Amador walked twice, while Sterlin Thompson walked three times. Lefty Mason Albright got the start, walking 5 and giving up 4 runs in 3 innings. Brendan Hardy tossed two scoreless while striking out 3, and Juan Mejia got the win. Reliever Seth Halvorsen got his eighth save of the season, an impressive figure given that he was playing College Baseball a year ago.
The winning streak continued, with the Goats winning their 3rd game of the year. Yanquiel Fernandez had 4 hits, while Warming Bernabel, Zach Kokoska, and Ryan Ritter each had 3 hits. Kokoska and Bernabel both had two home runs this game, while Yanquiel Fernandez added his 2nd home run of the series. Connor Van Scoyoc put together a quality start, tossing 6 innings while giving up 4 runs. Reliever Jaden Hill got the win, striking out 4 and giving up 2 runs in 2 innings.
Unfortunately, the series started to go downhill for here as the Yard Goats would lose the next three games of the series. Ronaiker Palma and Sterlin Thompson both collected two hits this game, with both of his hits being home runs. Zach Kokoska hit his third home run of the series. Veteran righty German Marquez made a rehab appearance this game, giving up 1 run in 3.2 innings.
The Yard Goats would lose the next game, 3-7. Sterlin Thompson and Braxton Fulford each had 3 hits in this game, while Zach Kokoska added 2 RBI’s. Carson Palmquist put together an amazing start, striking out 13 in 7 scoreless innings. Unfortunately, the team would lose this game in the 9th inning, with reliever Juan Mejia giving up 6 runs.
The Yard Goats would get shut-out the final game of the series, losing 0-5. Sterlin Thompson walked twice, while Jaden Hill struck out two batters in one inning.
Call-Up Power Rankings
- Andrew Quezada – RHP: 3.18 ERA | 1.23 WHIP | 82.0 IP | 60 K
- Carson Palmquist – LHP: 3.29 ERA | 1.19 WHIP | 65.2 IP | 92 K
- Ryan Ritter – SS: .283 AVG | 5 HR | 30 BB | 16 SB
Looking Ahead
This week the Yard Goats will take on the Portland Sea Dogs. The Sea Dogs are the affiliate of the Boston Red Sox and have a 43-36 record this season.
Spokane Indians
Series Record: 5-1 | Season Record: 49-30
Notable Performers
Cole Carrigg – 28 PA, .407/.429/.778 (1.206), 11 H, 5 R, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 6 K, 3 SB
Jean Perez – 20 PA, .368/.350/.632 (0.982), 7 H, 4 R, 4 RBI, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 SB
Juan Guerrero – 17 PA, .429/.500/.500 (1.000), 6 H, 3 R, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 2 SB
Chase Dollander – W (4-1), 6 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 10 K
Blake Adams – W (6-2), 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
Connor Staine – W (4-4), 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 12 K.
Victor Juarez – W (3-4), 6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Carson Skipper – 2 SV (8), 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Series Recap
The Spokane Indians took on the Tri-City Dust Devils in a split series and also welcomed back Cole Carrigg from the ACL and old friend Zac Veen who was assigned to Spokane as part of his rehab assignment. Spokane stole the first three games on the road by scores of 6-3, 6-0, and 3-0 before heading back to Avista Stadium and earning a 2-0 victory, their third straight shutout win. The Indians made easy work of the Dust Devils on Friday winning by a score of 9-3 but were cut down on Saturday and ended the series with a 17-6 loss.
Jean Perez opened the scoring on Monday with a solo home run in the third inning, finally securing his first long ball of the season. Cole Carrigg also made a statement on Monday night in his first game back in an Indians uniform since he was assigned to the Rockies in the ACL. Carrigg showed no signs of slowing down on the way to his 3-5, 2 RBI performance at the plate, both runs coming off a double in the fifth. Tri-City would tie the game after Mason Green’s night was cut short, although the lefty allowed just 1 ER off of 4 H while adding 5 K, but Spokane would rally back with a three-run seventh inning where Kyle Karros did his best Braiden Ward impression and stole home. The Indians earned the victory behind Welinton Herrera, who worked through 1.1 innings, allowing 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, but fanned three of the seven batters he faced, while Brayan Castillo earned his second save of the season.
Following Monday’s performance, Spokane stifled Tri-City on Tuesday thanks in part to Chase Dollander’s 10 K through five scoreless innings and Jean Perez’s nearly perfect night at the plate. Although the Dust Devils had 10 hits in the game, Tri-City couldn’t find pay dirt, especially against Chase Dollander who picked up his fourth win of the season while only allowing six hits against 21 batters. Dollander already leads the Indians as well as the Northwest League in a majority of categories, but the Rockies’ top pitching prospect continues to battle every week and may just earn his promotion to Hartford in no time. On offense, Jean Perez finished the night 3-4 and added an RBI, giving Spokane an early 3-0 lead before a Juan Guerrero double in the eighth inning added two more runs. Zac Veen also drove in his first run back with the Indians, padding the lead in the ninth.
Where Chase Dollander left off, Blake Adams picked up, as the Indians earned their second straight shutout victory against Tri-City. Adams, Braxton Hyde, and Carson Skipper held the Dust Devils offense in check, surrendering just four total hits and combining for 10 K, seven of which were Adams’ as he earned his sixth win of the season. Spokane was helped out by Cole Carrigg, Kyle Karros, and Zac Veen, who all had two hits in the game while Veen added 2 RBI off of a double in the fifth and Karros followed him up by adding the insurance run from his second triple of the season. Skipper picked up his seventh save of the season to lock up the three-game sweep of Tri-City on the road.
The Indians returned home for Independence Day and celebrated America’s birthday by shutting out the Dust Devils for a third consecutive game. Connor Staine had yet another elite night on the mound as he finished with a line of 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, and 12 K, earning his fourth win of the season. Staine bounced back after a rough outing against the AquaSox where he gave up 6 ER on 5 H, and matched his career-high pitch count with 98 and set new career highs in strikeouts and innings pitched. Staine’s season has been a roller coaster ride at times, but he’s managed to have a resiliency that few others on Spokane’s pitching staff have shown. Spokane and Tri-City played a quiet game in total as there were only seven hits between both teams, five of which being Spokane’s. Cole Carrigg was the only Spokane batter to have multiple hits on the evening as he added a triple in the third, while Dyan Jorge was responsible for both runs as he brought Carrigg home in the fifth inning and then walked home after a throwing error by Tri-City’s pitcher.
Spokane continued their shutout streak into Friday’s contest and were the recipients of some poor performances from Tri-City’s pitching staff as they cruised to an early 4-0 lead thanks in part to a balk, a wild pitch, a passed ball, and another wild pitch, all across parts of the second and fifth innings. Jose Cordova and Jean Perez drove in a pair of runs while Dyan Jorge added the cherry on top to give Spokane a 9-0 lead, all with two outs in the fifth inning. However, the Indians shutout streak ended at 35 when Tri-City finally broke through in the sixth inning after Victor Juarez gave up a three-run home run. Juarez would pick up the win, his first since June 11th, but stretched his streak of allowing at least one run in a start to four straight starts and has allowed runs in 10 of his 13 total starts this year. Clearly, Juarez has struggled at times in his second season at High-A, but he’s managed to keep his ERA down to 4.66 with a 3-4 record.
The Indians had a chance to sweep the series on Saturday night but were almost immediately brought back down to Earth by Tri-City’s offense as they jumped out to an 11-1 lead by the fourth inning, chasing starting pitcher Mason Green who lasted just two innings and allowed 6 ER off of 7 H, three of which being home runs. There was something in the air at Avista Stadium on Saturday as both teams hit a total of 10 home runs in the game. Cole Carrigg evened things up in the first inning with his sixth of the year and added his second of the game in the seventh, followed by Kyle Karros whose eighth of the year cut the deficit down to nine runs, and Bryant Betancourt mashed a two-run shot to make it 15-4 in the sixth inning. EJ Andrews Jr. also added a long ball of his own, but the Dust Devils scored runs in every inning but the seventh. A loss of this magnitude isn’t how Spokane wants to end a series, but they still escaped with a 5-1 series victory and sit one game back of Vancouver for the Northwest League lead in the second-half standings.
What’s Up Next Preview
Spokane will go back to their Tuesday-Sunday format for their series against the Everett AquaSox at home, where they will look to avoid splitting the series for the possible fourth time this season. With Cole Carrigg and Jake Snider back, Spokane’s touting a high-powered offense and getting some incredible help from the mound.
Fresno Grizzlies
Series Record : 3-3 | Season Record: 44-36
Notable Performers
Braylen Wimmer – 29 PA, .348/.483/.435 (0.918), 8 H, 7 R, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 4 K, 5 SB
Andy Perez – 29 PA, .320/.379/.640 (1.019), 8 H, 6 R, 7 RBI, 3 BB, 3 K, 0 SB
Luis Mendez – 21 PA, .429/.429/.762 (1.190), 9 H, 4 R, 2 RBI, 0 BB, 5 K, 1 SB
Bryson Hammer – L (3-3), 2,1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Michael Prosecky – W (1-0), 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K
Jace Kaminska – W (4-4), 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
Series Recap
Fresno had their work cut out for them as they traveled down to Modesto to take on the California League-leading Nuts. Modesto stole the first three games at home as part of the split series, winning a high-scoring game on Monday by a score of 10-9, before winning 7-3 and 6-3 over the next two days. The Grizzlies finally got back in the win column as they returned home, sneaking out a 7-5 victory and added another on Friday thanks to the return of LHP Michael Prosecky who helped the Grizzlies earn a 9-2 victory. The Grizzlies worked through Saturday night’s game to even out the series with a 7-4 win.
The Grizzlies and starting pitcher Alberto Pacheco were the recipients of the high-powered Nuts offense on Monday. Through five innings of work, Pacheco finished with a line of 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, but still managed to strike out six Modesto batters. The Nuts got to work early, stretching the score to 6-1 through the first four innings before Brad Cumbest and Andy Perez slashed Modesto’s lead in half. After Pacheco’s exit, Sam Weatherly took control of the game and fanned seven Modesto batters through three innings while allowing just one hit and one run, Luis Isbel’s second home run of the game. Down to their final outs in the ninth and trailing by three, the Grizzlies scored two runs after being walked home before a Braylen Wimmer triple cleared the bases with two outs as Perez went on to add another run to give Fresno a 9-7 lead. Wimmer finished the night 3-6 with 4 RBI while Perez finished 3-6 with 2 RBI. The lead wouldn’t last very long as Modesto would go on to hang two runs on Cade Denton in the bottom of the ninth and hand Fresno the loss in extras.
Following Monday night’s tough loss, Bryan Perez and the rest of the Grizzlies defense held Modesto in check for the first five innings of the game. Perez worked through the first three innings and only gave up one hit before he gave up his only two runs of the night in the fourth. Fresno took the lead in the fifth thanks to Jason Hinchman and Luis Mendez, but after Perez’s exit, Kannon Handy struggled, giving up another home run to Luis Isbel after just three pitches and gave up a three-run shot in the same inning. Handy settled down in the seventh inning, but the damage was already done and the Fresno offense didn’t have a response as they didn’t get a man into scoring position for the rest of the game.
The Grizzlies tried their best to get back into the win column on Wednesday and even opened the scoring thanks to another Andy Perez RBI in the fourth inning, but Modesto had a response for every Fresno run that was scored. Jack Mahoney didn’t have the same lights-out performance that he did last week as the righty gave up 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, but still managed to get 7 K. Fresno got run support from Brad Cumbest and Fadriel Cruz as the pair both crushed doubles in the fifth inning, but Modesto got a three-run lead in the sixth inning as top prospect Colt Emerson drove in a pair of runs to give the Nuts a 6-3 lead.
The Grizzlies returned home for the Fourth of July and snapped their six-game losing streak, picking up their first win of the series with a 7-5 win that was filled with fireworks. Isaiah Coupet struggled out of the gate, allowing six of the total eight hits he allowed on the evening as well as four of the five total runs he gave up through the first two innings before settling down en route to a 7 K game where Coupet would still manage to pick up his fifth win of the year. The Grizzlies had a wild fourth inning where they scored four runs but didn’t have a single RBI thanks in part to five walks, two HBP, a wild pitch, and a fielding error, combined with two Caleb Hobson stolen bases and one by Braylen Wimmer, the game quickly fell into total anarchy as Fresno took the lead. Cade Denton redeemed himself and fanned two batters in the seventh before Bryson Hammer worked through the last two innings, striking out four batters and allowing no hits and only one walk to secure the win.
With the losing streak snapped Fresno got some help from a familiar face to try and string together another win. The Grizzlies welcomed back LHP Michael Prosecky, who made his first appearance for Fresno and first start of the season at Single-A where he spent the entirety of the 2023 season and was named a California League All-Star. Prosecky had been sidelined since April with elbow inflammation and made four starts through June for the Rockies in the ACL. And on Friday night, it didn’t look like Prosecky had missed any time at all as he worked through a strong Modesto lineup, pitching four scoreless innings and earning 9 K on the way to getting his first win of the year. Caleb Hobson kicked off the scoring with a solo home run, his third of the season and was followed up by one of Andy Perez’s two home runs on the evening as Fresno quickly grew their lead to 7-1. Luis Mendez had himself a night to remember, finishing 4-5 with a 3B, while Hobson, Perez, and Braylen Wimmer all finished with two hits.
The Grizzlies had a chance to even out the home and home series on Saturday and came out swinging, knocking in three runs thanks to Jason Hinchman, Luis Mendez, and Felix Tena, all in the first inning. The Nuts rallied back to tie the game, scoring all three of their runs off of starting pitcher Jace Kaminska, who would eventually pick up his fourth win of the season after allowing just 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, but added 7 K in the process. Tena gave the Grizzlies their second lead of the game when he mashed a two-run home run in the fifth. Tena would finish the night 2-3 with 4 RBI. Fresno’s bullpen would eventually corral the Modesto offense, allowing just one more run in the ninth to conclude the series as a draw.
What’s Up Next Preview
The Grizzlies will travel down to Lake Elsinore to take on the Storm, the San Diego Padres Single-A affiliate, for the first time this season. During 2023, Fresno finished with a record of 7-2 through nine contests against Lake Elsinore, and are looking to find success once again after rallying to tie their series against Modesto.
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