SB Nation - Kurt Birkins

Thursday Pebble Report: "Giambino" makes Sky Sox debut

Poseidon's Fist — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:11:19 -0000

Jason Giambi hadn't played a game in over a month.

AAA Colorado Springs, W 6-2 - (69-61, 1st)

Jason Giambi got his first official start last night after walking in his first Sky Sox AB of a postponed game Tuesday. He batted third and hit two singles in four trips, including a line drive RBI single in the fifth that gave the Sox a lead they would not reliquish against the Salt Lake Bees (Angels). Christian Colonel had three hits, including two doubles, driving in two. Matt Miller had a couple singles as well.

Kurt Birkins dominated in his start, striking out five of the six batters he faced before being replaced by Damian Moss after just 27 pitches. Matt Belisle got his sixth save.

The Bees and SkySox square off again tonight at 6:05MDT at Security Service Field.

AA Tulsa, W 7-6 - (32-26, 1st)

Ching Lung Lo put the Drillers in a 5-0 hole by yielding five runs in five innings, but Tulsa made up the entire deficit in the fifth inning on the strength of six singles out of seven batters and a fielding error. A passed ball put Tulsa up going to the ninth but Andrew Johnston blew the save on a double and single. That just set up Jeff Kindel's one-out, bases loaded walkoff single, the only hit in the inning. Kindel had three of the Drillers' 11 singles, and every Tulsa hitter hit safely except Brad Corley and Dayton Buller. Andy Graham pitched three perfect innings in relief.

Keith Weiser (8-13, 5.25 ERA) will start against NW Arkansas' Marco Albano (3-6, 3.66 ERA) at 6:05MDT tonight.

High-A Modesto, L 1-3 - (30-28, 10.0 GB)

The Nuts could only manage five hits in the rubber game vs the Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres) with Scott Beerer's double being the only XBH. Beerer was cut down trying to score on a Lars Davis single, then Davis scored on a knock by Hector Gomez for Modesto's sole run. Cory Riordan (11-7, 3.85) allowed three runs in 8 strong innings for the loss.

The Nuts open a home series tonight vs the Bakersfield Blaze (Rangers) at 8:05MDT.

Low-A Asheville, W 3-0 - (37-20, 1st)

Alan Deratt, Isaiah Froneberger, Michael Marbry and Adam Jorgenson combined for a 6-hit shutout, striking out 12 Greensboro Grasshoppers (Marlins) in the process. All three Tourist runs and four of their six hits came in the sixth. After Beau Seabury singled, Thomas Field and Scott Robinson both reached base on bunt singles. An error on Robinson's bunt, a groundout from Jimmy Cesario and a single from Kiel Roling each plated one of the three runs.

Both teams retangle tonight at 5:05MDT.

SS A Tri-City, W 4-3 - (39-26, 1st)

The Dust Devils defeated the Yakima Bears (Diamondbacks) last night for the fourth time in as many days. Tri-City scored three runs in the fourth on three singles, a double steal and an ensuing throwing error by the catcher. Eric Federico replaced starter Rob Scahill in the sixth, who threw five dominant shutout innings. Federico promptly allowed Yakima to tie the game via two doubles and two singles. Tim Wheeler scored the winning run in the ninth after he doubled and scored on a Jeremiah Sammy single. Wheeler also had his 3rd triple on the season in the game.

The Dust Devils play in Yakima again tonight at 8:05MDT.

Rookie Casper, L 2-5 (11-11, 9 GB)

Speed ruled the first inning for the Ghosts against the Orem Owlz (Angels). Eliezer Mesa singled to drive in Avery Barnes, who had singled and stolen second leading off the game. Nolan Arenado moved Mesa to third with a groundout after Mesa took second on the throw home and Jared Clark walked. Clark and Mesa then pulled off a double steal with Mesa getting credit for a theft of home. Unfortunately, that's all the scoring Casper would do, though Nolan Arenado did extend his hitting streak to 15 games with a single and double.

The Ghosts take on the 20-2 Owlz again tonight at 7:05MDT with Chris Balcom-Miller (4-0, 1.21) on the bump.

Saturday Pebble Report: Asheville hitters go BAM-BAM!

Russ Oates — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 13:30:51 -0000

Colorado Springs, W 4-1
Kenny Perez and Matt Miller drove in two runs each, and Mike McCoy stole his 37th base. Kurt Birkins allowed one run on a homer over five innings. The usual suspects of Moss, Rincon, Flores, and Belisle finished out the game.

Tulsa, W 3-0
In the top of the ninth, a Mike Paulk RBI single, a Daniel Carte RBI double, and a Danny Sandoval RBI single accounted for all the runs scored in this game. Ching-Lung Lo struck out four in 4 2/3 innings, and Andy Graham allowed one hit in three innings of relief.

Modesto, W 6-3
Cory Riordan turned in a gem. In picking up his 11th win, he went eight innings, allowed a run on five hits and a walk, and struck out nine. Craig Baker recorded his 32nd save. Matt Repec had a big night, going 3-for-5 with a double, a two-run homer, three RBI, and two runs scored.

Asheville, W 12-5
It was a BAM-BAM night for the middle of the Asheville lineup last night: Kiel Roling, 3-for-5 with three runs scored, a double, and four RBI; Jimmy Cesario, 2-for-5 with a double, a homer (7), and three RBI; Mike Zuanich, 2-for-5 with two homers (5) and three RBI; and Delta Cleary hit a home run (7).

Alan Deratt turned in five solid inning by striking out eight and allowing that one run on a homer. Tyler Trice allowed three runs with out recording an out, and Kurt Yacko relieved him with three men on base. Yacko allowed none of those runners to score. He went on to allow a run and strike out three in three innings.

Tri-City, L 4-7
Jeremiah Sammy, Ben Paulsen, and Bo Bowman each walked twice. Other than that, the Tri-City Herald can fill you in on the Dust Devils.

Casper, W 5-0
Kyle Hancock and Trevor Gibson combined on a seven-inning, three-hit shutout of Billings in the first game of the double header. Hancock allowed three hits and struck out three.

Jared Clark went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Eliezer Mesa drove in one and stole his 11th base. Nolan Arenado did what Mesa did, driving in one and stealing a base (3).

Casper, L 0-6
And just like that, Casper is shutout in the bottom half of the double header. Nolan Arenado hit a double for one of Casper's three hits in this contest. Jonathan Vargas allowed two runs over the first four innings and Steve Junker allowed the other four in the fifth inning.

Wednesday Pebble Report: Parker Frazier, King of the Mound

Russ Oates — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:52:30 -0000

Colorado Springs, L 2-4 (Completion of 8/10 game)
Eric Young Jr. went 3-for-5 and was caught stealing twice. Esmil Rogers struck out seven over six innings and allowed three runs.

Colorado Springs, L 1-3
Kurt Birkins struck out eight over seven innings and allowed one run on two hits. Unfortunately, Matt Herges allowed two runs in the sixth inning. Matt Miller drove in Eric Young on a triple in the first inning.

Tulsa: The Texas League had the night off.

Modesto, L 2-3
Bruce Billings took the mound for the second time after returning from injury and had trouble finding the strike zone. He walked five, but also struck out four. Ching-Lung Lo struck out five over the next three innings and allowed the two runners he inherited to score.

Jay Cox had a triple to start the sixth inning and scored on Matt Repec's single. Jeff Cunningham had two hits, one for a double, and scored the other Modesto run.

Asheville, W 5-0 (Completion of 8/10 game)
Jordan Pacheco hit his 12th homer of the season in the top of the ninth to finish the scoring. Ryan Peisel had two hits and drove in two runs, while Scott Robinson collected three hits. David Christensen had two hits, one for a double. Check out this amazing catch Christensen had last week.

Alan Deratt started and allowed two hits over four innings. Shane Lindsay walked tow and struck out three in the fifth inning.

Asheville, W 1-0
Parker Frazier twirled a gem last night, pitching seven innings, allowing three hits, and striking out eight. Adam Jorgenson picked up his 22nd save.

Scott Robinson singled in Thomas Field in the top of the eighth (an extra inning in this contest) to score the first and only run of the game,

Tri-City, W 6-0
Five of the six runs for Tri-City came in the final three frames. The first run scored in the fourth inning when Jeremiah Sammy singled in Tim Wheeler (who reached on a double). The run in the seventh inning went up on the board after Kevin Clark stole home. In the eighth inning, two sac flies and a bases-loaded walk accounted for the three runs. Kent Matthes had a single in the ninth for the final run.

Despite five walks, Carlos Luna didn't allow any runs and saw only one batter reach on a hit. Craig Benningson and Paul Bargas combined to allow three hits, and Rhett Ballard pitched a clean inning in the ninth.

Casper, L 2-3
Ricardo Ferrer allowed three runs on nine hits over six innings. He walked and struck out two. Nolan Arenado and Jared Clark drove in the runs.

The Casper Star-Tribune reports that there are clubhouse whispers that Chris Balcom-Miller might move up to Tri-City soon.

Sunday Pebble Report: Good relief work all across the farm; Offense? Not so much on Saturday.

theoldgrizzlybear — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 13:00:11 -0000

Colorado Springs: L 9-5 (57-50)

Esmil Rogers got hit around a little bit again, as he allowed 4 runs on 6 hits in 5 innings. His biggest problem was his inability to get the pitcher out, as D-Backs' farmhand Tony Barnette 3-for-3 with a couple of RBI's. All remaining hope the Sky Sox had of winning this game dissipated when Matt Wilhite allowed 5 runs on 4 hits and a walk in the sixth inning. Christian Colonel had three hits and Mike McCoy knocked two of his own in the losing effort. In the "Too Little, Too Late Department," Kenny Perez hit a pinch hit two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning.

Tulsa: L 6-1 (58-47)

Ryan Harvey hit his 15th homer of the season in the seventh inning, but that was just about the only positive noteworthy event for the Drillers in this one. That, and 4.2 innings of solid scoreless relief from Matthew Reynolds, Alberto Alburquerque, and Andrew Johnston, I suppose. Each of the three aforementioned relievers possess sub-3.00 ERA's, and only Johnson's looks to be overly lucky (Alburquerque has a .196 BAA, while Reynolds is at .225). Oh, and for the record, Kurt Birkins was burned for 6 runs (4 earned) and 7 hits in 4.1 innings.

Modesto: W 9-4 (18-19 2nd half)

Jason Van Kooten went 4-for-5, and the Nuts got two hits apiece from Scott Beerer, Matt Repec, and Warren Schaeffer in the victory. Ethan Hollingsworth was less than desirable in 5.2 innings (4 runs, 7 hits, 4 K's), but the bullpen was the word of the day for Modesto, as Austin Chambliss, Sean Jarrett, and Craig Baker combined to pitch 3.1 innings of scoreless relief, giving up only 4 hits while striking out 5.

Asheville: L 7-3 in six innings (22-13 2nd half)

Kiel Roling had a couple of hits and an RBI, but that was pretty much all for the Tourists' offense. Meanwhile, Dan Houston was lit up for 7 runs on 8 hits and 3 walks in 5.2 innings.

Tri-City: W 6-4 (25-17)

Jeremiah Sammy had two hits for the Dust Devils, and Kent Matthes hit a bases-clearing double in the bottom of the 2nd to give Tri-City the lead for good. As is the case with a couple of the other games, the relief pitching was excellent in this game. Kyle Walker, Rod Scurry, and Charles Ruiz combined for 6 shutout innings out of the bullpen following a shaky start by Carlos Luna in which he walked 3 and gave up 4 hits and 4 runs in 3 frames.

Casper: L 10-2 (11-24)

Orem threw 17 hits up on the board at the expense of the Ghosts, with the biggest Casper offenders being Juan Gonzalez (4.1 IP, 5 ER, 9 H, 2 BB) and Leuris Gomez (2 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 2 BB). On the positive side of things, Nolan Arenado and Dominic Altobelli each had two hits and an RBI.