Almonte debuts on strong note for Nuts

If Yency Almonte could write a script for a debut start in a new organization, it would be hard to imagine it would look much different than his outing on Tuesday night.

Boosted by an early lead and an early groove with his catcher, Almonte struck out nine and allowed three hits over 5 1/3 scoreless as Class A Advanced Modesto routed Bakersfield, 13-3.

"At first, walking into the locker room is kind of weird being the new guy," the Rockies prospect said. "But we have a great team here, great chemistry. Some of the guys I played against last year. When I was in [Class A] Kannapolis, they were in Asheville, so I know a couple of the guys coming in. That's helped me out."

The Rockies acquired Almonte in November when they shipped Major League reliever Tommy Kahnle to the White Sox. After a lengthy offseason waiting to get started with his new organization, the 21-year-old right-hander was in good hands in his first night on the mound.

After putting runners at second and third with one out in the bottom of the first, Almonte struck out Mariners No. 26 prospect Austin Wilson before inducing an inning-ending popup from Kyle Petty.

The Nuts offense came to life in response. They broke out for four runs in the second -- three on leadoff hitter Max White's two-out homer to center -- and Almonte relaxed.

"After our team put up a couple runs on the board, that's when I kind of settled in and felt more comfortable going out the next inning," he said. "It was a big confidence-booster. When you're going out there with a lead, you're not afraid to pitch to contact, and my catcher, Dom Nunez, called a great game."

In addition to the calm of pitching in front, Almonte cited the backstop as key to his successful formula. Colorado's ninth-ranked prospect continued a rhythm with Almonte the two have been working on since Spring Training.

"I threw with Dom the first time this year in the spring and we basically just clicked," Almonte said of MLB.com's No. 7 catching prospect. "He knows what I want to throw, I rarely shake him off. I shook him off once today, but other than that, everything he puts down is what I want to go with."

Almonte registered multiple strikeouts in the second, third and fifth innings and fanned at least one batter in his first five frames. The nine strikeouts five off a career high and helped counter four walks.

"We were just working in and out," he said. "Once we started getting in a groove is when we would throw a slider late in the count, late in the at-bat. That was my go-to pitch today."

Almonte got Petty to ground out to open the sixth and bring an end to his night. The Miami native threw 73 pitches, 43 for strikes.

"It feels good," he said. "It shows me that I can go out there and compete, try to miss bats, that I have great stuff to work with."

After Almonte's exit, Modesto busted out with eight runs in the eighth as White added an RBI single and Rockies No. 6 prospect Forrest Wall delivered a two-run double. White has driven in eight runs in four games and is batting an even .500 (8-for-16).

In an odd quirk, none of the 13 runs Bakersfield allowed were earned, thanks to five errors. Brock Hebert drove in all three runs for the Blaze and finished a triple away from the cycle.