Triple-A roundup: Rizzo goes deep
A pitchers' duel best described Nashville's 1-0 win over host New Orleans. Sounds starter Brian Baker (1-0) pitched five one-hit scoreless innings, while Zephyrs starter Tom Koehler allowed an unearned run on one hit and three walks over six frames. Martin Maldonado's fifth-inning sacrifice fly brought home the game-winner.
A slugfest was carried out in Omaha, where the Storm Chasers beat Albuquerque, 17-11. Seven of Omaha's nine batters recorded multi-hit games, including veteran catcher Max Ramirez, who smacked a grand slam. Three different Isotopes went deep, including veteran Jeff Baisley, who did so twice.
Shelby Miller's Triple-A debut in Memphis didn't live up to expectations. The Cardinals' No. 1 prospect gave up four runs on seven hits over three innings in the Redbirds' 8-1 loss to Oklahoma City. Brett Wallace homered and Jordan Lyles (1-0) fanned five over six strong innings to lead the victorious RedHawks.
Sacramento left Las Vegas in the dust, 10-3. Rehabbing first baseman Daric Barton smacked a grand slam to help the River Cats to an early and -- it turned out -- insurmountable 5-0 lead.
Fresno topped Tucson, 4-1, getting a solid outing from Andrew Kown (1-0). The starter allowed a run on four hits over five innings, and his reliever, Travis Blackley, was even better: He struck out five Padres and allowed only three baserunners over the game's final four innings.
Top Angels prospect Mike Trout reached base three times and scored three runs in Salt Lake's 8-2 win over Tacoma. Trout is batting .500 (8-for-16) through four Triple-A games. Bees' sluggers Kole Calhoun and Hank Conger hit home runs. In defeat, Guillermo Quiroz and Luis Jimenez smacked solo shots for the Rainiers.
Colorado Springs battled host Reno to a 5-2 decision. Sky Sox second baseman DJ LeMahieu led off the game with a home run and, like teammate Matt McBride, notched a three-hit game.
In International League action, Chris Archer (1-0) fanned eight over six innings in his season debut en route to Durham's 7-4 win over Gwinnett. The Rays prospect allowed a run on two hits and three walks. Ernesto Mejia and Christian Marrero hit home runs for the Braves.
Three Scranton/Wilkes-Barre hurlers -- starter D.J. Mitchell and relievers Manny Delcarmen and Jason Bulger -- combined on a one-hit shutout in the Yankees' 10-0 drubbing of Syracuse. Mitchell yielded the lone hit and struck out four over five innings. Veteran Jack Cust led the lineup by singling in each of his four at-bats and driving in four runs.
Indianapolis ran away from Toledo, 8-2. Top Pirates prospect and leadoff man Starling Marte went 2-for-5 to raise his early-season batting average to .308. Indianapolis starter Brad Lincoln (1-0) struck out six over five one-run frames.
Columbus came back to score four eighth-inning runs and upset visiting Louisville, 7-4. Starting pitcher Scott Barnes struck out seven over six one-hit innings, while catcher Matt Pagnozzi plated three runs.
Norfolk rallied for seven fifth-inning runs and finished off host Charlotte, 7-3. Four different Tides swingers recorded multi-hit games, including Ryan Adams, who doubled twice and collected two RBIs. Knights left fielder Greg Golson doubled three times in four at-bats and scored twice in the loss.
Adam Loewen, Matt Tuiasosopo and Val Pascucci all cleared the fence in Buffalo's 5-3 victory over Rochester. Pascucci's eighth-inning solo shot broke the game's then 3-3 tie. Bisons reliever Daniel Herrera contributed two scoreless innings, the eighth and ninth, extending the bullpen's scoreless streak to begin the season to 14 frames.