The Dust Devils extended their season by taking the second game of the Northwest League Championship Series to even the series at 1-1. Starting pitcher Christian Bergman allowed two runs on eight hits and struck out four in six innings.
Shortstop Josh Rutledge and third baseman Nolan Arenado each hit solo home runs in Modesto’s 6-5 win. For both, it was the third home run in four games, and for Arenado it was his 20th home run and 120th RBI.
Asheville’s Tyler Matzek allowed three unearned runs en route to his third straight win. Matzek allowed two hits, walked four and struck out in seven innings, the fourth consecutive start he’s pitched seven innings.
Joe Gardner, the least-talked-about pitcher in the Ubaldo Jimenez trade, won for the third consecutive time at Tulsa. Since joining the Colorado Rockies organization, Gardner is 3-2 with a 2.87 ERA in five starts.
Asheville’s Tyler Matzek allowed four runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out nine in seven innings. It was the fourth straight start for Matzek in which he has pitched at least six innings and the third start in his past four that he pitched seven.
Tulsa starter Christian Friedrich rebounded from a pair of rough starts and took a no-hitter one out into the sixth inning. Friedrich allowed just one hit and four walks and struck out seven in six shutout innings. He was not involved in the decision as the Drillers’ bullpen allowed three runs.
Ian Stewart was 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI in a 9-2 Sky Sox loss, his first game for for Triple-A Colorado Springs since being optioned Wednesday.
Starting pitcher Tyler Matzek took the loss for Ashevile but followed up his best start of the season with another solid start, allowing three runs on six hits with three walks and five strikeouts in six innings. Matzek was coming off a start in which he allowed run and struck out nine in seven innings.
Alex White allowed two hits and struck out two in 3 2/3 scoreless innings in his second rehab start at Double-A Tulsa. since joining the Rockies organization. Matt McBride, like White acquired in the Ubaldo Jimenez trade, was 3-for-4 in his first game with Tulsa.
Modesto shortstop Josh Rutledge, who had a 27-game hitting streak snapped Thursday, was 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and three runs in a 6-3 Nuts win Sunday. After hitting .448 in July, Rutledge hitting .480 in August.
Modesto’s Chad Bettis extended a string of starts in which he has pitched at least seven innings to seven while Asheville’s Tyler Matzek walked eight, but took a no-hitter into the fifth inning before hitting a wall.
Tulsa’s Dan Houston bounced back from a pair of rough starts to pitch a three-hit shutout, walking two and striking out 10 in the process.
