SB Nation Denver: All Posts by Russ Oates

Wednesday Pebble Report: Corey Dickerson's hitting streak reaches 18 games

2013-05-22T14:12:12Z

Drew Pomeranz lasted 5 2/3 innings on Tuesday in the Sky Sox loss, allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks. He gave up a pair of runs in the third and sixth innings. He struck out six.

Cory Riordan was able to clean up the mess Pomeranz left in the sixth inning, but the seventh inning wasn't kind to him. He allowed three runs by way of, in order, a triple, double, and single.

Offensively, Ryan Wheeler struck back in the eighth inning with a three-run home run. Corey Dickerson collected three hits, extending his hitting streak to 18 games.

Modesto, W 7-2
Record: 20-25

Taylor Featherston's two-run homer in the first inning put Modesto in the lead and the team never looked back after that. He added another RBI in the fifth inning with a run-scoring single that put the lead at 4-1 then. Later runs scored on triples by Juan Crousset and Jordan Ribera. Tim Smalling went 3-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI.

Tyler Gagnon pitched five-plus innings to start the game, allowing one run on seven hits and striking out six. He was chased from the game in the sixth inning when he allowed back-to-back singles. Nelson Gonzalez shut Visalia down for the next 2 2/3 innings and struck out five.

Asheville, L 4-3
Record: 23-20

Asheville relievers Michael Mason and Rayan Gonzalez blew a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the eighth, paving the way for Lexington's 4-3 win. Mason started the inning by allowing back-to-back singles before a sacrifice bunt put men on second and third. Mason left the game after striking out Raul Mondesi. Gonzalez entered the game to face Bubba Starling, who struck out but reached base on a wild pitch that also scored a run. A walk loaded the bases and a single put the tying and go-ahead runs on the board.

In the top of the ninth, catcher Michael Ramirez led off the inning by drawing an HBP. The next two batters recorded outs, but Ramirez reached third base on two wild pitches during Rosell Herrera's plate appearance. Herrera eventually drew a walk, but the runners failed to move after that, as Tom Murphy ended the game with his fourth strikeout of the night. He went 0-for-5.

Asheville starter T.J. Oakes allowed one run on a home run in six innings, surrendering three hits and striking out four.

NBA Playoffs 2013: Pacers slam door on Knicks

2013-05-18T16:02:23Z

The Knicks rode a third-quarter rally to a tie with 12 minutes to go, but the Pacers slammed the door on the series and will now face the Heat in the Eastern Conference finals.

The final series of the NBA conference Semifinals resumes Saturday night when the Indiana Pacers, holding a 3-2 lead over the New York Knicks, try to close out the series at home at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. If the Pacers win, they will clinch a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2004. If they lose, they will be facing a situation that has to make Pacers fans very uncomfortable -- a Game 7 on the road at Madison Square Garden.

It doesn't matter if the series ends Saturday or Monday night, the ultimate winner will open on the road against LeBron James and the Miami Heat Wednesday night.

This series has been absolutely brutal to witness and, likely, participate in. It's been reminiscent of the mid-'90s Knicks-Pacers bouts that featured Patrick Ewing and John Starks going toe-to-toe -- sometimes literally -- withReggie Miller, Rik Smits and the Pacers. Game 6 should be more of the same, with hard fouls, low shooting percentages and a final score more resembling a football game than a basketball game.

Game Date/Time: Saturday, May 18, 8 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN

Odds: The Indiana Pacers are five-point favorites according to Odds Shark.

More from SB Nation:

• Why Gregg Popovich benched Tim Duncan

• Sacramento's new owners will completely change Kings

• Chris Copeland sparks Knicks' win | Longform: Copeland's story

• German NBA prospect Dennis Schroeder impresses

• Questions abound after NBA combine measurements

• Longform: Basketball and chaos in Europe

Friday off-topic

2013-05-17T15:09:01Z

Yup.

Thursday off-topic

2013-05-16T14:55:25Z

Unicorns. Unicron. Unis.

Wednesday Pebble Report: Sky Sox, Storm Chasers launch 6 home runs

2013-05-15T13:37:54Z

The Springs, W 9-5
Record: 23-14

The balls were flying out of Security Service Field on Tuesday night with a total of six long balls hits. Sky Sox starter Chris Volstad allowed three solo gopher balls to Omaha and five runs in total over five innings pitched.

Matt McBride brandished the big bat for the Sky Sox with two home runs (6), a solo shot in the third and a two-run blast in the eighth. He went 3-for-5 with five RBI. Corey Dickerson added his fourth home run of the season in the sixth inning.

Tulsa, L 4-2
Record: 16-21

Erase the top of the fourth inning and Christian Bergman would have had an unblemished start on Tuesday night. A ground-rule double and a bunt single that inning eventually gave way to Jake Lemmerman's three-run home run to left field. It spoiled an otherwise solid start by Bergman: seven innings pitched, six strikeouts, and a 9-3 GO-FO.

Cole White allowed the other run on James Ramsey's first Double-A home run.

Kyle Parker hit his eighth home run of the season as part of a 2-for-4, two-strikeout night. Kiel Roling hit his seventh homer of the season to add the other run.

Asheville, W 9-8
Record: 21-16

The ending to this one must have been quite the sight to behold. The Tourists entered the bottom of the ninth down by two runs, 8-6, after Raul Fernandez allowed two inherited runners to score in the top half of the frame. A single and a sacrifice bunt in between two walks loaded the base for Asheville. Rosell Herrera, however, came up empty with a swinging strikeout.

In the following at-bat, Tom Murphy skied the second pitch to center field. Cody Koback fielded the ball improperly, allowing the three baserunners to score and win the game for the Tourists. Here's how MILB.com's Doug Maurer described the scene:

[...] Center-fielder Cody Koback and right-fielder Drew Turocy converged on the warning track as the ball fell from the sky. Koback reached out his glove with Turocy standing right there and the ball fell out of his glove, in-between the two players.

With the runners going on contact Jose Rivera and Juan Ciriaco scored with ease, but Matt Wessinger wanted to score the winning run. Wessinger who started at first base raced around third as Turocy fired the ball in from the outfield.

Turocy would have had Wessinger, but his throw went clear over the head of catcher Jayson Hernandez. Kraus was backing up the play, caught the ball, then raced towards the plate but Wessinger beat him there and Asheville celebrated the walk-off win. Two Drive errors were charged on the play.

Starting pitcher Matt Carasiti pitched into the fifth inning, but that's when he had his troubles. He faced four batters that inning, allowing all of them to reach base -- three on doubles and another on an error -- and two to score while still in the game. Alving Mejias relieved Carasiti but couldn't stop the bleeding. He served up a three-run home run ball to Tim Roberson.

First baseman Derek Jones hit his sixth homer, and Francisco Sosa had a two-run shot in the sixth for his seventh of the season.

NBA Playoffs 2013: Warriors rally for overtime win over Spurs to tie series

2013-05-12T16:29:59Z

The Spurs led for most of the game, but the Warriors rallied late to force overtime, then dominated the extra session to tie the series at 2-2.

In Sunday's only 2013 NBA Playoffs game, the Golden State Warriors host the San Antonio Spurs at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC hoping to avoid falling behind 3-1 in the series.

More: Pounding the Rock Golden State of Mind NBA Playoffs Coverage

Both teams enter the game concerned about their point guards. The Spurs' Tony Parker was slowed in Game 3 by a bruised calf. Stephen Curry of the Warriors, who has dealt with ankle problems throughout his career, injured his left ankle in Game 3. X-rays on Curry's ankle were negative.

Parker said that he'd start in Game 4, while Curry will be a game-time decision for the Warriors.

After splitting the first two games in San Antonio, the Spurs won Game 3 in Oakland thanks to 32 points from Parker and a better defensive effort. The Warriors shot just 39 percent in that game after shooting 51 percent and 45 percent in the first two games.

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Wednesday Pebble Report: David Dahl rakes before leaving with injury; Tyler Chatwood=awesome

2013-05-08T13:47:39Z

Asheville, W 9-3
Record: 18-13

The Tourists put a seven-spot on the board in the top of the first inning, going to the sixth batter before the first out was recorded. Yet, it wasn't without its cost, as David Dahl left the game with a right leg injury near the end of the frame.

Kyle Von Tungeln, Dahl, and Rosell Herrera hit consecutive doubles to open the game with 2-0 lead. After Tom Murphy walked, Derek Jones continued to doubles barrage with one to right field to score another run. Matt Wessinger hit a sacrifice fly for the 4-0 lead.

After that, this game had a stretch that saw four stolen bases -- including Derek Jones taking home plate and Julian moving to second at the same time -- a wild pitch, a hit by pitch and two walks. Juan Ciriaco struck out during this, but Augusta's starter, Justin Schumer left the game before David Dahl came to the plate.

About Dahl: He singled against the new pitcher, Mason McVay, and drove in two, but he left the game with an injured leg:

BREAKING: #Rockies top prospect David Dahl pulled his right hamstring legging out a ground ball, said @gotourists manager Fred Ocasio.
— Ash Marshall (@AshMarshallMLB) May 8, 2013

@gotourists trainer Billy Whitehead just confirmed David Dahl's right leg injury. He did not want to provide more details on the injury.
— Ash Marshall (@AshMarshallMLB) May 8, 2013

Eddie Butler, though, threw six shutout innings and allowed just one hit, a single in the third inning that was originally ruled an error. He did have problems with the strike zone, walking five and throwing two wild pitches (both in the first inning). He struck out five and had a 10-1 GO-FO.

For more on Butler and Dahl, check out Ashley Marshall's article.

The Springs, W 5-0
Record: 18-12

"Hey, Tyler Chatwood, how's Triple-A treating you since being sent back down?"

"Not bad, I guess. I just threw a four-hit complete game shutout on Tuesday night. Struck out eight on 90 pitches, threw 70 of those for strikes. Saw just 30 batters, and I had 13 ground outs to one fly out."

Yep.

First baseman Ben Paulsen drove in two on a double in the fourth. In the sixth, Ryan Wheeler scored on a balk and Matt McBride hit a two-run homer to left field to complete the scoring.

Tulsa, L 2-0
Record: 15-16

Tyler Matzek went six innings and allowed two runs on six hits and two walks. The runs scored on a two-out double in the third inning. One of the two walks came immediately before the double that inning and had loaded the bases. He struck out three.

Matzek picked up a double while at the plate, as did Kent Matthes. Catcher Dustin Garneau tripled and went 2-for-3.

Modesto, L 4-2
Record: 13-19

Nuts starters Chris Jensen threw seven strong innings of one-run, three-hit ball, striking out four, but relievers Geoff Parker and Leuris Gomez failed to lock things down in the eighth and ninth innings. Parker quickly got the first two outs in the eighth, but a single, a missed catch error on Harold Riggins during a pickoff attempt, and a walk put Parker out of the game. Gomez entered and allowed a two-run double to left field. However, David Kandilas, Trevor Story, and Sam Mende pulled off a successful relay to get the final out at third on the batted ball. Gomez allowed a homer in the ninth

Singles by Brian Humphries and Will Swanner in the fifth and sixth put Modesto's runs on the board. Trevor Story had two hits, his second multi-hit game of the 2013 season (the other came on April 18).

For more on this game, check out Brian VanderBeek's recap at the Modesto Bee.

NHL Playoffs 2013 updates: Senators and Canadiens brawl, Sharks stun Canucks

2013-05-05T16:30:12Z

The Penguins and Wild each needed overtime to win their games, the Senators trounced the Canadiens in a fight-filled game, and the Sharks pushed the Canucks to the brink of elimination.

Saturday was a good day to warm up some hot cocoa, curl up on the couch and then spit out your drink and exclaim loudly and profanely. The playoff action was exciting end-to-end, controversial and downright brutal at times. And we've documented it all here for you in GIFs.

Also, if you were drinking hot cocoa while watching hockey then I'm glad you spit it out. Shame.

(Ed. Note: Thanks to Dominik Jansky for the Caps-Rangers part of this recap.)

In Washington, Steven Oleksy drew one of the game's few penalties after roughing up Derek Dorsett, then drawing him to push back:

Nice sell on the call there.

Meanwhile, Alex Ovechkin showed off some mad soccer skills, kicking the puck at mid-ice to create this Capitals 2-on-1:

But the real story of the game was a goalie's duel between Henrik Lundqvist and Braden Holtby. Sometimes Lundqvist is so good that he forces shooters like Marcus Johansson to take too long:

And sometimes he is so good because even when a guy like Nicklas Backstrom nutmegs him, it still miraculously goes wide:

Lundqvist wasn't the only one to mix a little good fortune with good play though. Holtby is still thanking the hockey gods that RIck Nash hit the post on this breakaway late in regulation:

Apparently NHL rules demand that no matter how good the goalies are, someone must score before we can all go home. Thankfully for fans hoping to catch the Kentucky Derby in between playoff games, Mike Green finally obliged:

The evening slate began in Boston, where the two teams were just launching ballistic missiles at each other from the first puck drop. Joffrey Lupul was a monster, with eight shots on net and two goals. His back-to-back goals in the second set the tone for Toronto.

Yes, that was Matt Frattin making a great pass. That's also probably the last time I'll have to write his name this season.

The two goalies were under siege all game. James Reimer stopped 39 shots, and Tuukka Rask stopped 32. Tuukka was at his best during this crazy sequence. His teammates are really good at standing around and watching the game. I bet they're really good at watching things in general.

Ultimately, Rask's efforts weren't enough. Phil Kessel scored his first, and James van ~~Dreamsdyk~~ Riemsdyk scored this beauty to seal the 4-2 win.

He skated in alone BACKWARDS. Good job, good effort, Boston.

If the Leafs manage to blow Game 3 in their own barn against that defense, Dave Nonis will probably do this again.

Meanwhile, things were getting nasty in Detroit. Justin Abdelkader will probably be suspended for knocking Toni Lydman out of the game on this hit.

And Jimmy Howard made it clear that he didn't like Corey Perry.

That was probably just his frustration boiling over, because the Ducks scored four times on him on Saturday. The two teams racked up 52 penalty minutes, and Howard was forced to try and bail out his team numerous times on the penalty kill.

Oh, and on the power play.

Yeesh. Six more years of that, Jimmy! The Ducks won 4-0 and took a 2-1 series lead.

We finished up in Los Angeles, where the Blues and the Kings were trying to knock each other out of the building. It might've been the most physical game yet in a series already known for its brutality.

For example, massive amounts of chaos ensued on the Kings first goal.

Oh, and it also lived up to its reputation as one of the dirtier series. Witness the Kings being the Kings.

They are also mean to people who touch their goalie.

Ultimately Quick and the Kings prevailed. Los Angeles trails St. Louis 2-1 in the series after their 1-0 win.

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