Franklin Morales kicked off the first Triple-A no-hitter of the season, Mitch Talbot rattled off a third encouraging start, Michael Hollimon went deep, Colby Rasmus clubbed his sixth home run and Andy LaRoche tries to get the Dodgers’ attention.

INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

Durham righthander Mitch Talbot (Rays) pitched 161 innings for Triple-A Durham in 2007, proving durability was of no concern, but despite a 13-9 record, he ran up a 4.53 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Through it all, he struck out nearly seven batters per nine innings and kept the ball on the ground (1.76 G/F). Talbot also handled lefthanded batters better than he did righties, limiting them to .249/.334/.347 averages, the result of a strong changeup and the ability to locate his fastball away.

Talbot, 24, remains strong against lefty batters this season (.218/.266/.277), but after slumping to a 7.71 ERA after five starts for the Bulls, he’s turned in three quality efforts in a row, going 2-0, 1.00 with 20-1 K-BB in those 21 innings. He limited Syracuse to two runs in six innings yesterday in a game Durham lost, and while he gave up eight hits, Talbot also struck out six and didn’t walk a batter.

Prospect Nuggets

With rainouts washing out games by Louisville and Indianapolis yesterday, and thus depriving us of Jay Bruce and Andrew McCutchen, we turn to a pair of IL second basemen, Hollimon & Getz. Despite having a suitable name for a lawfirm, these two keystoners can hit. Toledo’s Michael Hollimon (Tigers) was 2-for-4 with his fifth home run of the year, while Charlotte’s Chris Getz (White Sox) doubled (seven) also homered (three) as part of a 2-for-3 day . . . Rochester RHP Philip Humber (5 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 1 SO) was bumped from the Red Wings’ rotation to accommodate Kevin Slowey’s rehab schedule. But in Humber’s two starts since returning to the rotation, he’s gone a combined nine innings with seven strikeouts, five walks, five runs allowed and 13 hits.

What To Watch For Today

Lehigh Valley sends RHP Ron Chiavacci to the mound against Columbus (7 p.m.) as they try to make it four wins in a row, which is no mean feat for a team that was 5-30 before the win streak . . . Because of Sunday’s inclement weather across the Midwest, the IL will be seeing double today, with one traditional doubleheader and one day-night affair. Louisville hosts Richmond for two, beginning at 11 a.m. (Reds LHP Matt Maloney throws in the opener), and Indianapolis hosts Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at 6 p.m., with Yankees RHP Ian Kennedy slated to start the second game.

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

Prior to taking the mound for Colorado Springs at home yesterday, Rockies lefthander Franklin Morales had been working with organization pitching coordinator Jim Wright to clean up his mechanics. While command evaded Morales at times in his start (49 of 90 pitches for strikes, six walks), he battled through five innings without giving up a hit to Albuquerque. Three Sky Sox relievers (Chris George, Matt Daley, Steven Register) followed with four innings of hitless relief. The quartet combined for the first no-hitter in the history of Colorado Springs’ Security Service Field, which boasts the highest altitude (6,531 feet) of any North American baseball park.

Morales, 22, struck out three and surrendered an unearned run, which scored only after a throwing error by third baseman Ian Stewart, his 11th miscue on the year. To his credit, he went 2-for-4 with two doubles, a run scored and an RBI. Morales opened the season by going 1-2, 6.39 for the Rockies, with 17 walks in 25 1/3 innings.

Righthander Jose Capellan nearly tossed a seven-inning no-hitter against Tacoma at Colorado Springs earlier this season. He lost it on a Jeff Clement home run to lead off the seventh.

Prospect Nuggets

Between three extra-inning contests and two seven-inning doubleheaders, just three of the PCL’s 10 Sunday games went nine innings . . . When Las Vegas 3B Andy LaRoche returned from surgery to repair a ligament in his right thumb, the Dodgers were without Nomar Garciaparra, the man who was supposed to be the regular at third. Unfortunately for LaRoche, rookie Blake DeWitt had played well (.323/.398/.479) while both third basemen were on the shelf. Now LaRoche is getting back in the swing of things with the 51s. He connected for his fourth home run yesterday, while going 2-for-2 with four walks and a stolen base . . . Memphis CF Colby Rasmus (Cardinals) went 3-for-6 yesterday, going deep for the sixth time this season . . . Omaha 2B Mike Aviles (Royals) was 3-for-4 with his 18th double of the season. That’s no misprint. He 27-year-old has 18 doubles, a total that trails only Terry Tiffee among minor leaguers.

What To Watch For Today

Salt Lake goes for its fifth win in a row; they host Round Rock at 8:30 p.m. The Bees have improved to 29-7 to begin the year, and they’ve been doing it recently without the help of Brandon Wood, Sean Rodriguez, Kendry Morales or Nick Adenhart. All four are in the big leagues at the moment.