Royals July 28th Minors Recap

Omaha lost their opener in OKC, 6-2. The Storm Chasers out-hit OKC 10-7, but went 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

Ryan Verdugo is back in the Omaha starting rotation and he allowed all six runs on six hits and two walks over five innings. The bullpen trio of Jeremy Jeffress, Brandon Sisk, and Vin Mazzaro allowed just one hit (and no walks) over the final three innings. They combined to strike out five.

Wil Myers hit a solo homerun, but struck out with two men on base to end the game. Myers and Tony Abreu collected two hits each.

NW Arkansas broke their nine game losing streak to Springfield with a 12-4 win. The Naturals scored eight runs in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back. Mario Lisson hit a three-run homerun in the first (he fell a double short of the cycle).

The Naturals collected 16 hits, as six players had multi-hit games. Lisson, Manny Pina, and Christian Colon all collected three hits. CC, since his return from the DL, has moved to second base.

The burst of offense made a winner of Michael Mariot, who did not allow a hit until there was one out in the 5th inning. He then allowed three straight, but induced an inning-ending double play to escape. Mariot pitched six scoreless innings in his start and only allowed those three hits.

Wilmington and Carolina played a rain shortened game, as the Mudcats won 8-4 in seven innings. The Blue Rocks out-hit the Mudcats 10-8, but went just 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position. The Blue Rocks led 4-1 heading into the 6th inning, but the Mudcats scored five runs and another two runs in the 7th inning.

Leondy Perez returned to the mound after spending close to two months on the DL. He allowed one run on two hits and a walk over four innings. The Blue Rocks defense (well just shortstop Orlando Calixte, who cost them four runs) and the bullpen blew the game.

Matt Fields continues his torrid pace, as he hit another homerun (his 13th) and went 2-for-4. Juan Graterol also hit a homerun, a two-run shot in the 2nd inning. Luis Piterson, who is playing alot with the injuries to Angel Franco and Roman Hernandez, went 3-for-3.

Down 2-1 heading into the bottom of the 9th inning, Kane County came back with a 3-2 victory over Quad Cities in the first game of their three-game series. Henry Moreno started off the inning with a single and was sacrificed to second base. He scored to tie the game on pinch-hitter Daniel Mateo‘s RBI triple. With two outs and runners at the corners, Jack Lopez delivered the game-winning single.

That late comeback made a winner of Jason Mitchell, who pitched two scoreless innings of relief. He allowed three hits and struck out three. Over 11,000 Cougars fans went home happy.

Bubba Watch: Bubba Starling went 1-for-5 with a run scored in Burlington’s 7-6 loss to Pulaski (in walk-off fashion).