Royals August 31st Minors Recap

The month of August ended on a high-note for some of the KC Royals minor league affiliates.

The month didn’t end so well for Omaha. They lost to Albuquerque (who is fighting for a playoff spot and may face Omaha in the first round), 11-3. The Storm Chasers were down 9-0 after the second inning. Justin Marks made his Triple-A debut and it was a rough one. He allowed nine runs (seven earned) on seven hits and three walks over just 1.2 innings.

It was so bad that infielder Kurt Mertins had to pitch an inning of relief.

Wil Myers was the only Storm Chaser with two hits (he went 2-for-4 with a triple). He was also named Omaha’s Player of the Year.

NW Arkansas took Game 1 of their doubleheader in Arkansas, 5-1. Yordano Ventura was solid, as he allowed one run on four hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out three. Ventura was named High-A Wilmington’s Pitcher of the Year earlier in the day. For more on ALL of the Royals Minor League Players and Pitchers of the Year, click HERE.

The Naturals pounded out 13 hits, with four players picking up multi-hit games. Kevin Kouzmanoff (who was just activated from the DL) and Mario Lisson drove in four of the runs.

The Naturals also took Game 2, by a score of 9-2. They pounded out 14 hits, with five players collecting multi-hit games.

Noel Arguelles picked up the win, as he allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and a walk over six innings (a complete game as it was completed early). He struck out five.

A day after clinching a playoff spot, Wilmington enjoyed Friday off before beginning a three-game series against Potomac.

Kane County‘s playoff hopes are quickly dwindling, as they lost again to Quad Cities, 8-2 (they were swept). The Cougars are still three games back (Burlington lost again), but there are just three games to go.

In the loss, Justin Trapp and Chris Elder each collected two hits (combining for three doubles) and scored the Cougars’ lone runs.

Bubba Watch: Bubba Starling went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts, but Burlington received a two-run homerun from Mark Threlkeld to beat Johnson City, 3-2 to take their first playoff series (Johnson City was the reigning Appalachian League champs). Starling was named Burlington’s Player of the Year. Next up for the Royals is Elizabethton for the Appy League title. The quest for the title begins on Saturday in Burlington.