Royals September 3rd Minors Recap

The KC Royals minor league regular season ended on a sour note on Labor Day. None of their four full-season affiliates were victorious.

Omaha ended the regular season by losing two in a row to Albuquerque, with a 4-3 loss on Monday. The two teams will meet again on Wednesday in the playoffs.

Nate Adcock started, but for the second straight game, the Omaha starter was on a short pitch count. He threw 40 pitches over two innings (two runs on four hits).

The Storm Chasers collected ten hits (just two for extra bases) but went just 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Wil Myers went 2-for-4, but fell one homerun shy of the minor league lead.

NW Arkansas was swept in their final home series of the season, as they lost to Tulsa, 7-4. The Drillers scored five runs in the 4th inning.

Sugar Ray Marimon was chased from the game after four innings. He allowed five runs on eight hits (two homeruns) and two walks. He struck out six.

Wilmington finished off the regular season by losing two in a row, with a 3-0 loss to Potomac. Kevin Keyes hit a two-run homerun in the 4th inning that was the difference in the game.

The game started in a rain delay and ended when the skies opened up in the bottom of the 6th inning.

Juan Graterol went 1-for-1 to raise his average to .301.

Matt Ridings finished his season with a solid start, as he allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk. He struck out a career-high nine. Ridings attributed all the strikeouts to the P-Nats aggressiveness in the game. Many were swinging at the first pitch or chasing fastballs out of the zone (the P-Nats were still in street clothes when the game was supposed to start, hoping for a rainout).

Following the game (and the half hour delay before it was called), Ridings talked about his performance not only today, but on the season. He also looked to the postseason, which begins on Wednesday for the Blue Rocks at home against Lynchburg (weather permitting).

http://youtu.be/dcIXI-4ruic

Kane County had the chance to sneak in as a Midwest League wild card. Burlington was playing a doubleheader (and lost the first game), but the Cougars lost their game to Peoria, 6-2.

In the Chiefs’ four-run 5th inning, Cougars starter Michael Giovenco was tossed after hitting a batter following a three-run homerun. The Cougars bullpen followed with 4.2 solid innings (one run on four hits).

On offense, Daniel Mateo and Julio Aparicio collected two hits in the loss.