Royals June 6th Minors Recap

Omaha came back to beat OKC, 6-2 to continue to lead the American Northern Division in the Pacific Coast League.

Royals first baseman Matt Fields during spring training in 2014 in Peoria (Jen Nevius).

Matt Fields provided all of the offense. Down 1-0 in the bottom of the seventh, Fields hit a two-run home run with two outs. With the game tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth, Fields hit a grand slam. He now has nine homers on the season and 34 RBIs.

The bottom three in the Naturals order, Brian Bocock, Fields, and Jesus Flores went a combined 6-for-11. Paulo Orlando went 3-for-5 from the leadoff spot.

Lefty John Lamb was solid in the no decision. He allowed one run (a solo homer in the fourth) on four hits and two walks over six innings. After Donnie Joseph threw a perfect 7th inning, Louis Coleman allowed a solo homer in the eighth. He earned the win with the Storm Chasers comeback. He did strike out three.

The Storm Chasers added utility man Whit Merrifield to their roster from NWA.

NW Arkansas avoided being swept with a 5-4 victory over Tulsa. It was just their ninth win at home.

JC Sulbaran earned the win, as he was very good. Over 6.1 innings, he allowed one run on four hits and two walks while striking out five. The Naturals bullpen duo of Malcom Culver and Andrew Triggs allowed three runs on six hits and a walk over the final 2.2 innings.

Max Ramirez and Mark Threlkeld, the Naturals 5-6 hitters, provided all of the offense. The two combined to go 5-for-7 with two doubles, four RBIs, and two runs scored. Cheslor Cuthbert stole two bases (his third and fourth of the season).

On a negative note, shortstop Orlando Calixte committed his eighth error of the season in just 22 games. As a team, they struck out 13 times.

Blue Rocks centerfielder Bubba Starling at the plate on April 13, 2014 (Jen Nevius).

Wilmington lost a heartbreaker in Potomac, 11-10 in walk off fashion. The Blue Rocks led 10-6 heading into the bottom of the ninth. The loss dropped them to four games back with nine games to go.

If last night’s loss was disappointing for manager Darryl Kennedy, I can only imagine what he thought of tonight’s walk off loss.

More from KC Royals Prospects

• The Maikel Garcia mistake the KC Royals may be making
• KC Royals Prospects: 7 selected for Fall League play
• KC Royals Prospects: What to do with Stephen Woods Jr.?
• KC Royals: 3 good candidates for 2 September callups
• KC Royals Prospects News: Top draft pick is sizzling

There was alot of offense early on from both sides. The Blue Rocks got to

, who was making his first rehab start, in the 3rd inning for four runs. The runs all came on one BIG swing of the bat: a grand slam by

. It was his first career slam.They chased Gonzalez in the fourth with four more runs.

Problem is, Blue Rocks starter Luis Santos coughed up runs both times the offense scored, leading to his 4th inning exit. Yender Caramo entered and threw 4.1 scoreless innings and it looked as though the Blue Rocks were heading to a much needed win.

That is, until the bottom of the ninth.

Daniel Stumpf entered in relief of Caramo and walked the second batter he faced. From there, he allowed two straight singles before walking in the first run. That made it 10-7 and DK went to Johnny Walter to try and close out the victory. Things only got worse.

Walter allowed two straight RBI singles followed by a sac fly to tie the game at 10-10. The throw from Starling to the plate was not handled by Cam Gallagher. After another walk loaded the bases, Randolph Oduber delivered the game winning hit, a single to third base. It was his second at-bat of the inning.

Hunter Dozier collected two more hits for the sixth straight game. Every Blue Rock had at least one hit, with five having two-hit games.

Lexington lost to Augusta, 8-7. The GreenJackets scored six runs in the bottom of the seventh to take the lead.

After Luis Rico was solid over five innings (two unearned runs on five hits and two walks), Pedro Fernandez was lit up for six runs on four hits (including a grand slam) and four walks over two innings.

The Legends actually out-hit Augusta 17-10, but struck out ten times and went 4-for-19 with runners in scoring position. The top four hitters in their order, Alfredo Escalera-Maldonado, Ramon Torres, Frank Schwindel, and Mauricio Ramos, went a combined 11-for-19 with three doubles, five runs scored, and five RBIs.