Royals June 20th Minors Recap

Torrential rains hit Omaha on Friday night, forcing the Storm Chasers to head into a lengthy rain delay (along with the College World Series). Close to eleven o’clock, the game was finally cancelled. Omaha was playing Albuquerque for the final time this season.

Now the Storm Chasers welcome El Paso to town for four games. Head out to the games to welcome back Jeff Francoeur. Who knows? He may even pitch.

NW Arkansas lost their first game of the second half, 10-6 to Tulsa. The Naturals actually led 5-3 after four innings.

Hunter Dozier picked up his first Double-A hit, a two-run single in the third that gave the Naturals the lead. He would double in the sixth and score on a wild pitch. Cheslor Cuthbert, who at the moment has moved to first base, also had two hits, including a solo home run in the second.

As a team, they collected ten hits and worked seven walks. However, they went just 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position and struck out 12 times.

The Naturals were sloppy on defense, committing four errors. Cuthbert committed his 20th, though first at first base. Dozier committed his first for the Naturals at third base. Shortstop Orlando Calixte committed two, giving him 12 on the season (in less than 160 chances). He committed just 16 last season in 396 chances.

Naturals reliever Matt Murray took the loss, as he allowed three runs on four hits and a walk over 1.1 innings. That was after starter Tim Melville allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits and three walks over five innings. Noel Arguelles was the lone bright spot on the pitching side, as he threw 1.2 scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts.

Wilmington lost for the second straight night in Myrtle Beach, this time by a 4-2 score.

The Blue Rocks pitching was once again battered by the long ball. Starter Sean Manaea allowed a two-run shot in the second for the hitter’s first in High-A. Reliever Zeb Sneed allowed a solo homer in the eighth to the guy who hit the grand slam last night.

Manaea actually did not pitch bad, considering he pitched the longest he has all season. He allowed three runs on four hits and two walks over five innings (plus two batters into the sixth). He struck out six. Yender Caramo entered and left both runners stranded, as he threw two perfect innings with three strikeouts.

The Blue Rocks out-hit the Pelicans, 8-5, but went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Bubba Starling collected three hits, but also struck out twice. It was an up-and-down game for catcher Cam Gallagher. He stole his first base of the season, but was also thrown out at the plate by centerfielder Chris Garia. He also had his fifth passed ball of the year.

*In roster news, the Blue Rocks received infielder Jared Schlehuber from NWA (he was on the DL) and placed catcher Beau Maggi on the DL.

Lexington won the pitcher’s duel over Delmarva, 1-0. The game was scoreless until the top of the seventh.

With one out, Mauricio Ramos was hit by a pitch, moved to third base on Elier Hernandez‘ double, and came around to score the game’s lone run on Chad Johnson‘s sac fly.

That made a winner of Cody Reed, who allowed five hits and two walks over six scoreless innings. Matt Alvarez earned his third save of the season with three scoreless innings of relief. He did allow two hits and two walks, but escaped.

The Legends did not pick up their first hit off Shorebirds starter Steven Brault until Hernandez singled to lead off the fifth.