Royals July 22nd Minors Recap

Omaha lost to Memphis, 6-3.

Clayton Mortensen allowed four runs on nine hits and a walk over 4.2 innings. He left with two men on base. It was his second straight poor start.

In came Jason Adam, who escaped the jam in the fifth, but not the one he created in the sixth. He allowed two runs on four hits, a walk, and hit a batter. It could have been worse, as he left with the bases loaded, but Tim Collins escaped. He ended up throwing 2.1 hitless innings of relief.

The Storm Chasers hit two home runs, both of the solo variety: one by Justin Maxwell and one by Francisco Pena. Whit Merrifield had two hits, while Johnny Giavotella had three hits in the loss.

*In roster news, reliever Wilking Rodriguez was placed on the DL with a right elbow strain. He is a guy that never pitched above A-ball prior to this season due to not being able to stay healthy.

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NW Arkansas

lost in 11 innings to Arkansas,

12-6

. Yes the Travelers scored six runs in the top of the 11th inning.

Ali Williams was in his second inning of relief and it all started with walk. After a single and a double, the Travelers had the lead. But they were not done. After an intentional walk, Williams got a force out at the plate. However, another walk forced in a run and a grand slam followed. Williams faced three more batters before finally recording the third out.

The Naturals went down quickly in the bottom of the 11th (three ground outs).

They actually led 5-1 after four innings before Arkansas scored five runs in the top of the sixth against Naturals starter Tim Melville and reliever Noel Arguelles. Melville was chased from the game by a two out, two-run home run. Arguelles entered and walked the first batter he faced before hitting the next. Back-to-back run scoring singles followed, but thankfully Ethan Chapman ended the inning by throwing a runner out at third base.

Cheslor Cuthbert and Max Ramirez each had three hits, as Cuthbert hit his ninth home run of the season (a two-run shot in the third). Parker Morin and Chapman each had two hits in the loss.

*In roster news, utility man Logan Davis was sent back to Idaho Falls and reliever Scott Alexander was promoted to Omaha.

Wilmington won their first game in Carolina with a 9-2 victory. With Potomac’s loss, the Blue Rocks are just a 1/2 game back of first place.

The Blue Rocks scored eight of those runs in the first, as they sent 12 men to the plate. Seven of their 12 hits came in that first.

Jack Lopez led off the game with a double and came around to score on Bubba Starling‘s single. After a Starling stolen base (his 13th) and a walk, Jared Schlehuber hit a three-run home run. With two outs, Cameron Gallagher singled and Cody Stubbs walked. Daniel Rockett followed with a three-run homer. That chased Carolina starter Adam Plutko.

In came Clayton Cook, who allowed a Lopez single and a Raul Mondesi RBI triple before FINALLY recording the third out of the first.

That gave Blue Rocks starter Sean Manaea plenty of breathing room. He cruised into the fifth with just two base runners (both via the walk) before allowing a double to lead off the 5th inning. He would allow three hits in that inning to produce a run. Oh and he pitched a career-high seven innings.

If Manaea is still on the Kyle Zimmer track, then he probably has one or two more good starts before being promoted to Double-A.

Lopez and Starling each had two hits, while Schlehuber and Gallagher both had three hits in the win.

*In roster news, reliever Blake Wood was promoted to NWA, as Zeb Sneed returned from the DL. Sneed allowed an unearned run on two hits in his one inning of relief.

Lexington had a much needed off day on Tuesday, as they return home for six games, beginning Wednesday night against Charleston.

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