Royals August 15th Minors Recap

Omaha flexed their muscles in beating Salt Lake, 7-4. The two teams split the four-game series. The Storm Chasers now welcome Las Vegas to town for four games. With the win and an Iowa loss, the two teams are now tied for first place.

The Storm Chasers scored four runs in the bottom of the first and never looked back. Carlos Peguero hit a three-run home run (his 22nd) and Francisco Pena followed with a solo shot (his 26th). Those two combined for five hits and five RBIs.

After the Bees cut their deficit in half in the top of the third, Cheslor Cuthbert hit a two out, two-run homer. It was his first home run in Triple-A.

Justin Maxwell had two hits in the win. Every Omaha hitter had at least one hit, except leadoff hitter Whit Merrifield (0-for-5).

Clayton Mortensen earned the win, as he allowed two runs on five hits and a walk over seven innings. Louis Coleman pitched the final two innings, though he allowed two runs in the ninth. The Bees had runners on the corners with just one out, but Coleman got a foul pop up and a strike out to end the game.

NW Arkansas held on for the 6-4 victory over San Antonio. The Missions scored four runs across the seventh and eighth innings.

Andy Ferguson earned his 11th victory, as he struck out a career-high nine across six scoreless innings. He walked two and allowed just two singles. Noel Arguelles followed and allowed all four runs. The Missions hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth. Mark Peterson entered in the eighth to earn his third save with 1.1 perfect innings of relief. He struck out two and threw just 13 pitches (11 for strikes).

The Naturals collected nine hits, all from the first seven hitters in the order. Orlando Calixte and Hunter Dozier each had two hits in the win. Dozier drove in two runs. Mitch Maier hit a two-run home run in the fifth.

Wilmington came back with a 5-3 victory over Winston-Salem. Though the Blue Rocks are still three games back of Potomac for first place, they are now two games back of Lynchburg for a playoff spot.

After the Dash scored an unearned run in the top of the eighth (helped out by a fielding error in centerfield by Bubba Starling), the Blue Rocks came right back with three runs in the bottom of the inning.

Daniel Rockett started the inning with a double (one of his two hits) and moved to second base on a sac bunt. After back-to-back walks to load the bases (and the Dash manager was ejected), Zane Evans followed with an RBI single to tie the game. On the play, Raul Mondesi was thrown out at the plate.

With two outs, Cody Stubbs followed with a two-run double to break the tie. He was thrown out at third base, trying to stretch his hit into a triple.

Zeb Sneed was credited with the win in relief, as he allowed the unearned run on two hits and a walk over 1.2 innings. Daniel Stumpf earned his second save with a perfect ninth.

Mondesi hit another home run, a solo shot in the fourth (that was his only hit). Stubbs had two doubles in the win.

Miguel Almonte got the start and walked one over two hitless innings. He struck out two. Tripp Davis followed with 4.1 innings of relief. He allowed two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out five.

*In roster news, Brooks Pounders was added to the roster from his rehab assignment with Idaho Falls. Since he just pitched for the Chukars on Wednesday (and just arrived Thursday night), I expect we won’t see him until the Blue Rocks head out on the road next week.

Lexington lost to West Virginia, 9-2. When the Legends scored, they were already down 6-0.

Luke Farrell dropped to 1-12 on the season, as he allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks over four innings. He did strike out six. Ashton Goudeau followed and allowed five runs on seven hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out four. Robinson Yambati allowed an unearned run in the ninth.

The Legends collected six hits, two by Dominique Taylor. Frank Schwindel hit his 20th home run of the season, a two-run shot in the sixth.