KC Royals June 26th Minors Recap

Omaha lost to visiting Round Rock, 4-1.

Yordano Ventura made his first rehab start for the Storm Chasers and took the loss. He allowed three runs on three hits and three walks over four-plus innings. He struck out five. Ventura allowed a solo home run in the second. He left with two men on base in the 5th inning, which scored once Andy Ferguson entered in relief.

Ferguson allowed those two runs, plus one of his own, on six hits over four innings. He struck out three.

On offense in the loss, Moises Sierra and Dusty Coleman each had two hits. Sierra threw a runner out at second base from right field and stole his 13th base of the season.

*Infielder Gabriel Noriega returned from the DL (he had not played since May 8th) and went 1-for-3 with an RBI in the start at second base.

NW Arkansas lost to Tulsa, 5-1. It was their fifth straight loss.

Christian Binford took the loss, as he allowed four runs on eight hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out three. After Ali Williams allowed a run in the seventh, Benino Pruneda threw two perfect innings of relief.

The Naturals collected six hits, all singles. Bubba Starling had two of them and scored the lone run.

Wilmington swept their doubleheader over Potomac to open the second half. The Blue Rocks won the suspended game, 6-4.

It got interesting in the ninth with Robinson Yambati on the mound. Yambati hit two batters, walked two, and allowed one hit. He left with with two runs in and the bases loaded. Kevin McCarthy allowed a two-run single on the first pitch he threw, before getting a comebacker to end the game.

Ashton Goudeau earned the victory, pitching five scoreless innings. He allowed six hits and struck out two.

The Blue Rocks collected 11 hits, including three by Dexter Kjerstad. Carlos Garcia drove in three, including two on a triple in the fifth. Frank Schwindel also had two hits, including his Carolina League leading 25th double.

The Blue Rocks won the second game (a seven inning contest), 5-1.

The story of the game was the dominant start by Matt Strahm in just his second career start in pro ball (he was a starter in college). Over five innings, he allowed two hits, walked one, and struck out nine. Strahm allowed a solo home run to lead off the 3rd inning (on a hanging changeup) and then struck out the next batter.

“He did a good job,” Blue Rocks manager Brian Buchanan said of Strahm after giving up the homer. “He was attacking hitters all night with his fastball, and threw some decent breaking balls. It’s good to see when he gave up the home run and then went back out and didn’t give up anything else.”

On offense, Ramon Torres gave the Blue Rocks the lead in the bottom of the third on a two out, two-run single.

*Sean Manaea is scheduled to start on Monday for the Blue Rocks in Frederick. Buchanan is not sure how long Manaea will stick around or if Strahm will stay in the rotation.

Lexington won their second straight in Savannah, 6-4.

The Legends scored three runs in the top of the ninth to re-take the lead. Two of the runs scored on an error. They collected seven hits, all singles. Elier Hernandez and Wander Franco each had two hits in the win. Both scored two runs.

Foster Griffin got the no decision, as he threw five scoreless innings. He allowed four hits and walked two while striking out six. Yunior Marte got the blown save, but then the win, as he allowed four runs on three hits and three walks over four innings.