July 8, 2012; Kansas City, MO, USA; USA pitcher Jake Odorizzi delivers a pitch during the first inning of the 2012 All Star Futures Game at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-US PRESSWIRE

Omaha only scored in three innings, but it was enough, as they beat OKC, 11-1. The Storm Chasers collected 15 hits, with eight of the nine starters collecting at least one hit. Six different hitters collected RBIs.

Jake Odorizzi was the beneficiary of all those runs, as he picked up his eighth win. He wasn’t great, but he gave the team enough. He allowed one run on seven hits and three walks over 5.2 innings. Their bullpen trio of Francisley Bueno, Blaine Hardy, and Roman Colon threw three scoreless inning of relief.

NW Arkansas has now won two in a row against Springfield, as they won on Sunday, 3-2. The two teams exchanged solo homeruns in the first inning. With the game tied at 2-2 heading into the 6th inning, Yem Prades singled in the go ahead run.

Mike Montgomery earned the win, with seven solid innings. He allowed the two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three. Jon Keck and Juan Gutierrez followed with a combined two scoreless innings of relief.

Wilmington lost 5-2 to Carolina to lose the series. Jason Adam dropped to 3-11 on the season, as he allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks over just 4.2 innings.

The Blue Rocks had their chance in the 9th inning after leading off the inning with two walks. However they only scored one run. On offense, they collected six hits and seven walks, but went just 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

A four-run 2nd inning catapulted Kane County to a 5-1 victory over Quad Cities. Tim Ferguson fell a double short of the cycle, as he hit a solo homerun in the 5th inning to finish the Cougars scoring. He delivered a two-run triple in the 2nd inning and scored on a throwing error.

Aaron Brooks was dominant in the complete game victory. He allowed a run in the first inning on a hit, an error, and a sac fly. Brooks scattered seven more hits from there. He struck out two and did not walk a batter.

Bubba Watch: Bubba Starling went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Burlington’s 5-4 win. He also stole a base and threw out a runner at second base.

David Lough hit a solo homerun in the 2nd inning (one of his two hits). Johnny Giavotella drove in two runs in the 7th inning with a two out RBI single.

August 05, 2011; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Manny Pina (28) makes a throw to second during a game against the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-US PRESSWIRE

The NW Arkansas Naturals have now lost four in a row, as they lost their series opener at home against Corpus Christi, 10-2. The Naturals collected 11 hits, but went just 3-for-10 with runners in scoring position and hit into three double plays.

Brian Fletcher went 2-for-4 for the second straight game. Alex McClure went 3-for-4 with an RBI (where is all this offense coming with McClure?).

Catcher Manny Pina began his rehab from knee surgery with an 0-for-3 day. He also threw a runner out trying to steal second base. He caught seven innings.

Wilmington lost the slugfest in Lynchburg, 10-9. The Hillcats gave Yordano Ventura his worst start of the season right before his appearance in Sunday’s Futures Game. Ventura, who supposedly was ON in the first inning, fell apart in the second inning. The Hillcats scored five runs and he lasted just 2.2 innings.

The Blue Rocks actually came back to take a 9-8 lead in the top of the 7th inning with a six-spot. Matt Fields hit a homerun and Brett Eibner followed two batters later with a two-run homerun in that inning (he fell a triple short of the cycle). The Hillcats came right back with two runs in the bottom of the 7th inning against loser Nick Graffeo.

Kane County used a six-run bottom of the 5th inning to beat Quad Cities, 9-2. This came after the River Bandits tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the inning. In that 5th inning, Michael Antonio hit a two-run homerun (one of his two hits).

All of that offense made a winner of Aaron Brooks, who allowed two runs on eight hits and a walk over seven innings. He struck out six.

Every Cougars starter (except Yowill Espinal) collected at least one hit.

Bubba Watch: Bubba Starling went 0-for-3 with his second error of the season in Burlington’s 8-7 walk-off win.

A solo homerun from Eric Duncan (who went 3-for-4) in the bottom of the 8th inning broke the 1-1 tie, as Northwest Arkansas beat Arkansas, 2-1. Jon Keck picked up his first Double-A victory, as he pitched two hitless innings of relief.

Elisaul Pimentel got the start and allowed one run on five hits and four walks over six innings. He struck out five.

The Naturals made a few roster moves prior to the game. Tim Sexton was added from extended spring training. He took the place of reliever Kendal Volz, who was placed on the DL.

The Wilmington Blue Rocks lost to Carolina, 5-2. Tyler Sample was solid on Wednesday night (despite the four walks), but left with the game tied at 2-2 after six innings. Lynchburg finally ended their losing streak, as they beat Myrtle Beach to increase their lead in the Northern Division of the Carolina League to 1.5 games over the Blue Rocks.

The Blue Rocks went just 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Roman Hernandez is starting to figure out Carolina League pitching, as his 3-for-4 raised his average to .229.

A four-run 3rd inning held up, as Kane County beat Quad Cities, 4-3. Daniel Mateo hit a three-run homerun in that inning. Kenny Swab was the only Cougar with a multi-hit game (2-for-3).

That one inning burst of offense made a winner of Aaron Brooks, who allowed three runs on six hits over seven innings. Matt Ridings picked up his first save for the Cougars, as he allowed just one hit over two scoreless innings of work.

Which brings us to today and part 2 of the Chukars Check-In. This time around I will actually touch on the 5 NDFA’s (non-drafted free agents) who joined the Royals organization this summer as well as the 8 players currently in Idaho Falls that were drafted in June. There is a 14th player that is new to the Kansas City system this year (and playing for the Chukars) who is included, but he actually made his professional debut in 2009. (more…)