Tony Abreu hit a grand slam in the Storm Chasers five-run 5th inning and Wil Myers hit a three-run homerun in their five-run 7th inning. Abreu and Myers (the Storm Chasers 3-4 hitters) went 5-for-9 with four runs scored and nine RBIs.

It was a cool 106 degrees at game time.

Sugar Ray Marimon

NW Arkansas ended July on a high note, with a 7-1 victory to open their three-game series in Tulsa. Sugar Ray Marimon improved to 2-3 in Double-A, with seven shutout innings. He allowed three hits and three walks.

The Naturals offense collected 14 hits, with every starter (but Carlo Testa) picking up a hit. Manny Pina hit a three-run homerun in the 5th inning (3-for-5).

Just like in OKC, it was a cool 108 degrees at game time.

NW Arkansas and Wilmington swapped relievers, as Sam Runion was promoted and Nick Rogers was sent back to Wilmington. At the time of Rogers’ promotion, I thought that Runion should have been the one receiving the promotion. If it had been a month earlier, I would have picked Rogers. Hopefully Rogers can get his command back (16 walks in 9.2 innings with the Naturals).

Wilmington started their road trip with a 2-0 loss in Winston-Salem. The Dash scored a single run in the first inning and never looked back. Andy Ferguson was the hard luck loser, as he allowed the two runs on six hits and two walks over seven innings. He struck out eight.

Angel Franco returned from the DL to go 2-for-4 (the Blue Rocks only had four hits).

A six-run bottom of the 2nd inning did in Kane County, as they lost to Beloit, 9-4. The Cougars scored all their runs in the final two innings.

The Cougars collected 12 hits, but went just 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position. Kevin David raised his average to .200 as he went 2-for-4. Their 3-4 hitters, Jorge Bonifacio and Julio Aparicio, went 5-for-10.

The KC Royals top pick in this June’s draft, Kyle Zimmer, allowed six runs on six hits and three walks over just two innings in his second start in Low-A.

Bubba Watch: Bubba Starling went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Burlington’s 1-0 loss to Princeton.

Veteran Doug Davis courtesy of Minda Haas (Royal Blues)

Omaha lost to OKC in a hot day game, 7-6 in ten innings. Doug Davis got the start (it was suspected that he might make the start for the KC Royals on Tuesday night, but no such luck). Davis left with the lead (6IP, 9H, 5R, 0BB, 5K).

Francisley Bueno allowed a run in the 7th inning to tie the game and it would stay that way until the 10th inning when Fernando Martinez hit a solo homerun off Jeremy Jeffress. The Storm Chasers had their chance in the bottom of the 10th inning, but Mitch Maier flied out with the tying run on base (he struck out three times in five at-bats).

The top two in the Storm Chasers order, Irving Falu and Johnny Giavotella, went a combined 4-for-9 with three runs scored.

NW Arkansas has now lost six in a row, as they lost to Arkansas, 6-4. The Travelers scored three runs in the top of the 9th inning to take the lead for good. That negated the solid start from Sugar Ray Marimon, who allowed two runs on four hits and three walks over 6.2 innings. He struck out three.

Brian Fletcher hit a two-run homerun in the first inning to give the Naturals a quick 2-0 lead. It was his third homerun in two games.

Wilmington continues to struggle against Myrtle Beach (losing four of their last five), as they lost to the Pelicans, 7-2. The Blue Rocks collected just five hits, with one of the runs coming via Cheslor Cuthbert‘s solo homerun in the 8th inning.

Pelicans starter Luke Jackson struck out 12 over just five innings of work.

Kane County had Tuesday off and will begin a six-game road trip beginning against Bowling Green on Wednesday night.

Bubba Watch: Bubba Starling went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts in Burlington’s 4-2 win over Danville.

June 04, 2012; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Will Smith (53) delivers a pitch in the fourth inning of the game against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-US PRESSWIRE

Omaha defeated Albuquerque, 6-0. The game was scoreless until the bottom of the 6th inning when Wil Myers hit a three-run homerun.

Will Smith was dominant against the Isotopes, as he pitched six shutout innings. He allowed three hits and a walk while striking out nine. Ryan Verdugo made his second appearance out of the Storm Chasers bullpen, with one scoreless inning (he struck out two).

NW Arkansas beat Corpus Christi, 2-1. Sugar Ray Marimon earned his first Double-A victory with 5.2 scoreless innings. He allowed just two hits (though he walked four).

Naturals catcher Julio Rodriguez gave them the 1-0 lead with his first homerun of the season (he had two hits). Rey Navarro and Eric Duncan also had two hits.

Former Royal Kevin Chapman pitched a scoreless inning of relief for the Hooks.

The one not-so-good start of the night came from Wilmington, but the Blue Rocks beat Frederick, 8-7. It got ugly in the 9th inning, as the Keys came back with three runs, but Sam Runion came in and picked up the two out save.

Matt Ridings picked up the win after 3.1 hitless innings of relief.

The Blue Rocks offense was alive, collecting 16 hits and going 6-for-12 with runners in scoring position. They hit three homeruns: Brett Eibner‘s tenth, Jose Bonilla‘s second, and Matt Fields‘ first. Angel Franco, Lane Adams, and Cheslor Cuthbert each had three hits. Only one starter did not pick up a hit (Geulin Beltre).

Kane County added four runs of insurance in the top of the 9th inning, as they beat Peoria, 7-2. Dean Espy hit a two out, three-run homerun in that inning.

Jason Mitchell earned the win, as he allowed two runs on seven hits over five innings. Jonathan Dooley followed that up with three scoreless innings of relief. He allowed just one hit.

Bubba Watch: He got Sunday off, as Burlington lost 7-3.

That offense made a winner of Nate Adcock, who allowed two runs on four hits and a walk over six innings.

Alex McClure

NW Arkansas needed a two-out, RBI single from Alex McClure to walk off against Arkansas, 3-2. After Ryan Dennick blew Sugar Ray Marimon‘s first Double-A victory (6IP, 4H, R, OBB, 4K) in the top of the 9th inning, the Naturals came through in the bottom of the inning, With two outs and nobody on base, Carlo Testa was hit by a pitch. Despite the fact that Mario Lisson was the only Natural to not record a hit, he did walk to bring up McClure and his heroics.

Wilmington finally won a game in the second half, as they beat Potomac, 7-3. They scored three runs in the 8th inning and four runs in the 9th. Orlando Calixte hit his first homerun for the Blue Rocks, a three-run shot that broke the 3-3 tie.

Yordano Ventura was solid, as he allowed two runs on four hits over seven innings. He walked two while striking out seven. The P-Nats runs against Ventura came via a two-out, two-run homerun in the 2nd inning.

Kane County scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning, but could not hold on, as they lost to Beloit, 4-2. They unfortunately went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

The bullpen duo of Cody Fassold and Malcom Culver did not allow a hit over the final four innings. Only one man reached base (via a Fassold walk).

They used to say that the All-Star Game itself was a chance to see players from the other league that would otherwise only match up in the World Series. With interleague play, that aspect has diminished. In the Futures Game, though, fans can see prospects they’ve likely never seen in person.

Last season, the Royals showcased their Omaha and Northwest Arkansas rosters after a home game, and for me, who can’t always travel to the minor league affiliates (in fact I’ve yet to make it to Omaha or Springdale – but I’m working on it), it was a chance to see Mike Montgomery, Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and Wil Myers in person for the first time on the field. It’s the same situation with the All-Star Futures Game.

With that in mind, I want to take a shot at guessing who will land on the roster for the Royals. Futures Game rosters are split into World and U.S. teams and every team gets a representative (just like the big leagues All-Star Game).

Last season, the Royals were represented by Kelvin Herrera and Myers.

This year’s candidates:

Wil Myers

By this point, what else is there to say about Myers’s season? He was mashing in Double A and he’s still socking the ball in Triple A. It doesn’t seem as if there’s a practice of non-repeat participants but that or a big league call up would be the only things preventing him from being the big name in the game. He was among the best young hitting prospects in baseball before the year. Now he’s the next big bat with callup speculation surrounding him.

Jake Odorizzi

Like Myers, questions of when Odorizzi will be called up have been swirling since he tore through Double A and impressed right away in Omaha. Rosters are generally filled with A ball and Double A players, but many Triple A players will make it in and Odorizzi has been strong and consistent all season. He’s also a name, having been ranked highly in prospect countdowns even back when he was in the Brewers organization. He’s earned the opportunity if they come calling.

Yordano Ventura

Ventura’s drawn attention since before the 2011 season, gaining praise for his high velocity and dominating performance. He was a Carolina League All Star after posting a 3.10 ERA in 61 innings for Wilmington. He’s struck out 78 batters in that span which is the sort of number that catches a lot of attention in these sorts of exhibitions. If Myers is part of the U.S. team, Ventura could jump ahead of Odorizzi as part of the World team. He has the mix of raving scouting reports, a name with some buzz connected to it, and current performance to make the team.

Sugar Ray Marimon

Marimon doesn’t have the same prospect luster that the others have, but he had a good 2011 (that was cut short by rotator cuff issues) and he’s built on it at the High A level. Like Ventura, Marimon was part of the Carolina League All-Star Game after a 2.12 ERA in 68 innings. He doesn’t have the same stuff or strikeout numbers as Ventura, so he’s a longshot to get into the game.

Jorge Bonifacio

Every year when prospect rankings come out, there’s usually one guy who everyone pegs as their big riser. Bonifacio is that guy. He’s rewarded the experts with a fine season in Low A Kane County, leading the team in OPS (and the Cougars have been hitting well as a team all year). He’s 19 years old as of two weeks ago and is showing promises of a bright future. If the roster construction dictates an outfielder on the World side, Bonifacio would be a good fit. He’s shown pretty good plate discipline by the numbers, walking a career high 7.8% of the time and cutting his strikeout rate down to 16.6% after a 36% rate in 2010 in the Arizona’s Rookie League and striking out 22.5% of the time in short season Burlington last year. The skills look to be there and he has some buzz but it may be a year early for Bonifacio.

Unlike other All-Star Games, the rosters for the Futures Game are selected by Baseball America, Major League Baseball and the 30 teams – so the status of a prospect matters as much as their performance. For that reason, fine seasons by John Whittleman in Northwest Arkansas or Edwin Carl in Low A just don’t get noticed because neither are considered impact prospects.

Wil Myers - looking to the future. Photo: Minda Haas

My guess is that Wil Myers will be named to the U.S. team. He’s just hitting too well to keep him from being a part of the exhibition. Some have suggested that the Royals are leaving Myers in Omaha to allow him to take part in the the Futures Game in front of the hometown crowd. Even if that’s the case and it’s a consideration, it can’t be much more than a small percentage of consideration. That’s my take, anyway. It’s all rendered moot if the Royals go for it and call him up.

Along with Myers, I think Ventura will be invited to take part. He can regularly hit triple digits and when he’s on, he dominates. He was among the top ten Royals prospects on many preseason lists coming into the season, so the hype is with him too. Odorizzi definitely has a case, but my guess is that those selecting rosters will try to diversify it a bit.

The Royals are likely to have two representatives no matter how they line up. All five players above have strong cases to make the team so even if Odorizzi and Myers get called up, other candidates are available to be step in.

The game itself is scheduled at 4 p.m. CST on July 8th.

Sugar Ray Marimon

Let’s start with the CL-CL game. The Wilmington Blue Rocks were represented by two starting pitchers, Yordano Ventura and Sugar Ray Marimon. Despite the fact that neither started the game in Winston-Salem, Marimon did pick up the victory. He pitched the 4th inning, struck out two, and only threw 13 pitches. The Carolina League took the lead in the bottom of the 4th inning and held on for the 9-1 win. Ventura followed him up with a scoreless 5th inning (though he walked a batter).

Kane County was the host for the Midwest League ASG and it was over after the first two innings (though they played all nine). The East led 13-0 after two innings and won 18-2 while pounding out 20 hits. Unfortunately, the Cougars representatives played for the West squad. Outfielders Jorge Bonifacio and Lane Adams started and batted 3-4 in the order. They went a combined 0-for-5. The bright spot was reliever Matt Ridings. He got into the game in the 5th inning with two outs and struck out the only batter he faced (on three pitches).

Now onto the other regular season games.

Omaha won again, as they beat Memphis, 3-2. Jeremy Jeffress made it interesting in the 9th inning, as he allowed a run and the Redbirds had the tying run on second base. However Jeffress got Pete Kozma to line out to end the game.

It was all about pitching, as veteran Doug Davis made the start and allowed just one run over six innings of work. Francisley Bueno followed with two scoreless innings of relief.

NW Arkansas seems to still have fight left in them at the end of the first half. They have won the first two games of their series against first-place Tulsa, as they won again Tuesday night in walk-off fashion. The Naturals won 5-4 in 11 innings.

With two outs and two men on base in the bottom of the 11th inning, Yem Prades delivered the game winning single.

For the Naturals, there was good starting pitching and a good finish. Michael Mariot allowed just one run on six hits and a walk over seven innings. Tim Sexton picked up the win after throwing three scoreless innings of relief.

NW Arkansas lost to Springfield, 5-2. Newly minted All-Star Justin Marks took the loss, as he allowed three runs on six hits and a walk over 5.2 innings. He struck out six.

The Naturals collected just four hits and their lone RBI came via Sharlon Schoop sac fly in the 7th inning.

Sugar Ray Marimon

Wilmington lost the pitcher’s duel to Winston-Salem, 2-1. The Blue Rocks had their chance to at least to tie the game in the bottom of the 9th inning. They had runners at second and third base with just one out, but Dash reliever Terance Marin struck out the next two batters to pick up the save.

Sugar Ray Marimon of the Blue Rocks was bested by Spencer Arroyo of the Dash. Arroyo allowed just five hits over six shutout innings. Meanwhile, Marimon allowed two runs in the top of the 7th inning. He allowed nine hits and two walks over 6.2 innings, but took the loss.

Juan Graterol returned from the DL and went 4-for-4. Pitcher Leondy Perez finally went to the DL with an arm injury (he lasted just one inning of his start last Friday).

The Dash did not clinch the first half title, as Salem also won. The Dash lead the Southern Division by two games with two to go.

Over 9,000 fans showed up to watch Kane County commit five errors, have two passed balls, collect just four hits, and lose to Cedar Rapids, 6-0. Daniel Mateo committed four errors at second base, giving him 21 on the season. Shortstop Orlando Calixte committed his 24th error of the season. Catcher Kenny Swab had two passed balls.

Andrew Ferguson started for the Cougars and allowed three runs (one earned) on eight hits over 5.1 innings.

The Blue Rocks begin their final homestand of the first half (a seven-game homestand), as they welcome Salem into town for three games. The Red Sox also struggled a bit this weekend and fell to three games back of the Dash in the Southern Division.

The Blue Rocks have the chance to be spoilers for both Salem and the Dash (who they play in their final four games of the first half). The Red Sox are a tired bunch, with playing five games in three days (they played two days of doubleheaders this past weekend).

The Carolina League finally announced their All-Star team for next Tuesday’s game versus the California League All-Stars in Winston-Salem. The Blue Rocks have two honorees: pitchers Sugar Ray Marimon (4-1 with a 2.05 ERA) and Yordano Ventura (3-5 with a 3.21 ERA in 12 starts). Marimon’s ERA is second in the league. Ventura is second in the league in strikeouts with 70. For Salem, they garnered three starters: outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr, shortstop Xander Bogaerts, and first baseman Travis Shaw. Pitcher Mike Olmstead also was named to the team (he leads the league in saves with 12). Bradley leads the league in hitting at .377. Shaw is fourth in the league in hitting at .322 and is second in RBIs at 44.

Starting tonight for Wilmington is Tyler Sample, who has struggled much of his return trip to the CL (1-6 with a 5.04 ERA). He was solid in his last start, but picked up a no-decision. He lost 2-0 to Salem back on May 2nd.

The Red Sox are sending Miguel Celestino to the mound. He is 4-2 with a 2.84 ERA. He beat the Blue Rocks back on April 26th (4-1).

Lineups:

Red Sox: Jackie Bradley Jr (CF), Shannon Wilkerson (RF), Travis Shaw (1B), Brandon Jacobs (LF), Xander Bogaerts (SS), Michael Almanzar (3B), Christian Vazquez (C), Heiker Meneses (2B), and Adalberto Ibarra (DH).

Blue Rocks: Whit Merrifield (DH), Angel Franco (2B), Brian Fletcher (LF), Brett Eibner (CF), Cheslor Cuthbert (3B), Geulin Beltre (RF), Kevin David (C), Jake Kuebler (1B), and Luis Piterson (SS).

It is overcast and a bit windy here at the ballpark and with about a half hour to game time, the crowd is very thin. I’ll keep you posted throughout of the goings on here in Wilmington.

(more…)

After a poor start from Sean O’Sullivan (4IP, 9H, 6R, 3BB, 5), Blaine Hardy followed with four scoreless innings of relief. He allowed just two hits while striking out four to pick up the win.

Salvador Perez again caught all nine innings (he went 0-for-3 with a run scored). Chris Getz was the DH and went 0-for-5. Five Omaha players had two hits.

Justin Marks from last season with the Blue Rocks

After taking over first place in the Texas League’s North Division on Saturday night, NW Arkansas traveled to face the team they stook first place from, Tulsa. The Drillers came back to defeat the Naturals, 4-2 and ended their seven-game winning streak.

Neither team hit early on, as pitching dominated. Naturals starter Justin Marks allowed just one run on five hits and two walks over seven innings. However the Drillers came back with three runs with two outs off Naturals reliever Patrick Keating. Two of those runs scored on Rey Navarro‘s fielding error at shortstop.

The Naturals had just four hits, with Ryan Jenkins delivering the two out, two-run double in the 7th inning. Three of their four hits came in that inning.

The Wilmington Blue Rocks were swept at Winston-Salem, as they lost Sunday’s finale 2-0. The Blue Rocks collected just three hits. The loss pushed the Blue Rocks to five games back of Lynchburg in the Carolina League’s Northern Division with seven games to go in the first half. They have lost five in a row.

The Blue Rocks struck out eight times, back-to-back to end the game. Brett Eibner picked up two more strikeouts, to raise his total to 70 on the season (fourth most in the CL).

Sugar Ray Marimon took the loss. He allowed two runs on seven hits and four walks over six innings. Brooks Pounders made his Blue Rocks debut with one scoreless inning of relief.

Kane County went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position en route to their 4-1 loss to Peoria. Four of the Cougars’ seven hits came from Daniel Mateo and Michael Antonio.

Andrew Ferguson made his first start of the 2012 season for the Cougars (he was an 18th round draft pick of the KC Royals in last June’s draft out of Arkansas State University). He allowed one run on two hits and four walks over four innings. He struck out four.

royalsblog.com

It’s that time again.  Your weekly minor league update has arrived and it has been a very good week for the affiliates.  Wilmington continues to dominate, Kane County is turning things around winning 6 of their last 9, and NWA and Omaha continue to do what they do.  After the Hosmer move the flood gates have opened and we have started to see alot more movement in the minor leagues between all the affiliates.  Another few weeks and we are in June, Super 2 status is no longer a concern and things will really start moving.  Should be an exciting time to be  a Royals fan, hopefully their recent slide gets turned around so they are still in contention when bringing these young ones up.

Where the affiliates stand:

Kane County Cougars (Low A): 15-26 (7th place)

Wilmington Blue Rocks (High A): 23-16 (T-1st place)

Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Double A): 20-16 (2nd place)

Omaha Storm Chasers (Triple A): 23-16 (1st place)

(more…)