Royals July 2nd Minors Recap

Omaha mounted a two-run comeback in the bottom of the 9th inning to tie the game and Max Ramirez hit a three-run walk-off in the 12th inning to beat Albuquerque, 5-2. David Lough drove in the two runs in the bottom of the 9th inning on a two out, two-run single.

In the top of the 10th inning, Omaha reliever Blaine Hardy escaped a bases loaded, one out jam by getting a double play ball.

Lorenzo Cain and Chris Getz continued their rehab with the Storm Chasers. Cain was the DH and went 1-for-5. Getz played second base for nine innings and went 0-for-4.

Jake Odorizzi got the start for Omaha, but lasted just five innings despite only allowing two runs on five hits (he threw 92 pitches).

NW Arkansas lost to San Antonio, 3-2 in 11 innings. The newest Natural Nick Rogers struggled to throw strikes in the 11th inning (his first appearance in Double-A), as he walked in the winning run (he walked three and allowed a single in the inning). He did not record an out (command was something he struggled with in Wilmington over the last few weeks).

The Naturals had just two hits in the loss and scored both of their runs on sac flies.

Michael Mariot allowed two runs on four hits over the first seven innings. Jon Keck followed with three hitless innings of relief.

Wilmington scored six runs in the top of the 13th inning to win at Frederick, 12-6. Keys reliever Brandon Erbe took the loss, as he threw just three strikes (out of 22 pitches) while walking five. That forced Frederick to use a position player to finish the inning.

Blue Rocks reliever Sam Runion picked up the win, despite blowing the save in the 9th inning (he allowed a solo homerun to Aaron Baker). Runion allowed three hits over four innings. Infielder Luis Piterson was forced to pitch in the bottom of the 13th inning after reliever Cole White put two men on base (Gameday said there was an injury delay for both Erbe and White). Piterson struck out Frederick’s position player pitcher Jeremy Nowak to end the game. Antonio Cruz, who replaced Rogers on the Blue Rocks roster, pitched two scoreless innings of relief earlier in the game.

The top five in the Blue Rocks order collected 13 of the team’s 17 hits. Matt Fields went 4-for-7 with two homeruns and two doubles. Whit Merrifield and Cheslor Cuthbert each had three hits in the win.

Kane County defeated Peoria, 6-0 with a solid pitching effort by three pitchers. Angel Baez started and allowed just two hits over six innings. He struck out eight. Cody Fassold followed with two scoreless innings while striking out four. Robinson Yambati finished the game with a perfect inning.

The 4-5 hitters for the Cougars (Jorge Bonifacio and Murray Watts) went a combined 4-for-8 with two runs scored.

Bubba Watch: Bubba Starling hit his first two homeruns of his professional career, as he went 3-for-6 with three runs scored and six RBIs.