Royals May 11th Minors Recap

Omaha lost their series opener against Colorado Springs, 10-7. That was after the Storm Chasers had a 5-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth.

After starter Chris Dwyer allowed four runs over 5.1 innings (but left with the win), the Omaha bullpen duo of Blaine Boyer and Donnie Joseph allowed six runs over the game’s final two innings.

The Storm Chasers out-hit the Sky Sox 14-9 (five of those hits were doubles), as five starters collected multi-hit games. Max Ramirez and Anthony Seratelli each picked up three hits.

NW Arkansas played Springfield into the morning, as the Naturals won 5-4.

Both teams used two position players to pitch each. Mitch Canham, who was 2-for-7 at the plate, pitched three scoreless innings (the 15th-17th). Canham then moved to first base, as Matt Fields came on to pitch. He loaded the bases with nobody out in the 18th, but escaped the jam. He then walked to lead off the 20th inning and came around to score on Juan Graterol‘s first homerun of the season. Fields earned the win and also went 2-for-5 at the plate (including a two-run homerun).

It got a little dicey in the bottom of the 20th, as Fields allowed three straight singles to score a run with one out. After a fly out moved the tying run to third base, he induced a ground out to FINALLY end the game. The two teams will be back on the field for the finale this afternoon.

There wasn’t a ton of offense to talk about, as most of the hitters saw their averages drop. The two teams combined for 41 strikeouts and 32 men left on base.

Former Royal Ruben Gotay took the loss, despite being the reason the game went into extra innings. He hit a three-run homerun in the 8th inning (the only runs the Cardinals scored until the 20th). Outside of those two innings, the Naturals pitching staff combined for 18 scoreless innings.

Wilmington‘s five-run 6th inning gave them a 6-4 win over host Frederick in Game 1 of their doubleheader. In that inning, the Blue Rocks had four hits, a walk, and a sac fly, while being helped out by a Frederick error.

Kyle Zimmer started, but did not earn the win because he was pulled after four innings (he threw 78 pitches). He allowed five hits and two walks while striking out three. Cody Fassold picked up the win with two perfect innings of relief.

On offense in the win, Justin Trapp and Parker Morin picked up two hits.

The Blue Rocks exploded in the late innings to beat the Keys, 18-5 in the second game. They were down 5-0 heading into the fourth and capped the game with an eight-spot in the seventh. In that eight run outburst, Wilmington sent 12 men to the plate.

Every hitter had a multi-hit game except for two. Kenny Diekroeger and Alex Hudak each picked up two hits, including two out home runs. Jack Lopez fell a double short of the cycle and drove in seven runs. Jorge Bonifacio went 4-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs.

Malcom Culver earned his first win with three scoreless innings of relief of John Lamb, who only lasted four innings (5H, 5R, 2BB, K, 2HR).

The two games totaled 5 hours and 28 minutes and the start was delayed 33 minutes due to wet field conditions from an afternoon thunderstorm. Frederick had to cancel their fireworks show because the game did not end until 12:01am ET (one hour after their curfew).

*In roster news, first baseman Murray Watts was released and the Blue Rocks received Jared Schlehuber from extended spring training. Schlehuber went 2-for-5 with four RBIs in the second game.

Lexington won Game 1 over West Virginia, 2-0. Colin Rodgers picked up the win with six shutout innings. He allowed six hits and a walk while striking out six. Mark Peterson earned his fifth save of the season.

Raul Mondesi and Jin-Ho Shin each picked up two hits in the win and both drove in a run (in the fifth and sixth innings).

The Legends lost the second game, 4-3. Josh Bell hit a two-run home run to give the Power the lead in the top of the seventh.

On offense in the loss, Terrence Gore went 3-for-4 with two runs scored from the leadoff spot (they only had six hits).

Starter Daniel Stumpf pitched well, but only lasted four innings (4H, R, BB, 6K). Alec Mills took the loss, as he allowed the two run home run, along with an inherited runner in the sixth.