Royals June 22nd Minors Recap

Omaha lost in Oklahoma City, 11-2. Apparently tonight was Justin Marks‘ turn to take one for the team.

Marks allowed nine runs on 15 hits (including two 2-run homeruns) and three walks over 5.1 innings. He threw 117 pitches. It could have been worse, but both Willy Taveras and Paulo Orlando threw runners out at the plate (Orlando also went 2-for-4 at the plate).

On offense for the Storm Chasers, Xavier Nady and Max Ramirez (the 4-5 hitters) went a combined 4-for-7.

NW Arkansas won the pitcher’s duel, with a 3-1 win over Tulsa. They are 3-2 in the second half, which makes them tied for first place.

Jason Adam was great, as he allowed just one run on three hits and a walk over 6.1 innings. The run scored after he was lifted from the game. He struck out two and induced 11 ground outs. He also picked off a base runner.

Brett Eibner gave the Naturals the 1-0 lead with a solo homerun in the fourth. Cheslor Cuthbert and Whit Merrifield each collected two hits in the win.

It got a little dicey in the eighth, but Wilmington picked up their first win of the second half with an 11-7 victory over visiting Salem.

The Blue Rocks led 8-0 after two innings, chasing the Red Sox starter from the game in that 2nd inning. Lane Adams hit a two-run homerun way out over the left field foul ball (some think it may have hit the road around the ballpark) in the first. In the top of the second, Adams robbed Salem’s Brandon Jacobs of a homerun hit to dead center.

Adams talked after the game about his homerun and how he brought back another:

In the bottom of the second, the Blue Rocks batted around, picking up six hits in the inning and scored six runs. That seemed to be enough, as Blue Rocks starter Sam Selman battled through five innings. He only allowed three hits and just one walk while striking out six.

Then the top of the 8th inning happened.

The newest Blue Rock, Cory Hall, entered for his first High-A relief appearance. He allowed two hits, two walks, and hit a batter, while not recording an out. Andrew Triggs came on with the bases loaded and allowed all three to score, along with two of his own. The defense was a little shaky in the inning, with a misplayed fly ball in left field. In all, the Red Sox scored six runs in the inning, cutting the lead to 9-7.

The Blue Rocks came right back with two more runs off the Red Sox bullpen. It started with Ethan Chapman, who singled, moved to second base on a hit batter, stole third base, and scored on a the catcher’s throwing error (he had two hits). He redeemed himself from missing the fly ball in the top of the inning.

*Blue Rocks manager Vance Wilson said that they are playing it by ear with pitcher John Lamb. They are trying to build up his arm strength. He is not listed as a probably starter for the next series either.

Lexington broke the scoreless tie with two runs in the bottom of the 8th inning and held on for the 2-0 win. They only collected five hits. They are tied for first place in the second half with a 2-1 record.

With one out, Bubba Starling doubled to drive in the Legends first run. He then stole third base and scored on Michael Antonio‘s single.

It was an obvious pitcher’s duel and the Legends’ Christian Binford allowed seven hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out nine. Aroni Nina picked up the win, as he walked just one over two scoreless innings of relief. He struck out three.