Royals June 1st Minors Recap

Omaha split their doubleheader with Round Rock. The Storm Chasers won the suspended game from back in early May by a 4-3 score.

Brett Tomko earned the win, as he allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks over seven innings. He struck out eight. Buddy Baumann earned his second save of the season, despite allowing a run in the ninth.

The Storm Chasers collected nine hits, but seven of them came from three players. Brett Eibner and Jimmy Paredes each had two hits, while Paulo Orlando went 3-for-4. Paredes hit two doubles and drove in three runs.

Omaha was thrashed in the second game, 11-4. The Express scored in three innings.

Justin Marks got the start and allowed eight runs on eight hits and two walks over just two innings. He threw 61 pitches. Chris Dwyer returned from the DL and allowed three runs on five hits over three innings. He struck out four.

The Storm Chasers hit two solo home runs, one by Carlos Peguero in the second (his eighth) and one by Orlando in the seventh (his second). Justin Maxwell collected two of their seven hits in the loss.

Former Storm Chaser Jason Donald made his Round Rock debut and went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.

*In roster news, catcher Beau Maggi returned (0-for-3 with three strikeouts in the second game) and Dwyer was activated from the DL. Reliever Wilking Rodriguez was “assigned” to extended spring training.

Blue Rocks starter Andy Ferguson back in 2012 (Jen Nevius).

Down 1-0 after the first, NW Arkansas came back to beat Corpus Christi, 2-1. It ended their five game losing streak (and their road trip). The Naturals will enjoy Monday off before hosting first place Tulsa for four games starting on Tuesday. The Naturals are five games away from elimination.

Andy Ferguson earned the win after allowing that one run on three hits and two walks over seven innings. He struck out eight. As infielder Whit Merrifield tweeted after the game, Fergy “has some serious coconuts. I don’t mean the kind you make pina coladas with.” Andrew Triggs followed with two scoreless innings of relief in earning his fourth save of the season. Triggs struck out five.

Former Royals minor leaguer Kyle Smith got the start for the Hooks and took the no decision (6.1 IP, 5H, R, BB, 8K). He left after allowing a solo home run to Mark Threlkeld in the seventh.

The Naturals collected ten hits in the win, with the bottom of the order (Justin Trapp and Ethan Chapman) going 5-for-7. Cheslor Cuthbert went 2-for-3 with a double and the game winning RBI in the 8th inning.

*In roster news, Jared Schlehuber was placed on the DL with a right thigh contusion.

Wilmington has now lost four in a row, as they lost in Frederick by a 4-1 score. They are now 2.5 games back (third place) with one more left in Frederick before playing divisional rival Potomac for six straight games (their first meeting of the season).

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Sean Manaea struggled once again, with the main struggles coming in the 4th inning. He walked the first batter he faced (and the first batter each of the first three innings). In the 4th inning, he allowed a leadoff double en route to three runs (after the Blue Rocks took a 1-0 lead in the top of the inning). Manaea allowed three runs on six hits, three walks, and a hit batter over four innings. He struck out five.

Manaea has not pitched more than five innings this season. In ten starts, he has pitched less than five innings six times.

Though Yender Caramo allowed a run in the fifth, he was solid over three innings before handing the ball over to Mark Peterson (one walk in one scoreless inning).

On offense, the Blue Rocks collected six singles, two each by Hunter Dozier and Zane Evans. Their last base runner came in the fifth, when Raul Mondesi singled with one out. He was then thrown out trying to steal second base.

Lexington lost to Augusta, 6-5. The Legends are just two games away from elimination. They now head out on the road for seven games beginning Monday in Greenville.

Pedro Fernandez made his 2014 debut and allowed four runs on four hits and three walks over four innings. He struck out three, threw a wild pitch, and was called for a balk. Tripp Davis followed with four solid innings of relief (one run on seven hits and one walk with four strikeouts).

In the bottom of the ninth, the Legends had the tying run on second base with two outs, but could not get the run across. Mauricio Ramos hit a double and a triple in the loss. Ramon Torres and Dominique Taylor both had two hits in the loss. Frank Schwindel homered for the third straight day, a solo shot in the first.

*In roster news, catcher Chad Johnson was placed on the DL as Fernandez was added from extended spring training.