Royals June 4th Minors Recap

Omaha enjoyed Wednesday off (I’m sure the players were checking the damage to their cars after the hail storm while they were on the road). The Storm Chasers begin a short four game series with OKC Thursday night. Aaron Brooks is the scheduled starter for Omaha, looking to prove all the doubters wrong.

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NW Arkansas lost again to Tulsa, 11-8. The Naturals are now just one game away from elimination in terms of the North Division’s first half crown in the Texas League.

Jason Adam dropped to 0-6 after another subpar start. He allowed four runs in the first, which started with a leadoff walk. After escaping a 2nd inning jam, he allowed three more runs in the third (four hits, including a leadoff home run). That was it for Adam, whose final line looked like this: 3IP, 9H, 7R, 2BB, 2K, HR.

The Naturals offense came back just about every time Adam and the bullpen gave up runs, but just couldn’t complete the comeback. They scored three runs in the bottom of the first and then three more in the bottom of the third. Orlando Calixte led off the 4th inning with a homer.

The Naturals collected nine hits and worked seven walks, but went just 4-for-17 with runners in scoring position.

Wilmington lost to visiting Potomac, 2-1. The two teams finish the series on Thursday night before heading to Potomac for three games.

Via the Blue Rocks.

The Blue Rocks scored their lone run in the sixth on Hunter Dozier‘s two out RBI double. Unfortunately, it bounced over the left field wall for a ground rule double, keeping Raul Mondesi at third base. Zane Evans struck out looking to end the inning and manager Darryl Kennedy was ejected (his second ejection of the season).

Dozier extended his hitting streak to six games and has upped his average to .291. He had two of the Blue Rocks’ five hits. Maybe he could be a late replacement for the All-Star Game?

Starter Jonathan Dziedzic took the loss. He allowed a leadoff double in the second and that run came around to score on a sac fly. Shawn Pleffner (he of the earlier double) led off the 4th inning with a home run (his second of the season). Pleffner is one of the P-Nats two All-Star representatives.

The Blue Rocks bullpen continued to be stingy behind Dziedzic. Johnny Walter followed with 2.2 scoreless innings (one hit, one walk, and two strikeouts), before Kyle Bartsch allowed two hits over the final 1.1 innings.

*Earlier in the day, the Carolina League announced its All-Star Game roster and four Blue Rocks will represent on June 17th in Wilmington. Starters Dziedzic and Christian Binford will be joined by catcher Cam Gallagher and closer Mark Peterson.

Lexington beat Greenville, 9-3 to end their four-game losing streak.

The Legends led 5-3 heading into the ninth and tacked on four runs for insurance. There were two errors in the inning around four hits, including an RBI double by Fred Ford and Carlos Garcia‘s two out, two-run home run. It was Ford’s second hit of the game and Garcia’s third hit.

Ramon Torres and Dominique Taylor also had two hits in the win. As a team, they stole five bases.

Jake Junis improved to 6-3, as he allowed just one run on five hits and three walks over seven innings. He struck out four. Crawford Simmons struggled in the 8th inning, allowing two runs on three hits in just 2/3 of an inning. Matt Alvarez entered with a runner on base and stranded him, throwing 1.1 perfect innings of relief.