Royals June 5th Minors Recap

With home runs aplenty, Omaha beat OKC, 6-3.

May 31, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Aaron Brooks delivers a pitch against Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Aaron Brooks returned to the Storm Chasers after a disastrous first big league start. He left with the bases loaded in the sixth and Casey Coleman stranded all three runners. Brooks’ final line looked like this: 5.2 IP, 4H, 2R, BB, 3K, HR. That looks alot better than what his line in the big leagues looked like.

Coleman did allow a run in the 8th inning before Spencer Patton came in and picked up his 12th save of the season with 1.2 perfect inning of relief. Oh and he struck out three on 17 total pitches.

Now to the homers.

Justin Maxwell hit a two-run shot in the first inning with two outs. In the 2nd inning with two outs, Matt Fields hit a solo homer. In the 4th inning, Jimmy Paredes also hit a solo shot. Fields, Maxwell, and Paulo Orlando each had two hits.

NW Arkansas lost to Tulsa, 6-4. The Naturals third loss in a row officially eliminated them from the first half crown (and the postseason for now). The two teams finish up their series on Friday, as the Drillers now have a five game lead in the North Division.

Naturals starter Tim Melville allowed four runs in the third, which all started with a walk. Wild pitches also proved costly, two of which allowed runs to score (both on strikeouts). In the sixth, Melville allowed two more runs, though one scored after he exited (and on an error).

All-in-all, Melville allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He did strike out four.

Scott Alexander followed by allowing one hit over 2.1 innings before Andrew Triggs pitched the ninth.

The Naturals collected nine hits and worked three walks. Orlando Calixte had two hits, including a solo home run in the fourth. Mark Threlkeld and Juan Graterol also had two hits in the loss.

Outfielder Lane Adams started in center, but was replaced by Ethan Chapman before getting an at-bat (1-for-3 with a walk). UPDATE: He collided with right fielder Jorge Bonifacio on the first play of the game (and held on for the catch), but was taken out on defense in the second. After the game, he had his Twitter game going, defending his beloved Lebron.

Blue Rocks starter Christian Binford against Winston-Salem on April 12, 2014 (Jen Nevius).

Wilmington lost to first place Potomac, 3-2 to fall three games back of the P-Nats. The two teams travel down to Virginia to start a three game series against each other. Oh and Gio Gonzalez will be making the rehab start for the P-Nats.

With the 2-1 lead and the Carolina League best closer on the mound, the P-Nats scored two runs to take the lead. Mark Peterson‘s command was off and left a few balls up in the zone. They did not miss them. Fellow CL All-Star Shawn Pleffner delivered the game-tying double just past the out-stretched glove of centerfielder Bubba Starling. That was his first blown save on the season.

With one out, Peterson induced a ground ball to shortstop that Raul Mondesi not only bobbled, but then threw away, allowing the go ahead run to score. That gave Peterson his first loss of the year.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Blue Rocks went down quickly and quietly, as two struck out, including Starling to end the game (the second time).

“Tonight’s a disappointing one,” said Blue Rocks manager Darryl Kennedy. “Every closer’s going to blow one, it’s just a matter of time. Peterson’s been real good for us…it happens.”

The loss negated the solid start by Christian Binford. Though he struggled right out of the gate (one run on two hits in the first), he rebounded to throw six scoreless innings after. His night ended with four consecutive strikeouts. He seemed to really take control once his offense gave him the lead.

That came in the bottom of the fourth when Hunter Dozier led off with a single (his second single of the night). Dozier came around to score on Michael Anontio’s double, who came around to score on Mark Donato‘s double. Outside of that inning, the Blue Rocks had a runner on second base three more times, but never could come up with the big hit.

Lexington lost to Augusta, 9-6. Both teams collected 11 hits. The Legends were bit by four errors and a passed ball, which cost them five runs.

After Cody Reed allowed seven runs (four earned) on seven hits, two walks, and two wild pitches over four innings, Andrew Edwards was stellar in relief. He allowed just two hits over three scoreless innings. When Edwards was pulled, the Legends were down by just one run heading into the bottom of the eighth.

The GreenJackets scored two unearned runs off Kevin Perez in the 8th inning. He had an error on a pickoff attempt.

Frank Schwindel hit a double and a two-run home run. The two hitters around him in the lineup, Ramon Torres and Mauricio Ramos, each had two hits. Carlos Garcia also had two hits in the loss.