Royals June 22nd Minors Recap

Omaha walked off in ten innings with a 7-6 victory.

Photo courtesy of flickr.com

The Storm Chasers fought back to tie the game with a three-run bottom of the eighth. An error scored two runs and a Johnny Giavotella sac fly tied it.

In the tenth, Spencer Patton allowed a solo home run to Brooks Conrad, his 16th of the season. With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the tenth, Gio delivered the game winner, a two-run single to left.

The Storm Chasers collected 14 hits, including four by leadoff man Whit Merrifield, who upped his average to .375. Brian Bocock collected three hits and Brett Eibner had two hits, including his seventh homer of the season.

Despite allowing ten hits, Omaha starter Aaron Brooks lasted 6.1 innings while allowing five runs (four earned).

NW Arkansas lost their third straight game to Tulsa, dropping Sunday’s finale 10-6. The Naturals now head into the Texas League All-Star break.

The Naturals fought back to tie the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the seventh, only to see the Drillers score four runs in the top of the ninth against reliever Malcom Culver. It all started with a leadoff home run.

The Naturals out-hit the Drillers, 11-9, but went 4-for-12 with runners in scoring position. The 4-7 hitters went 8-for-16 with four runs scored.

Their defense also committed three errors, two by Hunter Dozier and one by Cheslor Cuthbert. That led to three unearned runs.

*Despite their poor performance as a team in the first half, the Naturals have five All-Stars. Infielders Cuthbert and Orlando Calixte, along with reliever Andrew Triggs, will be joined by late addition outfielders Jorge Bonifacio and Lane Adams.

Blue Rocks centerfielder Bubba Starling at the plate on April 13, 2014 (Jen Nevius).

Wilmington had their second straight late inning victory with a 2-1 win in Frederick. With the score tied at 1-1 in the top of the tenth, Bubba Starling led off with a solo homer.

The Blue Rocks were trailing 1-0 until tying the game up in the top of the eighth on a two out, bases loaded walk.

Starling collected his fourth straight multi-hit game since the second half opened. Maybe this is a sign of more good things to come for the struggling outfielder? He is even hitting over .200 (.205 to be exact).

Jonathon Dziedzic was solid across six innings. He allowed a solo home run in the second. He allowed seven hits and walked two while striking out seven. Yender Caramo earned the win in relief, pitching two perfect innings. Things were a little dicey in the ninth, but Mark Peterson earned his 15th save of the season, getting a fly out with the tying run on second base.

Lexington lost their series in Delmarva with a 10-2 loss on Sunday afternoon. The Legends now head to Hagerstown for four games.

Matt Tenuta dropped to 2-7 after allowing eight runs (seven earned) on five hits and four walks over just 2.2 innings. After Alex Black allowed two runs on five hits and a walk over 2.1 innings, the Legends bullpen was solid. Jose Miguel Rodriguez pitched a perfect inning of relief before Tripp Davis struck out three in two scoreless innings.

The Legends collected just four hits, two by Frank Schwindel. They struck out 11 times.