Royals July 6th Minors Recap

Omaha beat Colorado Springs, 7-2. The Storm Chasers power was on full display.

Royals first baseman Matt Fields during spring training in 2014 in Peoria (Jen Nevius).

Whit Merrifield got it started with a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the first. It was his first Triple-A homer. They regained the lead in the 4th inning when Matt Fields hit a two-run home run. He would add a three-run shot in the sixth to increase the lead. Brian Bocock‘s sac fly in the eighth was the lone run to score for Omaha not via the longball.

Fields and Johnny Giavotella had two hits in the win.

All that power made a winner of Clayton Mortensen, who allowed a solo homer of his own in the top of the second. Overall, he allowed two runs on six hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out six. Wilking Rodriguez threw two hitless inning of relief before Tim Collins worked around walk in the ninth (22 pitches, 12 strikes).

*Omaha should have a few roster moves on Monday. Reliever Casey Coleman was optioned back from Kansas City and infielder Pedro Ciriaco cleared waivers and took his assignment back to Omaha.

NW Arkansas beat Frisco, 3-0.

Hunter Dozier gave the Naturals the early 1-0 lead with a solo home run in the 2nd inning (his second homer in as many games). The score would stay that way until Lane Adams hit a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth. The final run would score on a ground out.

Jason Adam earned his third win of the season. He allowed four hits and walked two over five scoreless innings. Why the short leash? He had thrown 92 pitches (59 for strikes). Scott Alexander followed with two scoreless. Noel Arguelles was pulled after recording two outs in the eighth, but after hitting a batter. Andrew Triggs earned his 12th save of the season and worked out of a first and third, two out jam in the ninth.

The Naturals collected nine hits, three by Adams and two by Jorge Bonifacio.

*In roster news, catcher Parker Morin was added from Idaho Falls (0-for-3 with a strike out and GIDP). Max Ramirez was placed on the DL with a hip strain.

Wilmington‘s four-game winning streak came to an end in their finale in Winston-Salem. They lost 7-1.

The Dash scored five runs in the 5th inning to chase Blue Rocks starter Miguel Almonte from the game. He allowed six runs (five earned) on seven hits and two walks over 4.1 innings. Aroni Nina entered with two on and allowed a three-run home run.

The Blue Rocks collected just four hits, including a double by Jared Schlehuber. He scored their lone run in the top of the fifth that cut the deficit to 2-1.

Kenny Diekroeger playing with Wilmington on June 5, 2014 (Jen Nevius).

Lexington beat Asheville, 8-7. The Legends scored four runs in the top of the ninth with two outs and held on for the victory.

The Legends sent eight men to the plate in the 9th inning, which all started with a leadoff walk. Kenny Diekroeger got the scoring started with a two-run double. Frank Schwindel followed with an RBI single and came around to score on Mauricio Ramos‘ double.

That late offense made a winner of Alex Black, who allowed a run on four hits and a walk over two innings of relief. Kevin Perez was credited with the save, though he allowed a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth.

The Legends collected nine hits, but from just five players. Five of their hits were doubles. Schwindel had three hits, while Diekroeger and Ramos each had two hits.