Royals July 16th Minors Recap

Omaha will be back in action on Thursday night. Tonight was the Triple-A All-Star Game in Durham, where Paulo Orlando led off and started in centerfield for the Pacific Coast League and catcher Francisco Pena batted fifth. Both did not collect a hit, but Orlando showed off his defensive abilities a few times.

Closer Spencer Patton, who was traded earlier today to Texas, made his final appearance in a Storm Chasers uniform. He entered in relief for the PCL with two on and two out in the 2nd inning. He struck out Jesus Aguilar (Columbus) for the final out to escape the jam.

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NW Arkansas

lost in Tulsa,

.

Christian Binford was the hard luck loser, as he allowed two runs on seven hits over seven innings. He struck out eight and did not walk a batter. The second run he allowed came on a 4th inning solo home run. Jason Adam made his first career relief appearance and threw two perfect innings. He needed just 19 pitches and struck out two. Maybe this is a permanent move?

The Naturals collected just three hits: a single in the first, a single in the eighth, and a double in the ninth off former Royal Cole White, who earned his eighth save of the season.

The Naturals had runners at second and third base and nobody out against White, but Jorge Bonifacio and Hunter Dozier struck out before Max Ramirez grounded out to end the game.

They struck out 13 times.

Wilmington won their doubleheader in Potomac. The wins moved the Blue Rocks to just a 1/2 back of the first place P-Nats.

They took the first game by a 6-1 score.

2014 top pick Brandon Finnegan once again looked good in the start (just his second), but once again only pitched two innings. He was perfect through two innings and struck out one.

Johnny Walter earned the win, as he allowed one run on four hits over 3.1 innings. He struck out four. Blake Wood allowed one hit and walked one over the game’s final 1.2 innings. He struck out three.

Mark Threlkeld hit his first home run as a Blue Rock to lead off the 2nd inning and gave the team the 1-0 lead. With the game tied at 1-1, they scored five runs in the top of the fifth. They sent nine men to the plate. The tie-breaking run scored on a ground out before Daniel Rockett tripled in another. Terrance Gore singled him in and moved to third base on Jack Lopez‘ single. After Lopez stole second base, Gore scored on a balk. Raul Mondesi finished the scoring with an RBI double.

In the second game, a 6-2 victory, the Blue Rocks showed off their hidden power.

The Blue Rocks hit four home runs. They went back-to-back to start the fifth, as Jared Schlehuber and Rockett got it started. Michael Antonio led off the sixth with a homer. Threlkeld hit a two out solo shot in the seventh, his second of the night.

The Blue Rocks collected 11 hits, with everyone having one except Bubba Starling. Eight of those hits went for extra bases. Threlked had two hits, while Antonio collected three hits in the win.

Starter Sean Manaea was virtually unhittable, but command had him pulled with two outs in the 5th inning. He allowed just one hit (a single to lead off the second), but walked five and struck out five.

Yender Caramo entered in the fifth with the bases loaded and struck out Carolina League All-Star Stephen Perez to end the threat. Caramo would get into trouble in the bottom of the seventh. He was pulled with runners on the corners, a run in, and no outs in favor of closer Mark Peterson. Peterson got a strikeout and induced a game ending double play. It earned him his 19th save of the season.

Lexington was supposed to play two games in Charleston tonight, but after an hour-plus rain delay during the first game, they decided to push the second game until tomorrow.

Once play resumed, the Legends won 7-5 in nine innings (it was a seven-inning game). They scored two runs in the top of the ninth on Mauricio Ramos‘ two-run single.

That made a winner of Andrew Edwards, who also received a blown save when he allowed a run in the bottom of the seventh with one out. He was saved from getting the loss when Elier Hernandez threw the possible winning run out at the plate on that base hit. Edwards allowed the one run on three hits and two walks over three innings. Timothy Hill earned his second save with a perfect ninth.

The Legends collected 12 hits, with five players having two-hit games. Alexis Rivera batted ninth and went 2-for-3 with a triple, two runs scored, and three RBIs.

Brooks Pounders began his recovery from Tommy John surgery tonight with Idaho Falls. He made the start and threw the first inning. He allowed one hit and struck out one. Alec Mills, another rehabbing pitcher, followed with five solid innings. He allowed one run on six hits and a walk while striking out five. That was Mills’ seventh outing with the Chukars, so I would assume he will be moving up at least one level soon.