Royals July 17th Minors Recap

Omaha came out of the All-Star break on television and lost to visiting New Orleans, 14-4. The ball was flying out of Werner Park. The Zephyrs hit six home runs, while the Storm Chasers hit two.

In his worst start of the season, Clayton Mortsensen allowed six runs on seven hits and a walk over just 2.2 innings. Four of those hits were home runs. On the positive side, he struck out five. It wasn’t any easier for anyone who came out of the Storm Chasers bullpen.

Chris Dwyer allowed three runs on three hits and two walks over just 1.1 innings. Wilking Rodriguez only allowed one run on two hits and a walk over two innings. Clean cut and hard to recognize Tim Collins was roughed up for four runs on six hits and a walk over two innings. He allowed two home runs. Michael Mariot was the lone bright spot and he looked nasty, throwing 11 pitches (nine for strikes) in his scoreless inning.

The two homers hit by Omaha came off the bat of the same guy: Christian Colon. It was the first time in his career that he had a multi-homer game. The Storm Chasers collected eight hits, five from the top two in the order (Whit Merrifield and CC).

The Storm Chasers had a bit of a rally going in the 7th inning, as they had the bases loaded with nobody out (down 13-4). They also had the heart of their order up. Two strikeouts and a ground out later, they did not score.

*Despite one and a half seasons in Double-A with a +5.00 ERA, Jason Adam has been promoted to Omaha. Not sure if he is going to start there or relieve (he made his first career relief appearance on Wednesday night for NWA).

NW Arkansas lost their fourth game in a row with a 6-4 loss in Springfield.

After the Naturals scored all four of their runs in the top of the fourth (three with two outs), the Cardinals scored two runs each in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. There was also some suspect defense behind Naturals starter Tim Melville (three errors combined in the fourth and fifth).

Melville allowed all six runs (four earned) on ten hits and two walks over six innings. Sam Selman and Noel Arguelles each threw a hitless inning of relief.

The Naturals collected eight hits, including three doubles. Jorge Bonifacio and Edinson Rincon each had two hits. Justin Trapp drove in two runs in the 4th inning with a two out double.

Wilmington once again played two games in Potomac. They lost the suspended game from last week, 2-1.

Kyle Bartsch inherited a two on, two out jam and allowed an infield single to load the bases before inducing a ground out to end the 6th inning. Bartsch recorded just one out in the seventh, before Randolph Oduber delivered the walk off single.

In Game two, the Blue Rocks won 4-1 to stay a 1/2 game back of the P-Nats.

The story was once again Glenn Sparkman (it seems to be every night he pitches). He scattered seven hits and a walk over six innings. Sparkman walked one, struck out five, and picked off a baserunner to earn his sixth win of the season. After Aroni Nina threw two scoreless innings, Mark Peterson earned his 20th save of the year.

The Blue Rocks collected ten hits, but just one for extra bases. They scored a run in the top of the first on Michael Antonio‘s double to give Sparkman some breathing room.

Ramon Torres was the lone Blue Rock to not collect a hit. Jared Schlehuber went 3-for-4, Terrance Gore stole his 30th base of the season, and Daniel Rockett threw a runner out at second base.

Lexington also played two on Thursday night, but lost both of them.

The Legends lost the first game by a 6-2 score. They collected 12 hits, but went 3-for-10 with runners in scoring position and only one was an extra base hit.

Humberto Arteaga went 3-for-4. Frank Schwindel, Dexter Kjerstad, and Alexis Rivera each had two hits in the loss.

Luke Farrell took the loss, as he allowed four runs on 12 hits over four innings.

The Legends lost the second game, 5-1.

Tripp Davis took the loss, as he allowed four runs on nine hits and a walk over 4.2 innings. He struck out nine. Andrew Brockett made his second Legends relief appearance and allowed one run on two hits and a walk over 1.1 innings. He also threw two wild pitches.

They collected six hits, with Kjerstad once again having two hits. He also stole his seventh base of the season.