Royals July 21st Minors Recap

Omaha came back to beat Memphis, 4-1. The Storm Chasers out-hit the Redbirds, 12-8. All 12 of their hits were singles and all four runs scored with two outs.

Justin Maxwell tied the game at 1-1 in the fifth with a two out single. In the 7th inning, Omaha broke the tie on Matt Fields‘ two out single. They tacked on two more runs in the eighth on back-to-back two out RBI singles by Whit Merrifield (one of his two hits) and Christian Colon (one of his three hits).

Brian Bocock and Paul Janish each had two hits in the win.

Buddy Baumann got the start and allowed one run on three hits and a walk over four innings. The run and two of the hits he allowed came in the first.

Louis Coleman was credited with the win, allowing two hits over two scoreless innings. He struck out three. Casey Coleman picked up his second save of the season, despite being in trouble in both the eighth and the ninth (three hits, two wild pitches, but a double play ball).

Christian Binford throwing a bullpen session during spring training, 2014 (Jen Nevius).

NW Arkansas beat first place Arkansas, 6-3.

Christian Binford earned his second Double-A win of the season. He allowed a solo home run in the second and an unearned run in the fifth. Two errors in the 5th inning, one by Hunter Dozier (tenth at Double-A) and one by Cheslor Cuthbert (21st), allowed the run to score. Binford walked one and struck out seven.

The bottom two in the Naturals order, Micah Gibbs and Ethan Chapman, did the bulk of the damage. Both drove in two runs and Gibbs hit two doubles. Jorge Bonifacio went 3-for-4.

WELCOME BACK MITCH MAIER!

Maier was activated from the DL on Sunday and made his debut on Monday night. He went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored as the DH.

Wilmington beat Lynchburg 1-0. The Blue Rocks are back in second place, 1.5 games back.

The Blue Rocks scored their lone run in the first inning. Jack Lopez singled off Hillcats starter Lucas Sims. Sims tried to pick Lopez off first base and threw it away. Lopez went all the way to third base and the throw there was misplayed and Lopez scored. At both bases, Lopez would have been out if the throw was caught.

Brandon Finnegan allowed his first hit of his professional debut. He allowed a single over three scoreless innings. He struck out four. Blake Wood followed with two scoreless. Johnny Walter allowed one hit over 2.2 innings before Mark Peterson earned his 21st save of the season. He threw ten pitches (all strikes) and struck out three.

Lopez and Cody Stubbs collected two hits in the win.

Lexington had their finale in Savannah rained out. The game will be made up when the Sand Gnats play in Lexington later this week. The Legends are now headed home for a six-game homestand beginning on Wednesday. Problem is, their bus broke down about nine hours from Lexington in the pouring rain (according to various players on Twitter).

*In roster news, Alec Mills was supposed to make his Legends debut tonight, coming back from arm surgery (he had been pitching with Idaho Falls). Cody Reed was placed on the DL.