Royals July 29th Minors Recap

By Jen Nevius |

The Kansas City Royals made a few moves today in their minor league system. They released Joe Saunders, who was with Triple-A Omaha. Saunders was 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA in just four starts for the Storm Chasers. Opponents hit .375 against him and he walked five while striking out six.

They also released right-handed pitcher Alex Black, who was with Low-A Lexington. Black was in just his first full season of professional baseball and was 3-1 with a 5.59 ERA over 19 relief appearances. Opponents hit .322 against him and he walked 20 compared to 33 strikeouts.

Omaha lost their first game at home to Memphis, 4-1. Both teams scored all of their runs in the fifth.

Justin Maxwell drove in the lone Storm Chasers run on a sac fly. The Redbirds collected five of their nine hits off Omaha starter Aaron Brooks in that 5th inning.

Chris Dwyer threw two scoreless innings of relief, before Louis Coleman threw a scoreless ninth.

The Storm Chasers collected just four hits, two of which came in the fifth. The other two were erased on double plays.

NW Arkansas beat first place Arkansas, 3-1. The Naturals are now two games back.

Naturals starter Andy Ferguson was solid in earning his eighth win. He allowed one run on three hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out six. The Travelers scored in the very first inning, as they sent seven men to the plate (two hits and two walks). The other two base runners who reached against Ferguson were erased on double plays (a ground out and a strike em out, throw em out).

Sam Selman followed with two scoreless, before Andrew Triggs earned his 17th save of the season.

More from KC Royals Prospects

The Naturals only collected five hits, all singles.

Orlando Calixte

drove in two runs in the third with a two out single. Their insurance run came in the fifth on

Hunter Dozier

‘s two out single.

Wilmington lost to Lynchburg, 4-2. The Hillcats moved into second place and first place Potomac lost.

After seven solid innings from starter Glenn Sparkman (two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts), the Blue Rocks fought back in the top of the 8th inning to tie the game at 2-2. Jack Lopez tied the game with a two-run double. On a strikeout of Zane Evans, Lopez was thrown out trying to steal home.

The Hillcats came right back to retake the lead in the bottom of the eighth off the Blue Rocks duo of Andrew Edwards and Daniel Stumpf. Edwards made his 2014 Blue Rocks debut and allowed a single to start the inning. However, he got the lead runner out on a bunt. However, a hit batter ended his night.

In came Stumpf, who after a strikeout, allowed a two-run double to break the tie. The Blue Rocks went down quietly against Hillcats closer Alex Wilson (two strikeouts).

The Blue Rocks collected six hits, two by Lopez. He also stole his 19th base of the season, but was caught for the eighth time. They did strike out 11 times and grounded into a double play.

Lexington lost to Savannah, 8-3. The Legends won the series, 3-2 and have Wednesday off before heading to West Virginia for four games.

The Legends collected just four hits, including Dexter Kjerstad‘s solo home run in the ninth (his fifth of the season). They scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first, as Carlos Garcia reached on an error to get the inning started, stole second and third base, and scored on Elier Hernandez‘ single.

Jake Junis took the loss, as he allowed four runs on three hits and four walks over just four innings. He struck out three. Tripp Davis followed with four solid innings of relief. He allowed one run (a solo homer) on four hits.

*In roster news, the Legends added Ashton Goudeau from Idaho Falls. He made his debut and allowed three runs on four hits in just one inning.

Home / KC Royals Prospects