Royals August 8th Minors Recap

Omaha played two at Colorado Springs. The Storm Chasers won the first game, a completion of the suspended game from July 12, by a 6-2 score.

They led 4-0 when play resumed with runners at first and second base and one out. Cheslor Cuthbert entered as a pinch runner and he and Whit Merrifield completed a double steal. Johnny Giavotella followed with an RBI single.

Omaha tacked on another run in the sixth on a Matt Fields two out RBI single.

Chris Dwyer earned the win in relief, as he allowed two runs on three hits and a walk over 5.1 innings. He struck out four. Louis Coleman entered with two runners on base in the ninth and allowed both to score.

Merrifield (three runs scored) and Fields each had two hits in the win. Terrance Gore singled as a pinch-hitter in his first Triple-A at-bat, but was picked off first base.

The second game was a slugfest, with the balls flying out of the ballpark with regularity. The seven inning affair also needed extra innings to complete. Omaha lost in 12 innings, 10-9.

With two outs in the bottom of the 12th, Angelys Nina homered against Storm Chasers reliever Scott Alexander (1.2IP, H, R, 0BB, K) for the walk off victory.

The Storm Chasers led 9-7 heading into the bottom of the sixth, but the Sky Sox hit a solo home run in the sixth and a solo homer to lead off the seventh to tie the game and send it into extra innings. Both homers were given up by Tim Collins.

Aaron Brooks got the start and allowed seven runs on 11 hits and a walk over 4.2 innings. After Collins, Jason Adam had his best Triple-A outing, with three scoreless innings of relief (two hits and a strikeout).

Justin Maxwell hit a solo home run in the 2nd inning (his only hit). Brett Hayes made his first start since being outrighted to Omaha and went 3-for-6 with a two out, three-run homer in the third that originally gave Omaha the 7-2 lead. He fell a triple short of the cycle.

Cuthbert went 4-for-6 with two doubles. Gore pinch ran again in the sixth and stole his second Triple-A base.

NW Arkansas lost their first game against San Antonio, 6-3 in 14 innings. The Naturals are now six games back of first place.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Orlando Calixte scampered home on a wild pitch to tie the game at 3-3. From there, extra innings was pretty uneventful (the Missions had the go ahead run on second base with two outs in the tenth) until the top of the 14th inning when Diego Goris hit a two-run home run. The first batter of the inning reached base via a wild pitch on a strikeout. The Missions tacked on another run on a bases loaded walk (an error allowed the run scoring base runner to reach).

Tim Melville got the start for the Naturals and allowed three runs on six hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out seven. Angel Baez followed with three scoreless innings (one hit and three strikeouts). Noel Arguelles allowed three hits over three scoreless innings (three strikeouts). Ali Williams took the loss, as he allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits and two walks over two innings. He also threw two wild pitches.

The Naturals collected eight hits, three by Juan Graterol. They also struck out 13 times and went just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

Wilmington ended their four game losing streak with an 8-1 victory at Frederick. They are now 5.5 games back of first place and still two games back of Lynchburg for second place.

Zane Evans hit a three-run home run in the top of the first and the Blue Rocks never looked back. The Blue Rocks pounded out 14 hits, with five players having multi-hit games. Raul Mondesi tripled and homered to drive in three runs. Jack Lopez had three hits and two runs scored in the win.

Glenn Sparkman sparkled once again, as he allowed five hits and one walk over 6.2 innings. He struck out a career-high ten. The lone run came via a solo home run in the sixth. Daniel Stumpf followed with 2.1 scoreless innings of relief (one hit and just 21 pitches thrown).

Lexington led 3-0 after the first, but needed a walk off to beat visiting Greenville, 6-5.

With the game tied at 5-5, two outs, and the winning run on second base in the bottom of the ninth, Carlos Garcia sent the fans home happy with a single.

Frank Schwindel drove in two runs in the bottom of the first with a double (he drove in a total of three runs). Alexis Rivera had three hits, while Alfredo Escalera-Maldonado and Schwindel each had two hits in the win.

Legends starter Luis Rico allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk over 4.1 innings. Matt Alvarez followed and allowed two runs on two hits over four innings. Tim Hill was credited with the win, though he also took the blown save, as he entered with a runner on second base and walked in the tying run in the top of the ninth.

*Brian Fletcher continues his rehab with Burlington and continues to struggle at the plate. He went 0-for-2 with another strikeout (eight in ten at-bats). He also only played six innings.