Royals August 12th Minors Recap

Omaha lost to Salt Lake, 8-1. They are still one game back of Iowa, who also lost tonight.

Liam Hendriks took his first loss as a Storm Chaser. He allowed five run on six hits and three walks over six innings (107 pitches). Hendriks allowed a two out, two-run home run in the 2nd inning that gave the Bees their first lead of the game.

The Storm Chasers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a Johnny Giavotella ground out. They only collected four hits, two by Whit Merrifield in the leadoff spot.

*In roster news, lefty Tim Collins was placed on the DL with a back strain. Fellow lefty Sam Selman was promoted from Double-A. He allowed one run on two hits and a walk in one inning of work in his Triple-A debut. Selman also threw 33 pitches.

Catcher Parker Morin arriving for a spring training game in 2014 (Jen Nevius).

NW Arkansas held on for the 4-3 victory over Corpus Christi. The Naturals are 5.5 games back of first place Arkansas, who was rained out tonight.

JC Sulbaran was pulled from the game with an apparent blister problem. He allowed just one run on four hits and a walk over 6.2 innings. He struck out eight. Andrew Triggs followed (he had not pitched since August 5th) and allowed two runs in the eighth (one of which scored after he was pulled). Mark Peterson earned his second save (he had not pitched since August 6th), as he allowed two hits over 1.1 innings.

The Naturals collected nine hits, two each by Hunter Dozier, Juan Graterol, and Parker Morin. Morin drove in two runs.

*Former Royals minor leaguer Kyle Smith threw three scoreless innings of relief and struck out six.

Wilmington‘s series opener against Frederick was rained out, as was the premier pitching matchup between Sean Manaea and the Keys’ Dylan Bundy. They will play a doubleheader on Wednesday, with Manaea starting the first game (no named starters for the Keys or for the second game in terms of the Blue Rocks). It was the Blue Rocks 14th rain out of the season.

Potomac and Salem were rained out for the fourth straight day. However, Lynchburg won again (the only game in the Carolina League) and the Hillcats are now 3.5 games ahead of the Blue Rocks for second place.

Lexington lost to Kannapolis, 5-1.

The Legends collected five hits, including Mauricio Ramos‘ 22nd double of the season.

The loss negated the solid start by Alec Mills, who did not allow a run over six innings. He allowed four hits and walked two, while striking out five. Kevin Perez got his fourth blown save of the season, as he allowed five runs on five hits and two walks over just two innings. He threw three wild pitches.

Brian Fletcher played all nine innings in left field for the first time during his rehab assignment with rookie level Burlington. He went 1-for-4 with his first RBI (with two outs) and a strikeout (ninth in 18 at-bats).

Sugar Ray Marimon made his third rehab start for rookie level Idaho Falls, allowing one run on five hits and a walk over 4.1 innings. He struck out three. The lone run he allowed came on a solo homer leading off the 4th inning.