Royals August 14th Minors Recap

Omaha lost to Salt Lake, 11-8. Iowa walked off, so the Storm Chasers dropped to one game back of first place.

After the Storm Chasers scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth, the Bees scored five runs in the top of the ninth. Casey Coleman started the ninth and recorded the first two outs. Then things fell apart.

Coleman then allowed a single, a walk, and an RBI single and was pulled for lefty Sam Selman. Selman walked the first batter he faced to load the bases and then allowed a two-run double. Then he allowed a two-run single before another walk ended his night. Malcom Culver entered and got a fly out to FINALLY end the inning.

John Lamb got the start and though he only allowed three hits, he walked six and only lasted 4.1 innings. After he allowed three runs (two earned), fellow lefty Scott Alexander allowed a two out, three-run home run in his 1.2 innings of relief.

The Storm Chasers collected 15 hits, with the top three in the order having multi hit games. Leadoff hitter Whit Merrifield went 5-for-5 with two doubles, three runs scored, two RBIs, and a stolen base. Pedro Ciriaco went 3-for-5 with two RBIs.

On a positive note, the Storm Chasers stole seven bases, three by Paulo Orlando (31 on the season), who went 3-for-5 with three RBIs. Terrance Gore pinch ran in the eighth and stole his sixth Triple-A base.

NW Arkansas lost their series to Corpus Christi with a 4-2 loss in the finale.

Tim Melville took the loss, as he allowed all four runs on seven hits and three walks over just four innings. Angel Baez followed with two scoreless innings. Aroni Nina, who was just promoted from Wilmington, pitched a perfect seventh. Ali Williams threw a scoreless eighth.

The Naturals collected seven hits, two each by Lane Adams and Juan Graterol.

*In roster news, Justin Trapp was activated from the DL. Outfielder Edinson Rincon was placed on the DL. Brian Fletcher returned from a rehab assignment with Burlington and was assigned to the Naturals (he started as the DH and hit a home run).

Wilmington lost their finale to Frederick, 4-1. The Blue Rocks are now three games back of both Potomac and Lynchburg, who are tied for first place.

New Jersey native Johnny Walter made his second straight spot start and first at home. With a ton of family and friends in attendance, he was solid, but seemed to run out of gas in the fourth. He gave up a few bloops and his defense was a little shaky behind him.

Andrew Edwards got out of the bases loaded, two out jam in the fourth with a strikeout. However, he allowed a solo home run in the sixth (2.1 innings). Yender Caramo pitched two scoreless, before Kyle Bartsch pitched the only 1-2-3 inning of the game for the Blue Rocks.

On offense, the Blue Rocks hit alot of pop ups (four) and weak ground balls (nine). They had eight hits, two each by Ramon Torres and Cody Stubbs.

*In talking to manager Darryl Kennedy after the game, infielder Jack Lopez will be out for about 7-10 more days and isn’t expected to play until the final homestand of the season. Lopez has been out since last Saturday when stealing second base in Frederick (he has a wrap/tape on his right hand).

Lexington ended their five-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory over West Virginia.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Legends scored two runs to take the lead on Frank Schwindel‘s two-run double. The Power’s lone run came via a solo home run in the first.

Kenny Diekroeger scored one of the two runs, as he collected three hits in the win.

Cody Reed got the start and allowed that one run on three hits over three innings. Jake Junis earned his ninth win of the season, as he allowed just one hit over five scoreless innings of relief. He struck out six. Tim Hill earned his fifth save of the season with a scoreless ninth (two strikeouts).