KC Royals Luke Farrell Dominates in Naturals Victory

By Jen Nevius |

Omaha won their series over Memphis, winning three straight with a 4-2 victory in the finale.

Trailing 2-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth, the Storm Chasers scored three runs. Brett Eibner led off the inning with a single and scored on Francisco Pena‘s triple (one of his two hits). Pena scored on a ground out. Whit Merrifield drove in the inning’s final run with a single.

Jose Martinez had two hits in the win.

Paul Clemens earned the win in relief of Andy Ferguson (4.2IP, 4H, 2R, 2BB, K). Clemens allowed an inherited run to score in the fifth. He allowed two hits and a walk over 1.2 innings. Brian Broderick followed with two scoreless innings (H, BB) before Scott Alexander earned his 13th save with a ten-pitch ninth.

NW Arkansas won their series opener over Corpus Christi, 8-1.

Ramon Torres led off the bottom of the first with his third home run in Double-A, while Raul Mondesi followed with his own solo homer (his sixth of the season). The top two hitters went a combined 5-for-10.

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The Naturals offense gave starter

Luke Farrell

a 4-0 lead after one inning and he made it stand up. On the day that his father John (the manager of the Boston Red Sox) announced he will undergo treatment for lymphoma and be taking a leave of absence from the Red Sox, Farrell dominated. He allowed one run on five hits and two walks over seven innings. He struck out four, while allowing a solo homer in the 3rd inning.

Zane Evans went 4-for-4 with two RBIs. Frank Schwindel went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Jorge Bonifacio went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Terrance Gore was back in the lineup after a day off and went 0-for-4 while playing centerfield (he was pulled on defense in the eighth).

Bubba Starling was out of the lineup for the fourth straight game. I had heard earlier in the week that he was being held out due to an illness.

*In roster news, the Royals traded for Pittsburgh minor leaguer Edward Salcedo. Infielder Logan Davis was placed on the DL and reliever Malcom Culver was activated from the inactive list. Culver threw two scoreless innings with three strikeouts.

Wilmington lost their series opener in Potomac, 4-0. It was the Blue Rocks third straight loss after ending their 14-game losing streak. It also was their 15th shutout loss of the season.

The P-Nats used the stolen base and then some timely hitting (they stole five bases).

Pedro Fernandez took the loss, allowing three runs on eight hits and a walk over 4.2 innings. He struck out two, but failed to finish five innings for the third time in his three starts with the Blue Rocks. Ashton Goudeau stranded a runner in the fifth, as he threw 2.1 scoreless innings of relief (H, 3K). Matt Alvarez allowed a run on two hits over one inning of work.

The Blue Rocks collected seven hits, two from leadoff hitter Carlos Garcia.

*Alec Mills is expected to make the Saturday night start for the Blue Rocks, as he makes his return from the DL. He has not pitched since July 16th.

Lexington lost the series opener in Rome, 2-1.

Starter Matt Tenuta got the no decision, as he allowed three hits and three walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out four. Nick Green, who just arrived from Idaho Falls, took the loss. Green allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits over 2.1 innings. He struck out two.

The Legends collected just four hits, three by Brandon Downes, who scored their lone run in the second. He also stole his 16th base of the season.

*In roster news, catcher Luis Villegas was sent to Burlington.

Burlington split their doubleheader against Danville. The Royals won the first game, 3-1.

Julio Pinto earned the win, allowing a run on five hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out five. Matt Ditman earned his fourth save, as he entered with the bases loaded in the sixth and stranded all three. Ditman did allow two hits and a walk in the seventh, but induced a game ending double play.

Ben Johnson drove in two runs, once by getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and once with a two out single in the fifth.

The Royals lost the second game, 2-1.

Burlington collected just two hits, including a double by Brandon Thomasson, who scored the team’s lone run on a double play ground out in the second.

Jake Kalish took the loss, as he allowed two runs on three hits over four innings. He struck out five. Jacob Bodner threw two hitless innings of relief.

Idaho Falls was postponed due to rain. They will play a doubleheader against Helena on Saturday.

*Bryan Brickhouse made his third start for the AZL Royals, going 1.2 innings. He allowed a run on three hits and two walks while striking out two. Brickhouse allowed a two out, solo homer in the 2nd inning.

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