KC Royals Raul Mondesi Ignites Eight Run First for Naturals

Omaha walked off against Fresno, 3-2 in 11 innings. After three straight singles started the bottom of the 11th inning, Casey Kotchman was hit by a pitch to force in the game winning run.

Louis Coleman earned the win in relief, as he worked around two walks in the top of the 11th (2IP, 0H, 0R, 3K).

Chris Dwyer got the start and allowed a run on five hits and five walks over 5.1 innings. He left with a runner on in the sixth for Miguel Almonte, who got a pop up and a ground out.

Troy Patton struck out the side in the seventh and worked around a walk in the eighth. In came Joba Chamberlain for the save, but he allowed three hits to tie the game.

Alex Gordon started in left field and played the first nine innings. He went 1-for-2 with two walks. Gordon also had an outfield assist. His replacement, Reymond Fuentes, went 1-for-1.

Brett Eibner went 3-for-4 with two walks. His infield single in the 11th inning loaded the bases. Whit Merrifield went 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI, and a stolen base.

NW Arkansas swept Springfield, 9-1. The Naturals scored eight runs in the first.

Raul Mondesi (who returned from the birth of his child) started the bottom of the first with a single. Later in the inning, he drove in two runs with another single.

Bubba Starling made the first and second out of that inning. In between those two at-bats, the Naturals collected five hits and worked three walks.

Jorge Bonifacio finished off the scoring with a 4th inning home run, his first since August 13th.

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That was more than enough offense for Naturals starter

, who allowed two hits and walked one over five scoreless innings. He struck out six. Both hits Zimmer allowed came in the first and he retired 12 in a row before a one out walk in the fifth (which was erased on an inning ending double play).

Kevin McCarthy pitched a scoreless sixth and Mark Peterson followed with a scoreless seventh (just 11 pitches). Malcom Culver allowed an unearned run over two innings of work.

Alex Liddi and Lane Adams each had three hits in the win.

*In roster news, Logan Davis was put back on the DL to make room for Mondesi.

Wilmington has won three straight for the first time in the second half with a 7-5 win in Myrtle Beach.

The Blue Rocks scored three runs in the top of the ninth to re-take the lead. Dominique Taylor delivered a two-run triple and scored on a Carlos Garcia double (one of his two hits).

Yender Caramo earned the victory, as he entered in the 7th inning with two outs and a runner on third base. Over 2.1 scoreless innings, he allowed a hit, walked one, and struck out two.

For the second straight night, Elier Hernandez doubled and tripled. Cam Gallagher went 2-for-3 with three runs scored. Ryan O’Hearn hit his eighth home run, a solo shot in the second.

Jake Junis took the no decision, as he allowed a run on three hits, three walks, and a hit batter over five innings. He struck out three. The August struggles continue for Matt Alvarez, as he allowed four runs on six hits (including a home run) over 1.2 innings. In the month of August (with Friday night most likely being his last appearance in the month), Alvarez has allowed eight runs on 13 hits and four walks over 9.2 innings.

Lexington walked off to salvage the series finale over Rome, 6-4. It came on the day that the South Atlantic League announced the Legends will host next year’s All-Star Game.

The Legends hit three homers in the game, including the walk off two-run shot by Chase Vallot. Brandon Downes hit a two-run homer in the seventh and Luis Villegas hit a solo shot to tie the game in the eighth.

Jake Newberry earned the victory, as he entered in the top of the ninth with the bases loaded and struck out the two batters he faced.

Corey Ray got the start for the Legends and allowed three runs (one earned) on seven hits over five innings. Emilio Ogando followed and allowed a run on five hits and a walk over 3.1 innings. He struck out four.

Idaho Falls held on to beat Grand Junction, 4-2.

D.J. Burt extended his on-base streak to 45 games with an RBI triple in the fifth (one of his two hits). Joshua Banuelos drove in his league-leading 52 run (2-for-5). Nick Dini went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in the fourth.

Bryan Brickhouse got the start for the Chukars and allowed two hits and two walks over three innings. Hunter Haynes earned the victory, as he allowed two runs on six hits over five innings. He struck out five. Brandon Thomas earned his third save, though he worked around a two out, bases loaded jam in the ninth with a pop out.

Burlington lost to Greeneville, 3-1.

Ashe Russell took the loss, as he allowed two solo home runs over five innings (his longest professional start). Russell allowed a homer in the third and fourth.

Andre Davis followed and allowed a run on four hits over two innings. Matt Ditman allowed a hit over two scoreless innings.

The Royals collected seven hits, including two by Trey Stover.

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