KC Royals Minors Recap: Chukars clinch second half title

Omaha lost to Nashville, 8-3.

Casey Coleman took the loss, as he allowed seven runs (six earned) on ten hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out three. Brian Broderick followed with two hitless innings while striking out three. Catcher Micah Gibbs pitched the ninth and allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk. He was the first position player to pitch for Omaha since 2012.

On offense for the Storm Chasers, Casey Kotchman went 3-for-4. He singled with two outs in the bottom of the ninth before Dusty Coleman homered.

NW Arkansas lost to Arkansas, 3-1.

Brooks Pounders was the hard luck loser, as he allowed two runs on five hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out three.

The Naturals collected just four hits, two from Alex Liddi. Liddi hit his 38th double and drove in their lone run with a 9th inning sac fly.

Wilmington lost to Myrtle Beach, 4-1. The Pelicans scored three runs in the top of the first.

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dropped to 0-6 with the Blue Rocks, as he allowed those three runs on seven hits over five innings. It was the first time he had finished five innings since his promotion to Wilmington and he lowered his ERA under 9.00.

Evan Beal allowed a run on three hits over 2.1 innings of relief. Andrew Edwards entered in the 8th inning and stranded a runner on second base. He threw 1.2 perfect innings with two strikeouts.

The Blue Rocks collected seven hits, but went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and hit into two double plays. Dominique Taylor and Alfredo Escalera each went 2-for-3. Escalera hit two doubles, driving in their lone run in the second.

Lexington beat Hagerstown, 14-8.

Legends leadoff hitter Austin Bailey fell a home run short of a cycle and drove in three runs. Brian Bien went 2-for-6 with a stolen base. Anderson Miller hit a solo homer (2-for-5). Samir Duenez and Alexis Rivera each had two hits, with Rivera driving in four.

Foster Griffin earned the victory, as he allowed three runs on six hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out two. Colin Rodgers followed and allowed four unearned runs on a hit and three walks over just 2/3 of an inning. Jake Newberry left two runners stranded and went on to allow a run on two hits over 2.1 innings. He struck out three.

Down 5-1 heading into the bottom of the third, Idaho Falls came back to beat Orem, 13-7. After being in last place in the first half, the Chukars clinched the second half Pioneer League title.

Though he allowed two runs, Alberto Rodriguez earned the win in relief for the Chukars. Over 2.2 innings, he allowed six hits. Drew Milligan allowed a hit over two scoreless innings.

The Chukars collected 15 hits, including home runs from Jose Martinez (two out, three-run shot in the fifth) and Amalani Fukofuka (two-run homer in the sixth).

D.J. Burt extended his on-base streak to 53 games with an RBI double in the third (2-for-5). Logan Nottebrok went 3-for-4 with two doubles and three runs scored. Fukofuka, Joshua Banuelos, Xavier Fernandez, and Martinez all collected two hits in the win.