With Omaha having the night off, the other three Royals affiliates couldn’t pick up the slack, going 0-3.
HR Roll Call – Frank Schwindel (3)
BP Kansas City Hitter of the Day – Frank Schwindel: 2-4, 2B, HR
BP Kansas City Pitcher of the Day – Josh Staumont: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 9 K
Northwest Arkansas Naturals 1 Springfield Cardinals 8
The Naturals collected eight hits on the evening, but they weren’t able to score a run until Schwindel’s home run in the ninth inning. On the pitching side, Jake Junis gave up five runs in less than four innings. He did strike out eight, which was nice. The Cardinals tacked on another three runs in the seventh off Sam Selman, whose ERA currently sits at 15.19. Hunter Dozier hit his seventh double on the season, bringing his OPS to a robust 1.017. He’s certainly making his case for a mid-season promotion.
Hunter Dozier: 2-4, 2B
Frank Schwindel: 2-4, 2B, HR
Jake Junis: 3.2 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 8 K
Wilmington Blue Rocks 1 Carolina Mudcats 3
Despite five innings of one-run ball from Josh Staumont, the Blue Rocks offense was unable to scratch across anything resembling run support. A pair of runs off Ashton Goudeau in the seventh inning put the Mudcats on top for good. Staumont continued his impressive strikeout display, whiffing nine batters on the evening. His control did disappear at times, however, as he issued four free passes. The Royals’ 21st-rounder from last year’s draft, Austin Bailey, had a nice night, collecting three hits, but the Rocks went 1-7 with runners in scoring position.
Austin Bailey: 3-4
Alfredo Escalera: 0-4, 2 K
Josh Staumont: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 9 K
Lexington Legends 2 Columbia Fireflies 7
Much like the Blue Rocks, the Legends had ample opportunities to do damage offensively, but went 1-8 with men in scoring position. Starter Emilio Ogando had a solid first five innings, but allowed a couple of runs in the sixth, and the Fireflies put the game out of reach in the eighth, scoring four runs on six hits against Julio Pinto. And that was in just two innings. Chase Vallot had a pair of singles, but also committed a throwing error, allowed two stolen bases, and allowed his sixth passed ball of the young season.
Cody Jones: 2-4, 3B
Amalani Fukofuka: 2-4
Emilio Ogando: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K