A 2-2 day for the affiliates with a big win at Triple-A for the Chasers.
HR Roll Call Hunter Dozier 1,2 (12), Brett Eibner (8), Balbino Fuenmayor (1), Cam Gallagher (1)
BP KC Hitter of the Day – Hunter Dozier 3-5 2 HR, 3R, 3 RBI
BP KC Pitcher of the Day – Nolan Watson 5 IP 3 H 0 R 2 BB 4 K 4-4 GO-FO 80p/48k
The Royals optioned Alec Mills back to Double-A while also promoting lefty Tim Hill from Wilmington to NW Arkansas. The Royals also moved Carlo Diaz to Triple-A Omaha with the injury to Dusty Coleman’s hand, Diaz had never played above rookie ball in his minor league career before his start on Thursday night.
Omaha Storm Chasers 12 Reno Aces 3
The PCL’s top home run hitting team had quite the welcome to Reno in the series opener Thursday. Three different Chasers hit home runs with third baseman Hunter Dozier knocking out his third and fourth Triple-A home runs. The fun for the Chasers started almost immediately as three of the first four hitters had extra base hits to start the game to take a 3-0 lead. By the end of the 3rd inning, the team had already built an 8-0 lead and given starter Miguel Almonte plenty of cushion with which to work. Almonte was his usual erratic self, walking three and hitting one before getting in a groove to retire the last eight he faced. After an adjustment to Triple-A, Dozier has been on a tear, hitting in eight straight games while going 9 for his last 17 with four home runs.
Miguel Almonte 6 IP 3 H 1 R 1 ER 3 BB 3 K
Brett Eibner 2-5 HR 2R, RBI
Jorge Bonifacio 1-3 3b, BB, RBI
Arkansas Travelers 5 NW Arkansas Naturals 2
The Naturals offense went on hiatus during the final three games of their series with Arkansas including last night’s four hit and two run effort that saw them collect just one hit over their final five innings. Not only was the offense struggling, but the defense wasn’t faring much better, committing an error and misplaying a couple other balls that were questionably turned into hits by the scorekeeper. The defense and lack of offense caused starter Jake Junis to take the loss despite pitching well and getting into the 7th inning for his third consecutive start. The righthander has given up just three earned runs over his last 26 innings with just a 0.73 WHIP allowed. The Travelers edged ahead on Junis with a 7th inning walk, bunt single and a pair of outs that scored one run before reliever Kevin McCarthy gave up a run scoring double to put the game out of reach. Rehabbing Mike Moustakas went 0 for 4 but made two excellent defensive plays at third base, making a diving stop and throw across on one and a deep backhand and long throw on another.
Ryan O’Hearn 2-3 R, 2b, BB
Bubba Starling 0-2 2k
Jake Junis 6.1 IP 4 H 5 R 2 ER 2 BB 7 K 6-3 GO-FO 87p/48k
Frederick Keys 3 Wilmington Blue Rocks 1
The Rocks couldn’t carry over their late inning heroics from Wednesday, collecting just two hits and one run in another defeat to the Keys. Starter Matt Tenuta saved the pen in the loss however, working eight innings while three runs and collecting 11 ground balls. The only Rocks run came on a single by Humberto Arteaga following an Alfredo Escalera double in the 4th inning. Since getting moved up to the Rocks top of the order on May 3rd Escalera has carried a .385 on base percentage while scoring 12 runs in the 14 games he has played.
Humberto Arteaga 1-4 RBI – 7 game hitting streak
Alfredo Escalera 1-3 2b, R, BB
Matt Tenuta 8 IP 7 H 3 R 3 ER 2 BB 2 K 11-6 GO-FO 91p/54k
Lexington Legends 6 Greenville Drive 0
2015 first round pick Nolan Watson had his most successful start of the season in the Legends first game of the Greenville series. With five innings of shutout ball, Watson worked around three singles and a pair of walks while striking out four to earn his first full season victory. The Legends offense pounded out 11 hits including four doubles in scoring a run in five different innings.
Cody Jones 2-5 2b, 2R, SB (11)
Samir Duenez 3-5 2b, 2 RBI
DJ Burt 1-3 2b, 2 RBI, 2 BB