A good day for the organization with all three affiliates that played winning.
HR Roll Call: Brett Eibner (9), Brandon Downes (2)
BP KC Hitter of the Day – Brandon Downes 4-5, HR, 2R, 4 RBI
BP KC Pitcher of the Day – Jake Newberry 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 4-1 GO-FO, 34p/23k
The Royals signed lefty Kyle Bartsch after the San Diego Padres released him this week, assigning him to NW Arkansas. Originally drafted by the Royals in 2013, Bartsch was traded to the Padres for outfielder Reymond Fuentes.
Omaha Storm Chaser 5 Reno Aces 4
The Chasers couldn’t get much offense going early but hung around long enough to chip away late and earn a comeback win. Lefty Mike Minor was made his third rehab start, stretching out to the 82 pitch mark while giving up five hits, including a pair of doubles, while giving up four runs. They say after Tommy John that control is the last thing to come and that certainly seems to be the case for Minor after walking three more on the evening, upping his total to eight walks in 17.2 rehab innings so far. (Editor’s Note: Thanks to Sean for catching that Minor is indeed not coming off Tommy John. It’s just so common these days that it’s almost reflex to say a guy had it.) After a Brett Eibner home run in the 8th cut the lead in half the Chasers used some small ball to load the bases. A pair of bunt singles by Carlos Diaz and Reymond Fuentes preceded a swinging bunt hit by Jorge Bonifacio to load the bases with no outs in the 9th. Run-scoring singles by Eibner and Hunter Dozier quickly tied it up before a one out sacrifice by Travis Snider gave Omaha their first lead of the game. The Aces would threaten in the bottom half of the inning with a pair of singles versus Malcom Culver, but strikeouts of Ed Lucas and Peter O’Brien by the hard throwing righty would shut the door.
Reymond Fuentes 3-5, R, SB (5)
Mike Minor 5 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 5-0 GO-FO, 82p/50k
Hunter Dozier 1-5, RBI
NW Arkansas Naturals 2 Tulsa Drillers 0
With a normal starting pitcher unavailable on Friday, the Naturals turned to the bullpen to take on the Drillers in the first game of the series. Four different pitchers combined to work nine shutout innings while navigating around seven hits and four walks. The Naturals offense did just enough to earn the win, getting a pair of sac flies from Ramon Torres and Zane Evans in the 3rd and 8th innings to score two runs. A 1-10 effort with runners in scoring position prevented the Naturals from expanding on their lead, but the two runs were enough as the foursome finished off the shutout.
Kevin McCarthy 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 K
Ryan O’Hearn 1-3, BB
Terrance Gore 2-3, R, 2SB (3)
Wilmington Blue Rocks 8 Carolina Mudcats 2
A big night by Brandon Downes carried the Rocks to a convincing 8-2 victory over the Mudcats. It was Downes’ grand slam in the third that staked the Rocks to a 4-0 lead. Two innings later Downes was scoring after a Wander Franco triple as part of a three run inning that expanded Wilmington’s lead on the night to 8-2. Those runs were plenty for relievers Jake Newberry and Mark McCoy as the pair finished the final five innings of the game scoreless. Starter Josh Staumont struggled with the zone as usual, walking six in four innings and allowing a pair of runs to score on back-to-back bases loaded walks.
Alfredo Escalera 3-4, R, RBI, CS (2)
Josh Staumont 4 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 6 BB, 5 K, 2-4 GO-FO, 88p/41k
Roman Collins 2-4, R, RBI
Minor didn’t have Tommy John, he’s coming back from a shoulder injury
Yes not TJ but the point remains with his control problems. If course it’s a small sample but worth watching.