The Royals affiliates went 5-4 with wins at the three highest levels thanks to solid pitching at each.
HR Roll Call: Frank Schwindel 2 (11), Jack Lopez (5), Zane Evans (3), Chris DeVito (1)
BP KC Hitter of the Day – Frank Schwindel 3-4, 3R, 2b, 2 HR, 2 RBI
BP KC Pitcher of the Day – Eric Skoglund 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 11-4 GO-FO, 87p/63k
Omaha Storm Chasers 6 New Orleans Zephyrs 1
Zephyrs starter Chris Reed wasn’t the same pitcher that shutdown the Chasers earlier in the month as Omaha got to him for four runs. His struggles with control cost him five walks in four innings. The Chasers tacked on three more walks and 10 total hits to plate six runs on the evening while their starter, Alec Mills navigated around three of his own walks. It was Mills’ first Triple-A start in homer-prone Werner Park, but the righty was able to keep the ball in the yard and collected eight groundouts. Third baseman Hunter Dozier snapped out of his home struggles, going 2 for 3 with a double.
Alex Gordon 1-2, 3BB, RBI
Ramon Torres 2-5, R, 2 RBI
Alec Mills 6.2 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 8-3 GO-FO, 102p/65k
NW Arkansas Naturals 7 Tulsa Drillers 1
Eric Skoglund put together his best start of the year while the Naturals bottom half of the lineup lead the way to a win. The lefty worked seven innings, allowing just four singles and not a single walk, giving up just an unearned run to the Drillers. While Skoglund was spinning, the 5-9 hitters in the lineup combined for 10 hits including three home runs, accounting for all six Naturals runs. First baseman Frank Schwindel did much of the damage, hitting a pair of solo home runs and scoring a run after a double. Shortstop Jack Lopez hit a three-run home run, his fifth of the season.
Cam Gallagher 2-4, R
Logan Moon 2-4, R
Corey Toups 2-4, 2b, BB
Wilmington Blue Rocks 3 Winston-Salem Dash 1
The Rocks pitching staff tossed a gem and got enough offense late to take game two in the series. Starter Corey Ray was solid, giving up just two hits and a run while navigating around three walks. Reliever Jake Newberry continued his outstanding season with two scoreless as opponents continue to hit below .200 against him on the season. A pair of doubles in the fifth by Elier Hernandez and Cody Jones got Wilmington on the board to tie the game. Austin Bailey lead off the seventh with a triple prior to scoring, and a Brandon Downes double scored Samir Duenez in the eighth. Reliever Derek Gordon finished off his fourth save with a pair of strikeouts in the ninth.
Brandon Downes 2-4, 2b, RBI
Cody Jones 2-4, 2b, RBI
Jake Newberry 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 2-1 GO-FO, 31p/19k
Game 1
Hagerstown Suns 3 Lexington Legends 1
The two teams combined to go 2-23 with runners in scoring position as the Suns did just enough to take game one. Lexington starter Scott Blewett tossed a complete game, working 96 pitches with doubles allowed in the second, third and fourth helping the opponent score a run in each inning. The Legends put runners in scoring position in five of the seven innings but were able to plate just one run.
Anderson Miller 1-2, R, BB
Mike Hill 1-3, 2b, RBI
Scott Blewett 7 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 6-5 GO-FO, 96p/59k
Game 2
Hagerstown Suns 5 Lexington Legends 1
Lexington went just 1 for 5 with runners in scoring position while connecting on just one extra base hit to also drop game two. While they were doing that the Suns connected on a pair of home runs that accounted for four runs off Daniel Concepcion. Overall, the Legends went just 2 for 19 with runners in scoring position to drop both games.
D.J. Burt 2-4, 2b, R
Franco Terrero 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R
Anderson Miller 0-2, BB
Idaho Falls Chukars 6 Grand Junction Rockies 2
The Chukars were helped by three Grand Junction errors in the eighth to put four runs on the board in breaking a 2-2 tie. Tanner Stanley and Yeison Melo had the big knocks in the inning, plating three of the four runs while the other came via a groundout. Despite just three strikeouts on the night, the three Idaho Falls pitchers were able to hold Grand Junction to just two runs thanks to a pair of outfield assist and a two double plays that dwarfed Rockies rallies.
Ricky Aracena 2-5, R
Meibrys Viloria 2-4, R, 2b
Yeison Melo 1-4, 2 RBI
Princeton Rays 16 Burlington Royals 2
Plenty of home runs in this ugly Royals game with the two teams combining for six long balls. Unfortunately for the Royals their two home runs came with no one on and the four for the Rays came with seven combined baserunners to account for 11 of their 16 runs. All four Burlington pitchers gave up at least one home run and at least three runs to drop to 0-2. Just four hits for the good guys with Chris DeVito and Zane Evans both leaving the yard.
Chris DeVito 1-4, HR
Nicky Lopez 0-2, 3 BB
Zane Evans 1-4, HR
AZL Reds AZL Royals
Dominican Ismael Maldonado had a rough night, giving up eight hits and eight runs in just 2.2 innings to put the Arizona squad in a 9-0 hole. The Royals plated five in the fifth to climb within a respectable deficit but couldn’t close the gap as the Reds tacked on an insurance run in the ninth. Righty Glenn Sparkman worked a second rehab appearance, giving up a run on a two hits while striking out the side in his inning.
Glenn Sparkman 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Sebastian Rivera 1-4, R, 2 RBI
Cal Jones 1-5, R, RBI, SB
DSL Royals 5 DSL Marlins 1
The Royals spread out nine hits while allowing just two runs over nine innings while making the most of their eight hits and two walks. Four doubles by the DSL Royals helped score five runs and push the squad to four games over .500.
Dennicher Carrasco 2-4, R, 2-2b, RBI
Juan Peguero 1-2, R, 2b
Randy Acevedo 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 7-4 GO-FO