A solid 5-2 day out of the affiliates with plenty of home runs at the Double-A level.
HR Roll Call: Hunter Dozier (19), Orlando Calixte (8), Corey Toups (7), Cam Gallagher 2 (3), Anderson Miller (4), Brandon Dulin (5), Kort Peterson (2)
BP KC Hitter of the Day – Cam Gallagher 2-3, 2 HR, 2 RBI, BB
BP KC Pitcher of the Day – Gerson Garabito 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, 2 HBP, 7-5 GO-FO, 75p/53k
Las Vegas 51s 4 Omaha Storm Chasers 2
The Chasers offense could muster only five hits and two runs in their loss Thurday. Both home runs came with the bases empty, one by Hunter Dozier on a shot to right-center and another by Orlando Calixte. The lack of offense would place a loss on the record of Luke Farrell who gave up four runs on seven hits and three walks in his 4.2 innings. The big knock off Farrell was a three run job off the bat of Mets #6 prospect Brandon Nimmo in the fifth inning, one of two home runs off him that inning. Miguel Almonte and Andrew Edwards would work the final 4.1 innings scoreless, but the offense couldn’t muster a comeback.
Hunter Dozier 1-4, HR
Orlando Calixte 1-4, HR
Raul Mondesi 1-4
NW Arkansas Naturals 8 Springfield Cardinals 3
Three home runs combined with solid pitching paced NW Arkansas to a win over the Cardinals. Catcher Cam Gallagher coming into the game had just one home run and a .352 slugging percentage but on this night he powered up for two solo home runs, leaving the yard in the second and eighth innings. Gallagher’s second inning home run was part of a four run inning that also featured Corey Toups three-run blast. Starter Ashton Goudeau ended a run of six straight losing decisions with a one run effort over six innings that featured five K’s and just three hits allowed.
Terrance Gore 2-2, 3R, 3 BB, 2 SB (29)
Corey Toups 1-3, 2R, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB
Ashton Goudeau 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 6-4 GO-FO, 87p/61k
Wilmington Blue Rocks 9 Myrtle Beach Pelicans 4
The Rocks offense came alive after an off day with seven runs in the first three innings including Anderson Miller’s first High-A home run. That home run was a two-run blast and was part of a four run night that also included a two-run sixth inning triple by Miller. Five of the nine Wilmington hitters had two hits or more while Corey Ray worked six innings to improve his record with the Rocks to 6-3 in 11 starts.
Samir Duenez 3-5, R, 2b, RBI, SB (21)
Anderson Miller 2-4, 2R, 3b, HR, 4 RBI
Corey Ray 6 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, 6-2 GO-FO, 93p/59
Lexington Legends 9 Rome Braves 1
Gerson Garabito spun 6.2 innings of no-hit ball for Lexington on Thursday night to lower his ERA under 5 for the first time this season. The 20 year old Latin right-handed starter had all three pitches working, keeping hitters off balance with his change up and curve, while placing his fastball in all quadrants. Efficiently using just 75 pitches in his seven innings, only a groundball single placed perfectly between the shortstop and third baseman ended his no-hit effort. On the other side Toukki Toussaint was missing some bats in his four innings (11 K) but not missing all as Lexington touched him up for five runs in four innings. The biggest hit in that time was a two-run home run via Brandon Dulin in the first inning as part of a three run frame. Lexington didn’t stop after Toussaint left, plating four runs in the fifth inning with five hits on their way to a comfortable win.
Mike Hill 1-4, R, 2b, BB
Amalani Fukofuka 2-4, 2R, RBI, BB, 2SB (19)
Chase Vallot 0-3, 2R, 2 BB
Helena Brewers 4 Idaho Falls Chukars 3
The Chukars normally reliable offense came up short in their first game on the road in Helena. The top three hitters in the order did their job, reaching base six times and scoring all three runs, but the rest of the lineup struggled. Starter Jace Vines worked five innings, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk while earning just two strikeouts to take his second loss. Idaho Falls was trailing 4-1 in the eighth when they plated a pair of runs and brought the league’s best hitter to the plate, Meibrys Viloria, with a runner on second and two down. Unfortunately the catcher, who has had a couple walk off hits already this year, flew out to center to end the rally and the last true threat for the Chukars on the night. Viloria finished one for four on the evening with his league leading 32nd RBI. The loss combined with an Orem loss evened the standings in the division.
Ricky Aracena 2-3, R, 2b, RBI
Meibrys Viloria 1-4, RBI
Manny Olloque 2-4, R
Burlington Royals 8 Princeton Rays 5
The Royals salvaged the final game of a three game series with Princeton to stay a half game back of them in the standings. Outfielder Kort Peterson stayed hot with a four hit day including his second home run of the season. That gives Peterson 10 hits over his last 18 at bats including both home runs after hitting just three home runs in three years at UCLA prior to the 2016 draft. In addition to Kort’s effort, the Royals hitters walked eight times and added five additional hits to put eight runs up while pitchers David McKay and Alex Massey limited the Rays to two runs over seven innings before they got three off Walker Sheller prior to Michael Silva finishing things off. Massey worked three innings scoreless to lower his ERA to 1.29 with 16 K’s in 14 innings. He could be one to watch as it was said prior to the draft that he could work up to the mid 90’s in short burst.
Alex Massey 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 2-0 GO-FO
Nicky Lopez 1-3, 2R, RBI, 2 BB
Kort Peterson 4-5, HR, 2 RBI, CS (3)
DSL Royals 5 DSL Dodgers2 2
A five run eighth inning extended the Royals winning streak to 11 games with their usual outstanding pitching. Starter Darwin Feliz allowed just two hits over six innings of one run baseball, allowing just an unearned run while earning 11 worm burners against zero walks. The Royals used three walks, two singles and an error to plate those five runs in the inning. The win pushed the Royals within one game of the first place Red Sox.
Raymond Lopez 1-5, R, RBI, SB (14)
Esteury Ruiz 1-4, R, RBI
Darwin Feliz 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 11-1 GO-FO