A 5-1 day for the Royals affiliates with only a walkoff loss in the Pioneer league.
HR Roll Call – None
BP KC Hitter of the Day – Bubba Starling 2-5 2b, 3 RBI
BP KC Pitcher of the Day – Matt Tenuta 6 IP 2 H 0 R 2 BB 9 K 5-3 GO-FO 83p/55k
Omaha Storm Chasers 6 Round Rock Expres 5
The Chasers got another good start from Luke Farrell and a big insurance run in the ninth to win in Round Rock on Tuesday. Omaha plated three runs in the first inning with a double from Whit Merrifield and a pair of walks coming in front of run scoring singles by Tony Cruz and Bubba Starling. With the lead now at 3-1 Starling doubled to push two more across, scoring Cruz and Dozier. A bases loaded walk in the ninth pushed the final Omaha run across which would be enough to secure the win despite the bullpen giving up three runs in the final two innings. Round Rock’s Doug Bernier had a big night, hitting for the cycle with a home run in the ninth.
Bubba Starling 2-5 2b, 3 RBI
Tony Cruz 2-4 R, 2b, 2 RBI, BB
Luke Farrell 7 IP 6 H 2 ER 3 BB 4 K 6-7 GO-FO 111p/67k
NW Arkansas Naturals 3 Arkansas Travelers 2
The Naturals received outstanding pitching from their bullpen and finally pushed through on offense in the seventh to even the series with Arkansas. Four singles in that seventh inning plated those three runs with Logan Moon’s two run job being the biggest of the bunch. That hit had given the Naturals the lead after Josh Staumont gave up a pair of runs on a homer in the second inning. The bullpen picked him up though with three different pitchers working five scoreless innings to secure the win.
Josh Staumont 4 IP 3 H 2 ER 3 BB 7 K 6-0 GO-FO 86p/47k
Cam Gallagher 1-3 R, BB
Aroni Nina 2 IP 2 H 0 R 3 BB 3 K
Wilmington Blue Rocks 6 Lynchburg Hillcats 5
Starter Matt Tenuta dominated in his six innings while the offense piled on early before the bullpen barely escaped with the win. It was the Rocks first series win of the second half as their lefty starter piled up nine strikeouts, allowing just two hits while on the hill to leave with a big lead. That lead stood at 6-0 after a run in the second inning, a big four run frame in the third and a run in the seventh. That third inning featured a pair of run scoring doubles by Wander Franco and Samir Duenez. A five run eighth by the Hillcats pushed the lead to just one run, but Jake Kalish was able to close things down to hang onto the win.
Brandon Downes 1-2 R, 2b, RBI, BB
Elier Hernandez 1-3 R, 2b
Chad Johnson 2-3 2R, 3b, BB
Missoula Osprey 5 Idaho Falls Chukars 4
The Chukars dropped the first half finale after a walkoff home run stomped out a ninth inning rally. Starter Jace Vines gave up three unearned runs and a dormant offense put Idaho Falls down 3-0 early and left them trailing nearly the entire evening. Trailing 4-1 into the ninth the offense finally woke up with a walk and a pair of singles prior to a two out game tying double by Angelo Castellano. The game appeared to be headed to extras will All Star reliever Brian Bayliss on the hill for Idaho Falls until Missoula’s Jake Cave drove a ball out of the park with one out in the ninth to walk the game off or the Osprey.
Meibrys Viloria 2-4 R
Ricky Aracena 2-4 R, 2E (22)
Jace Vines 5 IP 4 H 3 R 0 ER 3 BB 4 K 9-3 GO-FO 84p/54k
Burlington Royals 4 Bristol Pirates 2
The Royals finished off their sweep of the Bristol Pirates with another solid pitching effort. Starter David McCay put away eight hitters in six innings to improve his record to 2-1 this season. The former Florida Atlantic pitcher gave up a run scoring double in the third and a triple that plated a run in the sixth inning, but was able to squelch both rallies after those hits in each inning. A wild pitch plated a second run in the fifth to give the Royals a lead before a Gabriel Cancel double scored a run the final run of the game. Relievers Alex Close and Walker Sheller secured that 4-2 final with three scoreless innings, earning Sheller’s fourth save in the process.
Boo Vazquez 1-2 2R, 2BB
Vance Vizcaino 2-3 BB, CS (5)
David McCay 6 IP 6 H 2 ER 0 BB 8 K 2-3 GO-FO
AZL Royals 6 AZL Rangers 4
The AZL squad won a game late with two runs in the bottom of the eighth to regain a lead they had given up. The Royals used three two run innings, getting a Robby Rinn double to plate two in the first and a triple by Seuly Matias in the ninth as part of two of those innings.
Jeison Guzman 2-4 2R, 2b
Khalil Lee 1-2 2R, RBI, 2BB, CS (3)
Seuly Matias 1-4 3b, RBI, 3 K
Two questions, Clint: 1) What is your knowledge/opinion of Cam Gallagher’s defense, and has he moved up your prospect list this summer? 2) Thoughts on Khalil Lee?
Watching Idaho Falls play last weekend, Viloria has a sweet stroke and Aracena has some ability.
Gallagher is the best defensive catcher in the system and is a likely backup option in the bigs when he makes it. I was a huge fan of the Lee pick and think the Royals could have something special as he develops.
Aracena has had a rough season defensively but a nice player to have in the system. Viloria is a total stud.