A rough day for the affiliates with just a win in the DSL in eight games on Wednesday.
HR Roll Call Brandon Downes (11), DJ Burt (4), Ismaldo Rodriguez (1)
BP KC Hitter of the Day – D.J. Burt 4-4 HR, 5 RBI
BP KC Pitcher of the Day – Andres Sotillet 5 IP 3 H 0 R 0 ER 1 BB 2 K 9-1 GO-FO
Colorado Springs Sky Sox 4 Omaha Storm Chasers 1
The Chasers struggles at home continued with a 2 for 11 performance with runners in scoring position that lead to a 4-1 defeat. Despite 10 hits and a pair of walks it wasn’t enough as Colorado Springs plated a pair or runs in the seventh to break a 1-1 tie before a ninth inning home run proved as another insurance run. The loss was credited to Brooks Pounders after giving up both of the seventh inning runs. The last six home games have featured just six runs by the home team who will likely be quite enthused to head out on the road for eight games.
Reymond Fuentes 2-4
Tony Cruz 1-3 R, Bb
Whit Merrifield 2-4
Corpus Christi Hooks 5 NW Arkansas Naturals 4
The Naturals missed a few scoring opportunities in their Wednesday loss. Starter Ashton Goudeau gave up four runs in just two innings to drop his record to 4-12 at Double-A while the offense had 12 hits, but went 2 for 7 with runners in scoring position. Trailer 5-2 into the sixth inning NW Arkansas would pull within a run and get the tying run on in the last four innings, but fall short in each inning in the loss.
Alfredo Escalera 3-5 R, 2b
Ryan O’Hearn 2-4 R, 2b
Jack Lopez 2-4 2b
Frederick Keys 6 Wilmington Blue Rocks 5
Outfielder Brandon Downes staked the Rocks to a 4-1 early lead only to watch the pitching staff salt it away. The former Virginia centerfielder connected on his 11th home run of the season in the 2nd inning to tie the game up at 1-1. Just one inning later it was Downes connecting on a bases loaded double that cleared the bags and expanded the lead to 4-1. In the sixth inning Downes would connect on a ground-rule double and come around on Elier Hernandez single to push the lead to 5-2. Starter Matt Tenuta would give up a pair of runs in the seventh to cut the lead to 5-4 when Kyle Kubat couldn’t clean up the two singles he allowed. In the eighth it was Kubat who created his own mess and gave up two more runs to put the Rocks behind 6-5. The first two hitters for Wilmington would reach in their half of the eighth, but a double steal try would gun down Brian Bien and the Keys would work around Downes with a base open before stranding the bases loaded. That would be the last rally for Wilmington as they would fail to win their third game in a row over Frederick.
Brandon Downes 3-3 2R, 2-2b, HR, 4 RBI, BB
Elier Hernandez 1-3 RBI
Brian Bien 2-4 R, CS (3)
Asheville Tourists 8 Lexington Legends 6
The Legends made a comeback from 6-2 down only to watch the game slip away in the ninth. Second baseman, DJ Burt, lead that comeback with a grand slam in the seventh inning as part of a 4 for 4 day that included an earlier RBI in the day. Tied at 6-6 reliever Mark McCoy gave up a pair of runs in the ninth that the offense couldn’t counter in the loss.
Emilio Ogando 5.1 IP 7 H 5 R 4 ER 1 BB 6 K 4-3 GO-FO 82p/61k
Ben Johnson 1-3 2R, BB, SB (7)
Colton Frabasilio 1-4 R
Billings Mustangs 6 Idaho Falls Chukars 1
The Chukars offensive struggles continued in Billings on Wednesday evening. An 0-13 performance with runners in scoring position lead to just one run while starter Jace Vines dropped his fourth decision of the season. The Texas A&M product gave up five runs (4 ER) on eight hits and a pair of walks while not being able to strikeout one hitter on the night. Catcher Meibrys Viloria went hitless for the the second night in a row for the first time this season.
Yeison Melo 2-4 2b
Luke Willis 3-4 R
Richard Lovelady 1 IP 1 H 0 R 1 BB 1 K
Princeton Rays 3 Burlington Royals 1
The Royals lost one late when a two out error in the eighth inning opened the door for the Rays. That error by second baseman Gabriel Cancel brought Oscar Rojas to the plate and he quickly doubled in two runs to push Princeton ahead 3-1. The Royals brought the tying hitter to the plate in both the eighth and ninth inning, but were unable to getting anything done in dropping the game to the second place Rays.
Kort Peterson 1-3 2b, RBI
Nicky Lopez 1-4 R
Travis Eckert 5 IP 3 H 1 ER 1 BB 4 K 5-4 GO-FO
DSL Rays1 14 DSL Royals 5
The Royals lost the game the restart of a suspended game they were trailing by a large margin at the time of the suspension
Esteury Ruiz 2-3 2b, RBI
Freddy Fermina 1-3 2b
Angel Medina 2-2 BB
DSL Royals 7 DSL Rays1 0
The Royals dominated the second game that was shortened due to rain. Starter Andres Sotillet tossed five scoreless innings while Esteury Ruiz went 2 for 2 with a a triple and two runs driven in. Between his last two game Ruiz has seven hits in his last seven at bats.
Esteury Ruiz 2-2 R 3b, 2 RBI
Angel Medina 3-3 R
Ismaldo Rodriguez 1-3 HR