Just three affiliates played Thursday, going 1-2, with the Blue Rocks and Chukars both dealing with rainouts.
HR Roll Call – Ryan O’Hearn (22)
BP KC Hitter of the Day – Ryan O’Hearn: 2-4, HR
BP KC Pitcher of the Day – Ofreidy Gomez: 7 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 10 K
Round Rock Express 2 Omaha Storm Chasers 3
Jason Vargas made his final Triple-A start of the season, and he made it count, striking out ten batters over 5.2 innings. He did allow a pair of runs, but with only five hits against him, Vargas definitely was impressive. After he left the game, three Chasers relievers combined to throw 3.1 hitless innings, which gave the mostly unimpressive Chasers offense a chance to make a comeback. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Ramon Torres came to the plate with the bases loaded. After he made contact, the bases were no longer loaded, as he drove in three with a double.
Ramon Torres: 1-4, 2B, 3 RBI
Jason Vargas: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 10 K
Orlando Calixte: 1-3, BB, R
Tulsa Drillers 5 NW Arkansas Naturals 1
Ryan O’Hearn crushed his 15th home run since joining the Naturals, and his 22nd of the season, but a rough outing from Ashton Goudeau dug too deep of a hole for the offense. He allowed four runs in four innings of work, though the lineup couldn’t do much either, going 0-4 with runners in scoring position, and collecting only five hits on the night. On the bright side, they only left six men on base. The Drillers scored three in the fourth, with a quartet of singles coming after Goudeau recorded the second out of the inning. That was more than enough of a cushion for Drillers starter Andrew Sopko.
Samir Duenez: 1-4, 2 K, SB
Ryan O’Hearn: 2-4, HR
Humberto Arteaga: 1-3, 2B
Burlington Royals 1 Danville Braves 2
The Royals spoiled an excellent start from right-hander Ofreidy Gomez, who went seven strong innings, scattering eight hits, allowing just two runs, while striking out ten batters. After plating one run in the third, they had three more men reach base the rest of the way, with Braves pitchers holding them to two hits on the night. Nicky Lopez was responsible for one of those hits, pushing his season line to .281/.395/.430.
Ofreidy Gomez: 7 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 10 K
Nicky Lopez: 1-3, RBI
Logan Gray: 1-3, 2B, R