The Royals affiliates won three out of four games with a split of a doubleheader at the Triple-A level.
HR Roll Call Raul: Mondesi (4), Chris DeVito (12)
BPKC Hitter of the Day: Raul Mondesi 3-5, 3R, HR, 2-2b, 3 RBI, SB, BB
BPKC Pitcher of the Day: Eric Skoglund 7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 HR, 2 BB, 4 K, 10-3 GO-FO, 93p/58k
Game 1
Tacoma Rainiers 7, Omaha Storm Chasers 2
The first game of the doubleheader between the Royals and Mariners Triple-A affiliate featured power by the Rainiers and more lackluster offense on the part of the Chasers.
The Chasers couldn’t get the offense going early, failing to score in the first four innings, while Tacoma opened up their half of the first inning with a two-run home run by Dan Vogelbach. The score remained 2-0 until the fourth frame when an error by Raul Mondesi on a throw from deep in the hole opened up an inning that eventually featured a three-run home run by Dario Pizzano to push the score to 5-0.
The Chasers got on the board in their half of the fifth with an RBI triple from Corey Toups before Ramon Torres made the score 6-2 with a run-scoring single in the sixth inning.
The Rainiers capped the scoring with a mammoth 445 foot home run by Leonys Martin in the seventh to finish off the final inning of the shortened doubleheader.
Corey Toups 2-3, 2b, 3b, RBI
Raul Mondesi 1-3, R, 2b
Ramon Torres 2-3, 2b, RBI, hit streak at 11 games
Game 2
Omaha Storm Chasers 4, Tacoma Rainiers 2
In game two, the Chasers starter did a good job of limiting damage while the Royals Raul Mondesi did some damage of his own.
In the first frame, Mondesi created some offense on his own, walking to take first, quickly stealing second and scoring on a Ramon Torres single.
Starter Eric Skoglund was solid, tossing a complete game in the seven-inning shortened game, but the lefty did get knocked around for a pair of back to back solo home runs in the third that gave Tacoma a 2-1 lead. From there, Skoglund found a groove working the final five innings with the minimum hitters faced, allowing just a walk in the sixth that was quickly erased by a double play.
Fortunately for Skoglun, his shortstop, Mondesi, was there to quickly tie things up in the bottom half of the third with a solo home run. With the game knotted up, it was Mondesi once again in the fifth inning with a double to bring in a pair of Chasers; eventually giving them enough runs for the win.
Bubba Starling 1-1, 2BB, 2 CS
Ramon Torres 1-3, RBI
Parker Morin 1-2, R
NW Arkansas Naturals 4, Arkansas Travelers 1
The Naturals got a run-scoring bunt and bases clearing double by Donnie Dewees in the second inning and made that stand up for the win.
Starter Emilio Ogando earned his second Double-A victory despite just one strikeout. The lefty spun six innings while navigating around six hits thanks to six groundouts which included a pair of double plays. From there, relievers Reid Redman and Sam Selman shut the door, with Selman striking out four hitters in just 1.2 innings.
The first place Naturals will attempt to finish off the four game series sweep tomorrow.
Donnie Dewees 1-5, 2b, 2 RBI
Elier Hernandez 1-3, R
Samir Duenez 0-5, K
Wilmington Blue Rocks 5, Potomac Nationals 2
The Blue Rocks kept their winning ways going in Potomac on Wednesday night, getting plenty of extra base pop along the way.
The Rocks offense connected for seven doubles and a home run from Chris DeVito to put five runs across despite a 4 for 18 night with runners in scoring position. Second baseman D.J. Burt came through with a pair of doubles that plated solo runs in the seventh and ninth innings to push out their advantage.
The Royals 2016 2nd round pick A.J. Puckett was the beneficiary of all the offense as the right-handed starter found a groove after allowing a first-inning solo home run. From there, the righty stayed on schedule, allowing just a fourth inning walk before a double in the sixth came around to score.
Reliever Gabe Cramer earned the save while striking out four over the final 2.2 innings. Those four K’s pumped the righties total to 22 on the season in just 11.2 innings of work while sporting a sub 1 WHIP.
Gabe Cramer 2.2 IP, 1 H, o R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 2-2 GO-FO
A.J. Puckett 6.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 12-0 GO-FO
D.J. Burt 3-5, 2-2b, 2 RBI, SB (12)