A 2-1 Memorial Day for the affiliates with a day off at Double-A.
HR Roll Call: Gabe Cancel (4)
BPKC Hitter of the Day: Ramon Torres 2-4, 2b, 4 RBI
BPKC Pitcher of the Day: Jace Vines 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 7-5 GO-FO, 98p/64k
Omaha Storm Chasers 10, Round Rock Express 8
One of those windy Werner days led to an interesting game on Monday between Omaha and Round Rock.
The Chasers offense kept their groove with another 10-hit day. Rangers pitcher Tyson Ross struggled with the strikezone during his entire outing, hitting the zone with just 39 of 86 pitches which led to five of Omaha’s seven walks. Those walks, combined with six hits, helped Omaha score six runs after just three innings to build a five run lead.
The Express used the wind to their advantage to claw back into the game, hitting four homers on the day including a three-run shot from Drew Stubbs in the fifth off starter Josh Staumont, and a two-run homer off Scott Alexander in the next inning to tie the game at 6-6.
Despite the mid-game tie, the Chasers kept their winning ways going, coming up with a four spot in their half of the sixth. Shortstop Ramon Torres came through with the big hit in the inning, a two-run double that also moved Dean Anna to third. A sacrifice fly from Hunter Dozier on the very next at-bat would plate Anna to push the Omaha advantage to 10-6.
Lefty reliever Brian Flynn would give up a two-run home run in the seventh before settling in, combining with Al Alburquerque over the final three innings to secure the fifth consecutive win for Omaha.
Josh Staumont 5 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 2 HR, 6-2 GO-FO, 84p/41k
Brian Flynn 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1-1 GO-FO, 27p/21k
Ramon Torres 2-4, 2b, 4 RBI
Potomac Nationals 3, Wilmington Blue Rocks 2
The Blue Rocks attempted another come from behind win, but came up short this time versus Potomac.
The Rocks trailed Potomac 3-0 after a three-run fifth inning versus starter Cristian Castillo. The lefty, who had put up zeroes to that point, got touched up by top Nationals prospect, Victor Robles, with a two-run home run to left. Quickly after the homer, the Nationals followed with a double and a single to push the third run across and put the Rocks in another hole.
As Wilmington had all series long though, they mounted a comeback, scoring a run in the seventh on a Nicky Lopez single and another in the eighth to limit the deficit to just one run.
The Rocks would quickly get the tying run into scoring position in the ninth after Lopez walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch with no out in the inning, but the next three batters would go down in order leaving Lopez stranded at third.
Nicky Lopez 1-3, RBI, 2BB
Cristian Castillo 6 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, 4-4 GO-FO, 87p/58k
Roman Collins 1-3, R, 2b, BB
Lexington Legends 6, Asheville Tourists 2
The Legends received another good start from Jace Vines and some late insurance runs for their first win of the year in Asheville.
Playing in the cozy park, the Legends jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning on back to back doubles from Angelo Castellano and Kort Peterson. That lead was quickly erased in the home half, though, when the Tourists used three singles to plate a run.
The teams would exchange zeroes from there until the sixth inning when Legends second baseman Gabe Cancel would homer to break the 1-1 tie. The game stayed there until the Legends tacked on four runs in the eighth, getting three doubles sandwiched around a walk to plate three runs. Marten Gasparini singled in the fourth and final run in the inning.
A solo home run by Asheville in the eighth would cap the game’s scoring before reliever Walker Sheller and Grant Gavin shut the door for Lexington.
Gabe Cancel 1-4, HR
Manny Olloque 1-2, R, 2BB
Rudy Martin 2-3, R, 2b, 2 RBI