HR Roll Call: Frank Schwindel (22), Khalil Lee (17), Joe Dudek (9), Reed Rohlman (4), Cal Jones (3)

BPKC Hitter of the Day: Frank Schwindel 3-3 2R, HR, BB

BPKC Pitcher of the Day: Travis Eckert 7 IP 2 H 1 R 1 ER 3 BB 3 K 7-6 GO-FO 86p/50k

Round Rock Express 10 Omaha Storm Chasers 3

Chasers pitchers didn’t have much luck limiting Round Rock’s offense on Monday night, allowing 18 hits and a pair of walks in a 10-3 romp. Starter Onelki Garcia got touched up early and often, allowing eight runs in the first three innings of this one. It was a run of singles with just two extra base hits allowed, but it was death by many cuts of the two Chasers pitchers.

On offense Frank Schwindel led the way with another big night on offense, going 3 for 3 while hitting his 22nd home run of the season.

Boxscore Link

Frank Schwindel 3-3 2R, HR, BB
Raul Mondesi 0-3
Ramon Torres 0-4
Hunter Dozier 1-3 R, 2b, BB

Lexington Legends 3 Asheville Tourists 2

Starter Travis Eckert had a solid night, allowing just a second inning run while allowing only two singles over seven innings. With that quality pitching, the Legends offense rewarded him with three runs. After Vance Vizcaino scored on a two out error in the fourth inning Joe Dudek homered in the fifth and Khalil Lee went deep in the sixth to give Lexington a 3-1 lead.

Reliever Collin Snider gave up a solo home run in the eighth, but finished off the game to secure his first save for Lexington.

Boxscore Link

Emmanuel Rivera 1-3 BB
Khalil Lee 1-4 HR
Gabe Cancel 0-4 K

Grand Junction Rockies 17 Idaho Falls Chukars 6

A rough night of pitching for the Chukars with all three pitchers giving up four runs or more in a blowout at the hands of the Rockies rookie squad.

The Chukars squad couldn’t match the power the opposition put up connecting on four doubles compared to the nine extra base hits by Grand Junction including three home runs.

Boxscore Link

Amalani Fukofuka 0-4 R, BB
Travis Jones 3-5 2R, 2b, RBI

Bluefield Blue Jays 12 Burlington Royals 4

The Blue Jays kept the Royals offense at bay thanks to 15 strikeouts spread among their four pitchers.

The Royals hit a pair of home runs, but had limited opportunities to score beyond that, going 1 for 4 with runners in scoring position. This while Bluefield connected often with an 8 for 18 effort, scoring a run on all four Royals pitchers.

Boxscore Link

Cal Jones 2-5 HR, 3 RBI
Seuly Matias 1-4 3K

AZL Royals 5 AZL Padres 1

A couple relievers followed up starter Charlie Neuweiler with scoreless work after the 2017 draftee tossed four and one-third innings of one run ball. The right-handed 5th round pick allowed five baserunners in his time, allowing the one run allowed on three mistakes that he made in the third inning. In that inning, Neuweiler hit the leadoff man, Denzell Gowdy, advanced him on a pickoff throwing error and then uncorked a wild pitch that allowed him to score once he had moved to third on a groundout.

The game was tied at 1-1 until the ninth when the Royals plated four runs, two of which came in on a Cristian Perez double.

Boxscore Link

Cristian Perez 2-4 2b, 3 RBI
MJ Melendez 1-4 3b, BB
Nick Pratto 0-3 BB

DSL Astros Blue 3 DSL Royals 2

The Royals fell behind when three straight singles in the third inning led to a pair of Astros Blue runs. After a fourth inning sac fly and a rbi single in the seventh by Paul Mondesi tied the game up the Astros reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the seventh on their own sacrifice fly. The Royals threatened in the eighth but failed to score before going down in order in the ninth to take the loss.

Boxscore Link

Angel Zerpa 3.2 Ip 2 H 1 R 1 ER 4 BB 2 K HBP 2-2 GO-FO
Kember Nacero 0-4

HR Roll Call: Chris Hudgins (2), Paul Mondesi (1)

BPKC Hitter of the Day: Chris Hudgins 2-4 HR, 2b, 3 RBI

BPKC Pitcher of the Day: Eric Skoglund 5.2 IP 4 H 0 R 0 ER 1 BB 9 K 3-3 GO-FO 99p/70k

Omaha Storm Chasers 1 Oklahoma City Dodgers 0

The Chasers received outstanding pitching and a late inning double to win a 1-0 game in Omaha. It was Eric Skoglund spinning five and two-third innings scoreless to start while matching his season high for strikeouts for the second consecutive start while spreading out four hits in that time. Relievers Kevin Lenik and Sam Selman matched Skoglund’s output with three scoreless innings and Frank Schwindel doubled in Paulo Orlando for the game’s only run in the seventh.

The 1-0 game broke a streak of 38 straight games at Werner Park with at least one home run.

Boxscore Link

Eric Skoglund 5.2 IP 4 H 0 R 0 ER 1 BB 9 K 3-3 GO-FO 99p/70k
Ramon Torres 0-4 K
Raul Mondesi 1-3 BB, K, SB (19)
Paulo Orlando 2-3 R, 2b, BB
Frank Schwindel 1-3 2b, RBI
Bubba Starling 1-2 OF Assist

Bellissimo! pic.twitter.com/EqbXwcc4yc

— Omaha Storm Chasers (@OMAStormChasers) August 16, 2017

Midland RockHounds 4 NW Arkansas Naturals 3 F/10

The Naturals connected on plenty of hits against Baseball Prospectus #23 overall prospect A.J. Puk coming up with eight in five and one-third, but could push just two runs across in that time off the lefty. Shortstop Nicky Lopez, who had four hits, singled in a run in the fourth and Logan Moon drove home Samir Duenez in the fifth. It was Moon’s double in the seventh that drove home Duenez again to tie the game at 3-3.

The game stood there until the tenth frame when Midland got a walk and a pair of two out singles off reliever Richard Lovelady to walk it off for the A’s Double-A affiliate.

Boxscore Link

Samir Duenez 3-5 2R, 2b
Nicky Lopez 4-6 RBI, CS
Richard Lovelady 1.2 IP 3 H 1 R 1 ER 1 BB 2 K
Ryan O’Hearn 0-5 3K
Anderson Miller 0-5 4K

West Virginia Power 3 Lexington Legends 2

Starter Gerson Garabito continues to work his way back to full strength while simultaneously doing solid work for Lexington. Entering the game with just a 1.71 ERA, Garabito gave up just two unearned first inning runs in his five innings of work. The Power’s only hit off Garabito came in that first as an error, a walk and the single loaded the bases before a balk and a ground out scored the two runs. From there he retired 12 of the final 13 hitters he would face, striking out six on the evening.

The Legends evened the game in the fourth after Emmanuel Rivera and Gabel Cancel started the inning with hits and came home on Meibrys Viloria’s ground out and Angelo Castellano’s rbi single. The game stayed tied until the ninth inning when Vance Tatum gave up a run in the last inning to let West Virginia walk the game off.

Boxscore Link

Khalil Lee 0-3 BB, K
Michael Gigliotti 0-2 BB, 2K
Emmanuel Rivera 1-4 R
Gabe Cancel 1-4 R, 2b
Gerson Garabito 5 IP 1 H 2 R 0 ER 2 BB 6 K 69p/43k 5-2 GO-FO

Billings Mustangs 7 Idaho Falls Chukars 5

Seven runs off reliever Jeremy Gwinn turned a 3-0 lead by Idaho Falls into a deficit and an eventual loss for the Chukars. Two runs were scored by Idaho Falls in the eighth and the tying runs were put on in the ninth but they were stranded in the loss.

Boxscore Link

Travis Jones 2-4 BB
Amalani Fukofuka 1-5 RBI

Burlington Royals 6 Danville Braves 2 

Third round pick Dan Tillo gave his squad five solid innings and the bottom of the order keyed the way for a win against Danville. After a scoreless first inning, Jeison Guzman walked prior to a pair of singles by Jesus Atencio and Jose Marquez.  Those hitters came around to score on a Cal Jones single that plated Guzman and Atencio prior to a wild pitching scoring Marquez to give Burlington a 3-0 lead. An error in the third would lead to a run off Tillo before an earned run in the fourth off Tillo as the lefty would work five innings while striking out five and earning his second win for the squad.

The Royals scored three more runs in the late innings and three pitchers combined to work the final four innings scoreless.

Boxscore Link

Seuly Matias 0-3 RBI, BB
Jeison Guzman 1-2 R, 2BB
Sebastian Rivero 1-4 RBI
Dan Tillo 5 IP 6 H 2 R 1 ER 0 BB 5 K 7-1 GO-FO 71p/48k
Tyler Zuber 1 IP 0 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 2 K

AZL White Sox 1 AZL Royals 0

The Royals lost a shortened game due to a power outage after Charlie Neuweiler gave up the game’s only run in the bottom of the fifth. Righty Andy Ferguson pitched the first inning to start his rehab back, his last appearance was August 13th of last year.

Boxscore Link

Nick Pratto 0-2 K 9 game hitting streak snapped
MJ Melendez 1-2 2b
Charlie Neuweiler 4 IP 4 H 1 R 1 ER 0 BB 1 K 7-1 GO-FO

DSL Royals 3 DSL Rays 1
DSL Rays 5 DSL Royals 3 

The Royals and Rays split a doubleheader on Tuesday. Starter Angel Zerpa navigated four innings with just one run allowed despite seven hits allowed in that time. The Royals scored a pair of runs on Paul Mondesi’s second inning home run in that time and reliever Adrain Alcantara tossed three innings of one hit ball to earn the win.

In the second game, the Rays Yunior Martinez ran wild, stealing three bases and scoring two runs while driving in another. The Royals couldn’t overcome a pair of runs the Rays scored in the sixth to stretch their lead to 5-2.

Boxscore Link G1
Boxscore Link G2

HR Roll Call: Jack Lopez (3)

BPKC Hitter of the Day: Nick Dini 3-4, R, 2b, 2 RBI

BPKC Pitcher of the Day: Kevin Lenik 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 42p/27k, 1-0 GO-FO

Player movement 
— Michael Gigliotti promoted to Lexington Legends from Burlington.
— Pitcher Andres Sotillet and catcher Michael Arroyo sent to Burlington from Arizona.
— Outfielder Yeison Melo sent to Wilmington from Lexington.
— 2017 seventh round pick Brewer Hicklen has been promoted from Arizona to Idaho Falls.

Memphis Redbirds 3, Omaha Storm Chasers 2 F/10

The Chasers tied last night’s game in the fifth inning on a groundout by Frank Schwindel but could do no more offensively in dropping an extra inning game. Both teams’ bullpens pitched well, with the Royals newly found reliever Kevin Lenik tossing three innings of shutout baseball. The reliever that the Royals snagged from Independent ball who throws in the mid-90s, struck out four hitters  to push his season total to 28 whiffs in 25.2 innings.

With the game tied into the tenth, recently promoted Jake Newberry struggled in his Triple-A debut. He walked the first two hitters he faced before a pair of one out singles walked things off for Memphis.

Boxscore Link

Raul Mondesi 2-4
Jorge Soler 0-2, 3 BB
Frank Schwindel 1-5, 2 RBI
Ryan O’Hearn 0-4, 3K

NW Arkansas Naturals 6, Midland RockHounds 4

The Naturals put together a late comeback against the Midland bullpen for the second straight night to defeat the Double-A Athletics affiliate. Trailing 4-3, the Naturals loaded the bases when Midland’s reliever plunked a pair of hitters and the manager chose to walk Humberto Arteaga.

In that situation, Anderson Miller drove in one run to tie the game by legging to first on a force out to keep his squad out of the double play. One hitter later Nick Dini doubled to the right field corner, driving in two runs that would eventually give NW Arkansas the win.

Boxscore Link

Nick Dini 3-4, R, 2b, RBI
Samir Duenez 1-4, K
Donnie Dewees 0-3, R
Paulo Orlando 1-4
Yunior Marte 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 24p/17k

Down East Wood Ducks 7, Wilmington Blue Rocks 5

The Blue Rocks scored three runs in the eighth inning to tie a game at five, but the bullpen couldn’t keep the Rangers High-A squad off the board to drop another game to Down East. In that inning, Jecksson Flores plated two runs with a single, prior to Chris DeVito scoring him with a single of his own.

However in the eighth, recently promoted Jose Veras gave up three consecutive hits to start the inning to put Wilmington back behind and eventually drop the game.

Boxscore Link

Nick Heath 2-5, 2R
Brandon Downes 1-3, R, 2b, RBI

Asheville Tourists 3, Lexington Legends 2 F/10

Both teams were able to navigate around plenty of baserunners in scoring position until Lexington’s Matt Wynne gave up an extra inning hit that allowed Asheville to walk the game off. A combined 2 for 31 effort with runners in scoring position highlighted the game. Kansas native Riley Pint struck out five Legends hitters in 5.1 innings while hitting 100 mph on the gun.

Boxscore Link

Khalil Lee 2-4, 2-2b, RBI, BB, 2K
Gabe Cancel 1-3, 2b, BB
Emmanuel Rivera 1-4, K

Billings Mustangs 14, Idaho Falls Chukars 9

The Chukars lost a slugfest as the first two pitchers on the mound for Idaho Falls gave up 12 runs (6 ER) over five innings. Those runs couldn’t be overcome by Idaho Falls despite seven hits by the top three hitters in the order.

Boxscore Link

Amalani Fukofuka 2-5, 2R, 2b, 2 RBI
Matt Morales 3-5, 3R

Pulaski Yankees 2, Burlington Royals 1

The Royals outhit their opponent but couldn’t get the timely hits in their loss to the Yankees. Starter Dan Tillo struck out five in five innings and gave up just two hits, but walks gave the pitcher a loss. The former Iowa Western starter walked a pair of hitters to start the second inning prior to a bunt single loading the bases with no outs. A pair of ground outs would score two runs to put Burlington behind and their 1 for 11 performance with runners in scoring put another L in the loss column.

Boxscore Link

Dan Tillo 5 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 62p/35k, 7-3 GO-FO
Seuly Matias 0-3, BB, 2K
Jeison Guzman 0-3, k
Sebastian Rivero 0-4, k

DSL Red Sox 1, DSL Royals 0

The Royals 17-year-old lefty Angel Zerpa continued his quality pitching on Wednesday, tossing six shutout innings. The pitcher the team paid $100k to last year earned eleven ground outs off the bats of Red Sox hitters while striking out three hitters and allowing just a pair of singles. The lefty retired the first eleven hitters he faced before giving up a groundball single in the fourth.

The Royals offense couldn’t get the big hit they needed, going 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position which gave them the loss when the Red Sox scored a run in the ninth on a two out triple.

Boxscore Link

Angel Zerpa 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 11-2 GO-FO
Rubendy Jacquez 2-3, BB

HR Roll Call: Jorge Soler (15), Cheslor Cuthbert (2), Jonathan McCray (6), Dennicher Carrasco (6), Sebastian Rivero (3), Cal Jones (1)

BPKC Hitter of the Day: Jorge Soler 2-4 2 HR 3 RBI

How strong is Soler Power? Enough to untie a game. pic.twitter.com/Gx52xDIF7d

— Omaha Storm Chasers (@OMAStormChasers) July 21, 2017

BPKC Pitcher of the Day: Angel Zerpa 6 IP 5 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 10 K 1-4 GO-FO

Omaha Storm Chasers 6 Colorado Springs Sky Sox 4

A pair of players some figured would contribute on the big league roster led the way for Omaha Thursday night. Infielder Cheslor Cuthbert had two hits including his first home run for the Chasers this season. That home run went well with Jorge Soler’s two home runs including a bomb to center in the ninth that broke a 4-4 tie. Reliever Eric Stout was just that, working a perfect ninth with a pair of strikeouts.

Boxscore Link

Jorge Soler 2-4 2 HR, 3 RBI
Cheslor Cuthbert 2-3 2R, HR, BB
Cam Gallagher 2-4 RBI
Ryan O’Hearn 2-4 R, 2b
Miguel Almonte 2.1 IP 2 H 0 R 0 ER 2 BB 1 K
Eric Stout 1 IP 0 H 0 R 0 BB 2 K 12p/7k

Tulsa Drillers 2 NW Arkansas Naturals 1

The Naturals couldn’t get much done on offense with three hitters in the lineup collecting hits but the rest coming up empty. Starter Glenn Sparkman tossed five shutout innings, but Jake Kalish couldn’t match that effort, giving up a pair of two out hits to allow both Tulsa runs.

Boxscore Link

Samir Duenez 2-4 RBI
Donnie Dewees 0-4
Nicky Lopez 0-4

Frederick Keys 8 Wilmington Blue Rocks 2

The Rocks pitchers were tuned up for eight total runs while the offense couldn’t keep pace on their end, going 2 for 7 with runners in scoring position to push just two runs across. Second baseman Jon McCray, getting some play after a push from Idaho Falls, hit his second home run in as many games, but it wasn’t enough for the Rocks.

Boxscore Link

Chris DeVito 1-4 RBI
Brandon Downes 2-4 R, 2b
Chase Vallot 0-4 4K

Columbia Fireflies 4 Lexington Legends 0

The league’s top pitching squad continued to dominate the South Atlantic League’s top offense as Columbia shutout Lexington and limited them to just three singles on the night. Lefty Andre Davis took the tough luck loss despite giving up just one run in his five innings.

Boxscore Link

Andre Davis 5 IP 6 H 1 R 1 ER 0 BB 5 K 6-3 GO-FO 93p/59k
Emmanuel Rivera 0-3 BB
Marten Gasparini 2-3

Helena Brewers 7 Idaho Falls Chukars 4

The Chukars relief pitcher Christopher Marte couldn’t keep the Helena Brewers bats silent, losing a 4-1 lead with six runs allowed from the sixth through eighth innings. Starter Janser Lara is still working his way back to full strength and was limited in his pitch count, which ended his day at three and one-third innings when his control wavered with three walks allowed.

Boxscore Link

Janser Lara 3.1 IP 2 H 1 R 1 ER 3 Bb 3 K 4-1 GO-FO 59p/35k
Amalani Fukofuka 1-3 R, BB, SB (18)

Burlington Royals 8 Johnson City Cardinals 1

Starter Sal Biasi limited the opponent to just two hits to earn his first Appy League win. The Royals 11th round pick has allowed just 12 hits in 21.2 innings since being drafted, but will need to miss more bats as he climbs the chain.

The Royals offense backed the starter with plenty of pop from the bats as the Royals knocked three home runs including a grand slam from centerfielder Cal Jones. The offense scored eight runs despite going 3 for 14 with runners in scoring position.

Boxscore Link

Seuly Matias 2-5 2b
Sebastian Rivero 2-4 HR
Cal Jones 1-4 HR, 4 RBI
Dennicher Carrasco 1-4 HR

DSL Royals 4 DSL Astros 2

The Royals got a pair of early runs and an outstanding start from Angel Zerpa before hanging on with their All-Star reliever on the mound. The 17-year-old Zerpa was dominant, striking out 10 in six innings while working around five hits. The Royals tacked on a couple runs in the eighth thanks to doubles by Warling Vicente and Edickson Soto to push their lead to 4-0 which came in handy as Kelvin Gonzalez struggled with his control, walking three and allowing two runs before earning the save.

Boxscore Link

Angel Zerpa 6 IP 5 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 10 K 1-4 GO-FO
Kelvin Gonzalez 3 IP 2 H 2 R 1 ER 3 Bb 1 K
Warling Vicente 1-3 2R, 2b, BB