HR Roll Call: None

BPKC Hitter of the Day: Elier Hernandez 3-4, 2-2b, 3 RBI 

BPKC Pitcher of the Day: Scott Blewett 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 9-6 GO-FO

NW Arkansas Naturals 6, Arkansas Travelers 2

After encountering a finger injury in his last start on May 7th, Miguel Almonte was back out there for the Naturals to continue building on his strong start to the season.

The righty worked 3.2 innings, allowing one run when a passed ball allowed one of his runners he left for reliever Ashton Goudeau to score. Overall, it was a decent outing for Almonte, tossing a few extra pitches due to three infield singles extending innings, getting his pitch count to 63 in that time on the hill.

Newly promoted outfielder Elier Hernandez had a big day at the plate, doubling and driving in a pair in the first inning, then doubling in the third to drive in another as part of the six run night for the NW Arkansas offense.

Boxscore Link

Samir Duenez 2-3, 3R, 2b, 2BB
Frank Schwindel 2-4, R, RBI
Sam Selman 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1-0 GO-FO, 16p/10k

Wilmington Blue Rocks 2, Potomac Nationals 0

A week after getting knocked around by the P-Nats, starter Scott Blewett put together one of his better pitching performances of the season.

Working a season-high seven innings, Blewett navigated around a pair of doubles and a single to toss scoreless baseball while on the hill. The righty navigated around catcher Taylor Gushue with a pair of walks after he homered off him twice in his last start. The six strikeouts also tied a season high.

The Rocks got the game’s only runs with a Cody Jones triple and RBI groundout by Nate Esposito in the fifth, and a throwing error that allowed Roman Collins to score in the sixth.

Outfielder Anderson Miller extended his on-base streak to 30 games while shortstop Nicky Lopez pushed his to 16 games.

Boxscore Link

Franco Terrero 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1-2 GO-FO
Cody Jones 2-4, R, 3b
Nicky Lopez 1-4, BB

Augusta GreenJackets 2, Lexington Legends 1

It wasn’t the perfect game that he tossed last time out versus the Legends, but it was still a quality outing for Giants Domenic Mazza.

The lefty spun seven innings of one-run ball and combined with his bullpen to limit Lexington to just 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position. He earned the win after his offense got a pair of runs off Lexington reliever Ofreidy Gomez in the seventh.

The runs came despite just one single allowed when Gomez gave up a walk, a balk, and a wild pitch before committing an error to give up the lead run.

The runs off Gomez ruined Garrett Davila’s best outing of the year, with the lefty spinning six scoreless innings with a season-high six strikeouts.

Boxscore Link

Garrett Davila 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 5-4 GO-FO, 76p/45k
Gabriel Cancel 2-4, R
Nick Dini 2-4, 2b, RBI

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.

Boxscore Link

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.

Boxscore Link

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.

Boxscore Link

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

HR Roll Call: Cheslor Cuthbert (7), Hunter Dozier (8), Travis Maezes (2)

BP KC Hitter of the Day – Cheslor Cuthbert 2-3, HR, BB

BP KC Pitcher of the Day – Ashton Goudeau 8 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 11 K, 91 p/63 strikes

Omaha Storm Chasers 5 Memphis Redbirds 3

A four run 4th inning led to the Chasers salvaging the final game of their three game series with Memphis on Thursday. In that 4th the Chasers got started with a solo home run from Cheslor Cuthbert, his seventh of the young season, before a bases loaded, two out error scored one and allowed Clint Barmes to come to bat. The former major leaguer delivered with a two run single to push the advantage to 4-2 which proved to enough for starter Brooks Pounders and the bullpen to complete the win. It appears Pounders is making a push for a PCL All Star bid, improving to 3-0 while striking out 10.2 hitters per 9.

Boxscore Link

Brooks Pounders 6.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, ERA of 2.73
Clint Barmes 2-4, 2 RBI
Brian Duensing 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K

NW Arkansas Naturals 3 Springfield Cardinals 2

Another big, late inning home run from Hunter Dozier allowed the Naturals to beat first place Springfield Thursday. Starter Alec Mills had another impressive start despite the no decision, giving the Naturals 7 innings of work while allowing just two runs and matching his season high with nine strikeouts. Trailing 2-1 in the 8th, Springfield went with reliever Kurt Heyer for the righty on righty matchup with Dozier. Things didn’t work out well for the Cardinals as Dozier blasted his organizational-leading eighth home run of the year to give NW Arkansas the lead and the eventual win. The former 1st round pick played his sixth game in left-field during the young season, perhaps in an effort to increase the Royals’ options in the coming seasons.

Boxscore Link

Alec Mills 7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, 7-2 GO-FO, 97P/65 strikes
Ryan O’Hearn 1-4
Mauricio Ramos 3-4, 2b, R

Wilmington Blue Rocks 4 Myrtle Beach Pelicans 0

Manager Jamie Quirk challenged the Blue Rock pitching staff to throw strikes after watching the team walk 24 hitters during the two previous games. Starter Ashton Goudeau heard the challenge and rose to it, striking out a career high 11 over eight innings, while allowing just six hits to help break the Rocks 12 game losing streak. The Rocks offense pieced together four runs with a two run single from Brandon Downes in the 1st and a two run triple by Wander Franco in the 7th. The triple for Franco extended his hitting streak to six games. The third baseman is exclusively batting from the right side again after injuring his shoulder. The win for Wilmington was just its second at home this season.

Boxscore Link

Alfredo Escalera 2-5, 2R, SB (2)
Wander Franco 1-2, 3b, 2BB, 2 RBI
Chad Johnson 3-4, 2b

Lexington Legends 7 Delmarva Shorebirds 5

The Legends offense made good late after their defense didn’t help starter Foster Griffin much in his time on the mound. After working three perfect innings Griffin’s defense let him down in the 4th with a leadoff error by Travis Maezes and a couple plays that resulted in hits that could’ve been outs, leading to a pair of runs. Again, in the 5th a throwing error by Chase Vallot on what should have been the last out of the inning led to two more runs and a 4-1 deficit. The offense would get back two of those runs in the 5th on Maezes second home run in as many games played. After a pair of scoreless innings the Legends completed their comeback in the eighth with a squib double down the right-field line off the bat of Amalani Fukofuka that scored two to give them their first lead since the 4th inning. A Delmarva throwing error on Ben Johnson’s infield single turned into two more runs and a 7-4 cushion that the bullpen was able to hold onto for the win.

Boxscore Link

Foster Griffin 5.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 9-0 GO-FO, 96p/63 strikes
Franco Terrera 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K – 3 consecutive scoreless outings
Travis Maezes 1-3, HR, 2 RBI