HR Roll Call: Jorge Bonifacio (11), Bubba Starling (5), Jonathan McCray (1)

BP KC Hitter of the Day – Colton Frabasilio 4-4, 3R 3-2b, 2 RBI, BB

BP KC Pitcher of the Day – Andres Sotillet 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 10-2 GO-FO

New Orleans Zephyrs 9 Omaha Storm Chasers 3

Miguel Almonte’s struggles in 2016 continued Thursday, giving up a solo home run in the first and two more runs in the second while struggling with the zone as usual. The righty walked four while falling victim to Robert Andino’s big night at the plate. Andino went 3 for 5 with two solo home runs and a two run double to account for four of the nine Zephyr runs. All four Chasers pitchers gave up runs, with only Brooks Pounders looking effective as he struck out seven in three innings on the hill. The offense had nine hits but went just 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position. Alex Gordon went 2 for 5 with a pair of RBI in his first rehab game with the Chasers.

Boxscore Link

Alex Gordon 2-5, 2 RBI
Jorge Bonifacio 1-5, HR
Ramon Torres 2-5, 2R, 2b, 3b

Tulsa Drillers 4 NW Arkansas Naturals 3

Two late home runs spoiled an otherwise solid Matt Strahm start and cost the Naturals their first game of the second half. The lefty was spinning for much of the game, allowing just five hits and one run through 6.2 innings while walking zero and striking out four. Just one out away from tying a season and career-high seven innings, Strahm gave up a double just prior to Cody Bellinger blasting a first-pitch home run to tie the game and push Strahm to the bench. With the game even, the Naturals were unable to threaten from there, leaving them with a loss after Drillers Jacob Scavuzzo hit a solo walk-off home run. All three Naturals runs came in the fourth, and included Bubba Starling’s first home run since May 1st.

Boxscore Link

Bubba Starling 1-4, HR
Matt Strahm 6.2 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 6-4 GO-FO, 87p/60k
Corey Toups 2-5, 2 RBI

Winston-Salem Dash 9 Wilmington Blue Rocks 2 

The Rocks pitching staff got knocked around in their first game back from the All-Star break. Starter Zach Lovelorn and relievers Luis Rico and Brennan Henry each gave up five hits and multiple runs. Rico gave up four extra base hits including a two run home run in just 1.2 innings. Coming into the contest, the Rocks were averaging just one run per game during Lovvorn starts and the low scoring trend continued with the scoring coming from a two-run double in eighth from new arrival Samir Duenez.

Boxscore Link

Zach Lovvorn 4.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
Cody Jones 1-4, R, BB
Samir Duenez 2-4, 2b, RBI

Lexington Legends

Rained out

Idaho Falls Chukars 11 Orem Owlz 7

The Chukars won a slugfest in the series finale over Orem, pounding out 17 hits on their way to a win. Four Idaho Falls starters had three hits or more including Colton Frasbillo who went 4 for 4 with a pair of doubles, three runs scored and two driven in. Both teams starting pitchers gave up 10 hits with the Royals version, Arnaldo Hernandez, allowing four runs in 4.2 innings against just one strikeout. Idaho Falls tallied in innings two through sixth before getting blanked in the seventh. They mounted a comeback with a four run eighth to break a 7-7 tie and put the game away.

Boxscore Link

Meibrys Villoria 3-4, 2R, 2-2b, 3b, BB, 2 RBI, SB
Yeison Melo 3-5, 2b, 2R
Manny Olloque 2-5, R, 3b, 2 RBI, SB

Princeton Rays 7 Burlington Royals 4

Burlington’s starting pitcher struggled in their season opener, putting the team in a 7-0 hole. With just one hit through four innings, second baseman Jonathan McCray got the offense on the board with a three run home run in the fifth. That woke up the Royals offense the rest of the way as they put up six more hits and three walks. Unfortunately, they could plate just one more run. Starter Cristian Castillo gave up eight hits and seven runs (5 ER) in 4.2 innings.

Boxscore Link

Vance “Moonlight” Tatum 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
Vance Vizcaino 2-4, R, OF assist
Jonathan McCray 2-4, HR, 3 RBI

AZL Royals 11 AZL Reds 1

Ashe Russell pitched his first game since last summer, working a perfect inning with one K to help the AZL Royals breeze to a win over the Reds. The Royals batted through the order in the first, putting five runs on the board while adding another in the secon to put a strangle on the game early. With Russell working a perfect first and Luke Farrell following behind with three scoreless and six K’s during his rehab work, the game was pretty much over. For good measure though, the Royals tacked on a pair of runs in the seventh and three more in the ninth to balloon the lead to 11-1. 2015 International signee Seuly Matias went 2 for 4 with three driven in.

Boxscore Link

Jeison Guzman 2-5, 2R
Robby Rinn 1-5, 3R, HR, 2RBI
Dillon Drabble 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 6-1 GO-FO

DSL Royals 2 DSL Marlins 1

The DSL Royals received a one-hit starting pitching performance from Andres Sotillet, a 19 year old Venezuelan, during their game Thursday. The offense rewarded Sotillet with a two-run sixth to earn the victory. In that sixth, a walk and a single came prior to a Freddy Fermin double that scored one run and pushed another to third base. That baserunner would score one batter later on a wild pitch to give the Royals a 2-0 lead. Sotillet would pitch the sixth with a perfect inning, finishing his effort with eight consecutive retired and 18 of 20 on the day. Reliever Francis Chavez would finish the final three innings with just a unearned run allowed to earn his second save of the season.

Boxscore Link

Andres Sotillet 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 10-2 GO-FO
Freddy Fermin 3-4, 2b, RBI
Angel Medina 1-4, R