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 Amalani Fukofuka (4), Robby Rinn (2), Jonathan McCray (1)

BPKC Hitter of the Day: Amalani Fukofuka 3-5 3R, 2-2b, HR, 3 RBI

BPKC Pitcher of the Day: Jake Kalish 6 H 3 H 1 R 1 ER 0 BB 5 K 7-1 GO-FO 61p/42k

Arkansas Travelers 1 NW Arkansas Naturals 0

The Naturals offense was held scoreless despite outhitting Arkansas nine to three, snapping their nine-game road winning streak in the process.

Those nine hits don’t tell the whole story as the Naturals had very few opportunities to actually score, getting a runner in scoring position in the second, sixth and eighth innings while never getting there with fewer than two outs. Each time, the Naturals offense would come up empty.

Starter Jake Kalish would take the tough luck loss despite giving his squad six quality innings. The lefthander allowed just three hits, but the Travelers paired two of them together in the second with a leadoff double and a one-out single to score the only run they would need.

Boxscore Link

Zach Lovvorn 2 IP 0 H 0 R 0 Bb 2 K 1-2 GO-FO 27p/18k
Logan Moon 3-4
Alfredo Escalera 1-4 SB (7)

Idaho Falls Chukars 15 Grand Junction Rockies 5

The Chukars blew open a 5-5 game with 10 runs over the final two innings to earn at least a series split in Grand Junction.

Each team’s starter gave up five runs before hard-throwing righthander Janser Lara settled things down for Idaho Falls. In his first appearance for the Chukars, Lara worked four and two-thirds scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and working around four walks allowed thanks to eight punchouts. Reports had the righty working 92-94 mph while topping out near 95 mph and mixing in his curveball with regularity.

The Idaho Falls offense put six runs on the board in the eighth with three coming on a Robby Rinn three-run home run, his second of the young season for Idaho Falls. The visiting squad would tack on four more runs in the ninth with Rinn figuring in on one run with a rbi single in that inning.

Boxscore Link

Robby Rinn 3-5 HR, 5 RBI
Jon McCray 3-5 3R, HR
Janser Lara 4.2 IP 2 H 0 R 0 ER 4 Bb 8 K 2-3 GO-FO 80p/50k

HR Roll Call: Whit Merrifield (3), Ramon Torres (2), Logan Moon (1)

BPKC Hitter of the Day: Logan Moon 3-4, 3R, 2b, HR, 3 RBI, BB

BPKC Pitcher of the Day: Zach Lovvorn 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, 6-4 GO-FO, 81p/51k, 13 swinging strikes

Player Spotlight

If Zach Lovvorn’s first two starts are any indication, then I have him WAY too low in the Royals system. The righty has worked up to 94 mph, usually 91-93 mph, with his fastball that he can place on both sides of the plate and elevate when needed. That pitch is a nice average fastball, but it pairs well with his changeup that features good arm speed with sink and a solid 12-6 curveball with good shape that he can spot for strikes, or manipulate to dive out of the zone for a swing and a miss. The righty has so much confidence in his changeup that he will use it in any count and against same-sided hitters.

It’s just two starts so it is too early to change my rankings based on this, but if he continues to progress, then he will rank in the Royals Top 15 prospects and maybe even in the 5-10 range.

Omaha Storm Chasers 9 Round Rock Express 1

The Storm Chaser’s offense jumped out with a big night at the plate on Tuesday to cruise to an easy win. Six different Chaser hitters reached base two or more times with Whit Merrifield connecting on three hits, including his third home run already this season. In addition to Merrifield, designated hitter Jorge Bonifacio had a big night at the dish with a bases-loaded double to the left-center gap that plated three and another fielder’s choice to finish with four of Omaha’s nine RBI. Lefty Jon Dziedzic twirled another good start with 5.2 shutout innings with five strikeouts to earn his first win of the year. Working his fastball in the 87-89 range along with an upper 70’s change and mid 70’s curveball, Dziedzic kept Round Rock hitters off balance during his time on the mound.

Reliever Matt Strahm worked a quick inning, touching 96 mph with his fastball and working around a leadoff double.

Boxscore Link

Whit Merrifield 3-5, 2R, HR
Jorge Bonifacio 2-4, 2R, 2b, 3b, 4 RBI
Cam Gallagher 3-4, RBI

NW Arkansas Naturals 12 Corpus Christi 3

The Naturals had a big night at the plate as well, pounding out 17 hits and 12 runs with four players having multi-RBI nights. Outfielder Logan Moon broke a 0-10 start with eight strikeouts with a three-run home run in the second inning en route to a 3 for 4 night with three runs scored. The offensive effort backed Lovvorn, who had another outstanding night on the mound, working six innings with just one run allowed. The former 6th round pick struck out eight hitters for a second consecutive start, allowing just two hits and two walks on the night.

Boxscore Link

Samir Duenez 3-5, R, 3b, 2 RBI
Donald Dewees 3-4, 2R, RBI, 2BB
Evan Beal 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 0-3 GO-FO, 25p/17k

Wilmington Blue Rocks 3 Carolina Mudcats 2

The Rocks staged a late comeback to snap their three-game losing streak in the second game of their series with Carolina on Tuesday. Starter Cristian Castillo opened his season with a solid effort, allowing just two hits and an unearned run in his five innings while striking out five. The lefty is a control type pitcher, mixing at 86-89 with his solid change and curve to keep hitters off balance. Castillo earned 11 swinging strikes with the only run coming via a three-base error on a steal attempt when Chase Vallot uncorked a ball to center that Elier Hernandez misplayed which allowed the runner to come all the way home.

The Mudcats would give back a gift of their own in the seventh, when their shortstop’s error allowed Hernandez and Anderson Miller to score to give Wilmington the lead that their bullpen held for the win.

Boxscore Link

Cristian Castillo 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 52k/82p, 3-4 GO-FO
Chase Vallot 1-3, 2b, BB
Yunior Marte 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 19p/10k

Greenville Driver 4 Lexington Legends 3

The Legends staged a two run rally in the ninth inning in their second game of the Greenville series, but fell one run shy in defeat. Starter Nolan Watson, who lead the league in home runs allowed last season gave up two big flies in the first before settling in. The righty worked five innings with just three hits allowed, but the home runs over the Little Green Monster were enough to give Lexington the loss. Third baseman Emmanuel Rivera had a big night at the plate going 4 for 4 with a pair of doubles, but his first inning error extended the inning prior to the second home run off Watson.

Boxscore Link

Nolan Watson 5 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 6-4 GO-FO, 80p/43k
Meibrys Viloria 1-4, RBI
Emmanuel Rivera 4-4, R, 2-2b

HR Roll Call Logan Moon (4)

BP KC Hitter of the Day – Boo Vazquez 2-4 2b, 4 RBI

BP KC Pitcher of the Day – Darwin Feliz 5 IP 1 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 2 K 5-3 GO-FO

Nashville Sounds  Omaha Storm Chasers

Eliminated from the playoffs yesterday, the Storm Chasers looked as though they are ready for a long season to come to an end during their Tuesday afternoon game. Rehabbing Kris Medlen was shelled once again in his one and two-thirds innings of work, giving up a grand slam and a solo home run in that time. The two home runs for Medlen increased his total with Omaha to eight home runs allowed in his last 8.2 innings pitched with them. Lefty Jon Dziedzic gave up a two run home run in the fifth inning to push the Omaha deficit to 7-0. A pair of 2016 Oakland A’s, Daniel Mengden and Sean Doolittle, combined to rip through the Omaha lineup in their six innings of work before turning things to the rest of the Nashville bullpen to finish off the shutout.

Note – Both outfield coordinator Milt Thompson and Mitch Maier were in town, likely working with Hunter Dozier among others. The Royals 1st round pick from the 2013 draft hasn’t played third base since August 2nd in anticipation of a possible September call up and/or position switch during the 2017 season. The Royals staff and coaches I have talked to are very pleased with the transition that Dozier has made to the outfield, showing good movement to both sides while showing solid reads of the baseball in both right and left field. As a college shortstop, Dozier should have the athleticism to play the outfield at a competent level and with his worth ethic that is reminiscent of Alex Gordon’s, don’t be shocked if he’s the starting right fielder in 2017 in Kansas City.

Boxscore Link

Kris Medlen 1.2 IP 5 H 5 R 5 ER 2 HR 1 BB 0 K 3-0 GO-FO 34p/18k
Reymond Fuentes 1-4
Bubba Starling 1-4

Springfield Cardinals 9 NW Arkansas Naturals 5

Naturals starter Eric Skoglund was knocked around and reliever Miguel Almonte continued his abysmal season in Tuesday’s loss. Four home runs left the yard via Skoglund and another off of Almonte to put up nine runs in the first six innings. A sixth inning home run from Logan Moon got the Naturals started, but they came up four runs shy in their late inning comeback.

Note – The Royals promoted Samir Duenez to NW Arkansas from Wilmington after the 20 year old first baseman hit .300 with an .842 OPS in 56 games there. With the Naturals in a playoff chase, the move was likely to give Duenez that experience while also possibly adding to the Naturals lineup.

Boxscore Link

Samir Duenez 2-4 R, 2-2b, 2 RBI
Logan Moon 2-4 HR, 2 RBI
Eric Skoglund 5.1 IP 7 H 6 R 6 ER 2 BB 3 K 4 HR

Lynchburg Hillcats 8 Wilmington Blue Rocks 4

Another rough night for Foster Griffin as the lefty gave up 10 hits in just 3.1 innings on the way to his ninth loss at High-A this season. Outfielder Brandon Downes connected on his 12th home run of the season, but it wasn’t enough as Lynchburg doubled up the Rocks 8-4.

Boxscore Link

Brandon Downes 2-4 HR, 2b
Luis Villegas 1-4 HR
Jacob Bodner 1 IP 0 H 0 R 0 BB 2 K

West Virginia Power 4 Lexington Legends 0

The Legends offense couldn’t get anything clicking in their loss at West Virginia. Starter Emilio Ogando took a tough loss despite giving up just two runs on four hits due to the shutout of the offense. The Legends went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position as the club put together just five hits and drew two walks during the game.

Boxscore Link

Emilio Ogando 5 IP 4 H 2 R 2 ER 1 BB 6 K 4-0  GO-FO 73p/50k
Chase Vallot 1-3 2b, BB
Matt Ditman 1 IP 1 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 2 K

Grand Junction Rockies 5 Idaho Falls Chukars 1

A 1 for 8 night with runners in scoring position ruined the Chukars chances on Tuesday. The team was running well, collecting three stolen bases and their best hitter this season got off the schneid, but it wasn’t enough. Catcher Meibrys Viloria had just his second multi-hit game in his last 11 played after being a multi-hit machine for the first month of the season for Idaho Falls. Connecting on his 23rd and 24th doubles of the season, Viloria was stranded on the bases twice as part of the one run performance by the Chukars. Starter Jace Vines dropped to 1-6 with nine hits and three runs allowed in his five innings of work.

Boxscore Link

Meibrys Viloria 2-4 2-2b
Richard Lovelady 1 IP 0 H 0 R 0 BB 1 K
Nick Heath 1-3 RBI, 2 SB (26)

Burlington Royals 6 Greeneville Astros 1

A big win for the Royals expanded their division lead to two games with just 10 to play. The Royals took a lead by scoring a run in the second inning as Vance Vizcaino singled, stole second base and came around after a wild pitch and a ground out. A two run double by Boo Vazquez pushed the lead to 3-0 after three innings prior to another Vazquez single pushed in two more to expand the lead to 5-0. Those runs were more than enough with the pitching staff keeping the Astros off the board until the ninth inning when they pushed their only run across.

Note - Lefty Cristian Castillo was named Appy League Pitcher of the Year

Boxscore Link

Gabriel Cancel 3-5 R, 2b
Emmanuel Rivera 1-3 2R, 2b, BB
David McKay 5 IP 4 H 0 R 0 ER 2 BB 4 K 4-2 GO-FO

AZL Indians 6 AZL Royals 5

The Royals dropped Tuesday’s game after leading 4-0 after two innings. Outfielder Khalil Lee tripled in a run and scored in the first inning and singled in another run in the second to help the Royals to that lead. The Indians put up single runs in the fourth and fifth off starter Dillon Drabble prior to his exit in the fifth inning. After the Indians tied it in the sixth, the Royals claimed the lead back with a run on a passed ball, but it wouldn’t hold up. A fielding error by Jeison Guzman in the seventh opened the door to two runs for the Indians and the eventual win.

Boxscore Link

Cal Jones 1-5 2R
Khalil Lee 2-5 R, 3b, 2 RBI, SB (8)
Dillon Drabble 5 IP 4 H 2 R 2 ER 1 BB 6 K 5-2 GO-FO

Game 1
DSL Royals 6 DSL Dodgers2 2

The Royals plated six runs early on their way to a win. Nine hits and NINE walks led the way to the six runs as the Dodgers pitching staff struggled mightily to throw strikes while the DSL’s top pitching staff didn’t have any of that problem.

Boxscore Link

Esteury Ruiz 1-4 R, 2b, RBI
Cristian Perez 2-3 2b, 3 RBI, BB
Yarelmy Garcia 3.1 IP 1 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 0 K

Game 2
DSL Royals 1 DSL Dodgers2 0

The Royals were outhit, but came out ahead as they made the most of their two hits in game two. A sixth inning leadoff double from Rubendy Jacquez was quickly followed up by an infield single and a throwing error that allowed Jacquez to come home for the games only run. That run would be all the Royals would need thanks to seven shutout innings from the pitching staff.

Boxscore Link

Joel De La Cruz 2 IP 2 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 2 K
Rubendy Jacquez 1-2 R, 2b
Leonel Bejaran 1-2

HR Roll Call Orland Calixte (7), Mauricio Ramos (5), Logan Moon (2), Chris Devito (4), Emmanuel Rivera (1), Meibrys Viloria (4)

BP KC Hitter of the Day – Meibrys Viloria 5-5 2R, 2b, HR, 3 RBI

BP KC Pitcher of the Day – Matt Tenuta 4 IP 1 H 1 R 0 ER 1 BB 3 K 2-6 GO-FO 67p/42k

Oklahoma City Dodgers 8 Omaha Storm Chasers 5

The Chasers couldn’t keep pace with the Dodgers in their last game before the Triple-A All Star break Sunday. Starter Luke Farrell was knocked around for eight runs in just four innings of work while giving up seven of the eight Omaha hits allowed on the day. Trailing 8-3 after three innings the Chaser bats could provide just two runs late to fall by three runs. Outfielder Orlando Calixte remained hot in finishing off the first half, going 4 for 5 with a home run to close out the final 26 games of the first half with a .347 average and 19 extra base hits over that span.

Boxscore Link

Bubba Starling 1-3 RBI, BB
Orlando Calixte 4-5 3R, HR, RBI
Tony Cruz 1-3 R, 2b, 2 RBI, BB

NW Arkansas Naturals 8 Frisco RoughRiders 6

Trailing 6-3 the Naturals came up with a big three run home run to tie the game and send it to extras. After lefty Matt Strahm struggled some in his five innings, allowing three home runs the Naturals came up big in the ninth to save him from a loss. It was Logan Moon’s three run home run in the ninth that sent the game to extra innings. In extras, the RoughRiders made an error on a Cam Gallagher ball that brought two Naturals in which allowed them to take the win.

Boxscore Link

Matt Strahm 5 IP 7 H 4 ER 2 BB 5 K 3-4 GO-FO 89p/55k
Ryan O’Hearn 0-3 2R, 2BB
Terrance Gore 3-5 R, 2SB (23), CS (4)

Myrtle Beach Pelicans 9 Wilmington Blue Rocks 1

Former 3rd round pick Colin Rodgers’ season in Wilmington continued with difficulties on Sunday, allowing seven runs on five hits and four walks in just two innings plus of work. The Rocks offense couldn’t muster much on their end in dropping their fifth game in six tries.

Boxscore Link

Samir Duenez 2-3 R, BB, SB (17)
Cody Jones 2-4
Carlos Diaz 1-3

Greenville Drive 8 Lexington Legends  

Not much went well for the Legends as the Greenville knocked around their pitching and kept their bats on ice. Going 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position while the pitching combo of Yunior Marte and Emilio Ogando were tagged for eight runs on nine hits gave Lexington their first losing series since late June.

Boxscore Link

Yunior Marte 3.2 IP 3 H 4 R 3 ER 3 BB 1 K 5-5 GO-FO 98p/54k
Emilio Ogando 5.1 IP 6 H 4 R 2 ER 1 BB 5 K 7-2 GO-FO 84p/60k
Brandon Dulin 2-2 2BB

Orem Owlz 10 Idaho Falls Chukars 9

After being spotted a five run lead early, the Chukars pitching staff coughed it up to drop their fourth game in five tries. An RBI single from Manny Olloque in the first and a solo home run by Meibrys Viloria in the 2nd quickly gave Idaho Falls a 2-0 lead. The rest of the lineup would add on in the 2nd, getting three consecutive singles by and an error on a Luke Willis bunt to plate three more runs. Viloria would drive in Olloque in the fifth to push the lead to 6-3 before Orem plated six runs to take a 9-6 lead to the ninth. In that inning the offense would get rolling with a pair of singles by Olloque and Yeison Melo to get the inning started. An error would push Viloria into scoring position which he would score from on Nick Heath’s one out single to tie the game. That momentum was short lived however as Luke Willis would hit into a double play to end the top half of the ninth. An error by Ricky Aracena, his 13th, would put the leadoff man on and he would come around to score two hitters later after a sac bunt and a single to walk things off for the Owlz.

Boxscore Link

Manny Olloque 3-4 2R, RBI, BB
Nick Heath 3-5 R, RBI
Tanner Stanley 2-4 R, 2b, RBI, BB

Burlington Royals 8 Pulaski 5

Trailing 4-3 the Royals used runs in each of the last four innings to takedown the Yankees in the first game of their series. Trailing 4-3 the Royals plated a two out run on a Nathan Esposito single sixth to tie the game and took 5-4 lead in the seventh off Emmanuel Rivera’s first home run of the season. The Yankees would tie the game back up in their half of the seventh but a the Royals plated three runs in the final two innings with Chris Devito driving the final nail with a two run home run in the ninth.

Boxscore Link

Nicky Lopez 1-3 R, 2BB, SB (13)
Cristhian Vasquez 2-5 R, 3b
Andre Davis 5 IP 6 H 4 ER 2 BB 5 K 7-3 GO-FO