HR Roll Call Jorge Bonifacio (17), Orlando Calixte (9), Corey Toups (9), Manny Olloque (6), Yeison Melo (4), Michael Arroyo (4), Cal Jones (3), Esteury Ruiz (5)

BP KC Hitter of the Day – Michael Arroyo 2-3 3R, HR, 2 RBI, BB

BP KC Pitcher of the Day – Vance Tatum 3.2 IP 0 H 0 R 0 BB 5 K 5-1 GO-FO

Omaha Storm Chasers 4 Sacramento River Cats 2

The Chasers knocked a pair of home runs with solid pitching to snap their losing streak. Outfielder Jorge Bonifacio hit his 17th home run of the season and scored another run while Jon Dziedzic worked six innings with just one run allowed. Relievers Scott Alexander and Andrew Edwards shut the door with three scoreless innings to wrap things up for Omaha.

Boxscore Link

Jorge Bonifacio 1-3 2R, HR, BB
Orlando Calixte 2-5 R, HR
Roman Torres 2-4 2b, RBI

NW Arkansas Naturals 9 San Antonio Missions 7 F/11

The Naturals popped San Antonio for seven runs in the first two innings before the bullpen gave up the lead and sending the game to extra innings. Second baseman Corey Toups homered to leadoff the game for the second time this week to get the scoring started for NW Arkansas, pounding out seven hits and seven runs in the first two frames. Starter Andy Ferguson was sitting pretty for a win after five innings of one run ball until Miguel Almonte and Tim Hill struggled and gave up enough runs for San Antonio to tie the game after seven innings. The game stayed tied the eleventh inning when the Naturals scored a run on a sac bunt and another on a Missions error to take the lead and the eventual win.

Boxscore Link

Corey Toups 2-4 2R, HR, 2b, RBI, 3 BB, SB (20)
Ryan O’Hearn 2-5 2b, RBI
Mauricio Ramos 3-5 R, 2-2b, 2 RBI, BB

Salem Red Sox 5 Wilmington Blue Rocks 2

The Rocks collected two hits in their latest loss to Salem. The Red Sox prospect Michael Kopech put away 11 hitters via strikeout while the reliever Jake Newberry gave up three runs in his two innings to take the loss.

Boxscore Link

Elier Hernandez 1-3
Corey Ray 5 IP 5 H 2 R 1 ER 2 BB 6 K
Samir Duenez 0-4 RBI

Augusta GreenJackets 4 Lexington Legends 1 

The Legends connected on just three hits Saturday in another loss. Starter Nolan Watson gave up his seventeenth home run of the year in dropping his tenth decision, giving up four runs in five innings. Five walks by the offense lead to just one run on offense due to the three hits.

Boxscore Link

Nolan Watson 5 IP 5 H 3 ER 2 BB 3 K
Roman Collins 2-4
Chase Vallot 0-4

Great Falls Voyagers 7 Idaho Falls Chukars 6

The Chukars hammered a pair of three runs home runs early only to watch their defense give the game away. The home runs came courtesy of a first inning home run via Manny Olloque and a third inning homer from Yeison Melo. The Chukars would make four errors from there and a misplay from Ricky Aracena in the ninth, scored a hit, lead to the final run in the loss.

Boxscore Link

Yeison Melo 1-2 HR, 3 RBI
Manny Olloque 2-3 2R, HR , 3 RBI, BB
Arnaldo Hernandez 6 IP 7 H 4 R 1 ER 2 BB 3 K 8-4 GO-FO 84p/54k

Burlington Royals 7 Danville Braves 1

The Royals got after local boy Joey Wentz for four runs in the third inning to hand him his second loss in the Appy league. The Royals used three different pitchers to spin a one run game with just three hits allowed and 10 strikeouts on their end for the win.

Boxscore Link

Nicky Lopez 2-3 R, 2b, RBI, 2 BB
Michael Arroyo 2-3 3R, HR, BB
Vance Tatum 3.2 IP 0 H 0 R 0 BB 5 K 5-1 GO-FO

AZL Mariners 6 AZL Royals 5

The AZL Royals built a 3-1 lead after the first inning only to watch a big fifth inning setup the Mariners for a win. That fifth inning featured five runs off starter Dillon Drabble that included a grand slam via Joseph Rosa. The Royals scored a pair of runs in the ninth, but had a runner tossed out at third base and Cal Jones struck out to end the rally. In the first inning Jones hit his third home run in his last four games.

Boxscore Link

Cal Jones 1-5 R, HR, 2 RBI
Dalton Griffin 2-4 R, 2b
Khalil Lee 1-2 R, 2 BB

DSL Royals 12 DSL Marlins 2 

Infielder Esteury Ruiz kept up his hot hitting while the Royals pounded their way to an easy victory. The 17 year old second baseman has had a strong week, going 12 for 20 with four doubles, two triples and a home run.

Boxscore Link

Esteury Ruiz 2-4 3R, 2b, HR, 2 RBI
Raymond Lopez 2-6 R, 3b
Christopher Marte 5 IP 2 H 1 R 0 ER 2 BB 5 K 3-5 GO-FO

HR Roll Call Tony Cruz (6), Ryan O’Hearn (16), Michael Arroyo (3), Khalil Lee (3), Dennicher Carrasco (4)

BP KC Hitter of the Day – Michael Arroyo 3-4 3R, HR, 2-2b, 4 RBI

BP KC Pitcher of the Day – Darwin Feliz 6.1 IP 1 H 0 R 0 BB 8 K 5-4 GO-FO

Omaha Storm Chasers 4 Round Rock Express 0

Mike Minor and three bullpen members for the Chasers spun a three shutout while navigating around six walks Thursday. The former Brave (Minor) didn’t allow a hit in his 2.1 innings while working up to 42 pitches, earning three strikeouts against just two walks. The Chasers stole home in the first with a double steal by Hunter Dozier and Reymond Fuentes before plating three runs in the fourth with Tony Cruz hitting a two run home run in the inning. The four pitchers piled up 13 strikeouts with each earning at least three in their appearance.

Boxscore Link

Mike Minor 2.1 IP 0 H 0 R 2 BB 3 K 3-1 GO-FO 42p/23k
Lorenzo Cain 2-4
Andrew Edwards 1.1 IP 1 H 0 R 0 ER 2 BB 3 K 39p/20k

Springfield Cardinals 10 NW Arkansas Naturals 2

The Naturals bullpen got knocked around to the tune of seven runs in the final four innings to taste healthy defeat in Springfield. Starter Eric Skoglund took the loss with three runs allowed in 5.1 innings on five hits and four walks. Royals top 10 prospect Ryan O’Hearn broke out of a homerless slump with his 16th longball of the year.

Boxscore Link

Ryan O’Hearn 1-4 HR
Eric Skoglund 5.1 IP 5 H 3 ER 4 BB 2 K 4-7 GO-FO 95p/53k
Terrance Gore 1-4 R, SB (33)

Charleston RiverDogs 1 Lexington Legends 0

The Legends were defeated in an outstanding pitching duel in Charleston. The Yankees Luis Cedeno tossed six innings of perfect baseball until the Legends threatened in the seventh. In that seventh Cedeno walked a pair around Lexington’s only hit on the night by Roman Collins to load the bases with no outs. The righthander buckled down though and got a Chase Vallot flyout to left that was to shallow to score a run and a pair of force outs to squelch the one and only rally for Lexington on the evening. With no offense Lexington needed an outstanding pitching performance of their own and they did get that from starter Gerson Garabito. The 21 year old righty matched Cedeno inning for inning while he was in the game, working five shutout frames with just three singles allowed before leaving at just 70 pitches. Reliever Sam Lewis couldn’t match the zeroes unfortunately, giving up a run in the sixth to take the loss for the Legends.

Boxscore Link

Gerson Garabito 5 IP 3 H 0 R 0 BB 4 K 4-4 GO-FO 70p/50k
Roman Collins 1-4
Chase Vallot 0-3 BB

Idaho Falls Chukars 7 Grand Junction Rockies 6

The Chukars used a pair of three run frames and a run in the eighth to take the first game of their second half. Six different Idaho Falls hitters had two hits in the game as the team piled on former first round pick Mike Nikorak for three runs in just 1.1 innings. A Jordan Ebert single in the bottom of the ninth broke a 6-6 tie while Nicholas Andras finished off the ninth for the save.

Boxscore Link

Jordan Ebert 2-4 2b, RBI, BB, SB (2)
David Edwards 2-4 R, 2-2b, RBI
Ryan Dale 2-4 R, 2 RBI

Burlington Royals 14 Pulaski Yankees 6

A huge fifth inning paced the Royals to a big win over Pulaski in the first game of their series. Nine hits and a couple of Pulaski errors lead to eleven Burlington runs in that fifth inning, erasing a 6-1 deficit and leading the way to a 14-6 win. In that inning Michael Arroyo had two doubles and drove in a pair of runs in the frame during a three hit four RBI game for the Royals catcher. The Royals bullpen shutdown the Yankees for the final 6.1 innings after they plated six runs on starter Travis Eckert.

Boxscore Link

Justin Camp 1.1 0 H 0 R 0 BB 3 K
Nicky Lopez 2-4 R, RBI
Kort Peterson 3-5 2R, 2b, 2 RBI

AZL Royals 9 AZL Rangers 8

Eleven hits and nine runs helped outpace the Rangers for the AZL squad Thursday night. Outfielder Khalil Lee scored two runs while connecting on his third home run of the season.  The nine runs came despite 16 strikeouts recorded by the offense.

Boxscore Link

John Brontsema 3-4 2R, RBI, BB, SB (4)
Khalil Lee 1-3 2R HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB SB (3)
Scott Alexander 1.2 IP 1 H 0 R 0 BB 4 K

Game 1
DSL Royals 6 DSL Marlins 0

The Royals Darwin Feliz fell just two outs short of a seven inning perfect game Thursday. The righty put away eight hitters via strikeout before turning things to Miguel Medrano to finish off the shutout. The offense punched six runs across with three different hitters collecting two hits including Dennicher Carrasco who homered for the fourth time this year.

Boxscore Link

Dennicher Carrasco 2-3 HR, 2 RBI
Esteury Ruiz 2-3 R, 2b, CS (7)
Andres Martin 2-2 2R, 3b, 2 RBI, BB\

Game 2
DSL Royals 5 DSL Marlins 2

Much of the same in game two with the Royals squad giving up just four hits and a pair of runs. The offense matched those four hits but four Marlins errors helped the Royals towards five total runs. Centerfielder Raymond Lopez had a big day, scoring three runs and stealing four bases.

Boxscore Link

Raymond Lopez 1-3 3R, BB, 4 SB (18)
Paul Mondesi 1-3 R
Yerelmy Garcia 5 IP 2 H 1 ER 0 BB 2 K 11-1 GO-FO