HR Roll Call Samir Duenez (11), Chase Vallot (11), Brandon Downes (9), Jecksson Flores (2), Angelo Castellanos (4), Luis Villegas (3)

BPKC Hitter of the Day: Chase Vallot 1-2 HR, 2BB

BPKC Pitcher of the Day: A.J. Puckett 8 IP 3 H 2R 2 ER 0 BB 7 K 6-4 GO-FO 103p/70k

Omaha Storm Chasers 2 New Orleans Baby Cakes 1

The Chasers got a much needed deep start from Yender Caramo on Wednesday in their second game in the Big Easy.

The groundball pitcher got 11 of them in a season high eight innings while allowing just six singles and just a first inning run while on the hill. The lone run came courtesy of a couple former Chasers with Christian Colon singling and scoring courtesy of a Moises Sierra single. From there, Caramo got the sinker rolling to save the thinned out pitching staff.

The Omaha offense didn’t have a whole lot going for itself, but PCL All-Star Raul Mondesi did just enough to earn the win, singling and scoring on a Ryan O’Hearn hit in the first before driving in Ruben Sosa with a single in the fifth. Those would be the only two runs the Chasers would score in the game but it was enough for the win.

Boxscore Link 

Raul Mondesi 3-4 R, RBI, CS (3)
Ryan O’Hearn 1-4 RBI
Yender Caramo 8 IP 6 H 1 R 0 ER 0 BB 3 K 105/69k 11-6 GO-FO

Corpus Christi Hooks 5 NW Arkansas Naturals 2

Starter Corey Ray got touched up for three runs in the third inning and that was all the Astros Double-A squad would need to secure a win. After two scoreless innings, Ray ran into trouble, giving up a solo home run, a walk and a double to start the third inning before recording an out. All three hitters would come in without an additional hit to put his squad down 3-0.

The Naturals offense would bounce back in the fourth when first baseman Samir Duenez would hit his 11th home run of the year to drive in him and Nicky Lopez. From there, the NW Arkansas lineup would threaten just in the eighth while Ray would give up another home run in the fifth to Astros prospect Kyle Tucker, and Pedro Fernandez would allow a run in the eighth inning of the loss.

Boxscore Link

Samir Duenez 1-3 HR, 2 RBI, BB
Nicky Lopez 2-4 R
Anderson Miller 2-4 2b

Wilmington Blue Rocks 6 Lynchburg Hillcats 2

The Blue Rocks got a Dr. Jekyll start from A.J. Puckett and powered up to even the series with Lynchburg.

The 2017 2nd round pick worked a career-high eight innings while attacking the zone with 70 strikes on his 103 pitches thrown. The right-hander didn’t walk a hitter in the game which marks the first time he’s done that this season while striking out seven hitters and earning six groundouts to only four flyouts.

While Puckett was missing bats or getting them to ground out, his offense was leaving the yard. Three different Blue Rocks hitters hit home runs as Jecksson Flores, Brandon Downes and Chase Vallot hit home runs to account for four of the six Wilmington runs. For Downes, it was his ninth home run hit this season in just his 22nd game played.

Boxscore Link

Chase Vallot 1-2 HR, 2BB
Brandon Downes 1-4 HR
Nick Heath 1-3 R, SB (6)

Lexington Legends 6 West Virginia Power 2 Susp/3

The Legends powered up for two home runs versus West Virginia for two home runs in three innings before the rain suspended the game.

Angelo Castellano 1-1 2R, HR, BB
Luis Villegas 1-1 HR

Ogden Raptors 17 Idaho Falls Chukars 3

An ugly game for the Chukars as Julio Pinto’s poor season continued as part of a 12-1 advantage Odgen had after five innings.

Boxscore Link

Offerman Collado 2-5
Robby Rinn 1-4 R, 2b
Julio Pinto 4 IP 6 H 6 R 6 ER 5 BB 8 K HR

Bluefield Blue Jays 11 Burlington Royals 1

Nine runs off starter Ismael Maldonado was all she wrote in this one for the Royals as the starter lasted just two and two-thirds innings in the blowout loss.

Boxscore Link

Sebastian Rivero 1-3
Michael Gigliotti 0-4 RBI
Nick Hutchins 1-3 R, BB

DSL Royals 3 DSL Dodgers1 2

The Royals gave up two runs in the second but came back for the win with single runs in the third, fifth and seventh innings.

Slugging first baseman Ismaldo Rodriguez drove in Yenrrys Mendez after he walked and stole second in the third inning. It was Mendez causing havoc on the bases again in the fifth, walking and then advancing to second on a balk before scoring on Maikel Garcia’s single. Finally in the seventh Rodriguez connected on a two-out double to drive in Warling Vincente to give the Royals a 3-2 lead.

The Royals final two relievers earned just one strikeout over the final four innings but it was still enough to secure the win to improve to 14-13.

Boxscore Link

Warling Vicente 1-3 R, BB, SB (6)
Ismaldo Rodriguez 2-4 2b, 2 RBI
Rovaldis Cabrera 5 IP 3 H 2 R 1 ER 0 Bb 5 K 7-1 GO-FO

HR Roll Call Angel Medina (1)

BP KC Hitter of the Day – DJ Burt 3-4 3R, BB, RBI

BP KC Pitcher of the Day – Franco Terrero 3.1 IP 3 H 1 R 0 ER 0 BB 3 K 3-1 GO-FO 38p/24k

DSL Royals 9 DSL Rays 1 

The Royals have a few bonus babies playing together in the Dominican Summer League this season after spending big money last year in Latin America. With five position players signed for $100k or more and four of those over $400k, including Seuly Matias who signed for $2.25m last July. With all that money spread over a number of players it makes  this one of the most loaded groups the Royals have ever assembled in the DSL at any one time. All that talent showed itself on this day, knocking out 12 hits while walking six times and scoring nine runs in their first game. Third baseman Angel Medina ($425k) had a big day, connecting on a two run home run while catcher Sebastian Rivera added four hits and scored a pair of runs. All told all nine players in the lineup reached base at least once while the pitching staff allowed just two hits in the game.

Boxscore Link

Seuly Matias 1-4 2b, RBI
Janser Lara ($200k) 1.2 IP 0 H 0 R 4 BB 3 K
Jeison Guzman ($1.5m) 1-4 2R, BB

Nashville Sounds 3 Omaha Storm Chasers 1

The Chasers left ten guys on base and the Sounds scored a pair in the first off Dillon Gee and were able to make that stand up with Omaha’s struggles to knock guys in. Gee was solid if unspectacular giving up three runs in six innings with four hits and a walk allowed while striking out four. Newcomer Joe Beimel tossed an inning of relief while Travis Snider was pulled following the injury to Cheslor Cuthbert for the major league team.

Boxscore Link

Hunter Dozier 1-4 2b
Jorge Bonifacio 1-3 BB
Christian Colon 0-5 2K

Winston-Salem Dash 6 Wilmington Blue Rocks 0 

For a second straight game the Rocks were held punchless versus a Winston-Salem starter. This time it was Brandon Brennan working a complete game shutout, refusing to give up an extra base hit while holding Wilmington to 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position. The Dash starters have now tossed back to back complete game shutouts to blank the Rocks and take a 2-1 series advantage in the four gamer. Starter Colin Rodgers gave up a pair of home runs while walking three in five innings to drop to 1-4 on the season. Infielder Wander Franco has finally got the bat going over his last 12 games after a difficult April and start of May, hitting .347 during that span with six doubles and a pair of home runs.

Boxscore Link

Wander Franco 2-4
Alfredo Escalera 2-4
Matt Tenuta 3 IP 3 H 1 ER 0 BB 3 K 1-2 GO-FO 43p/31k

Lakewood BlueClaws 9 Lexington Legends 5

The Legends dropped the first game of their series with the Phillies affiliate after Nolan Watson gave up 8 runs from the 2nd through 4th innings. The start for Watson is his sixth this season in which he has given up five runs or more. The Legends offense scored single runs in five different innings but were unable to put up a crooked number in any inning due to 11 strikeouts on offense that damaged a few different rallies.

Boxscore Link

Nolan Watson 3.2 IP 8 H 7 R 6 ER 1 BB 2 K 6-4 GO-FO 72p/45k
DJ Burt 3-4 3R, RBI, BB
Franco Terrero 3.1 IP 3 H 1 R 0 ER 0 BB 3 K 3-1 GO-FO 38p/24k