Diamonds in the Rough 7.24

A 4-3 record by the Royals affiliates.  HR Roll Call  Anthony Seratelli (16) Max Ramirez (12) Fred Ford (9) 

Pine Tar Press Hitter of the Day Juan Graterol 3-4 2b, 2 R

(Photo Minda Haas)

Pine Tar Press Pitcher of the Day Jake Odorizzi 5.2 IP 4 H 3 R 2 ER 2 BB 6 K

Pine Tar Press Rookie League Player of the Day Bubba Starling 3-5 R, RBI, SB, Assist 

 Omaha Storm Chasers 5 New Orleans Zephyrs 4

The hometown boy lead the way to victory in New Orleans Tuesday.  That hometown boy was Johnny Giavotella of course who came through with a two run single in the 3rd and added another run scoring single in the 8th that turned out to be the deciding run in the game.  The hits extended Giavotella’s hitting streak to 19 games while also moving his average to .325 on the season.  The Chasers tacked on a couple solo home runs off the bats of Anthony Seratelli and Max Ramirez to push enough runs across for pitchers Jake Odorizzi and crew.  The win for Odorizzi moved his record to 7-1 despite another start that was somewhat inefficient as the righty tossed 108 pitches in just 5.2 innings while allowing four hits and a pair of walks allowing three runs (2 ER) to cross in that time.

W: Odorizzi (7-1, 3.22) L: Villanueva (7-5, 3.89)
S: Colon (7)

Tulsa Drillers 6 NW Arkansas Naturals 2

I wonder what the game plan is now?  The game plan for Mike Montgomery is what I’m talking about of course after the lefty got knocked around once again at the AA level.  This time it was nine hits in 5.1 innings giving up four doubles and a home run among those hits while giving up six runs to increase his ERA to 7.13 since being demoted.  The bullpen shutdown the Drillers after Montgomery left but the damage had already been done and the offense could put up just six hits and a pair of runs to drop another game.

W: Chatwood (1-0, 1.89) L: Montgomery (1-2, 7.13)

Wilmington Blue Rocks 4 Frederick Keys 2

Starter Jason Adam wasn’t as good as he has been his previous three games but unlike most of his starts this year the offense gave him some backing and he earned his third win of the season.  Adam gave up four hits including another home run but managed to gut through six innings to give the team a fourth consecutive quality start.  Adam’s battery mate, Juan Graterol helped pace the offense going 3 for 4 with a double and a couple runs scored as part of a four run effort that was enough for the Rocks to come away with a win and jump into a first place tie in the division.

W: Adam (3-10, 3.65) L: Loomis (1-1, 2.63)
S: Yambati (1)

Great Falls Voyagers 7 Idaho Falls Chukars 2

Starter Ali Williams has struggled in his two starts since winning pitcher of the week honors a couple weeks ago.  The college right-hander struck out six in 4.2 innings but gave up six hits, a pair of walks and six runs to take his third loss of the season.  The Chukars offense wasn’t nearly effective against Voyagers pitching putting together just five hits and two runs.  Latin signee Elier Hernandez struggles continued going 0 for 4 with a pair of strikeouts to lower his average to .214 on the season.

W: Linza (3-0, 4.12) L: Williams (2-3, 5.10)

Burlington Royals 4 Greenville Astros 3 F/10

If you are lucky enough to be in Burlington the last couple of nights you have seen the tools that made Bubba Starling the #5 overall pick in the loaded 2011 draft.  A night after Bubba hit his 4th home run he used his legs, hitting ability and arm to help the Royals towards a 12th straight home win.  Early it was a Fred Ford solo home run and a RBI triple by Chris Elder that gave the Royals a 2-0 lead.  After the Astros got a run back Bubba singled in Humberto Arteaga after his second triple of the season pushing the lead back to two runs, Starling would steal second four his fourth steal of the season but get stranded there to leave the lead at two.  Again the Astros would cut the lead to one but when they made an attempt to tie the game Bubba was there again tossing out the runner at the plate to keep the margin at a run.  Eventually the Astros would tie the game but the threat of Bubba may have been to much for them in the 10th as their pitcher got wild following a Starling single, advancing him to 2nd on a wild pickoff throw and eventually pushing him across with a pair of wild pitches to give he and his teammates a walkoff win.  The win was the eighth consecutive win by Burlington while pushing their lead in the division to five games.

W: Stumpf (2-1, 1.72) L: Hauschild (1-2, 2.12)

AZL Padres 9 AZL Royals 7

W: Stewart (1-1, 8.62) L: Alexander (0-1, 0.00)
S: Corpas (1)

DSL Royals 3 DSL Dodgers 2

W: Crisostomo (2-3, 3.45) L: De La Rosa (0-3, 3.38)