Diamonds in the Rough 7.27

Tough day for Royals affiliates going just 2-5.  HR Roll Call Matt Fields (12) Patrick Leonard (11) Mark Thelkeld (4)

via BallparkBums

Pine Tar Press Hitter of the Day Matt Fields 2-4 HR, 2 RBI

Pine Tar Press Pitcher of the Day Brooks Pounders 6 IP 4 H 1 ER 0 BB 6 K

Pine Tar Press Rookie League Player of the Day Mark Threlkeld 3-5 2b, HR, 4 RBI 

New Orleans Zephyrs 2 Omaha Storm Chasers 0

The Chasers offense was stifled on this day getting just five singles and going 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position to fall in the finale in New Orleans.  The lack of support gave Doug Davis a tough luck loss despite his solid complete game effort allowing a pair of runs over the 8 innings he pitched.  The Marlins affiliate ended Johnny Giavotella’s hitting streak at 21 games and also stifled Wil Myers into an 0 for 4 performance with two more K’s.  Myers is just 10 for 59 since the start of the 2nd half with 24 strikeouts in that time.

W: Poveda (1-1, 3.34) L: Davis (5-2, 3.52)
S: Hatcher (8)

Springfield Cardinals 4 NW Arkansas Naturals 2

Noel Arugelles got through five scoreless but couldn’t match that effort in the sixth, dropping his 11th game of the season.  The Cardinals first five hitters reached in the sixth with three consecutive singles followed by a pair of walks to plate two before the Naturals would go to the pen to get Lafferty who would allow two more to cross.  The Naturals offense loaded the bases in the 9th and scored a pair but stranded them loaded from there to drop another to the Cards.

W: McGregor (4-1, 4.55) L: Arguelles (2-11, 7.58)
S: Butler (21)

Wilmington Blue Rocks 6 Carolina Mudcats 2

The Rocks offense has done a complete 180 since adding Matt Fields to the lineup from indy league and it was more of the same Friday night as Fields helped pace the Rocks to another victory.  The Rocks first baseman connected on his 12th home run as part of the Rocks six run effort that also included extra bad hits by four other Wilmington hitters.  The six runs were enough for Brooks Pounders who gave up four singles in his six innings while striking out six against no free passes, pushing his High-A record over .500.  Relievers Edwin Carl and Sam Runion matched Pounders effort as the threesome combined for twelve strikeouts and no walks in nine innings.  The win pushed the Rocks lead in the division to 1.5 games over Lynchburg and Potomac.

W: Pounders (4-3, 5.44) L: Goodnight (2-10, 4.47)

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 4 Kane County Cougars 1

The Rattlers pitchers shut down the Cougars lineup for the third consecutive day this time with starter David Goforth allowing just two hits in 7 innings to finish off a sweep of Kane County.  Goforth’s effort outdid Kane County starter Bryan Brickhouse despite a pretty strong performance of his own, giving up just a run on three hits and three walks in six innings while striking out six.  That was enough to saddle him with a loss after the bullpen gave up three runs during the final three innings including a pair of unearned runs in the ninth that put the game out of reach.

W: Goforth (8-5, 4.88) L: Brickhouse (2-3, 5.66)
S: Shackelford (3)

 Burlington Royals 9 Pulaski Mariners 7

The Royals offense pushed their winning streak to 10 games with another big day securing a third consecutive series sweep.  Big thumpers, Patrick Leonard and Fred Ford were apart of the offense as usual as Leonard hit his league leading 11th home run while Ford doubled, scored a run and drove one in.  First baseman Mark Threlkeld continued his hot hitting collecting three hits including a home run and a double to extend his hit streak to eight games.  The Mariners made a run closing within two runs but bullpen arms Daniel Stumpf and John Walter extinguished that bid at a comeback, pitching the final 1.1 innings scoreless.

Grand Junction Rockies 6 Idaho Falls Chukars 5

Starter Spencer Patton dropped his record to 0-5 on the year giving up six runs on seven hits and three walks.  Young shortstop Adalberto Mondesi went 1 for 4 with a walk scoring one of the five Chukars runs.

W: Mejias (2-4, 6.48) L: Patton (0-5, 7.67)
S: Oberg (8)

DSL Astros 6 DSL Royals 5

W: Delis (1-0, 2.96) L: Machado (0-1, 3.93)
S: Rodriguez (1)