Diamonds in the Rough 8.22

HR Roll Call Irving Falu (7) Mario Lisson (11) Orlando Calixte (14) Murray Watts (12) 

(Photo Jacob Rose Photography)

Pine Tar Press Hitter of the Day Orlando Calixte 2-4 HR, 3b, 2 R

Pine Tar Press Pitcher of the Day None

Pine Tar Press Rookie League Player of the Day Elier Hernandez 2-5 3b, R, 5 RBI 

New Orleans Zephyrs 8 Omaha Storm Chasers 6

Starter Doug Davis struggled early giving up six runs in the first two innings of a loss at home.  The Omaha offense overcame the first three runs with a three run 1st of their own but could not bridge the gap of the 2nd inning and the later insurance runs by the Zephyrs.  Omaha put up six runs on 14 hits but it was outdone by the Zephys who scored 8 on 15 hits including a 9th inning insurance home run.  Irving Falu had a nice night at the plate going 3 for 5 with a solo home run his 7th of the season which is two more than his previous high.

W: Martin (6-8, 6.15) L: Davis (7-4, 4.17)
S: Ray (1)

NW Arkansas Naturals 9 Springfield Cardinals 8

The Naturals punched their way to a win in the second of their four game series with Springfield.  The offense punched out nine runs on 13 hits with eleven singles, a Kevin Kouzmanoff double and Mario Lisson’s 11th home run of the season.  Starter Sugar Ray Marimon was in good position for a win up 8-1 until allowing a run and leaving a pair of runners in the 7th before leaving for reliever Sam Runion.  It wasn’t Runion’s night as the right allowed both Marimon runners to score and adding another to lessen the lead to 8-5.  That three run lead wouldn’t last long in the 8th after Runion gave up a pair of walks and a three run double to Kolten Wong to tie the game.  Brendan Lafferty would get the Naturals out of the jam sending the game to the 9th where he worked a perfect inning and earned the win thanks to a  Whit Merrifield walkoff single that scored Michael Liberto who lead off the 9th with a single.

W: Lafferty (1-1, 4.88) L: Fornataro (2-3, 2.59)

Frederick Keys 6 Wilmington Blue Rocks 2

The Blue Rocks entered the series with a 3.5 game lead over Frederick in the division but following a doubleheader loss Tuesday and a loss Wednesday will need to salvage the series finale to get out of town with a lead in the division.  The Rocks struggled to make contact off Frederick starter Tyler Wilson who struck out 12 in his 8 innings but of the three hits allowed two left the yard which evened the game at 2 after the top of the eighth.  Unfortunately reliever Nick Rogers could finish the game strong giving up four runs on three hits and a walk in the bottom of the 8th to put the game out of reach.  Shortstop Orlando Calixte left the yard for the second night in a row while also adding a triple.

W: Wilson (7-6, 3.90) L: Rogers (3-4, 2.52)

Quad Cities River Bandits 6 Kane County Cougars 2

Tim Melville’s minor league career continued its rocky road Wednesday as the 2008 draftee gave up six hits including a home run and a walk in just 2 innings of work allowing three runs in that time.  Those runs would be enough to take down the Cougars who once again struggled with runners in scoring position going 0 for 7 in that situation while plating just two runs on seven hits.  Reliever Jason Mitchell gave up three runs in his four innings of work to put the game well out of reach for the offense.  Burlington also lost which kept Kane three games back in the wild card race with just 12 games remaining.

W: Villanueva (10-6, 4.08) L: Melville (0-1, 4.50)

Game 1

Kingsport Mets 2 Burlington Royals 0

The Royals didn’t give their starter Christian Binford much backing on this night costing him a game despite a pretty solid start.  Binford lost his streak without a walk with two down in the 1st maxing it out at 29 innings even before giving a free pass.  According to JJ Cooper of Baseball America Binford was 89-91 with fastball, solid curve and okay change while repeating his delivery which is pretty solid for a long limbed 6’7 pitcher.  That wouldn’t be good enough for Binford to earn a victory when he gave up a pair of doubles in the 6th to allow his only run of the game to take the loss.  Binford final like stood at 6 innings, 4 hits, 2 walks, 6 K’s and a loss when his offense could piece just 3 hits and 3 walks in their scoreless effort.

W: Flexen (1-3, 5.63) L: Binford (2-3, 2.03)
S: Perez (1)

Game 2

Burlington Royals 5 Kingsport Mets 1

The Royals didn’t get much offense in the first game but made that up for that in the second scoring five runs in six innings, earning a win and clinching a playoff spot.  Speedster Terrance Gore lead the offense by singling, stealing a base and scoring in both the 3rd and 4th innings as part of the five run two inning outburst.  Those five runs were plenty for starter Tyler Mack to earn his first professional win as he threw after throwing 5 innings of one hit ball, walking a pair and striking out 2.

W: Mack (1-0, 3.00) L: Baldonado (0-2, 7.00)

Idaho Falls Chukars 11 Billings Mustangs 5

The Chukars pounded out eleven runs in the first four innings to breeze to a win Wednesday night.  Outfield prospect Elier Hernandez did plenty of the damage driving in five runs with a a pair of hits including his fourth triple of the season which cleared the bases in the 4th inning.  The top three hitters in the Idaho Falls lineup Ethan Chapman, Carlos Garcia and Diego Goris accounted for nine of the teams 15 hits while scoring seven of the eleven runs to help pace the effort.  Starter Clayton Schulz was the beneficiary of the run support earning the win despite five runs allowed in six innings on nine hits.

W: Schulz (4-6, 6.44) L: Bender (2-4, 8.56)
S: Lopez (2)

AZL Royals 12 AZL Padres 5 

John Lamb completed his third start rehab start going 1+ innings.  His father reported to me that he just got out of his ankle boot a couple days ago which is something considering he’s made a couple rehab starts.  Hopefully the ankle is 100% now and he can get his legs underneath him.

W: Tenuta (3-4, 4.58) L: Weickel (1-3, 6.00)
S: Goudeau (1)

DSL Royals 3 DSL Indians 2

W: Encarnacion (1-1, 10.05) L: Rodriguez (5-4, 2.75)
S: Rosario (6)