Diamonds in the Rough 8.30

2-3 day for Royals affiliates despite a playoff clinching win by the Blue Rocks.  HR Roll Call Wil Myers (36) Julio Aparicio (4) Bubba Starling (11) Terrance Gore (1) Diego Goris (12) Adalberto Mondesi (3) Nick DelGuidice (2)

(Photo Jake Rose Photography)

Pine Tar Press Hitter of the Day Brett Eibner 3-4 2b, 2 R, 2 RBI

Pine Tar Press Pitcher of the Day Leondy Perez 7.1 IP 5 H 1 R 0 ER 1 BB 3 K

Rookie League Player of the Day Adalberto Mondesi 3-4 HR, 2b, BB, 2 R, 2 RBI

Playoff Clutch Performer Daniel Stumpf Burlington see below

Memphis Redbirds 12 Omaha Storm Chasers 4

Nate Adcock and Blaine Hardy got knocked around for 17 hits in the first five innings allowing 11 runs in that time to put the game out of reach.  Royals top prospect Wil Myers hit his 36th home run of the season in the 8th inning.

Wilmington Blue Rocks 9 Myrtle Beach Pelicans 3

The Rocks clinched at least a share of the 2nd half division title with their win Thursday night.  The offense did much of the heavy lifting as they have for most of the 2nd half, punching out twelve hits and nine runs to take a comfortable win.  Brett Eibner had a big day at the plate connecting on three hits in four at bats while scoring a pair and driving in a pair.  Shortstop Orlando Calixte also got in the act on offense with two hits including his 17th double for the Blue Rocks.  Starter Leondy Perez took the win giving Wilmington his best start of the year by working 7.1 innings of one run ball (0 ER) while working around five hits and a walk.  The win combined with Lynchburg and Frederick losses secured the playoff birth for the Blue Rocks.

Brett Eibner Postgame Audio via John Sadak

Vance Wilson Postgame Audio

W: Perez (5-4, 3.74) L: McBride (2-3, 3.76)

Quad Cities River Bandits 2 Kane County Cougars 1 F/12

The Cougars season is running on empty as they get closer to being eliminated from the playoff race.  The Cougars only run came in the 8th on a Julio Aparicio home run but the Bandits answered that with a two out run scoring single eventually winning the game in the 12th with a bases loaded sac fly.

W: Cole (4-1, 2.04) L: Culver (2-1, 3.73)

Burlington Royals 4 Johnson City Cardinals 2

The Royals got an outstanding relief appearance by Daniel Stumpf and a little power to save their season, sending their first round series to a deciding third game.  The game was tied after three innings when starter Colin Rodgers ran into trouble in the 4th, loading the bases with no outs.  Facing a possible elimination the Royals manager went to the pen after Rodgers got a force out at that plate turning to Daniel Stumpf.  The left-hander answered the bell striking out the first hitter he faced and getting a force out to end the Cardinals rally and keeping the game tied at two apiece.  Tied into the 5th diminutive speedster Terrance Gore would hit his first career home run to give Burlington the advantage.  Stumpf would continue to hold the ship down working 3.2 scoreless innings before turning things over to John Walter who would close out the final two innings to save the game.  Bubba Starling gave the Royals an insurance run with his solo home run in the 7th, going 2-3 with a pair of RBI in the game.

W: Stumpf (1-0, 0.00) L: Petrick (0-1, 5.40)
S: Walter (1)

Ogden Raptors 11 Idaho Falls Chukars 5

The Chukars dropped another one Thursday despite plenty of hits on their side.  Each team bashed three home runs and put up double digit hits but the Raptors were a little more patient drawing five walks to just one by Idaho Falls helping them tack on eleven runs on their twelve hits to just five on ten for the Chukars.  Shortstop Adalberto Mondesi had a solid day at the plate going 3 for 4 with his third home run of the season, a double and a walk.

W: Downing (3-0, 5.54) L: Sneed (2-2, 7.82)

All boxscores via milb.com