Diamonds in the Rough 8.5

4-3 record for Royals affiliates Sunday. HR Roll Call Matt Fields (14) Fred Ford (11) 

Irving Falu via AHairoffsquare.com

Pine Tar Press Hitter of the Day Irving Falu 3-4 3b, 2 RBI

milb.com

Pine Tar Press Pitcher of the Day Andy Ferguson 6.2 IP 6 H 1 R 1 ER 1 BB 7 K

(Photo David Asher)

Pine Tar Press Rookie League Player of the Day Fred Ford 2-4 HR, 2 RBI 

Colorado Springs Sky Sox 10 Omaha Storm Chasers 3

Lefthander Chris Dwyer’s introduction to AAA has went as one would expect as the left-handers AAA ERA jumped from 6.75 to 7.53 thanks to his 7 run (6 ER) loss Sunday.  The left-hander continues to struggle with walks giving away four free passes in this one to up his total 14 in 28.2 innings while giving up well over a hit per inning in that time.  The Chasers couldn’t overcome their pitchers difficulties scoring just three runs on eight hits in dropping their third consecutive game at home.

W: Schmidt (4-2, 6.75) L: Dwyer (2-3, 7.53)

NW Arkansas Naturals 5 Arkansas Travelers 1

The Naturals scored three first inning runs and then leaned on their pitching to get a win in the third of four with Arkansas.  The offense used four singles and a walk in the first to put the three runs on the board including a two run scoring single from Mario Lisson.  Starter Sugar Ray Marimon didn’t miss many bats once again but surrendered just a run on four hits and three walks in his six innings to even his record at 3-3 since joining the AA squad.  Reliever Sam Runion worked the final three innings for his first AA save giving up just a walk and a single while striking out three.

W: Marimon (3-3, 3.35) L: Arenas (4-8, 5.68)
S: Runion (1)

Wilmington Blue Rocks 5 Salem Red Sox 4 F/10

The Rocks built a 4-1 lead through 7 innings with some extra base hits and good pitching by Andy Ferguson but were forced to get a big hit in extras to finish off the win.  Shortstop Orlando Calixte stole a pair of bases in the 1st scoring on a Lane Adams single.  A Cuthbert double and Geulin Beltre single would score the next two runs prior to a 7th inning Matt Fields home run that pushed Wilmington’s lead to three.  Starter Andy Ferguson gave Wilmington 6.2 solid innings of one run ball striking out seven against just six hits.  The Arkansas State right-handers stint in Wilmington has been quite solid striking out 31 in 31 innings while walking just four.  With Ferguson out reliever Chase Boruff couldn’t hang onto the lead giving up three hits, a walk and three runs to send the game to extra innings.  In the 10th Geulin Beltre continued his hot hitting (#3 on this weeks Starting 9) getting on with his third hit of the game and eventually scoring on a Luis Piterson single.  Reliever Nick Rogers would finish off the game to earn the win for the Rocks pulling them back within a half of game of first.

W: Rogers (3-3, 1.95) L: Bayer (1-3, 4.26)

Kane County Cougars 5 Cedar Rapids Kernals 4

Starter Kyle Zimmer was better in his third start out but was still inefficient in his four innings.  The San Fran right-hander gave up three hits while walking a pair and being forced into several long counts and giving up a run against six strikeouts.  Zimmers counterpart Kernals starter Austin Wood outdid the Royals 1st round pick striking out six against six hits and a couple walks in his seven innings of one run ball.  The Cougars trailed 4-1 in the bottom of the 9th when they loaded the bases with three consecutive one out singles for Jack Lopez who delivered the biggest hit of the game tripling into right field scoring all three base runners to tie the game.  Tied and with just the one out center fielder Andy Workman would commit an error to score Lopez from 3rd, giving the Cougars a comeback win.

W: Giovenco (3-2, 4.82) L: Tromblee (4-3, 4.25)

Orem Owlz 4 Idaho Falls Chukars 3

The Chukars top of the order did their job Sunday but the rest of the lineup couldn’t contribute enough to score a win.  Leadoff man Ethan Chapman and Adalberto Mondesi reached base three times each but were knocked in just once each thanks to a 1 for 11 effort by the team with runners in scoring position.  Starter Alec Mills put up a quality starter giving up just two runs on a 3rd inning two run home run while striking out six against no walks, taking a tough luck loss in the process.

W: Krehbiel (1-1, 7.78) L: Mills (0-3, 3.68)
S: Boyd (2)

Burlington Royals 6 Pulaski Mariners 3

The Royals offense carried them to a victory Sunday helping overcome a less than stellar effort by their starter.  Outfielders Terrance Gore, Bubba Starling and Fred Ford did much of the the damage reaching base eight times and scoring four of the teams six runs.  Bubba got the scoring started in the first inning knocking in Gore with a double to give the Royals a 1-0 lead.  After starter Colin Rodgers gave up the lead in the 2nd the tandem of Gore and Bubba would score on a Kenny Diekroeger double as part of a three run inning that would put Burlington up for good.  Ford would knock in the final two runs of the game for Burlington one a single in the 5th and then homering in the 8th to tie Patrick Leonard for the team and league lead.

W: Peterson (4-0, 1.45) L: Marte (1-4, 4.94)
S: Stumpf (2)

W: Scoggins (1-0, 6.75) L: Tenuta (2-3, 3.86)
S: Santos (3)