Diamonds in the Rough 9.3

Photo Minda Haas

An ugly 0-6 day for Royals affiliates to end the Regular season and a bullpen implosion that cost the org an Appy League championship.  HR Roll Call Kenny Swab (2) Bubba Starling (13) Mark Threlkeld (13)

(Photo Minda Haas)

Pine Tar Press Hitter of the Day Derrick Robinson 3-4 2b, R

(Photo Bill Mitchell)

Pine Tar Press Pitcher of the Day Miguel Almonte 3 IP 1 H 0 R 0 BB 4 K

Playoffs

Elizabethon Twins 10 Burlington Royals 6 F/12

The Royals had a five run cushion with three outs to go in the bottom of the 9th when their bullpen imploded costing them a Appy League championship.  Prior to the implosion it was an Elizabethton fourth inning pitching implosion that gave the Royals a 4-1 lead with just one hit, a few errors, a pair of walks and multiple pitches that hit the backstop via wild pitch and passed ball.  The B-Town Bomb Squad padded their lead in the 8th with back to back solo home runs by Bubba Starling and Mark Threlkeld.  Things were looking good when Burlington took their 6-1 lead to the 9th, handing it to John Walter who would start his difficulties with the very first hitter.  The Penn State righty walked the first two hitters he saw before getting two outs.  One out away and still no runs across Walter would lose it again walking a hitherto load the bases then hitting one and tossing a wild pitch to score a couple runs.  With two on and two outs Appy League Co-Home Run leader Adam Walker would come through with a three run home run to send the game to extra innings.  Both teams would threaten in extras but it was the Twins who walked off with a championship when first baseman D.J. Hicks hit a grand slam off reliever Julio Morales in the bottom of the 12th for the final win.

W: Lee (1-0, 0.00) L: Morales (0-1, 54.00)

Albuquerque Isotopes 4 Omaha Storm Chasers 3

The Chasers finished off their season with a loss despite collecting ten hits.  Once again split up their starters to save them for the playoffs, tossing Nate Adcock just two innings.  Reliever Blaine Hardy took the loss when he gave up a 3-2 Omaha lead with a run in the 4th and another in the 6th.  Wil Myers would finish second in the minor leagues with 37 home runs just behind Darin Ruf and his 38, the last 20 coming in August for Ruf.

W: Felix (1-1, 7.94) L: Hardy (3-2, 3.79)
S: Rice (9)

Tulsa Drillers 7 NW Arkansas Naturals 4

The worst season in NW Arkansas short stint finished up with another loss Monday.  The Naturals fell to a disappointing 58-81 when Sugar Ray Marimon gave up five runs on eight hits and a pair of walks in his four innings.  The loss finished Marimon’s AA season at 3-6 with a 4.59 ERA.

W: Houston (10-10, 3.74) L: Marimon (3-6, 4.59)

Potomac Nationals 3 Wilmington Blue Rocks 0

The Rocks finished with a loss in a rain shortened game that made little difference.  Starter Matt Ridings gave up three runs (2 ER) on five hits and a walk despite striking out nine in five innings.  Right-hander Brooks Pounders will start the playoffs Tuesday versus division foe Lynchburg.  The Hillcats won the 1st half of the division by eight games but finished in last during the 2nd half.

W: Hill (1-1, 4.80) L: Ridings (6-2, 2.74)

Potomac Nationals
Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Taylor Hill (W, 1-1)	5.0	3	0	0	1	6	0	4.80

Wilmington Blue Rocks
Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Matt Ridings (L, 6-2)	5.0	5	3	2	1	9	1	2.74
Santiago Garrido	1.0	1	0	0	1	2	0	3.00

WP: Hill.

Peoria Chiefs 6 Kane County Cougars 2

The Cougars with plenty of starters on the shelf were unable to piece together good enough relief work to claim that final spot in the Midwest League playoffs.  Forced to start Michael Giovenco gave his club three shutout innings to start the game but wound down towards the end of his start giving a run in the 4th and then running into lots of trouble in the 5th.  The right-handers gave up a couple singles to start the 5th before allowing a three run home run to Yaniel Cabezas, his first MWL home run, putting Kane County down 4-0 before hitting a batter and leaving.  The Cougars would get a couple runs back in the 6th on a Kenny Swab home run but could get no closer dropping the game and finishing a game behind the Burlington Bees for the final Wild Card spot.

W: Cruz (1-4, 6.75) L: Giovenco (5-3, 4.34)
S: Levitt (1)

 

Grand Junction Rockies 9 Idaho Falls Chukars 5

Starter Aroni Nina had a difficult start for the Chukars giving up seven runs (5 ER) in four innings while allowing ten hits.  Those runs were more than enough to defeat the Chukars who were eliminated from the playoffs after a loss in Sundays game.  Idaho Falls is the only Royals team with regular season games remaining on their schedule, playing until September 6th.

W: Aquino (4-0, 1.87) L: Nina (0-2, 6.84)