Diamonds in the Rough 7.6

A 3-4 day for the Royals affiliates.  HR Roll Call Johnny Giavotella (8) Mat Fields (5) Lane Adams (3,4) Orlando Calixte (2) Ysmelin Alcantara (2) Fred Ford (3) 

Pine Tar Press Hitter of the Day Lane Adams 2-4 2 HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB

Pine Tar Press Pitcher of the Day Bryan Paukovits 3.1 IP 2 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 7 K

Colin Rodgers via theadvocate.com

Pine Tar Press Rookie League Player of the Day Collin Rogers 6 IP 0 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 3 K 1 HBP 

 Iowa Cubs 5 Omaha Storm Chasers 4 F/11

With no Jake Odorizzi or Wil Myers the Chasers were unable to hang onto a early lead that they had built dropping their first game in three tries in Des Moines.  Reliever Roman Colon got the start in Odorizzi’s absence lasting 5 innings while allowing just a run on 2 hits leaving in position for a win.  Unfortunately the reliever Blaine Hardy wasn’t quite as effective giving up a 3 runs in his 3 innings which allowed Iowa to grab hold of a 4-3 lead after 8 innings.  Hot hitting Johnny Giavotella hit his 3rd home run in the last four games in the top of the 9th to send the game to extras but the Chasers couldn’t mount another rally dropping the game in the bottom of the 11th on a walkoff hit by Alfredo Amezaga.  Giavotella has multiple hits in four consecutive games raising his average to .324.

W: Bowden (2-0, 2.25) L: Hottovy (2-1, 2.51)

Corpus Christi Hooks 3 NW Arkansas Naturals 0

The Naturals offense has went missing in July, failing to score more the two runs in their six games in the month and getting shut out for the second time Friday night.  The Naturals collected just three singles and a pair of walks going 0 for 2 with runners in scoring position failing to help Sugar Ray Marimon avoid his first AA loss.  The Naturals starter lost his first game lasting just 4.2 innings while giving up 6 hits and 3 walks allowing three runs on the night.

W: Seaton (6-5, 3.61) L: Marimon (1-1, 2.20)
S: Stoffel (14)

Wilmington Blue Rocks 6 Lynchburg Hillcats 5 F/10

The Rocks offense continued their offensive onslaught scoring six runs Friday thanks to four home runs all of which were of the solo variety.  On top of the four solo home runs the Rocks scored a run in the 2nd and a run in the eighth to even the game after Brooks Pounders allowed 5 runs on 9 hits in 5.2 innings.  The game would go to the 10th inning where Lane Adams would hit his second home run of the game and fourth since joining the Rocks, giving Wilmington a 6-5 win.  Newly acquired first baseman Matt Field hit his fifth home run in just his 15th game with the Blue Rocks.

W: Runion (3-1, 2.53) L: Chaffee (3-1, 4.05)

Quad Cities River Bandits 6 Kane County Cougars 1

The Cougars entered the game in first place but were quickly rebuffed the Quad Cities and knocked back into second.  Quad Cities starter had their number on this night limiting the Cougars lineup to just 5 hits,  a walk and one run over 7 innings while striking out 7 hitters.  Kane County would just get just 2 runners in scoring position on the day and were prevented from scoring in both opportunities crossing the plate just once with a double by Alex Llanos that chased home Michael Antonio after his 2nd inning single.  The run wouldn’t be enough as the River Bandits scored six runs, four via starter Kellen Moen who gave up 5 hits over 6 innings including his 13th long ball in 16 starts.

W: Hald (4-4, 3.14) L: Moen (3-5, 5.50)

 Grand Junction Rockies 2 Idaho Falls Chukars 1

The Chukars lost a pitching duel when the Rockies came up with 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th when a double by first round scored a run to tie it and a wild pitch via reliever Alec Mills allowed the lead runner and eventual winning run to cross.  Chukars starter Andrew Ferguson continued his stellar pitching tossing 7 innings of shut out ball giving up just four singles and a walk, taking a no decision despite lowering his ERA to 1.14 on the season.

W: Warner (2-0, 6.35) L: Mills (0-2, 3.12)
S: Oberg (2)

Burlington Royals 5 Bristol White Sox 2

The Royals came within one out of a no hitter and a shutout Friday night but still hung on to a win.  Starter Collin Rogers was close to perfect striking out 3, earning 9 ground ball outs to just 3 fly outs and allowing just a 2nd inning hit by pitch in his 6 innings to earn his first professional win.  The crowd definitely didn’t see a hitting exhibition as the Royals collected just 4 hits of their own but thanks to 11 walks from Sox pitcher were able to score four runs.  The big hit of the game cane via Fred Ford who connected on his 3rd home run of the season with a 3 run shot in the 2nd inning.  Reliever Lincoln Rassi walked a hitter with 2 down in the ninth and then allowed a two run home run to former Husker Kale Kiser to break up the no hitter.  Royals outfield prospect Bubba Starling went 1 for 3 with a walk, a double and a steal of home in the fifth inning.

W: Rodgers (1-0, 1.23) L: Olacio (2-2, 4.19)
S: Rassi (1)

DSL Royals 3 DSL Dodgers 2