Royals Minor League Report (6/12): Toro And Rave Go Deep, Mitchell Stays Hot In Split

The Omaha Storm Chasers blanked Las Vegas behind home runs from Abraham Toro and John Rave, with the bullpen combining for nine strikeouts. Blake Mitchell launched a homer at each end of the Quad Cities' doubleheader, and David Shields struck out 10 over 5 2/3 innings in the nightcap win. Columbia fell to Delmarva despite Ivan Sosa's three-run shot, as the Fireflies issued 12 walks. Northwest Arkansas was postponed due to weather, and they will play a doubleheader tomorrow.

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Toro And Rave Power Storm Chasers Past Aviators

The Omaha Storm Chasers rode the long ball and a strong bullpen to a 3-1 win over the Las Vegas Aviators.

Omaha got everything it needed in its win early on against the Aviators.

In the bottom of the second, Toro homered to right field, scoring Brett Squires for a two-run shot that put the Storm Chasers ahead 2-0.

In the bottom of the third, Rave homered to right field to make it 3-0, and those runs held up the rest of the way for the Storm Chasers.

Toro finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs, Rave went 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI, and Peyton Wilson added two hits. Omaha collected eight hits but left six runners on base.

The pitching staff allowed just one run, which was unearned. Bailey Falter struck out four and walked one over 2 2/3 innings while allowing three hits and the lone run.  Mitch Spence and Dan Altavilla each tossed a scoreless inning to open the game, Génesis Cabrera worked two scoreless frames, and Helcris Olivárez closed it out over 2 1/3 innings, striking out two and earning the save.

River Bandits Erase Early Hole But Fall To Sky Carp In Opener

The Quad Cities River Bandits jumped out early but could not hold off the Beloit Sky Carp in an 8-7 loss in the doubleheader opener.

Quad Cities scored twice in the first inning, when Mitchell singled home Asbel Gonzalez and Derlin Figueroa singled home Mitchell. The River Bandits then took the lead in the second, as Angel Acosta singled home Trevor Werner, Gonzalez singled home Nolan Sailors, and Figueroa drew a bases-loaded walk to score Gonzalez, building a 5-3 advantage.

Beloit answered with four runs in the fourth inning to seize control, and Quad Cities could not recover even after Mitchell tied it with a solo homer in the sixth.

Mitchell led the offense at 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs, and a walk, while Figueroa drove in two and Gonzalez reached base three times with two stolen bases. The River Bandits drew eight walks but left nine on base.

Emmanuel Reyes struggled on the mound, allowing seven runs, all earned, on 11 hits with one walk and six strikeouts over four innings, surrendering three home runs. Nick Conte, L.P. Langevin, and Max Martin followed, with Martin charged with the loss after allowing the deciding run in the eighth.

Shields Fans 10 As River Bandits Take Nightcap

The Quad Cities River Bandits took the second game of the doubleheader 3-2 over the Beloit Sky Carp, riding a dominant pitching performance from Shields.

Quad Cities built its lead across the second and third innings. Figueroa homered to center field in the second to make it 1-0, and in the third, Mitchell singled home Sailors, and Ramirez singled home Mitchell for a 3-0 cushion.

Beloit pushed back with two runs in the sixth inning, one of which scored on an error, but that was as close as the Sky Carp got to the River Bandits in the second leg of the doubleheader.

Shields was overpowering, striking out 10 while allowing just three hits and two runs, one earned, with no walks over 5 2/3 innings to earn the win. The No. 2 prospect at Royals Keep, Shields carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning. It was a nice bounce-back start for the lefty pitcher after a rough performance in his previous start. 

Coleman Picard recorded the final four outs over 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the save.

At the plate, Sailors went 2-for-4 with a double, Mitchell singled, drove in a run, and stole a base, and Ramirez and Figueroa each added an RBI. The River Bandits managed eight hits and left four runners on base.

Walks Doom Fireflies In Loss To Shorebirds

The Columbia Fireflies issued 12 walks and could not overcome a big Delmarva rally in a 9-6 loss to the Shorebirds.

The game turned in the seventh inning, when Delmarva scored four runs to break a 2-2 tie and pull away to a 7-2 lead. Columbia mounted a late charge in the eighth, when Sosa homered to left center field to score Roni Cabrera and Connor Rasmussen, but the deficit was too large to erase.

Sosa led the way at 1-for-4 with the three-run homer, Cabrera went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, and Rasmussen tripled, drove in a run, and drew two walks. Columbia collected 10 hits but stranded 13 runners and struck out 12 times.

Michael Lombardi turned in a steady start, striking out six while allowing two runs over 4 2/3 innings, though he walked five and took the loss. Hunter Alberini struggled in relief, allowing four runs in one inning, and the bullpen as a whole issued seven of the team's walks.

Top-20 Prospect Performance

1. Kendry Chourio: DNP
2. David Shields: 5 2/3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 10 K (W)
3. Sean Gamble: DNP
4. Blake Mitchell: Game 1 3-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, BB; Game 2 1-for-3, RBI, K, SB
5. Josh Hammond: 1-for-5, 3 K
6. Ramon Ramirez: Game 1 0-for-3, BB, K; Game 2 1-for-3, RBI
7. Drew Beam: DNP
8. Asbel Gonzalez: 1-for-2, RBI, BB, 2 SB
9. Ben Kudrna: DNP
10. Carson Roccaforte: DNP
11. Yandel Ricardo: 1-for-5, K
12. Felix Arronde: DNP
13. Blake Wolters: DNP
14. Michael Lombardi: 4 2/3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 6 K, HR (L)
15. Luinder Avila: DNP
16. Steven Zobac: DNP
17. Frank Mozzicato: DNP
18. Daniel Vazquez: DNP
19. Warren Colcano: 1-for-2, R, BB, K
20. Shane Panzini: DNP

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