Royals Minor League Report (6/16): Cabrera and Pelzer Carry the Bats, Patteson Dominates

Hunter Patteson struck out eight over seven innings, but Northwest Arkansas fell 6-5 to Tulsa despite Connor Scott's late two-run homer. Jose Gutierrez worked seven frames as Columbia rolled 7-3, backed by Roni Cabrera's homer and three RBI. Quad Cities fell 11-6 despite Luke Pelzer's three hits and Ramon Ramirez's home run. Omaha managed just two runs in a 21-2 loss at St. Paul, with Abraham Toro homering.

Royals Transactions

• Kansas City Royals placed RHP Carlos Estévez on the 60-day injured list. Left foot contusion.
• Kansas City Royals traded RHP Denis Samudio and cash to Toronto Blue Jays for RHP Connor Seabold.
• Kansas City Royals recalled RHP Mitch Spence from Omaha Storm Chasers.
• Kansas City Royals optioned RHP Eli Morgan to Omaha Storm Chasers.

Omaha Buried Early In Lopsided Loss At St. Paul

The Omaha Storm Chasers fell 21-2 to the St. Paul Saints, undone by an eight-run first inning before they ever came to bat.

Starter Aaron Sanchez recorded just three outs, allowing six hits and eight earned runs with two walks and two strikeouts, and the deficit was insurmountable from there. Ethan Bosacker followed with 2 2/3 innings, surrendering six hits and six earned runs while striking out five.

The offense offered little on the Storm Chasers' end.

Abraham Toro provided the lone power, homering in the second inning to put Omaha on the board.

Outfielder Drew Waters added two hits. Infielder Peyton Wilson singled, walked, and scored Omaha's other run in the third on a Brett Squires single.

Omaha left five runners on base and never scored after the third inning. The Storm Chasers went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position against St. Paul. 

Position player Toro even took the mound for a scoreless inning to spare the bullpen, which shows how south the evening went for the Storm Chasers. They are now 30-39. 

Scott's Late Homer Falls Short As Tulsa Edges Naturals

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals fell 6-5 to the Tulsa Drillers, unable to overcome a three-run top of the tenth.

Patteson was excellent on the mound, working seven innings and allowing four hits and three earned runs with no walks and eight strikeouts, though two of those hits left the yard.

The game was tied 3-3 entering the tenth before Tulsa pushed across three runs against the bullpen to take a 6-3 lead. Northwest Arkansas answered in the bottom of the inning when Scott homered to score zombie runner Colton Becker and cut the deficit to 6-5, but Carson Roccaforte struck out to end it.

Scott finished 3-for-4 with two RBI. Roccaforte led off and went 3-for-5 with a double, and his fifth-inning single scored Scott to bring the Naturals even at 2-2, though he was later picked off and caught stealing second.

Northwest Arkansas left just three runners on base and went 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position. The loss brings the Naturals' record to 27-35 for the season. 

Pelzer's Three Hits Not Enough As River Bandits Fall To Wisconsin

The Quad Cities River Bandits dropped an 11-6 decision to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in their return to Modern Woodsmen Park in Davenport, Iowa, despite a productive night at the plate.

The offense pushed across two runs in both the fifth and the sixth innings to stay within reach.

In the fifth, Tyriq Kemp's groundout scored Pelzer and Angel Acosta's sacrifice fly brought home Kemp. The sixth saw Pelzer triple home Ramirez, then score himself on a wild pitch after Derlin Figueroa walked.

The pitching could not hold, however. The staff struggled with command, and Mason Miller was charged with five earned runs across 1 2/3 innings while Kamden Edge allowed four earned runs in one inning, including a home run. Connor Rasmussen drove in a run with a ninth-inning single, but Quad Cities left three on base and could not complete the comeback.

The River Bandits are now 28-33 for the season. 

Gutierrez Cruises, Eighth-Inning Rally Sends Columbia Past Hickory

The Columbia Fireflies beat the Hickory Crawdads 7-3 behind a strong start from Gutierrez, who went seven innings and allowed five hits and three earned runs with no walks and four strikeouts.

The game was tied 3-3 entering the eighth before Columbia broke it open with a three-run inning. Josh Hammond and Yandel Ricardo opened the eighth with singles, Stone Russell moved them up with a sacrifice bunt, and Sean Gamble doubled home both runners. JC Vanek followed with a single that scored Gamble for a 6-3 lead.

Cabrera fueled the offense all night, finishing 1-for-2 with a fifth-inning home run, two RBI, two runs, and two walks.

Hammond reached base three times, going 2-for-3 with a walk and scoring twice. Gamble drove in two, and Vanek had two hits. Henson Leal closed with two scoreless innings out of the bullpen, striking out two.

Columbia left five runners on base and went 3-for-7 with runners in scoring position. The Fireflies improved their record to 33-31 with the victory. 

Top-20 Prospect Performance

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

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