Royals Minor League Report (6/28): Late Drama Across The Royals' Farm System

Brett Squires homered and tripled with four RBI, but the Omaha Storm Chasers fell 13-11 in ten innings. The Northwest Arkansas Naturals wasted Felix Arronde's six innings in a 7-6 walkoff loss. Tanner Jones spun five scoreless innings, and Trevor Werner's three-run homer keyed a seven-run ninth as the Quad Cities River Bandits won 7-2. Darwin Rodriguez took the loss as the Columbia Fireflies dropped a 4-1 decision despite nine hits.

Royals Transactions

• Kansas City Royals recalled RHP Eric Cerantola from Omaha Storm Chasers.
• Kansas City Royals optioned RHP Mitch Spence to Omaha Storm Chasers.

Storm Chasers' Early Outburst Wasted In Extra-Inning Loss

The Omaha Storm Chasers built an early lead and then watched it disappear in a 13-11, ten-inning loss to the Columbus Clippers.

Squires carried the offense, going 3-for-4 with a triple, a home run, a stolen base, two runs, and four RBI. Brandon Drury added a home run, two RBI, and two runs, while Rudy Martin Jr. reached base three times from the leadoff spot.

Omaha put up six runs in the second inning to seize control. The affiliate loaded the bases on two walks and a hit by pitch, then pushed across the first run on Kevin Newman's bases-loaded walk that scored Drury. A run came around on a strikeout, Squires followed with a two-run triple, and Abraham Toro and Gavin Cross each delivered an RBI double to cap the rally.

The Clippers chipped away over the middle innings, scoring five in the fourth and adding single runs in the sixth, eighth, and ninth.

Squires' two-run homer in the ninth tied the game and forced extra innings, but Columbus answered with four runs in the top of the tenth, including a two-run home run that brought home the zombie runner.

Omaha managed only two runs in the bottom of the tenth on Drury's two-run homer and fell short. Starter Bailey Falter worked 3 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on two walks with four strikeouts. Génesis Cabrera took the loss after surrendering four runs in the tenth.

The Storm Chasers stranded seven runners and went 5-for-15 with runners in scoring position. They are 36-44 this season.

Omaha Storm Chasers Hitting

Omaha Storm Chasers Pitching

Naturals Squander Lead In Walk-Off Loss To Springfield

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals carried a lead into the late innings but fell 7-6 on a walk-off home run against the Springfield Cardinals.

Sam Kulasingam led the way, going 2-for-4 with a home run, a stolen base, two runs, and two RBI. Jack Pineda reached base three times with two hits, a walk, a stolen base, and two RBI, and Connor Scott homered.

The decisive frame for the Naturals was a five-run third inning. Scott opened the scoring with a solo home run, Pineda laced a two-run single, Kulasingam followed with an RBI single, and Colton Becker doubled home another run. That outburst, added to a run in the first, gave Northwest Arkansas a 6-3 lead.

The advantage did not hold. Springfield trimmed the deficit with a run in the sixth, tied it with two runs in the seventh, and ended it with a leadoff home run in the ninth.

Royals Keep's No. 14 prospect Arronde turned in a strong start, working six innings and allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Oscar Rayo took the loss after allowing the walk-off home run.

The Naturals left four runners on base and went 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Northwest Arkansas is now 30-43.

Northwest Arkansas Naturals Hitting

Northwest Arkansas Naturals Pitching

River Bandits Erupt For Seven In Ninth To Stun South Bend

The Quad Cities River Bandits broke a scoreless tie dramatically, plating seven runs in the ninth inning to beat the South Bend Cubs 7-2.

Werner provided the biggest swing, a three-run home run, and finished 1-for-4 with three RBI. Ramon Ramirez, Royals Keep's No. 6 prospect, went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI, and Tyriq Kemp added a hit, an RBI, a walk, and a stolen base from the leadoff spot.

The ninth inning told the whole story offensively. Ramirez started the rally with a two-run double, Connor Rasmussen brought home a run on a groundout, Werner crushed his three-run homer, and Kemp capped the scoring with an RBI single. The seven-run frame turned a 2-0 deficit into a comfortable win.

Starter Jones was dominant, working five scoreless innings and allowing just one hit with one walk and five strikeouts. The Cubs scratched across single runs in the sixth and eighth, but Quad Cities steadied things out of the bullpen. Kamden Edge, Royals Keep's No. 19 prospect, earned the win with two innings of work, allowing one run on one hit with two strikeouts.

The River Bandits left four runners on base and went 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Quad Cities improved their record to 32-39 after the victory over the Cubs.

Quad Cities River Bandits Hitting

Quad Cities River Bandits Pitching

Fireflies' Bats Stranded In Loss To Kannapolis

The Columbia Fireflies collected nine hits but managed only one run in a 4-1 loss to the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers.

Roni Cabrera led the offense, going 2-for-3 with an RBI, a walk, and a stolen base. Ivan Sosa also notched two hits, and Stone Russell doubled, but the affiliate repeatedly failed to bring runners home, stranding eight in the contest.

Kannapolis built its lead early. The Cannon Ballers scored once in the first and then put up three runs in the third inning, a frame aided by a throwing error. Columbia could not respond until the seventh, when Cabrera singled home Yandel Ricardo, Royals Keep's No. 10 prospect, for the team's lone run.

Starter Rodriguez took the loss, working five innings and allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits with one walk and two strikeouts. The bullpen was sharp behind him, as Brandon Herbold, Yeri Pérez, and Andy Basora combined for three scoreless innings of relief. The Fireflies' inability to cash in with runners aboard, eight left on base, proved the difference.

Columbia Fireflies Hitting

Columbia Fireflies Pitching

Top-20 Prospect Performance

1. Kendry Chourio: DNP
2. David Shields: DNP
3. Josh Hammond: 1-for-4
4. Blake Mitchell: 0-for-4, 2 K
5. Sean Gamble: 1-for-4, K
6. Ramon Ramirez: 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI
7. Drew Beam: DNP
8. Carson Roccaforte: 1-for-4, 2B, BB, SB, K
9. Asbel Gonzalez: 0-for-4, BB
10. Yandel Ricardo: 1-for-4
11. Michael Lombardi: DNP
12. Ben Kudrna: DNP
13. Justin Lamkin: DNP
14. Felix Arronde: 6 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
15. Blake Wolters: DNP
16. Steven Zobac: DNP
17. Austin Charles: DNP
18. Daniel Vázquez: DNP
19. Kamden Edge: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
20. Warren Calcano: DNP

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