Royals Minor League Report (6/5): River Bandits Split and Storm Chasers Roll, but Naturals and Fireflies Fall

Luke Pelzer drove in five runs as Quad Cities outslugged South Bend 13-8 in the High-A opener, and the River Bandits split the doubleheader with a 4-3 loss in the nightcap. Omaha cruised to an 11-2 win behind Kameron Misner, Matthew Lugo, and Luke Maile, who each homered. Northwest Arkansas fell 8-4 to Midland, and Columbia dropped a 3-2 decision to Fayetteville despite a ninth-inning rally led by Yandel Ricardo.

Royals Transactions

• Kansas City Royals signed free agent IF Juan Batista to a minor league contract.
• Kansas City Royals transferred 2B Jonathan India from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. Left shoulder subluxation.
• RHP Stephen Kolek's roster status was changed by the Kansas City Royals.
• Kansas City Royals selected the contract of 3B Josh Rojas from Omaha Storm Chasers.

Misner, Lugo, and Maile Power Omaha Past Columbus

The Omaha Storm Chasers broke open a close game with a six-run fifth inning and rolled to an 11-2 victory over the Columbus Clippers.

The Storm Chasers led 1-0 before the fifth, when Drew Waters walked with the bases loaded to score Misner, Abraham Toro doubled in three runs, and Maile capped the rally with a two-run home run.

Misner finished 2-for-5 with a home run, two runs, and two RBI, while Lugo went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, three runs, and an RBI. Maile added two hits, two runs, and two RBI, and Toro drove in three.

Starter Mitch Spence set the tone with three scoreless innings, allowing one hit and no walks while striking out five. Helcris Olivárez followed with two innings, surrendering one run on one hit with three strikeouts and two walks. Omaha added insurance in the eighth on home runs from Misner and Lugo, and Kevin Newman singled home a run in the ninth.

The Storm Chasers left eight runners on base but collected 12 hits on the night. Five pitchers combined to hold Columbus to two runs, both on solo home runs.

Naturals Stumble Late in 8-4 Loss to Midland

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals jumped ahead early but could not hold the lead in an 8-4 loss to the Midland RockHounds.

Northwest Arkansas scored three runs in the second inning, getting an RBI single from Connor Scott and a two-run single from Alberto Rodriguez to take a 3-1 lead. Midland answered with three runs in the fifth, keyed by a bases-clearing triple, and pulled away with single runs in the seventh and a three-run ninth.

Starter Ethan Bosacker turned in a solid outing, allowing one run on four hits over 3 2/3 innings with two strikeouts and two walks. The bullpen could not preserve the deficit, as Zachary Cawyer allowed three runs in one inning and Tommy Molsky gave up three runs in the ninth.

Scott led the offense with two hits and an RBI, Rodriguez added two RBIs, and Omar Hernandez reached base twice with a hit and two runs scored. The Naturals managed just six hits and left four runners on base. Daniel Vazquez struck out three times in a hitless afternoon, and Carson Roccaforte went hitless with a walk atop the order.

Pelzer Drives In Five as River Bandits Win Slugfest 13-8

Pelzer had the night of the series, going 4-for-4 with three doubles and five RBI to lead the Quad Cities River Bandits past the South Bend Cubs 13-8.

The River Bandits scored four times in the first inning, with Blake Mitchell, Luke Pelzer, Derlin Figueroa, and Tyriq Kemp each driving in a run. Quad Cities added five more in the second, sending the lead to 9-0, as Asbel Gonzalez, Pelzer, and Kemp delivered run-scoring hits, and Figueroa walked in a run.

South Bend answered with an eight-run third inning, aided by three Quad Cities errors, to climb within 9-8, but the River Bandits responded with four runs in the fifth, three of them on a Pelzer double. Gonzalez finished 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, and Mitchell reached base four times with a hit, two walks, and three runs scored.

Starter David Shields struggled, allowing eight runs, four earned, on three hits and two walks over 2 2/3 innings with no strikeouts. Max Martin steadied things with 2 1/3 scoreless innings, and Yimi Presinal closed with two scoreless frames, allowing no baserunners. The River Bandits left seven runners on base.

River Bandits Drop Nightcap 4-3 to South Bend

The Quad Cities River Bandits took an early lead but fell 4-3 to the South Bend Cubs in the second game of the doubleheader.

Quad Cities scored twice in the second inning, as Erick Torres singled home a run and Acosta added a run on a sacrifice bunt for a 2-0 lead. The River Bandits pushed across another run in the third on a Pelzer fly out to take a 3-2 edge. South Bend tied the game in the second on a two-run home run and a double, then won it with single runs in the fifth.

Starter Cory Ronan absorbed the loss, allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits and two walks over 1 2/3 innings with three strikeouts and a home run. Coleman Picard followed with 2 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out one, and Josh Hansell pitched two innings, giving up one run on three hits. Pelzer and Derlin Figueroa each collected a hit, while Torres drove in a run.

The River Bandits managed three hits and left three runners on base and went 1-for-4 with runners in scoring position. This second game was a makeup of their April 5th game in South Bend, and thus, the Cubs were the home team in the nightcap of the doubleheader. 

Fireflies Rally Comes Up Short in 3-2 Loss

The Columbia Fireflies nearly erased a three-run deficit in the ninth inning but fell 3-2 to the Fayetteville Woodpeckers.

Fayetteville scored all of its runs in the third inning on a three-run home run. Columbia was held without a run until the ninth, when Daniel Lopez and Henry Ramos reached, and Stone Russell singled home a run to make it 3-1. Ricardo followed with a run-scoring double to pull within 3-2, but the rally ended there.

Starter Darwin Rodriguez delivered a strong outing, allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits and two walks over 5 2/3 innings while striking out nine.

Luis Valdez followed with 1 1/3 scoreless innings and a strikeout, and Randy Ramnarace tossed a scoreless ninth despite two walks. Ricardo led the offense with a double and an RBI, and Russell drove in the other run.

Columbia managed six hits and left four runners on base, with Sean Gamble, Roni Cabrera, and Gabriel Silva combining for seven strikeouts.

Top-20 Prospect Performance

1. Kendry Chourio: DNP
2. David Shields: 2 2/3 IP, 3 H, 8 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
3. Sean Gamble: 0-for-4, 2 K
4. Blake Mitchell: 1-for-2, 3 R, RBI, 2 BB, K (Game 1); 0-for-2, R, BB, K (Game 2)
5. Josh Hammond: 1-for-4, K
6. Ramon Ramirez: 1-for-2, 2 R, BB (Game 1); 0-for-2, BB (Game 2)
7. Drew Beam: DNP
8. Asbel Gonzalez: 3-for-4, 2 R, RBI
9. Ben Kudrna: DNP
10. Carson Roccaforte: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
11. Yandel Ricardo: 1-for-4, 2B, RBI, 2 K
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: 0-for-4, 3 K
19. Warren Colcano: DNP
20. Shane Panzini: DNP

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