Royals Minor League Report (8/14): One Walk-Off Win And Three Games Decided Late

Quad Cities beat Fort Wayne 5-4 when Zion Rose singled home Asbel Gonzalez, after Yimi Presinal struck out four over two innings and Aiden Jimenez closed it out. Michael Braswell III threw three innings without a run, but Columbia fell 5-4 in 11. Felix Arronde gave Northwest Arkansas 5 1/3 innings in a 9-8 loss, and Maikel Garcia, Luke Pelzer, and Carson Roccaforte each had three hits. Omaha lost 6-2 behind two hits from Matthew Lugo.

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Storm Chasers Held To Seven Hits In 6-2 Loss At Columbus

Omaha dropped a 6-2 decision in Columbus, managing seven hits and one walk against eight strikeouts. Columbus scored twice in the first inning after two walks and a two-run single that Drew Waters misplayed in center field for an error, and the Storm Chasers spent the rest of the night chasing.

Henry Williams took the loss after allowing five hits and four runs, three earned, over 4 2/3 innings. He walked four and struck out six. Easton McGee followed with 1 1/3 innings, allowing two hits and striking out two without giving up a run. Anthony Gose worked an inning without allowing a hit and struck out two. Nolan Hoffman gave up two runs on two hits and two walks in his inning.

The Storm Chasers were helped early on by some solid defense, including a diving catch by Jacob Berry in the fourth. 

Omaha did not score until the sixth, when Alejo Lopez came home on Vinnie Pasquantino's ground ball double play. Matthew Lugo added the other run with a single that scored Peyton Wilson in the ninth. Lugo finished 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI, the only Storm Chaser with more than one hit.

Waters, Pasquantino, Brett Squires, Brandon Drury, and Lopez each had one hit. Squires drew the team's only walk. Jacob Berry struck out four times in four at-bats, and Jack Pineda and Elih Marrero were both held without a hit. Omaha left five runners on base and did not have an extra-base hit other than Lugo's triple.

The Storm Chasers left five on base and went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. They are now 56-60 this season. 

Naturals Lose 9-8 After Springfield Answers An 8-1 Lead

Northwest Arkansas carried an 8-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning in Springfield and lost 9-8, giving up eight runs over the final three innings.

Arronde allowed eight hits and four runs, three earned, over 5 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out three before leaving in the middle of the sixth with the lead. Brandon Johnson recorded two outs and allowed two runs on two hits, both of them home runs. Augusto Mendieta gave up three runs on three hits over two innings and was charged with the loss and a blown save. The Naturals staff allowed four home runs in all.

The offense did its work in the middle innings, scoring five times in the fifth and twice in the sixth. Garcia, on a rehab stint, went 3-for-5 with a double and scored three runs out of the leadoff spot.

Pelzer went 3-for-5 with a double, a triple, and three RBI.

Roccaforte also had three hits in five at-bats, including a double, and drove in two.

Northwest Arkansas finished with 12 hits, two walks, and 10 strikeouts, and did not hit a home run. Daniel Vazquez, Connor Scott, and Justin Johnson each singled. Spencer Nivens and Johnson drew the two walks. Roccaforte singled with one out in the ninth, but the Naturals did not score, and they left six men on base and went 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

The Naturals dropped to 45-65 after the loss.

River Bandits Walk Off Fort Wayne 5-4 On Zion Rose Single

Quad Cities won 5-4 in the ninth inning, finishing off Fort Wayne with a walk-off single from Rose. Gonzalez started the rally with a walk, moved up on a wild pitch, and came home on Rose's line drive to right field.

Blake Wolters started and lasted one inning, giving up three runs on one hit and three walks with two strikeouts. All three runs came on one swing, a three-run home run in the first. Mason Miller then threw three innings, allowing three hits and one run with three strikeouts. Jackson Cleveland and Ethan McElvain each worked an inning without allowing a run. Yimi Presinal struck out four over two innings and gave up one hit and two walks. Aiden Jimenez worked the final inning without allowing a hit and picked up the win.

Derlin Figueroa answered the early deficit with a two-run home run, his 24th, and finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Nolan Sailors singled in a run in the fourth, and Stone Russell tied the game in the eighth with a single that scored Jose Cerice. Russell went 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Rose went 2-for-5.

The River Bandits drew five walks, two of them by Angel Acosta, and struck out eight times. Blake Mitchell walked and scored a run. Gonzalez walked, and he was the last of five Quad Cities runners to cross the plate. The River Bandits finished with eight hits, left nine runners on base, and went 4-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

Quad Cities has the best record of any of the Royals' full-season affiliates at 55-51. 

Fireflies Tie It In The Eighth, Fall 5-4 In 11 Innings At Wilson

Columbia tied the game with a three-run home run in the eighth inning and lost 5-4 in 11 innings at Wilson, which ended the game with a bases-loaded walk.

Coleman Picard allowed six hits and three runs over five innings, walking two and striking out two. Jhon Reyes gave up three hits and a run over two innings. Braswell III was the best of the group, throwing three innings and allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one, and he did not give up a run. Randy Ramnarace recorded one out and walked three, and the last of those walks brought in the winning run. Wilson scored twice in the first and added runs in the third and sixth.

JC Vanek provided the tying blow with his 12th home run, a three-run shot that scored Josh Hammond and Sean Gamble. Vanek finished 1-for-4 with three RBI and a walk.

Gamble had the best day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and a walk.

Jhosmmel Zue was 2-for-5, and Yandel Ricardo had a single and two walks. Henry Ramos had a hit and scored a run.

The Fireflies drew seven walks and had chances in extra innings but could not convert. Hammond, the zombie runner in the 10th, moved to third on Gamble's sacrifice bunt and was stranded there. The zombie runner in the 11th was retired at third base on a fielder's choice. Columbia left 10 runners on base and went just 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

The loss dropped Columbia to .500, as they are now 55-55. 

Top-20 Prospect Performance

1. Kendry Chourio: DNP
2. David Shields: DNP
3. Josh Hammond: 0-for-4, BB, RBI
4. Blake Mitchell: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
5. Sean Gamble: 2-for-3, 2B, BB
6. Ramon Ramirez: DNP
7. Zion Rose: 2-for-5, RBI, K
8. Asbel Gonzalez: 0-for-4, BB, K
9. Carson Roccaforte: 3-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI
10. Taylor Rabe: DNP
11. Yandel Ricardo: 1-for-3, 2 BB
12. Justin Lamkin: DNP
13. Drew Beam: DNP
14. Michael Lombardi: DNP
15. Jack Slightom: DNP
16. Felix Arronde: 5 1/3 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
17. Angeibel Gomez: 1-for-2, HR, R, RBI
18. Ben Kudrna: DNP
19. Steven Zobac: DNP
20. Blake Wolters: 1 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K

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