Royals Minor League Report: Walk-Off Magic In Quad Cities

Ramon Ramirez powered a Quad Cities walk-off with three hits and five RBI while Asbel Gonzalez drove in the winner. Emmanuel Reyes fired four scoreless frames for the River Bandits. Blake Wolters struck out five over five innings as Josh Hammond homered in the Columbia Fireflies' win. Sam Kulasingam added three hits in a Northwest Arkansas loss. Aaron Sanchez took the loss for Omaha after allowing six runs, while Abraham Toro drove in two.

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Toro's Two RBI Not Enough In Omaha's Loss To Toledo

Omaha struck first in the top of the opening frame when Kameron Misner drew a walk, stole second, and came around on an Abraham Toro RBI single to put the Storm Chasers up 1-0. The lead did not last. Toledo answered with back-to-back solo home runs in the bottom of the second to take a 2-1 advantage, then added another solo shot in the third to push in front 3-1.

The game slipped away in the fifth. Omaha pulled within one in the top half when John Rave scored on a Toro groundout to make it 3-2, but Toledo erupted in the bottom of the fifth with a four-run outburst that included a two-run double and a bases-loaded walk that drove in another run, widening the margin to 7-2. A solo home run in the eighth finalized the 8-2 result.

Abraham Toro led Omaha's offense with two RBI on a 1-for-4 night. Drew Waters added a double, and Misner reached base three times with a hit and two walks out of the three spot. The Storm Chasers managed just three hits as a team and stole four bases.

Starter Aaron Sanchez took the loss after giving up six runs (five earned) on six hits and two walks across four innings, surrendering three home runs and striking out four. Bailey Falter provided the lone bright spot from the bullpen, striking out four over 2 1/3 innings of relief.

Naturals Fall Short Against Wichita

Northwest Arkansas fell into an early hole and never fully recovered. Starter Frank Mozzicato surrendered an RBI double, another RBI double, and a three-run home run in the top of the first as the Wind Surge opened a 5-0 lead before the Naturals took a swing. Northwest Arkansas responded in the bottom of the first with RBI groundouts from Brett Squires and Daniel Vazquez that scored Carson Roccaforte and Rudy Martin Jr., cutting the deficit to 5-2.

The Naturals chipped two more runs back in the third on RBI singles from Sam Kulasingam and Jorge Alfaro. The biggest frame came in the bottom of the fourth. Canyon Brown opened it with a solo home run to left, and later in the inning, Sam Kulasingam lashed a two-run single that gave the Naturals a 7-6 lead. Wichita took the lead right back in the top of the fifth with a two-run home run, then added an insurance solo shot in the eighth for a 9-7 final.

Kulasingam was the offensive standout, going 3-for-3 with two RBI and two walks. Carson Roccaforte added two hits, two runs, a walk, and a stolen base out of the leadoff spot. Canyon Brown contributed the solo home run.

Frank Mozzicato's rough outing covered 1 2/3 innings, six earned runs on five hits and four walks with two strikeouts. Caden Monke followed with 2 1/3 scoreless innings and four strikeouts, and Oscar Rayo absorbed the loss after allowing two runs over three innings.

Ramirez's Five-RBI Night Fuels River Bandits Walk-Off Over Lansing

Quad Cities trailed most of the night before Ramon Ramirez and Asbel Gonzalez took over late. Ramirez opened the scoring with an RBI double in the bottom of the fourth that plated Gonzalez for a 1-0 lead. Lansing flipped the game in the top of the fifth on a three-run home run, moving in front 3-1. Ramirez evened the score in the bottom of the sixth, lifting a two-run home run to left-center that scored Gonzalez.

The game was decided in the eighth and ninth innings. With Gonzalez and Blake Mitchell aboard in the bottom of the eighth, Ramirez ripped a two-run double to left to give the River Bandits a 5-4 lead. Lansing tied it with a run in the top of the ninth. In the bottom of the ninth, Jose Cerice singled, and Asbel Gonzalez followed with a walk-off single to center that scored Cerice for a 6-5 win.

Ramon Ramirez finished 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, and five RBI out of the cleanup spot. Asbel Gonzalez added three hits, three runs, and two stolen bases.

Starter Emmanuel Reyes delivered four scoreless innings, allowing just one hit with four walks and three strikeouts. Yimi Presinal earned the win with 1 2/3 innings of relief.

Hammond Homers, Wolters Fans Five As Fireflies Down Augusta

The Columbia Fireflies took down Augusta 6-2 behind a multi-hit attack at the top of the order and a steady turn from starter Blake Wolters. Augusta struck first on a solo home run in the top of the first, but Columbia answered in the bottom half when Brooks Bryan grounded into a force out that scored Henry Ramos to even it at 1-1. Augusta regained the lead on an RBI single in the second, and Columbia responded again when Henry Ramos singled home Daniel Lopez. Josh Hammond then homered to left-center in the bottom of the third to push Columbia ahead 3-2.

The Fireflies broke it open in the bottom of the seventh. Josh Hammond doubled home Henry Ramos to extend the lead. Brooks Bryan followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Sean Gamble, and a Hyungchan Um flyout brought Hammond home on a throwing error, capping a three-run frame for the 6-2 final.

Henry Ramos paced the lineup with a 4-for-5 night that included a double, an RBI, and two stolen bases out of the leadoff spot. Josh Hammond went 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, two runs, two RBI, and a walk. JC Vanek chipped in two hits.

Blake Wolters earned the win, striking out five over five innings while allowing two runs on four hits and two walks. Henson Leal added two hitless innings, and Max Martin closed with two scoreless innings and two strikeouts.

Royals Top-20 Prospect Performance

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

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