Down on the Farm, KC style

[SubGod22]

Storm Chasers Defeat the Sounds on Monday, 6-3

Southpaw Ryan Verdugo (2-0) notched his second win of the season as he went five innings against Nashville (4-15) and allowed a lone run to score. Brandon Sisk worked the final inning and a third to earn his second save of the year.

Monty on the hill.
Over-easy for Odorizzi in Naturals Win

Odorizzi (2-1), in by far his most dominating Double-A outing since his mid-summer promotion last season, fanned 11 in seven innings to set a new franchise record. Four different Naturals' hurlers - most recently left-hander Will Smith last August 30th - had fanned ten in an outing. The Royals' top right-handed pitching prospect, Odorizzi scattered his 11 strikeouts over his seven frames - setting down at least one batter via the strikeout in each inning in a brisk game that ended in two hours and 19 minutes.

Odorizzi fans NW Arkansas-record 11

Monday's start was the third time Odorizzi had struck out at least 11 batters in a game. With Wilmington in the Class A Advanced Carolina League in 2011, he fanned 13 in a May 10 win over Salem and then struck out 11 in a June 17 loss to Winston-Salem. In neither of those starts, though, did he combine his impressive strikeout totals with a scoreless outing.

"I was just trying to work my best pitches in there, read the hitters. Really all of my pitches just worked off each other, which was really nice," he said.

Arguelles starts tonight

WILMINGTON ROCKS MATSUZAKA IN 7-2 WIN

Wilmington starter Jason Adam saw an infield hit, a soft single and a walk all come with two outs to load the bases in the second. But the 20-year-old induced a fly-out to center from Jackie Bradley, Jr. to leave the bases loaded and cruised to his first win as a Blue Rock. Adam (1-1) tossed five scoreless frames, struck out five and lowered his league-leading ERA to 0.40.

Cuthbert provided run-scoring hits in the fifth, seventh and ninth. They combined with Brett Eibner's first Wilmington homer in the eighth to make it 7-0. Cuthbert, a highly-touted 19-year-old third baseman, went 4-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs in his best game as a Rock.

Ventura starts this evening.

KC lost 11-8

Diamonds in the Rough 4.23
POD - Jake Odorizzi
HOD - Justin Trapp

[SubGod22]

Chasers Beat the Sounds on Tuesday, 5-3

Lefty Mike Montgomery (2-0) earned the win after he tossed seven innings of three-run ball. Five different Chasers added an RBI in support of Montgomery while Ramon Colon recorded the game's final two outs to collect his first save of the season.

Omaha is off today before hitting the road. Pitcher TBD

Naturals outlast Springfield in 13!

In what finished as the longest game in Arvest Ballpark's four-plus year history, four hours and 23 minutes elapsed, 12 pitchers were used, and 420 pitches were thrown. Colon, who was 4-for-7 with two RBI's, deposited the final pitch into shallow center and sent the Naturals' bench into a frenzied celebration. Both Colon and Testa, who was 3-for-5, finished a homer short of hitting for the cycle.

Paulino starts today. Sounds like Cain may have tweaked something...

KUEBLER'S KNOCK CARRIES ROCKS

Ventura dominated over 4.2 innings. The flame-throwing 20-year-old tied his career-high with 10 strikeouts and walked just one. All four hits he allowed were singles including one on the infield and one misjudged by a charging Brian Fletcher in shallow left.

Starter tonight not yet announced.

KC tried to lose it in the 9th but held on 6-5

Diamonds in the Rough 4.24
POD - Yordano Ventura
HOD - Christian Colon

[SubGod22]

No game yesterday for Omaha. Still no starter listed on the site either...

Naturals Win Third Straight

SPRINGDALE, AR - Wil Myers and Yem Prades each homered in the fourth inning as the Northwest Arkansas Naturals defeated the Springfield Cardinals 10-6 on Wednesday afternoon at Arvest Ballpark. The Naturals improved to 6-3 at home, and have taken three straight from the Cardinals.

Paulino in his first rehab outing got the start for the Naturals working four innings allowing four hits and three runs, walking just one and striking out eight. Paulino threw 75 pitches, 50 of which were strikes

Plenty Of Positives As Naturals Pound SpringBirds

Offensively, the Wil Myers stole the show. My first assessment of him was how much thicker he looks this season compared to last. I often complained last season that I thought Myers needed to get stronger, and he certainly appears to have done that. He finished 2-for-4 at the dish having scorched an 89 mph fastball for a double to left center in the first inning to drive in a run, and later depositing a no-doubt, two-run bomb to the top aisle of the party deck in the deepest part of left center.

Myers’ home run distance was a bit wind-aided, but the ball would have been a no-doubt blast in any ballpark regardless of the wind. He finished with three RBI and could have had more. He just missed a 2-0 fastball in the third inning and flew out to the warning track in right center with runners on. Myers is off to a good start this season, hitting .319 with five homers, six doubles and 13 RBI in his first 17 games.

Myers is sporting a 23-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio, however, having added one of each in the game. Still, the production is there and there was no doubting he’s locked in at the plate right now. He also stole a bag late in the game, his third steal of the season.

Marks will start tonight

BRITTON'S BREAKOUT GAME TAKES DOWN BLUE CREW

Cole White set a new career-high with six strikeouts over his 2.2 innings. That included two different strings of three in a row, highlighted by a 1-2-3 seventh, all by way of the K.

Leondy Perez to start.

KC lost 7-2

Diamonds in the Rough 4.25
POD - Cole White
HOD - Wil Myers

[SubGod22]

Omaha starts road trip with exciting, dramatic win

Memphis, TN - David Lough led off the ninth inning with an inside-the-park home run to push Omaha past Memphis, 3-2, Thursday night in the opener of a four-game set at AutoZone Park. The Storm Chasers claimed their fifth win in a row to improve to 16-5 overall and 5-4 away from home.

Adam Reifer retired all five hitters he faced and gave way to Eduardo Sanchez, who began the ninth on the hill for the hosts. Lough belted the southpaw's sixth pitch of the inning off the top of right-center field wall and the ball bounced away towards center, allowing the Omaha outfielder to use his great speed to circle the bases and snap a 2-2 tie with the franchise's first inside-the-parker since Jeff Conine did it in Denver on June 4, 1992.

Mazzaro starts tonight

Naturals complete clean sweep of Cards

Wil Myers led off the third with a solo shot into the visitors bullpen, his sixth round-tripper on the season, to extend the Northwest Arkansas lead to 4-0.

Naturals starter Justin Marks (1-1) had his longest outing of the season, going six frames. He allowed a pair of runs in the fifth but worked out of two-on, two-out jam in the fourth. His longest outing of the season, he allowed four hits, two runs, fanned four, and walked a pair in the win.

Naturals' Myers keeps on rolling

Myers, who finished a triple shy of the cycle, hit a solo homer over the left-field wall in the third inning. After doubling in the fifth, he singled and scored on Mario Lisson's RBI two-bagger in the seventh.

Melville gets the call

SOX DOWN ROCKS, 4-1

Piggyback reliever Sugar Ray Marimon provided one of the night's few bright spots for the Blue Rocks. He struck out a season-high-tying five over just three innings of one-hit baseball.

Sample expected to start today

Cougars blanked by Lugnuts

Scott Alexander (1-1) lasted five innings for the Cougars and surrendered six hits. An RBI single by Markus Brisker drove in Burns in the bottom of the fifth, putting the Lugnuts up by a pair.

Jason Mitchell pitched the final three innings and coughed up four runs but just one earned. Only two Cougar runners reached scoring position in the contest as Lane Adams was left on third in the eighth and Justin Trapp stranded at third in the ninth inning.

Edwin Carl takes the hill.
Kane County Trip Recap

Francisco Lindor – When you take in a Single A game you get what you get defensively lots of sloppiness not much awareness of situations and more than a few balls that should be scored errors that end up as hits. With Lindor you get none of that he is ready to play defense in the major leagues RIGHT NOW. His hands are lightning quick, his body is always in perfect position and he is extremely coordinated putting him in perfect position to handle the position every time the ball is in his area. During BP I watched him track a very high pop up over his shoulder from short to left field making the catch over his shoulder with ease, showing his range and great hands. In game he made the routine plays smoothly, feeds to second on force outs were precise, quick and on the money and on the few plays he needed to use range he showed he can get their quick without rushing keeping his body under control. The scout I spoke with confirmed my thoughts saying Lindor would be better than more than a few major league shortstops right now.

There's a little video and thoughts on a few other prospects. And Lindor wasn't the one that stood out the most. Good things are happening.

Diamonds in the Rough 4.26
POD - Sugar Ray Marimon
HOD - David Lough

[SubGod22]

Royals' Arteaga gets extended look

Extended spring camp in Surprise, Ariz., has not been everything Royals infield prospect Humberto Arteaga has expected.

It's been more.

"It's been a little hot, but things are great," Arteaga said with a smile. "In Venezuela, I never played every day like this. We played three games a week, but I'm getting used to it. I feel more comfortable. I have one year under my belt and I'm working on my physical strength."

Also some news on young Mondesi!

Bubba Starling making most of extended spring reps

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Bubba Starling wouldn't change a thing.

If the Royals prospect could go back in time, he would still play three sports in high school. And no, he doesn't regret turning down a football scholarship to the University of Nebraska, or all the time he spent shooting hoops when he could have been hitting in the cage.

Starling, you see, is focused on the present. He dreams about a future in the big leagues and he's too busy to think of his high school glory days in the not-so-distant past.

[SubGod22]

Storm Chasers Win Streak Snapped

Mazzaro yielded a lone run on only three hits while walking three and striking out three but is still searching for his first decision of the season after five turns.

Adcock was supposed to start but was called up to KC. Starter TBD

Five Alive! Naturals take fifth straight

The Naturals got a good start from Melville (1-1), who earned his first career win in Double-A. The big right-hander allowed four hits and three runs over five innings, striking out four. Elisaul Pimentel came on and pitched nearly perfect going three innings without allowing a hit, and striking out three. Pimentel allowed only two base runners hitting one batter, while another reached on an error by third baseman Kurt Mertins.

Dwyer starts tonight

HANDFUL OF ERRORS DOOM BLUE CREW

Brian Fletcher finished the game 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. After starting the season 7-for-46 (.152) with one RBI and 13 strikeouts through 13 games, Fletcher has hit safely in six straight games. Over that stretch, he has gone 13-for-24 (.542) with three extra-base hits and five runs batted in without a single whiff. He also has a solo homer pending in his lone plate appearance thus far from Sunday's suspended game

We get to see if Adam can continue his dominating start to the season tonight.

KC lost 4-2

Diamonds in the Rough 4.27
POD - Elisaul Pimentel
HOD - Carlo Testa

[SubGod22]

Storm Chasers collect 18 hits in lopsided victory

Memphis, TN - Ethan Hollingsworth provided five solid innings in a spot start and Derrick Robinson homered twice as Omaha cruised past Memphis, 12-4, Saturday night in the third of a four-game set at AutoZone Park. The Storm Chasers bounced back from a tough loss Friday afternoon to improve to 17-6 on the season and 6-5 on the road with their sixth win seven games.

Yes, Derrick Robinson had a multi-homer day..... Verdugo starts today.

Naturals win sixth straight to even record

Dwyer (1-3) went a season-high 6 2/3 for the Naturals and besides the first inning, had a very solid outing. Although he allowed nine hits, he fanned five and didn't walk anybody to earn his first win of 2012.Schugel (0-3) took the loss, allowing all four runs.

Odorizzi is up next

DASH FIND SUCCESS AGAINST ADAM TO TAKE SIXTH STRAIGHT

After his team gave him the lead in the bottom half of the fourth inning, Adam could not protect a one-run lead at 3-2. Five straight batters reached in the frame and chased the Rocks' starter from the game. After a leadoff double from Jake Oester, Daniel Wagner singled him over to third. Marcus Semien then lifted a ball to deep left field. Brian Fletcher, playing only his fourth game in the outfield this season, could not locate the ball and it went over his head for a triple allowing Oester and Wagner to score to put the Dash back on top at 4-3. Trayce Thompson singled to bring home Simien and extend the lead to 5-3. A walk to the following batter in Dan Black spelled the end of the night for Adam.

Ventura will take the hill.

KC won 3-2

Diamonds in the Rough 4.28
POD - Kellen Moen
HOD - Derrick Robinson

[SubGod22]

Redbirds win back-and-forth affair with walk-off home run

Ryan Verdugo blanked the Redbirds until Cedric Hunter's two-run homer with two outs in the seventh put the hosts in the lead at 2-1. The Omaha southpaw lasted a season-long seven innings, allowing the two runs on just four hits while walking three and striking out five.

Monty starts today

Travelers snap Natural winning streak

Jake Odorizzi (2-2) took the loss for the Naturals, going six innings, allowing three runs on five hits. He walked two and fanned four. Mike Piazza (1-0), on in relief of Hellweg, got the win for the Travs.

Paulino will make his second rehab start.
From Saturdays game: Naturals Avert Disaster, Down Travelers

Wil Myers started in center for the Naturals, and had a very solid, albeit short, night. Myers collected a pair of broken bat singles and turned in a dazzling defensive play in gunning down Angels prospect Jean Segura at home plate. With the park still buzzing over the fantastic play, the mood soon changed when Myers was struck on the left wrist by a pitch.

Trainers tended to Myers at first and he was allowed to stay in the game and run. He scored from first on John Whittleman’s double into the right field corner, but didn’t return to play defense. It was apparent that Myers was in a lot of pain in the dugout, but after getting the wrist wrapped it became apparent the injury wasn’t as serious as it first appeared.

Myers tweeted on Sunday morning that the wrist was fine and he hoped to be in the lineup on Sunday. After a rough and injury plagued 2011, Myers has now lifted his 2012 average to a scalding .354.

DASH TAKE SEVENTH STRAIGHT IN WEEKEND SWEEP

Yordano Ventura had allowed six runs all year coming into Sunday. He allowed five Dash players to cross the plate in the finale with Winston-Salem, with four of them being earned.

Billo starts tonight.

KC lost 2-1

Diamonds in the Rough 4.29
POD - NONE
HOD - Christian Colon

[SubGod22]

Prospect Watch: Top 20

Omaha suffers second straight walk-off defeat

Montgomery also did not factor into the decision after yielding three runs on seven hits and a walk over six innings, while striking out three.

Smith starts tonight

Paulino Brilliant in Rehab Outing

Felipe Paulino (1-0) was dominant in his second rehab start for the Naturals. He did not allow a base-runner until giving up a pair of singles to Roberto Lopez and Adam Heether in the fifth inning. He struck out Alberto Rosario and got Rian Kiniry to ground out in order to work out of the jam.

Paulino went six and a third shutout innings allowing just four hits, without issuing a walk and striking out five. Patrick Keating entered the game in relief with runners on the corners and just one out, but was able to work out of the jam without allowing a run.

Arguelles slated to start

DING DONG, BLUE ROCKS LOSING STREAK IS DEAD

Billo pitched decently in his second start at Frawley Stadium. He pitched into the fifth inning but officially went four innings and allowed three runs on four hits and three walks, picking up a no decision.

Marimon to start

KC loses 6-1

Diamonds in the Rought 4.30
POD - Felipe Paulino
HOD - Carlo Testa

[SubGod22]

Minor league stats thru April

Omaha
Hitters
Anthony Seratelli UT - .412, 6 R, 1 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 3 SB
Derrick Robinson OF - .338, 13 R, 3 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 4 SB, 4 CS
Max Ramirez C - .333, 13 R, 3 2B, 5 HR, 23 RBI
Jarrod Dyson OF - .333, 12 R, 3 2B, 3 3B, 7 SB, 1 CS
Kevin Kouzmanoff 3B - .321, 9 R, 9 2B, 13 RBI
Johnny Giavotella 2B - .288, 19 R, 5 2B, 3 HR, 15 RBI
Irving Falu SS - .284, 12 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 5 SB, 1 CS
Clint Robinson 1B - .281, 15 R, 5 2B, 5 HR, 12 RBI, 1 SB
David Lough OF - .266, 19 R, 3 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 6 SB, 2 CS

Pitchers
Vin Mazzaro - 0-0, 5.14, 5 (5), 28.0, 20/9
Mike Montgomery - 2-0, 4.55, 5 (5), 27.2, 21/11
Will Smith - 0-1, 3.76, 5 (5), 26.1, 20/7
Nathan Adcock - 3-1, 1.37, 4 (4), 26.1, 14/8
Ryan Verdugo - 2-0, 3.70, 5 (5), 24.1, 23/19

NWA
Hitters
Wil Myers OF - .349, 18 R, 8 2B, 6 HR, 15 RBI, 3 SB
Carlo Testa LF - .333, 15 R, 4 2B. 2 3B, 4 HR, 13 RBI, 1 SB
Yem Prades OF - .293, 14 R, 4 2B, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 5 SB
Christian Colon SS - .283, 3 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 3 SB
John Whittleman 1B - .271, 13 R, 4 HR, 13 RBI

Pitchers
Jake Odorizzi - 2-2, 4.18, 5 (5), 23.2, 29/8
Chris Dwyer - 1-3, 5.64, 5 (5), 22.1, 20/11
Noel Arguelles - 0-2, 6.05, 4 (4), 19.1, 8/9
Justin Marks - 1-1, 7.13, 4 (4), 17.2, 15/12
Tim Melville - 1-1, 6.89, 4 (4), 15.2, 13/10
Kendal Volz - 2-1, 1.20, 8, 15.0, 12/6
Buddy Baumann - 2-0, 6.08, 7, 13.1, 13/7
Patrick Keating - 0-0, 4.91, 8, 11.0, 9/9
Michael Mariot - 1-1, 6.75, 8, 10.2, 13/5
Elisaul Pimentel - 0-1, 14.04, 7, 8.1, 6/7

Wilmington
Hitters
Angel Franco 3B - .375, 9 R, 4 2B
Brian Fletcher OF - .305, 7 R, 5 2B, 1 HR
Whit Merrifield OF - .286, 15 R, 6 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI
Brett Eibner CF - .224, 8 R, 3 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR
Cheslor Cuthbert 3B - .216, 3 R, 4 2B, 10 RBI

Pitchers
Jason Adam - 1-2, 2.36, 5 (5), 26.2, 25/8
Greg Billo - 1-3, 5.32, 5 (5), 22.0, 24/8
Yordano Ventura - 0-2, 4.43, 5 (5), 20.1, 30/10
Tyler Sample - 0-2, 5.49, 4 (4), 19.2, 20/7
Sugar Ray Marimon - 1-0, 2.00, 4 (2), 18.0, 16/2
Leondy Perez - 2-1, 3.24, 4 (2), 16.2, 9/4
Sam Runion - 0-0, 3.60, 5, 10.0, 9/3
Nick Rogers - 0-0, 0.00, 6, 9.0, 9/1
Cole White - 1-0, 3.24, 5, 8.1, 12/5

Kane County
Hitters
Jorge Bonifacio OF - .340, 13 R, 7 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 3 SB
Lane Adams CF - .337, 11 R, 5 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 5 SB, 1 CS
Daniel Mateo SS - .330, 14 R, 5 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 13 RBI
Justin Trapp SS - .289, 16 R, 6 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 15 HR, 3 SB, 2 CS
Michael Antonio SS - .223, 11 R, 3 2B, 2 3B, 10 RBI, 2 SB
Orlando Calixte SS - .221, 9 R, 4 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 1 SB, 3 CS

Pitching
Edwin Carl - 1-2, 2.05, 5 (5), 26.1, 22/6
Aaron Brooks - 2-3, 7.18, 6 (6), 26.1, 22/7
Kellen Moen - 1-1, 6.46, 5 (5), 23.2, 28/8
Santiago Garrido - 3-0, 0.84, 5 (2), 21.1, 11/8
Scott Alexander - 1-1, 1.04, 5 (2), 17.1, 16/10
Matt Ridings - 1-0, 2.93, 7, 15.1, 14/3
Brooks Pounders - 0-1, 4.11, 5 (3), 15.1, 22/8

Names and performances of note. If I missed someone you'd like to see on here let me know. Bubba and Cam aren't on a team yet and I'm guessing they'll be at Idaho Falls in mid June

[SubGod22]

Sounds Slumbering Bats Awaken With 14 Hits

Smith was removed after five frames during which he yielded four runs on seven hits while walking one and fanning five to absorb the loss. Jeremy Jeffress worked a scoreless sixth inning but was lifted in favor of Brandon Sisk after a single and a walk to start the seventh. The southpaw got one out before Sean Halton smashed a long ball to left to lengthen the Nashville lead to 7-3.

Teaford will be making the start today

Naturals Fall in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, MO - Christian Colon and Mario Lisson homered, but their efforts weren't enough as the Northwest Arkansas Naturals started out their short road trip the way they ended their last one, as they fell to the Springfield Cardinals 12-5 Tuesday night at Hammons field.

Marks to start

BATS IN FULL SWING AS ROCKS DOWN SOX

Marimon (2-0) was solid in his third start of the season. He tossed six innings of three-run ball and fanned seven Sox batters. Leondy Perez did not have his best control but locked down the last three innings of the ballgame for his second save. Perez allowed two runs on six hits.

Sample set to start

KC had the day off

Diamonds in the Rough 5.1
POD - Bryan Paukovits
HOD - Cheslor Cuthbert

[SubGod22]

Adam taking notes

Jason Adam changed his focus this season. The Wilmington pitcher stopped worrying about the past and wondering about the future and went old-school -- the right-hander is just taking everything on the mound one pitch at a time.

The change has worked so far. Adam gave up just one earned run in his first four starts, totaling 22 2/3 innings. He struggled in his last start but still has a 2.36 ERA through the first month and is adjusting well to the Carolina League.

"I've got a new focus this year," Adam said. "I took a whole new approach. Everything's not going to go your way every time. I've heard coaches say over and over to take it pitch by pitch and I'm [doing that]."

Adam (1-2) said he worked throughout the winter on changing his mind-set. The right-hander is not getting upset after making a bad pitch or giving up a hit, and teaching himself just to go one pitch at a time.

[SubGod22]

Sounds Send Storm Chasers to Another Walk-off Defeat

Everett Teaford permitted three hits, walked two and fanned four over 5 2/3 shutout innings in his first start of the season for Omaha before he reached his pitch count and was lifted from the game. Sean O'Sullivan took over and gave up a two-out, two-run double to Patterson in the seventh that sliced the lead to 4-2.

Mazzaro starts tonight

Cardinals Outduel Naturals

The Naturals got a great outing from Justin Marks who went six innings allowing seven hits and just two walks, while fanning a season high six.

Marks Sharpe, But Naturals Fall To Cardinals

While it was the first time I’d seen him pitch, I came away impressed by Marks. While I’m going off of a small sample here, I really liked his ability (at least on this day) to make good pitches and escape jams. It was hard to gauge an accurate radar reading of the southpaw’s offerings because the stadium gun at Hammons usually seems to run a little hot.

So take it for what you will, but Marks worked anywhere from 88-93 with the fastball, and once registered 95 (according to my unofficial count). A big pitch for him was his curveball, which sat in the low 80’s and created several swing and miss strikes. Marks found himself in several jams throughout the game, but always found a way out of it. He helped himself with a pair of pickoffs.

The Cardinals didn’t square up many balls off Marks. One of the hardest hit balls turned into an out when Wil Myers, who started in center again for the Naturals, ran down a drive to the wall in center. The ball was hit well and looked like extra bases initially, but Myers read the ball perfectly, got a great jump and made the play look routine.

Wil, Royals Moving Positions?

For the fifth consecutive game in which he has played and for the ninth time this year Wil Myers played Centerfield on Wednesday for the Naturals. While some prospect analyst may not believe there is anything to this I believe this is a developing situation for the Royals and their top prospect. Myers was compared to Dale Murphy coming out of high school as a catcher who has the speed and body to develop into an outfielder down. We now know the catching thing didn’t workout but what else do we know about a possible move to CF.

Lorenzo Cain Injury History – LoCain has shown a bit of an injury bug

2012 – Aggrevates Groin, reinsures the groin during rehab

2011 – Missed the first two weeks of the season with an aggravated groin

2009 – Hamstring injury followed by a knee injury

For three of the last four seasons now Cain has encountered minor and a major injury and all have been to his legs. For a player that’s perceived value is 95% in his legs that would have to be scary for any organization going forward.

Melville set to start

PITCHING DUEL CONCLUDES IN SOX VICTORY

Sample (0-3) came up the tough luck loser. He allowed two runs in five innings of work, while allowing just a single base knock and walking four. He tied his career-high in stikeouts as he rung up nine Sox batters.

Adam gets the start

KC won 6-3

Diamonds in the Rough 5.2
POD - Everett Teaford
HOD - Murray Watts

[SubGod22]

Storm Chasers Salvage Final Game of Series

Nashville, TN - Cody Clark belted the game-winning home run and Vin Mazzaro worked seven sterling innings to help Omaha end a four-game losing streak with a 3-1 decision over Nashville Thursday night in the last of a four-game set at Greer Stadium. The Storm Chasers return home at 18-10 after a 3-5 road trip through Tennessee.

Verdugo starts today

Naturals Schoop out a road win

The Naturals two top hitting prospects brought them back even in the sixth inning. Shortstop Christian Colon ripped a one-out double and would later score on the seventh home run of the season by Wil Myers. Myers drove an 0-2 pitch from the Cardinals John Gast over the left center field fence to tie the contest.

Dwyer gets the call

SOX GET SPLIT AS ROCKS SHUT DOWN AGAIN

Coming up on the short end of the stick on Thursday, Jason Adam now has his third loss of the season. Last year, in his first professional season, Adam did not pick up his third loss in the Midwest League until June 19 when he took the defeat against the Clinton LumberKings. Much like Thursday night, Adam only gave up one earned run in that start. He threw five innings, gave up two hits and struck out five.

It was also his third straight loss in as many starts during that span. Even with his record standing at 1-3, Jason Adam rebounded well from his start against Winston-Salem, when he gave up six runs, and is still among the league leaders in ERA in the Carolina League. His 2.14 mark stands at fifth in the circuit. After his sixth start at Kane County last year, his ERA was 4.64.

Ventura to start

I missed this one from yesterday. Watts powers Cougars

GENEVA – Murray Watts hit a three-run homer and drove in five runs to lift the Kane County Cougars to a 6-3 victory over the Peoria Chiefs on Wednesday night at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.

Watts went deep off P.J. Francescon with one out in the bottom of the second with the Cougars (12-14) trailing, 1-0. Lane Adams and Orlando Calixte were aboard as Watts drove a pitch over the wall in right-center.

Cougars drop close contest

Trailing 3-1 entering the seventh, the Chiefs (11-16) put their first two men on base off reliever Matt Ridings (1-1) with a double and bunt single. Yaniel Cabezas hit a bouncer to short that Orlando Calixte threw down the right field line. Jorge Bonifacio had some trouble picking up the loose ball as Rafael Lopez and Oliver Zapata scored on the play to tie the game at 3-3. On the next pitch, Marco Hernandez singled to left, scoring Cabezas to give Peoria the lead.

Moen expected to start today.

Diamonds in the Rough 5.3
POD - Vin Mazzaro
HOD - Sharlon Schoop

[SubGod22]

Storm Chasers Top the RedHawks, 4-2, on Friday Night

PAPILLION, Neb. - Southpaw Ryan Verdugo was on point on Friday night and was supported by four Storm Chaser runs as Omaha defeated Oklahoma City, 4-2. Verdugo pushed his record to 3-0 as he held the RedHawks to just three hits in seven scoreless frames.

The Storm Chasers Walk-Off on RedHawks; Win 10-9 in Extras

PAPILLION, Neb. - It took an inning longer than expected but Johnny Giavotella sent the Omaha Storm Chasers' faithful home happy as he blasted a walk-off home run to deep left field that lifted the Storm Chasers to their 12th straight win at Werner Park.

Lefty Mike Montgomery started for the Chasers (20-10) and went 6.2 innings and allowed five runs over six hits en-route to a no-decision. Francisley Bueno (1-2) eventually earned the win after working a scoreless tenth inning.

TBD

Naturals Fall in Wild Springfield Finale

Northwest Arkansas attempted to get back into the game in the seventh, as they scored three runs. Prades and Orlando hit back-to-back singles, and Wil Myers tripled them home, extending his 11 game hitting streak in the process. Whittleman then singled home Myers, but the Naturals still trailed 11-5.

Odorizzi and Myers Drive Naturals to Win

Odorizzi (3-2) fanned four hitters over his first two innings of work and did not slow down. He went seven and a third innings allowing just two hits and one run, while striking out 11. The eleven strikeouts tied the franchise record which he set back on April 23 against Springfield. He now has 40 strikeouts on the season.

The Naturals (14-15) offense got on the board first when Carlo Testa delivered an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning plating Johnny Whittleman to make it 1-0. Wil Myers continued to swing a hot bat smacking his eighth home run of the season to make it 2-0 in the bottom of the third inning.

Odorizzi on his game in Naturals win

Odorizzi retired his first nine batters before allowing a leadoff homer to Josh Rutledge in the fourth inning. After walking Tim Torres with two outs in the fifth, the 22-year-old right-hander set down eight straight Drillers before Torres ended his night with a one-out single in the eighth

Arguelles takes the mound

HAGUE'S KNOCK SENDS ROCKS TO WALK-OFF SORROW

A see-saw battle saw Wilmington grab the game's first lead on Jake Kueber's second-inning single that plated Roman Hernandez. Potomac responded with three unanswered runs, including two in the next half frame on Wade Moore's two-out double. Oduber ignited the third with his third home run of the season, a first-pitch laser off the batter's eye in center field against spot starter Ryan Dennick.

NINTH-INNING FIREWORKS SALT AN 8-3 WIN

Woodbridge, VA - It was a team effort. Greg Billo pitched into the sixth inning for the first time. Brett Eibner slammed his team-leading fourth homer. Closer Nick Rogers continued his season-opening scoreless stretch en route to his third save. And Brian Fletcher tied his career-high with four hits as the Wilmington Blue Rocks (12-16) banged out a season-best 13 knocks as a squad in an 8-3 defeat of the Potomac Nationals (11-15) at Pfitzner Stadium on Saturday night.

Ventura gets the start

KC won 4-3 Friday and 7-4 on Saturday

Diamonds in the Rough 5.4
POD - Ryan Verdugo
HOD - Paulo Orlando

Diamonds in the Rough 5.5
POD - Jake Odorizzi
HOD - Johnny Giavotella