The minor league season is well underway and there was plenty of notable action on Tuesday. Three of the four Royals affiliates came away with the victory today. Here’s a recap of the action:
Omaha Storm Chasers
Final: Omaha 10, Gwinnett 3
The Storm Chasers got the day started early with a matinee start time. The offense put up a six spot in the second, followed by three more in the third. Cam Devanney and John Rave started things off with RBI singles. Michael Massey — starting his rehab assignment in Omaha this week — hit an RBI double and then Logan Porter brought him home with his second home run of the year. In the third, Drew Waters scored CJ Alexander on an RBI triple, and then Massey brought Waters home for his second RBI of the day.
CJ Alexander launched his third home run of the season in the bottom of the fourth to put the game well out of reach. Storm Chasers starter, Jonathan Bowlan was sharp all day. He finished his day with ten strikeouts over six frames. He didn’t walk a single batter but did allow two home runs to catcher Sandy Léon, who was released just last week by Omaha.
Northwest Arkansas Naturals
Final: Northwest Arkansas 6, San Antonio 3
The Naturals came away with their first victory on the season today. Luca Tresh hit his first home run of the season, a two-run shot in the fourth inning. Peyton Wilson scored another run with a ground-rule double in the fifth to stretch the Naturals’ lead to 5-1. The game was never truly in question thanks to strong outings by Northwest Arkansas arms.
Lefty Tyson Guerrero started the game. He pitched four innings, allowing two hits and one unearned run. He struck out three but navigated around four walks in the process. Guerrero was followed by Eric Cerantola. Cerantola has been a reliever at times but was stretched out to start late last season. He pitched four full innings on the day, allowing two hits and two unearned runs. He didn’t walk a single batter while striking out six. The command has always been what has stymied Cerantola, making Tuesday’s outing all that much more impressive.
Quad Cities River Bandits
Final: Quad Cities 6, West Michigan 10
The River Bandits got behind early behind starter Shane Panzini. Panzini was unable to escape the first inning. He got two outs but allowed three runs on three hits and two walks. Oscar Rayo pitched in relief and helped keep the River Bandits in hit. Over four full innings he allowed just one earned run and zero walks while striking out five. The River Bandits offense clawed back slowly behind home runs from Jared Dickey and Carson Roccaforte. Dickey brought in a second run on a single and Trevor Werner brought home another on an RBI double.
Quad Cities had a 5-4 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh. Reliever Cooper McKeehan struggled through his inning of work. In all, he got just one out and allowed four earned runs to score without allowing a hit. Nathanael Garabitos finished the seventh and pitched the eighth, allowing two earned runs of his own. The late-inning bullpen woes were too much for Quad Cities to overcome, as they fell to 2-2 in the early season.
Columbia Fireflies
Final: Columbia 6, Myrtle Beach 5
Columbia sent 2023 draftee, Logan Martin to the mound as the starter on Tuesday. He pitched three full innings and struggled with command. Martin walked three and struck out six, but allowed four runs to cross by the time his day was done. Behind Martin, however, the bullpen was fantastic. Luis Polanco, Jacob Widener, Jarold Rosado, and Nicholas Regalado combined to pitch six innings of nearly scoreless ball — the only run that scored was unearned. They struck out seven and walked four.
Entering the home eighth, the Fireflies trailed 5-2. Derlin Figueroa scored two runs on a massive home run to right field. Then, the Fireflies walked it off in the home ninth. Daniel Vazquez walked to score Milo Rushford and tied the game at five. Then, immediately after, outfielder Erick Torres scored from third on a wild pitch to win the game. Columbia is now 2-2 on the season.
Top Performers
- RHP Jonathan Bowlan: 6.0IP, 6H, 2ER, 0BB, 10 SO
- 2B Michael Massey: 2/4, 2B, 3 RBI
- C Logan Porter: 2/5, 3B, HR, 2 RBI
- 3B CJ Alexander: 3/4, HR, RBI
- OF Jared Dickey: 2/4, HR, 2 RBI
- LHP Oscar Rayo: 4.0IP, 4H, 1ER, 0BB, 5 SO
- 2B Javier Vaz: 2/4
- RHP Eric Cerantola: 4.0IP, 2H, 0ER, 0BB, 6 SO
Farm to Fountains Top 10 Prospects today:
Carson Roccaforte (2): 1/5, HR, 2 RBI
Tyler Gentry (3): 1/4, 2B, 2K
Cayden Wallace (4): 1/3, 2B, 2 BB
Blake Mitchell (5): 0/4, BB, 4K
Javier Vaz (7): 2/4
I think Jared Dickey is one that might surprise some people. The guy just hits. He keeps getting buried in the bottom third of the lineup last season and so far this season but he continues to get on base.