Royals affiliates combined to go 3-1 on Thursday, in what was a stellar day for pitching prospects in the farm system. Today’s Daily Digest:
Omaha Storm Chasers
Final: Omaha 1, Nashville 9
The Storm Chasers got ahead early behind a Mike Brosseau RBI lineout to left field in the second inning. Unfortunately, that’s the only run that Omaha would score on the day. Starter Luis Cessa was effective through the first three innings but allowed two runs to cross in the home half of the fourth inning. He was relieved by lefty Anthony Veneziano before getting a single out in the inning and Veneziano allowed two more runs of his own to score. The Nashville lead stood at three for much of the game, until Colin Selby entered for the bottom of the eighth. Selby allowed five runs to score and got just one out before his outing was over. The Omaha offense never gave the team a chance in this one.
Northwest Arkansas Naturals
Final: Northwest Arkansas 7, Midland 1
13th overall prospect, Mason Barnett, started the game for the Naturals on Thursday. He allowed a run to cross in the top of the third on a Caeden Trenkle triple. Beyond that, he was masterful all night. The Naturals would strike back immediately, scoring two runs in the bottom of the third. Josh Lester singled on a line drive to left field, scoring Leonel Valera and Javier Vaz. Then, in the bottom of the fourth, the Naturals blew it wide open.
Luca Tresh, Valera, and Peyton Wilson each brought in runs to widen the lead to 6-1. Tresh added another RBI with a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning and that’s where the final would end up. The real standout on the night was Barnett. He finished his night with five innings pitched, allowing just two hits and one run to cross. He struck out ten and walked just one Midland batter.
Quad Cities River Bandits
Final: Quad Cities 1, Peoria 0
It was a true pitching duel in Davenport on Thursday. Luckily for the River Bandits, their starter was a tad better. The only run scored by either team on the night came from a Dustin Dickerson sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh inning. Royals’ number six prospect, Ben Kudrna, continued his incredible start to the season. He widened his scoreless innings streak to 11 and dropped his season ERA to 1.23. In all, Kudrna finished the night with eight strikeouts over five full innings pitched. He didn’t allow a run or walk a batter all night. The Naturals bullpen was just as impressive. AJ Block and Ben Sears combined to pitch four scoreless innings, locking down the win.
Columbia Fireflies
Final: Columbia 7, Charleston 3
Marking the third dominant outing of the night, starter Emmanuel Reyes got the nod for Columbia. The 19-year-old Dominican product pitched 5.2 innings, allowing two runs to score. He struck out eight and walked just two batters on the night. Lefty Jacob Widener got the win after the Columbia offense picked up the slack late. A four-run eighth inning propelled the Fireflies to their seventh win of the season. Erick Peña got things started with a single to score Blake Mitchell and Austin Charles. Second baseman Lizandro Rodriguez added a double of his own, scoring Peña and Chris Brito on the play. That widened the Fireflies’ lead to 6-2 and they never looked back. Outfielder Erick Peña notched four RBI on the night, going 2/5 with a single and a home run.
Top Performers
- C Blake Mitchell: 2/4, BB
- OF Erick Peña: 2/5, HR, 4 RBI
- 2B Lizandro Rodriguez: 2/4, 2B, 2 RBI
- RHP Emmanuel Reyes: 5.2IP, 2H, 2ER, 2BB, 8 SO
- LF Peyton Wilson: 2/5, 2B, RBI
- C Luca Tresh: 1/2, BB, 2 RBI
- RHP Mason Barnett: 5.0IP, 2H, 1ER, 1BB, 10 SO
- RHP Jacob Brady: 2.2IP, 1H, 0ER, 1BB, 3 SO
- RHP Ben Kudrna: 5.0IP, 3H, 0ER, 1BB, 8 SO
- LHP Walter Pennington: 2.0IP, 0H, 0ER, 1BB, 2 SO