August 23rd Minors Recap

Triple-A Omaha enjoyed Wednesday off as the Storm Chasers begin a four-game series in OKC on Thursday. They were eliminated from postseason contention after Tuesday’s loss.

Blue Rocks right-hander Josh Staumont on May 4, 2016 (Jen Nevius).

Double-A NW Arkansas beat Springfield, 5-1.

Naturals starter Josh Staumont picked up his second win in Double-A, throwing seven hitless innings. He did allow a run, as he walked five. Staumont struck out eight, throwing 54 of his 100 pitches for strikes. Richard Lovelady threw two scoreless innings of relief, but did allow three hits (Lovelady allowed a hit to the first batter he faced).

The Naturals broke the 1-1 tie in the bottom of the third on a Samir Duenez one out single (Ryan O’Hearn followed with an RBI ground out). They tacked on two more runs in the sixth on three straight hits and a sac fly.

High-A Wilmington lost in Frederick, 5-4. The loss dropped the Blue Rocks to 3.5 games back of the Wild Card spot (the Keys are one game back of that same spot).

The Keys took the lead in the bottom of the sixth, as Blue Rocks starter Jace Vines was pulled after allowing back-to-back hits to start the inning. In came Franco Terrero, who allowed an RBI double to tie the game to the first batter he faced and then a one out infield single that gave the Keys the lead for good. Terrero retired the final eight batters he faced.

The Blue Rocks used the long ball to score all four of their runs. Travis Maezes hit a two-run home run in the second that gave them a short-lived lead. Roman Collins hit a two-run homer in the fifth that gave them another lead.

Low-A Lexington beat Rome, 2-1.

The Legends scored single runs in the sixth and seventh to take the lead. Vance Vizcaino singled in the run in the sixth with a one out single. Manny Olloque (2-for-4) drove in the go ahead run with a single.

Ofreidy Gomez picked up the win, as he allowed a run on four hits, a walk, and a hit batter over 6.2 innings. He struck out six. Matthew Wynne earned his second save with 2.1 scoreless innings (2H, BB, HBP, 0K).