Royals Minor League report: June 17
Omaha Storm Chasers (34-32)
Omaha 7, Iowa 4
WP: Chris Dwyer (1-0)
SV: Michael Mariot (5)
HR: Dusty Coleman (4 with Omaha, 6 overall), Cheslor Cuthbert (8)
Omaha scored the final seven runs to win a matinee rubber game vs. Iowa. Dusty Coleman started the scoring with a three-run blast off of former Royal Felipe Paulino. Paulo Orlando's RBI tied the game at 4-4 and Cheslor Cuthbert hit a go-ahead two-run homer. Danny Duffy fanned six without a walk over 3.2 innings in a rehab start, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits.
NW Arkansas Naturals (39-26)
NW Arkansas 9, Springfield 3
WP: Jonathan Dziedzic (4-3 with NW Arkansas, 4-4 overall)
HR: Jorge Bonifacio (11), Balbino Fuenmayor (12), Zane Evans (5 with NW Arkansas, 9 overall), Hunter Dozier (5)
The Naturals lowered their magic number for the first-half division title to one with an opening win at Springfield. Jorge Bonifacio hit a two-run homer in the first, giving him a new career-high of 11 on the year. Balbino Fuenmayor and Zane Evans added two-run blasts, finishing with three hits apiece. Fuenmayor is tied with teammate Mike Bianucci for second in the league with 12 home runs. Hunter Dozier added a solo shot in the eighth. Jonathan Dziedzic scattered two runs, eight hits and two walks with two strikeouts over 5.0 innings.
Wilmington Blue Rocks (35-31)
Salem 7, Wilmington 0
LP: Cody Reed (5-5)
HR: None
The Blue Rocks suffered their third shutout to Salem in a home-and-home series, finishing 1-5. Cody Reed allowed four runs on a season-high nine hits over 4.2 innings. He has a 2.14 ERA on the year (16 ER in 67.1 IP). Ramon Torres led Wilmington with two hits. Carlos Garcia was 1-for-3 plus a walk. Wilmington's magic number to clinch the first-half division title is two with four games to play, all at Frederick (Orioles).
Lexington Legends (29-37)
Augusta 8, Lexington 7 (11 innings)
LP: Jake Newberry (1-2)
HR: Ryan O'Hearn (16)
An error led to an unearned run in the 11th as Lexington lost at Augusta The Legends built a 7-1 lead, capped by Ryan O'Hearn's league-best 16th homer in the fourth. Alfredo Escalera posted three hits and two runs. Humberto Arteaga and Elier Hernandez each drove in two.