Farm report: Fernando Romero dominates in Miracle start

AAA: Rochester Red Wings 6, Norfolk Tides 2

All three of the Red Wings outfielders hit solo-home runs in yesterday’s win over the Tides. CF Byron Buxton hit his dinger, his second in two days, on the very first pitch of the game. RF Daniel Palka added one of his own in the 4th inning, and LF Adam Brett Walker went deep in the 6th.

2B Tommy Field hit a home run too, but his was for two runs, and he doesn’t play in the outfield.

It looked like it was going to be a bad day for Red Wings SP Omar Bencomo, who allowed three straight singles and a bases loaded walk to start the game. Miraculously, Bencomo struck-out the next three batters and went on to pitch 6.2 innings without allowing another earned run. The Tides’ only other run was unearned, thanks to a fielding error by Palka.

[Box Score]

AA: Chattanooga Lookouts 7, Jacksonville Suns 6

The Lookouts scored two runs in the top of the 9th inning and managed to hold off a late Suns rally to get the win in this one. CF Zach Granite went 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI, and two runs scored.

SP Ryan Eades started the game for the Lookouts, and was serviceable. He gave up four earned runs but lasted a good 6.2 innings.

[Box Score]

High A: St. Myers Miracle 1, Palm Beach Cardinals 0

SP Fernando Romero absolutely dominated the Cardinals, pitching 7 shutout innings in the Miracle win. He allowed only two singles to the Cardinals, no walks, and struck-out frickin’ nine batters.

The Miracle’s only run of the game came in the bottom of the 7th inning on a throw to the plate by Carindals CF Oscar Mercado that got past their catcher.

[Box Score]

Low A: Cedar Rapids Kernels 12, Quad Cities River Bandits 2

Holy offense! The Kernels knocked out 12 runs on 12 hits yesterday, absolutely stomping the Bandits. 2B Travis Blankenhorn hit a triple, and both RF Jaylin Davis and C Rainis Silva hit doubles, but all of the nine other hits were singles.

When a team scores 12 runs on 12 hits, you know something funky happened, which is the case here. Five of the Kernels’ 12 runs were unearned, thanks largely to three erros committed by Bandit 2B Arturo Michelena alone. Bandit 1B Dexture McCall also made a fielding error in the 4th inning that led to Kernels runs.

Kernels SP Lachlan Wells certainly had all the offensive support he needed, but still have a pretty dominant start. The Aussie pitched 6 shutout innings, allowing only one hit and four walks. He struck out five.

[Box Score]

Rookie: Burlington Royals 11, Elizabethton Twins 0

It was a rough start for baby Twins SP Jose Martinez, who only lasted 4 innings and gave up six earned runs. Tack on two unearned runs thansk to errors by Jose himself, 2B Caleb Hamilton, SS Ariel Montesinom and 1B Amaurys Minier, and it looks even worse.

Offensively, the baby Twins had their ass-bats. They had six singles in the game, and scored nothing.

[Box Score]