Photo of Ben Hernandez from the Columbia Fireflies.
AAA Omaha Storm Chasers (28-11): W 5-1
The Omaha Storm Chasers own the best record in all of MiLB and kept that up on Friday night with another impressive win over the Louisville Bats (CIN). Scott Blewett fired 5 innings of 1-run ball with 5 K to start things off. Domingo Tapia, Richard Lovelady, and Tyler Zuber combined for 4 scoreless innings of relief to close the game out. The Chasers struck out just 4 times in the game while tallying 6 walks and 8 singles in the victory. Edward Olivares finished the game 2-4 and six other Storm Chasers tallied one hit a piece. Marcelo Martinez will make his first AAA appearance on the mound for Omaha tonight.
AA Northwest Arkansas (18-19): L 6-14
The pitching staff has seen better days. 2019 Rule 5 Draft selection Stephen Woods Jr. just can’t seem to get anything going for NWA, allowing 10 hits and 7 runs in 4 innings of work. Not much going offensively either for the Naturals last night. Clay Dungan finished 3-4 with a 3B and a HR. Bobby Witt Jr. finished 2-4 with a SB. Nick Pratto walked twice. And that was about it.
A+ Quad Cities (26-13): W 9-0
The River Bandits combined for a no-hitter last night on the backs of Zach Haake and Dante Biasi. Haake threw 6 innings striking out 4, and Biasi closed it out throwing 3 innings and also striking out 4. It was the 12th no-hitter in club history.
Offensively, Nick Loftin hit his 5th double of the year, Michael Massey finished 2-5, Tyler Gentry hit double #10, and Jake Means hit a grand slam in the victory. Anthony Veneziano will take the mound for Quad Cities tonight.
A- Columbia (22-15): W 5-0
Ben Hernandez made the best start of his young professional career last night, firing 5 innings of scoreless baseball with 7 K. Walter Pennington threw 3 innings of 1-hit ball and 4 K in relief, pushing his season ERA down to 1.56, and Nate Webb closed it out with a perfect 9th inning and 1 K. Webb’s ERA is 0.60 for the season.
Offensively for the Fireflires, Kale Emshoff hit his 2nd professional HR, Maikel Garcia tallied a couple of hits, Darryl Collins singled and walked, Diego Hernandez had a couple singles, and the Fireflies tallied 14 baserunners to just 7 K. It’ll be Matt Stil on the mound tonight for Columbia.
Royals Farm Report 