The KC Royals made quite a few roster moves in their minor league system on Wednesday. Top catching prospect Salvador Perez, who was just named the Texas League’s Player of the Week, was promoted to Triple-A Omaha. He was joined with reliever Kelvin Herrera in the promotion. Will we see Perez and/or Herrera in the big leagues in September? Catcher Manny Pina and reliever Mario Santiago were demoted from Omaha to Double-A NW Arkansas.

Wilmington Blue Rocks reliever Brendan Lafferty was promoted to NW Arkansas. Allen Caldwell was promoted from Low-A Kane County to take the place of Lafferty in Wilmington. Reliever Alex Rivers was promoted from Short-season Burlington to Wilmington to take the place of injured infielder Joey Lewis (who was placed on the DL).

Now onto the games:

Down 4-3 into the bottom of the 8th inning, the Storm Chasers scored three runs against the Albuquerque Isotopes to take a 6-4 lead. The inning was capped by Clint Robinson’s two-run double. Omaha reliever Jesse Chavez was a little shaky in the top of the 9th inning, but he escaped the two on with just one out jam by striking out the final two batters to end the game. Perez made his Triple-A debut by going 1-for-4, and he picked a runner off first base.

NW Arkansas jumped out to an early 5-0 lead after a five-run second inning. Mario Lisson had a two-run single in the inning. Every Naturals starter but Wil Myers had at least one hit. They also stole five bases in the win. Jake Odorizzi won his third Double-A game, as he allowed three runs on seven hits (and no walks) over six innings while striking out six (he did allow two homeruns). Kevin Chapman earned the save by striking out the side in the 9th inning.

The Wilmington Blue Rocks offense has been in neutral for much of the season, and Wednesday night was no different. They collected seven hits but scored just one run in their 5-1 loss to the visiting Potomac Nationals. From the 3rd inning until the 7th inning, Nationals starter Sammy Solis retired 14 in a row. Rivers made his High-A debut, as he pitched two scoreless innings of relief for the Blue Rocks. Carlo Testa went 2-for-4 in the loss.

The Kane County Cougars went just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position as they lost 6-3 to the visiting Cedar Rapids Kernels. Angel Franco and Brian Fletcher each collected two hits in the loss. Antonio Cruz pitched in his second game for the Cougars since his trade from the Detroit Tigers (in the Wilson Betemit deal). Cruz pitched 2.2 scoreless innings while striking out four.

Tuesday was a night of comebacks for two of the KC Royals minor league affiliates (and blowouts for the other two).

Down 5-1 heading into the top of the 9th inning, the Omaha Storm Chasers stormed back to score five runs and take a 6-5 lead. The inning started with Mike Aviles’ double (his second hit of the game) and Kila Ka’aihue reached on a fielding error. Lorenzo Cain’s single loaded the bases and the New Orleans Zephyrs made a pitching change. Cody Clark greeted the new pitcher with an RBI single (his second hit of the game) and Joaquin Arias followed with a two-run double. Jarrod Dyson was hit by a pitch to reload the bases. Johnny Giavotella followed with an RBI single.

The Zephyrs changed pitchers again. The new pitcher, Daniel Jennings, recorded an out, but it was a sac fly from David Lough, which gave Omaha a 6-5 lead. Jennings recorded the final two outs without allowing another run. Jeremy Jeffress pitched a scoreless bottom of the 9th inning for the save.

The NW Arkansas Naturals posted another late inning comeback, this of the walk-off variety. The Naturals were down 5-1 headed into the bottom of the 6th inning. They scored a single run in the 6th, three more in the 7th, and another single run in the 8th which tied the game at 6-6. That led to the bottom of the 9th heroics. Nick Francis singled with one out and stole second base. With two outs, Salvador Perez singled to centerfield to score Francis and set off the celebration.

Francis doubled in two runs in the 8th inning and Perez originally tied the game at 5-5 with an RBI single in the 8th inning. Jamie Romak homered leading off the bottom of the 8th inning to tie the game at 6-6.

The Wilmington Blue Rocks were crushed by the host Potomac Nationals 12-3. The Blue Rocks did collect ten hits but could only muster three runs. Sammy Solis (a 2010 draft pick) made his debut for Potomac and allowed three runs on seven hits over six innings. Tyler Sample, who has taken the rotation spot of promoted starter Jake Odorizzi, was shelled for ten runs (six earned) on five hits and three walks over just 1.2 innings. Potomac scored eight runs in the 2nd inning, which was capped by JP Martinez’ grand slam.

Nick Van Stratten continues his hot-hitting since being sent to Wilmington. He went 3-for-5. John Whittleman homered for the third straight game. Ryan Stovall, Tim Ferguson, and Gerard Hall each went 2-for-4.

The Kane County Cougars were thumped by the Quad Cities River Bandits, 10-3. However the thumping came later in the game. With the game tied at 2-2 in the top of the 6th inning, the River Bandits scored four runs, then another three runs in the 7th inning (and another in the top of the 8th inning) to blow the game open. Cheslor Cuthbert, Kevin David, and Orlando Calixte each had two hits in the loss.