Royals April 12th Minors Recap

A five-run bottom of the first inning gave the almost 4,000 in attendance at Werner Park something to cheer about early on. Omaha held on for the 6-5 victory in their home opener.

In that bottom of the first, the Storm Chasers sent nine men to the plate and collected just two hits, but walked three times. There was also a wild pitch, a passed ball, an error, and a stolen base.

Nate Adcock was the beneficiary of the early runs and he ended up allowing two runs on three hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out seven. The bullpen duo of Francisley Bueno and Donnie Joseph allowed the final three runs over the game’s final four innings.

Omaha only picked up six hits, as Christian Colon, Johnny Giavotella, and Irving Falu each picked up two hits.

NW Arkansas fought back to tie the game at 5-5 with three runs in the top of the 7th inning, but ended up losing to Midland, 6-5 in 12 innings.

Manny Pina came up with the big hit, a two-run single to tie the game with one out. They could have scored more with runners at the corners, but could not come up with another clutch hit.

To extra innings the game went.

But before I get there, let’s talk about the Naturals relief pitching following starter Sugar Ray Marimon (4.2IP, 10H, 5R, 4ER, BB, 4K). Santiago Garrido allowed one hit and two walks over 2.1 innings. Sam Runion followed with two scoreless innings and Jon Keck threw two hitless innings.

Then Cole White entered in relief. After a single and a strikeout in the bottom of the 12th inning, a stolen base and two walks put the winning run on third base. Darwin Perez sent the home fans happy on a sac fly.

In his first game of the season (just off the DL as Brian Fletcher went on), outfielder Roman Hernandez went 2-for-5 in the loss. Angel Franco went 3-for-5 with two doubles. Neither player scored a run. Orlando Calixte also picked up two hits. Brett Eibner returned to the lineup and went 1-for-5 with two runs scored. He did strike out twice late in the game,

Wilmington‘s home opener was full of twists and turns and will have to be completed on Saturday. It started under blustery conditions and ended with a downpour that forced a suspension of the game in the bottom of the 8th inning, with Frederick leading 4-3. However, the Blue Rocks have two men on base with two outs.

It was a quick first half of the game, as both starters, Tim Berry of Frederick and Kyle Zimmer of Wilmington, were fast workers. Zimmer was hurt by some defensive miscues in the first, but left with the lead after six innings (6IP, 2H, 1R, 0ER, 2BB, 8K). Zimmer did not allow his first hit until Nick Delmonico doubled in the fourth (that was the game’s first hit). Berry did not allow a base runner until he walked Lane Adams with one out in the fifth. Justin Trapp picked up the Blue Rocks first hit with one out in the sixth. It was an infield hit that resulted in a run to tie the game at 1-1.

The Blue Rocks would take the lead after Jack Lopez followed with a single and an error in the outfield plated the run.

It was not meant to be for Zimmer to pick up his first win as a Blue Rock, as Cody Fassold entered in relief and allowed a run in the seventh (after a four-pitch walk) and two more in the eighth.

I was in attendance and I can attest how awful the weather was (and that was before it started pouring). I had the chance to talk to manager Vance Wilson after the game

and starter Kyle Zimmer (because who knows how long he will last in Wilmington).

Lexington lost both games of their doubleheader on Friday night. In the first game, they lost to Greenville, 6-4. The Drive scored all six runs in the third inning.

Miguel Almonte allowed all six runs, though only two were earned. Five runs scored in the third before Almonte recorded an out. To his credit, the Legends committed two errors behind him on back-to-back plays with two men on base (a fielding error on a sacrifice bunt and a dropped fly ball on a sac fly in left field).

The Legends picked up seven hits, from seven separate hitters. Bubba Starling hit a solo homerun in the 4th inning.

Lexington lost the second game, 5-2. They led 2-1 before allowing four runs over the final two innings.

Christian Binford started and allowed just one run on four hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out six. Alec Mills took the loss, as he allowed four runs on five hits and two walks over the final three innings.

Terrance Gore collected two of the Legends’ five hits in the loss. They struck out a combined 11 times.