Royals April 14th Minors Recap

Omaha‘s bats busted out in a big way on Sunday afternoon after the start was delayed a bit by rain. They beat visiting Nashville, 11-2. The Storm Chasers collected 12 hits, but just four for extra bases.

Mar 5, 2013; Surprise, AZ, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Brett Hayes (left) is congratulated by third base coach Eddie Rodriguez (14) after hitting a solo home run during the second inning against the Oakland Athletics at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Catcher Brett Hayes had the BIG day. He went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate and scored three runs. He fell a triple short of the cycle, but connected on two homeruns. His first homerun, a three-run shot, gave Omaha the lead in the third. Hayes drove in seven runs.

Xavier Nady and Brandon Wood each collected two hits, as Nady scored three runs. Willy Taveras only picked up one hit, but it was a big one: a bases clearing triple to blow the game open in the sixth.

Brian Sanches was the beneficiary of all the run support. He allowed two runs on four hits and a walk over 5.2 innings. He struck out four. Louis Coleman followed with 2.1 scoreless innings of relief.

NW Arkansas allowed two 3-run innings early on en route to their 9-2 loss at Frisco.

JC Sulbaran was once again ripped, as he fell to 0-2. He allowed six runs on five hits and three walks over just three innings. The RoughRiders hit two 3-run homeruns against him. Andy Ferguson did not fare any better, as he allowed three runs on five hits over his three innings of work.

The Naturals offense collected nine hits from eight different players. Angel Franco once again went 2-for-4 and picked up his first triple of the season. For those wondering, Brett Eibner now has two hits in his last three games (2-for-14) and has not struck out over the last two games.

Wilmington‘s defense once again failed them, as they lost on Sunday to visiting Frederick, 6-3. They also lost the series, as they welcome Carolina into town on Monday for three games.

Kyle Smith was stellar in his second start of the season, but was lifted after four one-hit innings. He did walk three and strike out seven.

Then the wheels fell off for the Blue Rocks.

Reliever Malcom Culver took the mound in the 5th inning and walked or hit three of the first five batters he faced. With two outs, he induced a ground ball to second base that was booted by Justin Trapp. Two runs scored. An RBI single followed and the Blue Rocks trailed 3-1. In the very next inning after the Blue Rocks cut the deficit to 3-2, Lane Adams misplayed a ball in centerfield that cost them another run. Culver ended up allowing four runs (none earned) over three innings.

Walks came back to bite both teams, as four scored and two more led to runs scoring. Blue Rocks pitching walked seven and only struck out nine.

On offense in the loss, seldom-used Murray Watts went 2-for-3 and the big guy even stole a base. Trapp also picked up two hits.

Lexington ended up splitting their series with Greenville, after losing the first two games. They won 4-0 on Sunday afternoon. They will now head to Augusta for the second time already for a three-game set.

Daniel Stumpf was brilliant in picking up his first win of the season. He allowed just two hits and one walk over five scoreless innings. He struck out six. Daniel Hernandez followed with three scoreless innings and Cory Hall finished the Drive off in the ninth.

The Legends scored one run in the bottom of the fourth and put up a three-spot up in the 5th inning. In the fourth, Bubba Starling led off the inning with a double and scored on a wild pitch. In the 5th inning, the top three hitters in the order drove in the three runs: Adalberto Mondesi on a ground out, Humberto Arteaga on a two out single, and Starling on a single.

Starling and Michael Antonio went 2-for-4 with one double each. Antonio raised his average to .325, while Starling raised his to .139. He also did not strike out.