Royals Mother’s Day Minors Recap

If you are reading this and you are a mom, I hope you had a Happy Mother’s Day!

Omaha lost to New Orleans for the second straight day, this time by a 10-4 score.

Starter PJ Walters was battered for six runs on four hits and three walks over just 1.2 innings. Things weren’t much better for reliever Justin Marks, who allowed one of Walters runs to score, along with three of his own over 2.2 innings. Michael Mariot was sharp over 2.2 scoreless innings of relief.

The Storm Chasers actually had ten hits and went 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position, but struck out 12 times. The bottom two in the order, Jason Donald and Pedro Ciriaco went a combined 4-for-8 with four RBIs and two runs scored. Ciriaco hit a two out, three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth.

NW Arkansas sent the mothers in attendance (along with all the hometown fans) home happy with a 9-8 walk off victory over Springfield. They actually won a series at home! They also have won three games in a row.

Infielder Orlando Calixte at the plate during 2013 spring training (Jen Nevius).

The Naturals actually scored six runs in the 3rd inning to take the lead, but still needed some heroics in the bottom of the ninth.

The heroics came from DH Orlando Calixte, who hit the 0-1 pitch out of the ballpark. It was his second home run of the game and his fourth hit. He also stole a base. The Naturals hit four homers, including a grand slam by Jorge Bonifacio to start the scoring in the third (one of his two hits). Justin Trapp added a solo shot in the seventh.

Parker Morin and Ethan Chapman, the bottom two hitters in the Naturals order, went 5-for-9 with two RBIs and a run scored.

Andrew Triggs earned the win, as he entered in the 8th inning with the bases loaded and stranded them all. He allowed one hit over 1.1 innings to lower his ERA to 0.78.

*On the negative side, third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert committed his tenth error and Morin had his fourth passed ball.

Wilmington lost the four-game series to Lynchburg by losing Sunday’s finale by a 5-4 score.

It was once again a rough start for Sean Manaea, who threw too many pitches up in the zone and the Hillcats battered him around. He allowed four runs on six hits and three walks over just 3.1 innings.

The pitcher’s ballpark did not prove daunting for the newest Blue Rock, Michael Antonio. He hit a two-run home run in the 6th inning that tied the game at 4-4 (today was his first game). The Hillcats came right back with a run in the top of the seventh against reliever Glenn Sparkman, who allowed one run (and one of Manaea’s runs) on three hits over 2.2 innings.

Yender Caramo, after pitching well in Wednesday’s finale in Salem, has moved back to the bullpen for the time being. He allowed two hits over the game’s final three innings. He also induced four ground outs.

The Blue Rocks struck out 13 times for the second straight day. They also went just 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

The Blue Rocks now welcome Salem to town for the next three days, with Miguel Almonte, Jonathan Dziedzic, and Christian Binford set to start the three games.

Lexington won in Greensboro, 3-2. Both teams scored two runs in the 5th inning.

The Legends scored the go ahead run in the top of the ninth on Carlos Garcia‘s two out, RBI triple (one of his two hits).

The Grasshoppers worked a leadoff walk in the bottom of the ninth, but Matt Alvarez induced a double play before getting a pop up to end the game. Alvarez picked up the win with two hitless innings of relief.

After Matt Tenuta was pulled with one out in the 5th inning, in came converted catcher Kenny Swab. He wild pitched one run in before allowing a sac fly. He did escape further trouble by picking off a runner.

The Legends went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position and struck out 13 times.