Royals April 9th Minors Recap

NW Arkansas finally won!

The Naturals won their first game of the season with a 3-2 victory at home over Frisco.

Noel Arguelles via Jen Nevius

Noel Arguelles made his second start of the season and did not allow a hit through 4.1 innings. He finished after allowing two runs on four hits over seven innings. He struck out two and threw 50 of his 69 pitches for strikes. Brooks Pounders allowed one hit over the final two innings to pick up his first save.

Matt Fields hit his first homerun of the season in the 4th inning, which ended up being the game winner. Angel Franco batted leadoff and went 3-for-4 in the win.

The Naturals will enjoy Wednesday off as they head out on the road for a six-game road trip that begins in Midland on Thursday (who they were swept by last week).

Wilmington won their third game in a row, with a 5-1 victory in Carolina.

Sam Selman started for the Blue Rocks and did not allow a hit over the first four innings.  He only allowed one hit over five innings while striking out four. Lefty Antonio Cruz did not allow a hit over 2.1 innings. He struck out three.

Tim Ferguson hit a homerun in the 2nd inning and went 2-for-3 (it was the first time a pitcher had gotten him out). The Blue Rocks 3-4 hitters, Jorge Bonifacio and Cheslor Cuthbert, went a combined 4-for-9 with four RBIs.

Lexington lost their marathon game, 4-3 to Asheville in 13 innings.

Asheville scored two runs in the top of the 6th inning on two solo homeruns to take a 3-0 lead, while the Legends scored three runs in the bottom of the 8th inning. The game stayed tied until the top of the 13th inning when Jason Stolz reached on a fielding error, scoring the go ahead run.

The Legends had a chance to win it in the 12th inning, but Jin-Ho Shin struck out with the winning run on second base. They had the tying run on second base in the 13th inning, but Adalberto Mondesi struck out to end the game.

In their three-run eighth, the Legends collected five hits and a walk. Cameron Gallagher, Fred Ford, and Yowill Espinal each picked up two hits. Michael Antonio went 3-for-6.

Scott Alexander threw four no-hit innings of relief for Lexington in getting the game into extra innings.

*Omaha was postponed in Albuquerque and the two teams will play a doubleheader on Wednesday.