Royals April 28th Minors Recap

Omaha gave up seven runs over the first two innings, as they lost their finale at home to Iowa, 10-6. The Storm Chasers now head to New Orleans for four games.

The ball must have been flying out of Werner Park, as the two teams combined to hit seven.

Ryan Verdugo took the loss, as he allowed eight runs (five earned) on nine hits and four walks over 4.2 innings. He allowed three homeruns. Outside of Dan Wheeler giving up two runs in the seventh, the Omaha bullpen pitched well.

Omaha fought back to score two runs in the bottom of the ninth, but their rally fell short.

David Lough drove in those 9th inning runs with a two out, two-run homer. Chad Tracy went 3-for-4 and Brandon Wood collected two hits in the loss. Wood drove in two runs, but his error cost them three runs.

Brooks Pounders in 2012 with Wilmington (Jen Nevius)

NW Arkansas lost a heartbreaker in Tulsa, 4-3. The Drillers scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth. Kyle Parker hit a two-run homerun to tie the game and three batters later, an RBI single gave Tulsa the walk off win. Santiago Garrido took the loss, as he allowed three runs on four hits over one inning.

The walk off loss negated the solid start from Brooks Pounders (his first of the season). He allowed an unearned run on one hit and one walk over five innings. He struck out three. The only hit he allowed came in the first. Matt Ridings followed with 2.2 scoreless innings of relief. He only allowed one hit, which came from the first batter he faced in the sixth.

The Naturals collected just four hits, with Angel Franco hitting his first homerun of the season in the fourth and Manny Pina’s double drove in two runs in the seventh.

Wilmington was swept at home by Winston-Salem with a 4-1 Sunday loss. The Blue Rocks have now lost six in a row and welcome Salem to town for four games. The Dash took a 1-0 lead in the first and tacked on runs late.

The Blue Rocks had the bases loaded with just one out in the bottom of the ninth, but could not score. They went just 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

Aaron Brooks was the hard luck loser, as he allowed one run on six hits and two walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out five. Malcom Culver followed and allowed a solo homerun with one out in the 8th inning (his fourth inning of work). Antonio Cruz ran into some trouble in the ninth inning for the first time this season (two runs, though only one was earned).

Blue Rocks manager Vance Wilson was tossed in the 6th inning, maybe to light a fire under his team (it came after Culver hit Dash player Courtney Hawkins). I believe it is his first ejection of the season.

Lexington broke their five game losing streak with a 7-4 win over Augusta on Sunday. The two teams finish their series on Monday.

With the game tied at 3-3, the Legends scored three runs in the bottom of the 8th inning. They only collected three hits in the inning, but were helped out by two walks and a run scoring wild pitch.

Chas Byrne made his 2013 debut and allowed just two hits over three scoreless innings of relief to pick up the win.

Humberto Arteaga, Nick Cuckovich, and Ethan Chapman each went 2-for-4. Chapman hit a double. Bubba Starling hit his third homerun of the season.