Royals Memorial Day Minors Recap

Omaha saw their four-game losing streak come to an end with a 7-3 win over New Orleans. The Storm Chasers scored four runs in the top of the 4th inning to take control of the game. Xavier Nady hit a three-run homerun in that inning (he went 2-for-4).

Will Smith in Omaha. Photo by Minda Haas (mindahaas.net)

That was more than enough for starter Will Smith, who allowed two runs (one earned) on nine hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out six. Kelvin Herrera pitched the 9th inning and needed just nine pitches to finish off the Zephyrs.

Johnny Giavotella once again played third base and went 2-for-4 at the plate. He also committed another error. Christian Colon went 2-for-5

Despite a dominant start from Yordano Ventura, NW Arkansas lost once again, 2-1. San Antonio walked off in the bottom of the ninth on a two out RBI single.

Ventura allowed a solo homerun in the sixth to tie the game at 1-1. He allowed four hits over eight innings while striking out eight. He threw 71 of his 96 pitches for strikes.

The Naturals scored their lone run in the third on Rey Navarro‘s one out RBI double.

After sweeping the best team in the Carolina League over the weekend, Wilmington then lost to the worst team on Monday by a 13-8 score. The Blue Rocks actually led 4-0 after three innings and 8-7 heading into the bottom of the sixth.

They had two four-run innings.

Kyle Zimmer is still searching for his first win of the season, as he lasted just seven batters into the 4th inning (all seven scored). It didn’t help that his defense committed three errors behind him in that inning, but he did allow two 2-run doubles following the errors. He had only allowed one base runner prior to that fourth inning.

However, the Blue Rocks took him off the hook, taking the lead in the sixth. Carolina came right back to re-take the lead by scoring two runs in the bottom of the inning (and four more runs in the next).

*In roster news, Geulin Beltre returned from the DL to hit a homerun. Fellow outfielder Alex Llanos was released.

Lexington’s Raul Mondesi in a May 5, 2013 game in Lakewood.

Raul Mondesi hit for the cycle, as Lexington beat Kannapolis, 7-3. The Legends scored a run in every inning but their last two.

Mondesi tripled in the first (and scored their first run). He homered in the third (his third homerun in two games). He singled and stole a base in the fifth and doubled home two runs in the sixth. So, he went 4-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs.

That was enough for Christian Binford to pick up his fourth win of the season. He allowed four runs (two earned) on three hits over seven innings (the Legends committed four errors). He struck out six. Daniel Hernandez followed with two scoreless innings of relief to earn his third save of the season.