Royals April 15th Minors Recap

After a rain out in Nashville on Monday, Omaha returned home to beat Round Rock, 6-0. All six runs scored with two outs.

The Storm Chasers saw Aaron Brooks finally make a start in the 2014 season after a callup to the big leagues and rain pushed him back this far. Brooks did not disappoint, as he allowed just three hits over four scoreless innings (he was on a strict pitch count and threw 51 pitches, 36 for strikes).

Justin Marks picked up the win, throwing three hitless innings of relief.

Pedro Ciriaco also saw action in Triple-A for the first time this season and went 0-for-3 with a strikeout (he played shortstop). He was the lone Storm Chaser without a hit.

Francisco Pena gave Omaha the lead with a two out, two-run home run in the 2nd inning (his first of the season). Christian Colon went 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored, and an RBI.

NW Arkansas and Midland played two in Springdale, after Monday night’s game was rained out.

The RockHounds took the first game, 1-0. It could have been much worse for the Naturals, as starter Jason Adam needed 47 pitches to get through two innings. However, he rebounded to make it through four innings (and only throw 76 pitches). Andrew Triggs walked one over two scoreless innings and Scott Alexander pitched around some trouble in the seventh (a hit and a walk).

Unfortunately, the Naturals offense was held to just one hit, a single by Justin Trapp with one out in the fifth.

Game two went to Midland, 6-1 in 13 innings (though it was scheduled for just seven innings). It went so long that infielder Jared Schlehuber entered to pitch the 13th inning for the Naturals.

After the RockHounds took the 1-0 lead in the top of the 11th, the Naturals came right back with their own run in the bottom of the inning. They had a chance to win it with one out, but could not come up with the big hit. Noel Arguelles went back out for the 12th inning and walked the first batter. With the go ahead run on second base, he struck out the next two hitters to escape.

Tim Melville during a bullpen session in spring training, 2014 (Jen Nevius).

With Schlehuber taking the mound in the 13th, everything went south for the Naturals. He allowed the first five hitters to reach before he recorded an out (on back-to-back sac flies). He ended up allowing five runs on five hits and a walk.

Tim Melville pitched the best he has in a LONG time. He allowed just one hit and three walks over five scoreless innings. He struck out five in the start. Malcom Culver followed with two scoreless and then Hassan Pena threw three scoreless innings of relief.

NW Arkansas will need a long start from Sam Selman on Wednesday when they make the road trip to Tulsa.

Wilmington was rained out in Lynchburg in the series opener. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Wednesday night with Miguel Almonte starting the first game and Yender Caramo getting the second game.

Lexington lost to Rome, 5-3. The Braves scored all their runs over the final three innings.

The loss negated the solid start from Andrew Edwards, who allowed four hits and one walk over five scoreless innings. He struck out four. Luis Rico allowed three runs in the sixth, while Alex Black allowed two runs over his two innings of work.

On offense for the Legends, their 3-4 hitters, Frank Schwindel and Fred Ford, went a combined 4-for-7 with three runs scored and an RBI.