Royals May 4th Minors Recap

Omaha won their second game in a row with a 4-1 victory over Oklahoma City. The Storm Chasers had two 2-run innings early (the second and third) and held on for the win.

Royals first baseman Matt Fields during spring training in 2014 in Peoria (Jen Nevius).

Jesus Flores got the Storm Chasers on the board in the 2nd inning with a two out, two-run double. Matt Fields did the same thing in the third. Fields and Paulo Orlando each had two hits.

That was more than enough for Sugar Ray Marimon, who allowed one run on seven hits over seven innings. He allowed a solo home run in his final inning. Kameron Loe picked up his first save with two hitless innings of relief.

NW Arkansas lost their second straight game to Arkansas, this time by a 5-3 score.

Andy Ferguson took the loss, as he allowed four runs on ten hits over 4.1 innings. Angel Baez allowed one of his inherited runners to score. He struck out three over 2.2 innings. Wilking Rodriguez allowed his first run of the season, a solo homer in the eighth.

The Naturals collected nine hits, two each by Jorge Bonifacio, Whit Merrifield, and Mark Threlkeld. Threlkeld hit a two-run home run in the sixth.

Wilmington won Sunday’s pitcher’s duel by a 2-1 score. Both teams collected eight hits. The Blue Rocks won the four-game series over Carolina.

Blue Rocks starter Daniel Stumpf against Winston-Salem on April 13, 2014 (Jen Nevius).

The game was scoreless until the 7th inning when the Blue Rocks scored two runs with two outs. Jack Lopez singled to shortstop (one of his two hits) and a throwing error brought home the runs.

Lopez came up big in the bottom of the inning when he made a good relay throw from left fielder Terrance Gore to the plate to nail the tying run. The Mudcats had just got on the board on a double to left.

Daniel Stumpf had his best start of the season, allowing just that one run on four hits and a walk over 6.2 innings. He struck out seven and threw 51 of his 77 pitches for strikes. Glenn Sparkman allowed one of his two inherited runners to score. It got interesting in the bottom of the ninth with the tying run on second base, but closer Mark Peterson got a fly out to end the game. He earned his sixth save of the season.

The Blue Rocks now move on to play at Salem beginning Monday night.

Lexington lost to Hagerstown, 10-8.

The Suns had Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos in town for a rehab assignment and he went 2-for-3 with a two out, three-run home run to give them the lead for good in the 3rd inning.

The Suns also had Lucas Giolito, the Nationals first round pick in 2012, on the mound. He allowed just three runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks over five innings. Two of those runs came via Alfredo Escalera-Maldonado‘s two out, two-run homer in the fourth that cut the Legends deficit to one run.

Unfortunately, it was another tough start for Cody Reed, who allowed seven runs (four earned) on five hits and three walks over four innings. He also allowed two home runs. Crawford Simmons made his 2014 debut and allowed three runs on four hits and two walks over three innings.

The Legends out-hit the Suns 13-9, but committed four errors. They also went just 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Five Legends collected hits and all five had multi-hit games. Michael Antonio, Humberto Arteaga, and Carlos Garcia each had three hits.

*To make room for Simmons, fellow pitcher Luis Rico was “sent” to rookie level Idaho Falls.