Royals May 9th Minors Recap

Omaha won a wild one in Round Rock by an 11-8 score. The Storm Chasers won the rain-shortened series. They now head home for four games against New Orleans, without infielder Johnny Giavotella, who was once again called up to the big leagues.

Paulo Orlando getting ready to run during spring training (Jen Nevius)

The Express led 4-0 after the first, all on a grand slam allowed by rehabber Francisley Bueno. John Lamb entered in the 3rd inning and was helped out (and hurt) by his defense, as Pedro Ciriaco committed his second error of the game in the fourth when he dropped Lamb’s pickoff throw. He was helped by Brett Eibner throwing a runner out at the plate in the same inning.

Lamb would allow three runs on eight hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out four. Fellow lefty Donnie Joseph blew the save by allowing a run in the seventh on three hits, but ended up with the win, as Omaha came right back to re-take the lead.

The Storm Chasers scored over the game’s final four innings. In the 8th inning, Carlos Peguero drove in the eventual game winning run on a two out single. In the ninth, Ciriaco and Eibner both drove in runs with two out singles.

Spencer Patton earned his sixth save of the season with two hitless innings of relief.

Brian Fletcher played left field for the first time since April 11th and for just the third time all season. He was taken out on defense in the eighth. He went 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored.

Every Omaha starter had at least one hit (they had 18 of them), with Paulo Orlando going 4-for-5 to up his average to .364. Matt Fields hit just his second home run of the season, a two-run shot in the fourth (he had two hits and three RBIs). Francisco Pena added a two-run shot (his seventh of the season) in the sixth.

NW Arkansas‘ offense broke out in a big way, as the Naturals won their first game at home since April 23rd by a 9-1 score over Springfield. They have only beaten the Cardinals at home (three wins).

The Naturals collected 16 hits, at least two from each hitter except Jared Schlehuber (1-for-4) and Ethan Chapman (0-for-3 with two walks). Unfortunately, just one hit went for extra bases (a Parker Morin double, as he went 3-for-5). Five of their RBIs came with two outs.

Whit Merrifield had two more hits to see his average rise to .291, tops on the team.

The Naturals put the game away with a five-run 6th inning. That was more than enough for Sam Selman to pick up the win. He allowed one run on three hits and two walks over five innings. The lone run came via a 2nd inning home run.

Angel Baez seems to have found his groove, as he threw two scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts to pick up his first hold of the season. It is his fourth straight scoreless outing. Andrew Triggs finished it out with two more scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 0.83.

Blue Rocks starter Christian Binford against Winston-Salem on April 12, 2014 (Jen Nevius).

Wilmington came back to beat visiting Lynchburg, 3-2. The game was scoreless until the sixth, when the Blue Rocks got on the board.

Christian Binford was really good, until the seventh. He allowed his first hit with two outs in the third. The next Hillcats hit came in Binford’s final inning. An RBI triple and a sac fly gave the Hillcats the lead.

In the bottom of the 8th inning, the Blue Rocks tied the game on a wild pitch and scored the go ahead run on a bases loaded walk. Mark Peterson earned the save, as he worked around a leadoff walk in the ninth by striking out the side.

The Blue Rocks collected six hits, all but one were singles. They also walked six times, but went just 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position. They also hit into two double plays.

The game got started with an error by Raul Mondesi, his seventh of the season.

*In roster news, reliever Aroni Nina was placed on the DL with a sore throwing shoulder. Outfielder Tyler Chism was activated from the DL.

Lexington lost to Asheville, 7-4. The Legends still took the series, as they head out on the road for seven games beginning in Greensboro on Saturday night.

The Legends committed four errors which cost them three runs.

Andrew Edwards took the loss, as he allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out six, but also hit two batters and threw a wild pitch.

Kevin Kuntz made his 2014 debut and went 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout. He also committed his first error at second base. Frank Schwindel and Samir Duenez each had two hits. Carlos Garcia hit his first home run of the season, a two out, two-run shot in the fourth.