Royals May 12th Minors Recap

Omaha put up four crooked numbers en route to a 19-1 drubbing of New Orleans. The Storm Chasers scored 14 runs over the final three innings.

Utility man Jimmy Paredes during spring training 2014 (Jen Nevius).

It was all about Jimmy Paredes, who hit for the cycle and drove in eight runs.

Leading just 1-0 in the fourth, Paredes hit a two out grand slam. He would later add a two-run triple in the 6th inning, the next time the Storm Chasers scored four runs in an inning. In the seventh Paredes doubled and in the ninth, he singled to complete the cycle.

In the 7th inning, Omaha scored runs before the Zephyrs recorded an out. That inning started with Francisco Pena‘s eighth home run of the season (his career-high is nine). Omaha finished off their scoring with six runs in the 8th inning by sending 11 men to the plate.

The Storm Chasers collected 20 hits, with every hitter having at least two hits except Matt Fields (0-for-4). Nine of their hits went for extra bases. Christian Colon and Paulo Orlando had three hits each, with Colon collecting two doubles.

With all of the offensive explosion, it was easy to overlook the solid pitching performance by starter Aaron Brooks. He allowed five hits and three walks over six scoreless innings. He struck out four and induced eight ground outs.

Whit Merrifield during 2014 spring training against the SD Padres (Jen Nevius).

NW Arkansas beat Arkansas 6-5 in 12 innings. With one out and the go ahead run on third base, Whit Merrifield came through with an RBI double (his only hit of the game). Noel Arguelles earned his first win of the season with two perfect innings of relief.

In the top of the tenth, the Naturals tried the sacrifice bunt twice to move the go ahead run into scoring position, though it only worked once. So with two outs, Lane Adams came through with the RBI single. The Travelers came back to tie the game in the bottom of the inning on a sac fly. They loaded the bases against Malcom Culver with two outs, but he got a strikeout to send the game to the 11th and then the 12th for Merrifield’s heroics.

In the top of the first, the Travelers sent eight men to the plate as they scored four runs off Naturals starter Jason Adam. He walked two, hit a batter, gave up three hits, and threw a wild pitch. Adam did not allow another hit, though he did walk three more over the next five innings.

In the top of the 5th inning, the Naturals took Adam off the hook, as they scored four runs. Edinson Rincon doubled in two runs and Parker Morin followed with an RBI double. Adams tied the game with a two out RBI single.

Angel Baez worked out of trouble in the eighth (go ahead run on third base with just one out) and threw two scoreless innings.

*Lefty Sean Burnett, who was on a rehab assignment for the LA Angels, got out of a 6th inning jam by getting a double play on a line out to end the inning (after allowing a hit and a walk).

**Adams was previously 0-for-10 with RISP and two outs this season. He went 2-for-2 tonight.

Wilmington’s Jack Lopez on April 13, 2014 (Jen Nevius).

Wilmington won in walk off fashion over visiting Salem, 4-3. With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Jack Lopez connected for his first home run of the season, a two-run shot into the left field bullpen to set off the celebration. The Blue Rocks’ two hits in the ninth were their first since the 3rd inning.

Prior to that, the Blue Rocks were held in check by Salem’s unexpected starter Simon Mercedes and the expected starter William Cuevas. The two combined for 12 strikeouts and Cuevas even struck out four in the 6th inning. Last week, Cuevas held the Blue Rocks to just one hit over six scoreless innings.

The Blue Rocks had lots of chances, as the Red Sox committed four errors and three batters reached base on a strikeout because of either a wild pitch or passed ball. However, they had just three hits until the ninth.

The walk off took starter Miguel Almonte off the hook for another tough loss. He allowed three runs on six hits over six innings. He struck out five, but really only made one mistake. That was the pitch that hit off the second tier right field wall for a home run in the sixth.

Then Johnny Walter and Zeb Sneed shut down the Red Sox to keep the game close. For Walter, it was his first appearance in a game at Frawley Stadium and just his third overall.

Lexington beat Greensboro, 7-3.

The Legends collected 12 hits, with Carlos Garcia and Dominique Taylor each picking up three hits. Taylor hit a solo home run in the ninth. Chad Johnson also had a solo homer in the fifth. Ramon Torres had two hits and stole a base in the win.

Luis Santos earned the win, as he allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out four and induced nine ground outs. One of the runs came via a leadoff home run. Luke Farrell earned his first save of the season with three perfect innings of relief. He induced six ground outs.