KC Royals April 11th Minor League Recap

Rain may have delayed the start to the Omaha game for more than two hours, but it could not stop the Storm Chasers. They won 5-1 in New Orleans and look for the series win on Sunday with Yohan Pino getting the start.

Omaha jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first, capped by Moises Sierra‘s two-run double (one of his two hits). Brett Eibner added a solo home run in the third. The Storm Chasers collected eight hits, five for extra bases.

Christian Binford made his first Triple-A start and allowed one run on four hits and three walks over four innings. He struck out just one. Chris Dwyer followed and pitched 2.1 scoreless innings. However, he did allow three hits and walked three. Joe Paterson was credited with the win, as he stranded two runners in the seventh and struck out two over 1.2 innings. Michael Mariot pitched a perfect ninth.

NW Arkansas won their first game of the season, an 8-3 victory in Midland. The Naturals now move on to Frisco for a three game series, with Brandon Finnegan getting the start.

Somehow, Jonathan Dziedzic was credited with the win, though he only lasted 4.2 innings (6H, R, BB, 4K). Aroni Nina was next and walked four in one inning of work. He allowed two runs (one earned) and threw 41 pitches (just 18 for strikes). Malcom Culver escaped the bases loaded jam in the sixth with a strikeout and then pitched another scoreless inning. Sam Selman rebounded from an AWFUL outing on Opening Night with two scoreless innings and five strikeouts (compared to one walk).

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The Naturals scored in three innings: the second, fourth, and seventh. They collected 14 hits, but just one for extra bases. The 6-7-8 hitters (

,

, and

) went a combined 9-for-14 with a double, six runs scored, and two RBIs.

Shortstop Raul Mondesi did not play for the second straight day.

Wilmington broke the 1-1 tie in the top of the 10th only to watch host Myrtle Beach walk off in the bottom of the inning. The Blue Rocks lost 4-3 and hope for a series split on Sunday night.

Alec Mills was solid in the start, allowing just one run on four hits over 5.1 innings. He struck out three. Estarlin Cordero followed with 1.2 scoreless innings (though he walked two). Andrew Edwards worked out of a runners at the corners, one out jam in the eighth and a bases loaded, one out jam in the bottom of the ninth.

In the top of the tenth, Jack Lopez tripled in the tie-breaking run and scored on Frank Schwindel‘s single.

However, Matt Alvarez could not throw strikes in his first appearance of the season. He walked the first three batters of the bottom of the tenth. After a strikeout, Alvarez allowed a two-run single to tie the game. A ground ball to second base scored the winning run for the Pelicans.

As excited as I was with the start to Bubba Starling‘s season is how quickly it has gone in the wrong direction. Starling struck out in all five at-bats on Saturday night, giving him seven strikeouts in his last seven ABs.

A rain delay in Charleston ended in a pitcher’s duel, as the RiverDogs beat Lexington, 2-0. The teams combined for just six hits.

The Legends two hits were singles.

Nik Stephenson took the loss, as he allowed both runs on three hits and three walks over four innings. Emilio Ogando allowed just one hit and a walk over the final four innings. He struck out five. The RiverDogs stole four bases.

The Legends look for the series victory on Sunday with Colin Rodgers getting the start.

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