KC Royals April 12th Minor League Recap

By Jen Nevius |

Omaha won their first series of the season, as they beat New Orleans on Sunday by a 4-0 score. The Storm Chasers now start a four-game series in Memphis on Monday night.

After a rain delay to start the game (for the second straight day), Luke Hochevar made his second appearance for Omaha. He pitched the first inning and needed just ten pitches to retire the Zephrys in order.

Yohan Pino followed and his only blemish over the next seven innings was an infield single to lead off the third. That means, he retired the final 18 batters he faced. He struck out seven and induced six ground outs (to four fly outs). Pino threw 73 ptiches, 52 for strikes.

Buddy Baumann pitched the ninth and allowed a single with one out, which was erased on a game ending double play.

The Storm Chasers scored three runs in the second, which started with a leadoff walk to Moises Sierra. Matt Fields drove in the game’s first run with a sac fly and Gabriel Noriega drove in two with a two out single. Cheslor Cuthbert hit a solo home run in the ninth (one of his two hits). Whit Merrifield also had two hits in the win (including a double).

NW Arkansas lost their first game in Frisco by a 7-2 score. The RoughRiders led 7-1 after two innings.

Brandon Finnegan made his 2015 debut and the start did not go so well. With one out in the bottom of the first, he allowed back-to-back singles. He then allowed a three-run home run.

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The 2nd inning started with a leadoff walk, followed by a single to put runners on the corners. Finnegan did battle back to get two outs without allowing a run. However, two

Hunter Dozier

errors at third base (one fielding and one throwing) around an RBI single gave Frisco the six-run lead.

Finnegan walked a batter in the third, but did not allow a run. He threw 56 pitches, 25 for strikes.

Andy Ferguson made his season debut and threw four scoreless innings. He allowed two hits and a walk while striking out six. Ferguson threw 58 pitches, 35 for strikes. Ali Williams threw a perfect ninth.

The Naturals offense collected just four hits, two solo home runs by Balbino Fuenmayor and Mike Bianucci. Bianucci now has three homers this year. Lane Adams doubled to lead off the game.

*In roster news, shortstop Raul Mondesi was placed on the DL with a back strain and reliever Matt Murray was activated. This is concerning news, as Mondesi dealt with back issues last season.

Wilmington split their series in Myrtle Beach, as the Blue Rocks beat the Pelicans in Sunday’s finale, 5-0. The Blue Rocks now head to Carolina for a three-game series.

Once again, the Blue Rocks were led by their starting pitcher. Eric Skoglund made his full season debut with 5.2 scoreless innings. He allowed three hits and hit a batter, while striking out three. One of those hits Skoglund allowed was a double to rehabbing big leaguer Chris Denorfia in the first.

Benino Pruneda left a runner stranded in the sixth, pitching 1.1 perfect innings of relief. Robinson Yambati pitched two perfect innings in earning the save.

Dominique Taylor got the scoring started with his first home run of the season in the second (a solo shot). In the sixth with two outs, Taylor singled, stole second base, and came around to score on Daniel Rockett‘s double. Robert Pehl, starting for the first time this season, followed with an RBI single. The Blue Rocks added two more in the ninth on Frank Schwindel‘s two-run double.

Of the Blue Rocks ten hits, eight came from the bottom four in the order. Taylor had three hits and a stolen base, while Rockett and Pehl had two hits each.

Lexington split their series in Charleston, as they lost Sunday’s finale by a 4-2 score. They now head to Greenville for three games.

The game was scoreless until the RiverDogs scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to chase Legends starter Colin Rodgers from the game. Rodgers walked his fourth batter of the game with one out in the fifth and was replaced by Corey Ray.

After a stolen base and a throwing error, Ray allowed an RBI double. Another stolen base followed by a single gave the RiverDogs a 2-0 lead. Two more stolen bases, a walk, and a sac fly scored the final run of the inning.

Rodgers allowed a run on three hits over 4.1 innings while striking out three. Ray allowed three runs on five hits and a walk over 3.2 innings. He struck out seven.

The Legends collected eight hits, just one for extra bases. Samir Duenez and Carlos Garcia each had two hits in the loss. Elier Hernandez was back in the lineup after being hit by a pitch on Friday night. He went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts.

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