KC Royals Kyle Zimmer Makes First Start of Season

Omaha beat Nashville, 11-5.

The Storm Chasers pounded out 16 hits, including a grand slam in the first inning by Casey Kotchman. Francisco Pena hit a two-run home run in the first. Paulo Orlando added a three-run shot in the 6th inning.

Brett Eibner went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Whit Merrifield, Jose Martinez, and Angel Franco each had two hits, including a double.

Despite striking out seven, Storm Chasers starter Miguel Almonte lasted just 3.2 innings. He allowed all five runs on six hits and three walks (79 pitches, 48 strikes).

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The Omaha bullpen followed and put up zeros. It started with

Louis Coleman

, who allowed two hits over 2.1 innings. He struck out three. Newly signed

Paul Clemens

allowed two hits in two innings of work.

Michael Mariot

pitched a perfect ninth.

NW Arkansas beat Springfield, 9-4. The Naturals scored their runs across the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings.

Ramon Torres hit his first Double-A home run, a solo shot in the fifth. Hunter Dozier hit a three-run homer later in the inning. Raul Mondesi went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two stolen bases. Zane Evans went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.

Kyle Zimmer made his first start of the 2015 season. He allowed two runs on two hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out five. Zimmer threw 64 pitches, 43 for strikes.

Jonathan Dziedzic earned the win in his first relief appearance since 2013. He allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits over five innings. He struck out four.

Wilmington lost their eighth straight, losing the finale to Carolina, 6-0.

It was the High-A debut for Pedro Fernandez and he took the loss. He allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out four. Fernandez could not throw his offspeed pitches for strikes and the Mudcats sat on his fastball (and hit it hard).

The Blue Rocks bullpen shut the door on the Mudcats (outside of Robinson Yambati allowing a run in the ninth). Evan Beal threw three scoreless innings, followed by the perfect inning from Andrew Edwards.

Carlos Garcia led off the bottom of the first with a double, but Carolina starter Andrew Thurman then retired 21 straight to end his day (seven shutout innings with seven strikeouts). The Blue Rocks finished with three hits, two by Garcia.

Lexington lost to Greenville, 7-6. The Drive scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Legends leadoff hitter Corey Toups went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Mike Hill went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Luis Valenzuela also had two hits in the loss.

Yunior Marte took the no decision, as he allowed an unearned run on four hits and two walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out ten. Emilio Ogando took the loss, as he allowed four runs (three earned) on two hits and a walk while recording just one out.

Ogando left with the bases loaded in the sixth in favor of Jake Newberry and all three scored. Newberry then allowed two runs on three hits and two walks over two innings. Eric Stout walked one in his scoreless inning.

Idaho Falls beat Ogden, 4-1.

The Chukars collected 11 hits, coming from six players. Cody Jones, D.J. Burt, Joshua Banuelos, Marten Gasparini, and Jeckson Flores each had two hits. Gasparini and Burt each tripled. It was Gasparini’s eighth of the season.

Derek Gordon earned his first victory, allowing one run on three hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out five. After Josh Staumont threw two scoreless innings of relief, Drew Milligan earned his first save with a perfect ninth.

Burlington lost to Elizabethton, 13-6. The Royals scored four runs in the top of the first.

Xavier Fernandez and Angelo Castellano each had three hits. Brandon Thomasson doubled twice and drove in three runs. Alex Newman went 2-for-4.

Igol Feliz took the loss, as he allowed seven runs (five earned) on three hits and four walks over just 1.1 innings. He left with the bases loaded in the 2nd inning in favor of Mark McCoy, who allowed two of those runs to score. McCoy then allowed a run of his own over 2.2 innings (2H, 0BB, 4K).

Next: I Like Moving Chris Young to the Bullpen

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