Royals: Varied Results On Minors Opening Weekend

The first weekend for the Royals’ minor league teams had a little bit of everything as far as results go — a split in Omaha, 3 wins out of 4 for Lexington, and struggles in NW Arkansas and Wilmington. The stars of the show ended up including Cheslor Cuthbert, Raul Mondesi, Bubba Starling, Hunter Dozier, Chase Vallot, Amalani Fukofuka and Ben Johnson at the plate and John Dziedzic, Alec Mills and Yunior Marte on the mound.

Omaha: Chasers split with New Orleans

Hitters:

3B Cheslor Cuthbert (4 games) 8-16, 2 BB, SF, 2B, HR, 8 RBI, 2 K, RS, 3 E

2B Whit Merrifield (4 games) 5-14, 2 BB, 2 2B, RBI, 3 K, 3 RS, 2 SB

CF Brett Eibner (4 games) 5-15, 3 BB, SF, 2B, 2 RBI, 5 K, 5 RS, SB

1B Balbino Fuenmayor (3 games) 2-12, BB, HBP, 2B, 3 K, RS

LF Jose Martinez (4 games) 3-13, 3 BB, RBI, 4 K, 2 RS

C Tony Cruz (3 games) 4-10, 3 BB, RBI, 2 K, RS

RF Jorge Bonifacio (3 games) 3-14, 2 RBI, 5 K, SB

1B Cody Decker (3 games) 3-8, 2 BB, 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 5 K, 3 RS, E

RF Jarrod Dyson (2 games) 1-4, 2 BB, K, RBI, 2 RS

SS Dusty Coleman 2 hits, HR, 3 RBI Saturday

DH Travis Snider 2 hits, 2B, RS Sunday

Pitchers:

SP Miguel Almonte (start Thursday) 1/3 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 2 H, 4 BB, K, HRA — L, 0-1, 108.00 ERA

SP John Lannan (Fri.) 5 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 3 K — ND, 3.60 ERA

SP Luke Ferrell (Sat.) 4 IP, 4 R (3 ER), 3 H, 3 BB, 5 K, HRA, 2 WP — ND, 6.75 ERA

SP John Dziedzic (Sun.) 5 IP, 2 UER, 2 H, BB, 8 K, HRA – L, 0-1, 0.00 ERA

RP Brooks Pounders (Thu.) 2 IP, 3 K — 0.00 ERA

RP Brian Flynn (Sat.) 3 IP, ER, 2 H, 2 BB, K, WP

** If not for 2 innings of damage, Omaha would have swept their opening series of the season vs. the Zephyrs. As it is, they had to settle for a split. Miguel Almonte didn’t survive his first inning pitched of the 2016 season as he gave up a grand slam in a 5-run New Orleans 1st. The Zephyrs would win, 6-3.

In Friday’s game 2, the teams combined for 5 runs in the 1st and the Chasers led, 5-2, going into the 8th. Malcom Culver blew the save with a 2-run Zephyr 9th but Cruz took a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the 9th to get Omaha the 6-5 win. Game 3 was another slugfest as it was 9-4 Omaha after 3 innings and the Storm Chasers held off the Zephyrs for an 11-8 win behind 4 hits from Cuthbert.

Cody Decker also made his starting debut in style with 2 HR in the win. In Sunday’s series finale, the Chaser bats stalled and the Zephyrs got 4 runs off Culver and RP David Huff in the 7th to make it 7-1. Omaha rallied for 3 in the 8th but the Zephyrs closed out the win to split the set. Decker struck out 5 times and Eibner, Snider and Cruz had 2 hits each in the loss.

Round Rock (AAA Rangers) visits Omaha for 4 games this week.

Next: NW Arkansas

NW Arkansas: Naturals explode offensively to get first win Sunday

Hitters:

SS Raul Mondesi (4 games) 5-16, BB, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3 K, 4 RS, 1/2 SB, 2 E

CF Bubba Starling (2 games) 2-8, HBP, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 RS, 3 K

3B Hunter Dozier (4 games) 4-13, 2 BB, HBP, 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 RS, 3 K, SB

C Zane Evans (2 games) 2-8, 2B, 2 K, PB, E

RF Orlando Calixte (4 games) 4-13, 4 BB, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 3 RS, 2 K, 2/3 SB, E, 2 OF assists at home

C Cam Gallagher (2 games) 0-7, BB, 2 K

1B Frank Schwindel RBI Friday, 2 hits Sunday

1B Mauricio Ramos 3 hits, 2B, HR, 3 RBI Sunday

Pitchers:

SP Alec Mills (Thu.) 5 IP, ER, 4 H, 7 K — L, 0-1, 1.80 ERA

SP Matt Strahm (Fri.) 5 IP, 2 H, 4 K — ND, 0.00 ERA

SP Christian Binford (Sat.) 4 1/3 IP, 8 R (7 ER), 11 H, BB, 2 K — L, 0-1, 14.54 ERA

SP Jake Junis (Sun.) 4 1/3 IP, ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 5 K, WP — ND, 2.08 ERA

RP Yender Caramo 5 2/3 scoreless IP in 2 appearances

** The Naturals got swept by Frisco to start the season on a sour note but bounced back against Midland Sunday. The Naturals couldn’t figure out SP Frank Lopez on opening day and squandered a solid start from Alec Mills in a 2-0 loss. Evans was the lone bright spot offensively with 2 hits, including a double. A big Frisco 6th keyed the Riders’ game 2 win. Matt Strahm had a fairly lockdown start over 5 innings but RP Estarlin Cordero got nicked for 5 runs in the 6th.

More from KC Royals Prospects

• The Maikel Garcia mistake the KC Royals may be making
• KC Royals Prospects: 7 selected for Fall League play
• KC Royals Prospects: What to do with Stephen Woods Jr.?
• KC Royals: 3 good candidates for 2 September callups
• KC Royals Prospects News: Top draft pick is sizzling

NW Arkansas could once again get no traction on offense until it was pretty much too late as Frisco got the 6-3 win. The Frisco onslaught continued Saturday as the Riders coasted to a 9-1 win and lit up Binford in his first start of 2016. The lone highlight was Mondesi’s 1st homer of the season to tie it in the 1st.

The runs finally arrived on Sunday as a pair of 5-run innings helped the Naturals to a 16-2 win over Midland (AA Oakland). A Calixte 3-run double capped a 5-run 3rd and Starling and Dozier homered in a 5-run 4th. Mondesi and Dozier homered in the 5th to make it 12-1, and Starling and Ramos added late homers to put the exclamation point on the win.

The 3-game set with Midland continues before the Naturals hit the road for a 3-game set at Frisco as they’ll try to avenge the sweep.

Next: High-A Wilmington

Wilmington: Rocks still hunting for their first W

Hitters:

1B Ryan O’Hearn (3 games) 5-13, BB, 2B, RBI, 3 K, RS

LF Alfredo Escalera (3 games) 1-8, 4 BB, HBP, RBI, RS, 4 K

CF Brandon Downes (3 games) 2-12, RBI, 6 K

RF Elier Hernandez (3 games) 3-13, BB, RBI, 4 K, E

SS Humberto Arteaga (3 games) 4-14, RBI, 4 K, 3 RS, 2 SB

DH Austin Bailey RBI Friday

Pitchers:

SP Zach Lovvorn (Thu.) 3 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 3 K, HRA — L, 0-1, 8.10 ERA

SP Pedro Fernandez (Fri.) 4 1/3 IP, ER, 4 H, BB, 5 K, WP — ND, 2.08 ERA

SP Matt Tenuta (Sun.) 4 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 4 BB, K, 2 HRA, 2 pickoffs — ND, 5.79 ERA

** A rainout was maybe the most favorable thing that happened to the Blue Rocks on opening weekend vs. Potomac. Opening Day saw the Nationals get 3 runs off Lovvorn and RP Derek Gordon in the 4th for all they’d need as they got a 6-1 win. Wilmington only had 3 hits with 15 K’s in the loss.

More from Kings of Kauffman

• KC Royals Free Agent Hunt: Any help in San Diego?
• KC Royals: Let the Ryan O’Hearn Watch begin…again
• KC Royals Roster Moves: 3 players added, 1 re-signed
• KC Royals News: Awards, a new coach, and more
• Why the KC Royals could reunite with this old friend

The Rocks put up more fight in game 2 as it was 2-2 late but 3 late Potomac runs got the Nationals the 5-2 win. A Bailey RBI single tied the game in the 2nd and a run-scoring Potomac error tied it at 2 in the 7th. Errors by Hernandez and RP Josh Staumont on a 2-run play in the 8th cracked it open and the last 6 Rocks went down in order.

Fernandez had a solid start but ended up with a no-decision in the loss. Saturday’s game was a rain/snowout set to be made up 4/21. Sunday the struggles resumed as Potomac scored 6 late runs to get the 9-4 win. O’Hearn doubled and scored in the 5th to tie it at 3 but the Nats got to RPs Mark McCoy and Tim Hill for 4 runs in the 6th. Two Wilmington hits in the 9th ended up as a fruitless rally. Tenuta walked 4 and gave up 2 longballs in his 1st start of the season.

The Rocks start a 3-game set with Carolina (A-Adv. Atlanta) on Monday then have another set with Potomac on the road.

Next: Lexington Legends