Apparently the minor league versions of the Royals got the memo about winning games in their final at-bat.
Omaha Storm Chasers 10, Albuquerque Isotopes 4 (10 innings): Yes that’s right, 10 innings. Down 3-2 in the top of the 8th, David Lough doubled to lead off the inning. Eric Hosmer followed with an RBI single to tie the game at 3-3. In the top of the 10th, Omaha scored 7 times, helped out by five walks and two errors on the same play by the Isotopes. Paulo Orlando provided a two-run single and Lance Zawadzki ended the scoring with a two-run double in his second at-bat of the inning. The bottom of the 10th was a bit adventurous for reliever Blaine Hardy, as he hit the first batter he faced, Hosmer committed and error, and with one out he walked a batter. Hardy did allow a run, but held on for the win. Vin Mazzaro, the Royals fifth starter, will be making his first start of the season today.
NW Arkansas Naturals 6, San Antonio Missions 5: The Naturals provided the hometown fans yet another walk-off victory, this time they didn’t wait until extra innings. Tied at 5-5 in the bottom of the 9th, Mario Lisson hit a walk-off homerun on the fourth pitch of the at-bat from Missions reliever Josh Spence. Lisson hit the ball to the deepest part of the ballpark (left-center).
The two teams combined for 26 hits and only once (the 5th inning) did the two teams fail to score. The Missions left 11 men on base, with the Naturals turning four double-plays. It was a back-and-forth affair, with the Missions tying the game at 5-5 in the top of the 9th on an RBI single from Kyle Phillips. Naturals reliever Eric Basurto escaped further damage with two men on base by striking out Cody Decker and inducing a double-play grounder. This led to the heroics from Lisson.
Wilmington Blue Rocks 5, Myrtle Beach Pelicans 5 (suspended): In a back-and-forth game, the Blue Rocks tied the game in the top of the 9th on a Rey Navarro lead off homerun. With Nick Francis at the plate and no one out, the rains came and the tarp went on the field. 30 minutes later, they decided to suspend the game in the top of the 9th and complete it prior to Sunday’s series finale.
The Blue Rocks held a 4-1 lead in the 5th, but reliever Justin Marks allowed an RBI single to Chris McGuiness and Mike Olt belted a three-run homerun to give the Pelicans a 5-4 lead. The Blue Rocks are still being victimized by the strikeouts, as they have collected 12 of them in the suspended game. Jake Odorizzi is expected to take the mound for the Blue Rocks in the 9-inning game following the completion of the suspended game. Odorizzi came over from the Milwaukee Brewers as part of the Zack Greinke deal.
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 4, Kane County Cougars 3: The Timber Rattlers scored two runs each in the 7th and 8th innings to take a 4-1 lead (aided by three Cougars errors). The Cougars scored two runs in the bottom of the 9th on a triple by Brian Fletcher, an RBI double by Angel Franco, and an RBI single by Ryan Jenkins. However Timber Rattlers reliever Brian Garman struck out the side, limiting the damage and picking up the save.
