Minor League baseball finally started, even though it still feels like its still winter.  I will be providing you with coverage of my favorite Royals Minor League Affiliate the Omaha Storm Chasers.  I will provide a weekly recap of the Royals AAA farm team and may even get a nightly recap in along the way here and there.  If you have not yet done so go check out my 2018 Omaha Storm Chasers Season Preview.

Omaha Storm Chasers week in review: April 5-9

Weekly Record: 1-3

Standings: 4th (2.0 GB)

Weekly +/-:  -6 (5 runs scored, 11 runs allowed)

Star Performers:

Ryan O’Hearn: 3 H, 2 RBI

Parker Morin: 5 AB, 3 H .600 BA, 1 SB

LHP Jonathan: Dziedzic 1 G, 5 IP, 4 K, 0 ER

LHP Eric Stout: 2 G, 1 SV, 2.2 IP, 1 K, 0 ER

Home Runs:

Hunter Dozier: 1 (1)

Nick Dini: 1 (1)

Recap:

The Storm Chasers were scheduled to play a five game series over five days against the Brewers AAA affiliate the Colorado Springs Sky Sox.  That did not happen as two games were moved to the second game of a double header and the fifth game was postponed to a later date, all because of weather.

The weather was not the only thing that was cold as the team managed two hits and one run in the first game.  Hunter Dozier was responsible for the sum total of both hits with a double in the first and a home run in the third for the Storm Chasers.  Jonathan: Dziedzic was his normal fantastic April self going five innings with no earned runs. Kevin McCarthy blew the save giving up three hits and two runs in the 6th inning.

The second game started at around 9:20pm and was worse for the Storm Chasers.  Once again there were only two hits and once again both hits were from one player.  Ramon Torres managed to get a single and a double in the game.  Trevor Oaks made his debut with the Storm Chasers and before the first inning was over he gave up two runs.  It went like this: walk, wild pitch, single, run scored, fly out (1), double, wild pitch, run scored, mound visit, swinging K (2), ground out (3).  Needless to say it was a long cold half inning.

Friday was a day off and Sunday’s game was moved to the second game of a double header on Saturday.  Before the games could be played it took the lots of effort from the Storm Chasers staff and crew to clear off snow and ice from the field, stands and concourse.  The game was also pushed back a little bit.  All that support from the team staff must have helped provide the players with some inner warmth because they broke out the bats and got a season high seven hits and two runs and their first win.  Nick Dini got his first home run of the season and Humberto Arteaga had two hits and an RBI.  Scott Barlow got the start and went 4.1 innings with one earned run and seven strike outs, but also gave out five walks and a home run.

Half an hour after the first game the Storm Chasers continued the hit parade with nine more hits by a combined five players.  Ryan O’Hean and Parker Morin led the charge with five of those hits.  O’Hearn also drove in the only two runs of the game, while Morin stole his first base since 2015.  Andres Machado got the start and lasted only 3 innings giving up two runs on three hits with five Ks and four walks.  Josh Staumont came in for the 4th inning and gave up a run for the loss.

Monday’s game was postponed due to weather and will be made up at a later date.

Next Game:

Tuesday April 10 at Memphis at 7:05

Next Home Game:

Tuesday April 17 vs Memphis at 6:35