Lexington
Jeff Icenogle faced the Greensboro Grasshoppers for the second time in five days. Both outings were forgetable as the Grasshoppers round house kicked the Legends 7-5.
“They hit him fairly well when we played at Lexington,” Hoppers manager Edwin Rodriguez said. “Today they were very aggressive. The hitters have been hitting the ball very well. It’s one of those things you get in a slump and you don’t hit then someone starts hitting. It’s contagious.”
Salem
Erick Abreu pitched 5 1/3 innings of no hit ball and left with a 2-0 lead in the 7th. The bullpen couldn’t get the outs needed and the Avs lost 3-2.
“I felt sad. I was worried for my teammates,” said Abreu, a right-hander from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Saturday was Abreu’s fourth start. His first 16 appearances for the Avalanche were as a reliever, so he understands how Salamida and Dominguez were feeling, he said. “It happened to me two times. That is why I was worried for them. I know they are trying to do their best.”
Corpus Christi
Chance Douglass went 7 innings and combined with Gervacio and Middleton for a 1-0 shutout of San Antonio.
“He did a great job. He worked ahead in the count, and I’m glad to see that,” Hooks manager Luis Pujols said. “The last time he faced this team they hit him pretty good. I think he ended up throwing 97 pitches, so he did pretty good.”
Round Rock
Travel was crazy for Round Rock yesterday.
Round Rock’s long Monday began with an early wake-up call and then, supposedly, a 6:45 a.m. flight out of Memphis. It didn’t depart until 8:45 because of weather issues at the next stop, which was Dallas.
As a result, the team missed its connecting flight and was forced to make its way to New Mexico piecemeal. The first pitch was delayed 38 minutes to accommodate Round Rock’s dilemma.
Three Express players, along with manager Dave Clark and two coaches landed at 1:15 on Monday afternoon. Another dozen players arrived two hours later. Both flights originated from the Dallas/Fort Worth airport.
However, with no other flights at DFW, the balance of the team was forced to cab to Love Field and book a flight on another airline. That one was delayed 90 minutes, also by turbulent weather in Dallas. It didn’t land until 10:15 on Monday night — when the game was already in the top of the eighth.
Those players got to the park in the ninth, and Clark almost needed the reinforcements for his exhausted starters.
“It’s like being in a daze, truly the whole game,” Clark said of the team’s ordeal. “Talk about going on fumes. That’s all we had.”
Fumes were enough as the Express won 9-6. Ron Chiavacci picked up his first win in his first start with the Express.
Injury Updates
The Chronicle reports on what will become of pitchers rehabbing in Extended Spring Training now that it is wrapping up.
General manager Ed Wade said he will meet today or Wednesday with some of his staff members to discuss the future of the righthanders.
Paulino, who suffered a pinched nerve in his upper right arm in the spring, had another setback and is only playing light catch.
Estrada has shoulder issues and has been on a regular throwing program. He likely will join rookie league Greeneville or short-season Tri-City when their seasons begin this month.