Yesterday in the minors was exciting even though only Lexington won.  Jordan Parraz’s first series against his former farm mates turned volatile in the 8th inning. Parraz while scoring the 6th run of the game for the visitors, collided with Hooks’ catcher Brian Esposito…. on a ground ball to short that forced a runner at first base.

“I guess for some reason, he thought I was trying to cover the plate, deke him or put a move on him,” Esposito said. “But I was clearly giving him the plate and didn’t even see it coming. I was looking down the first-base line toward the play and the next thing you know, I’m pulling myself off the ground. That’s the first time I’ve ever had that happen.”

When Parraz came up to bat in the 9th, Chris Salamida plunked his former teammate in Salem in the back.  That resulted in Salamida and Esposito being ejected from the game along with manager Luis Pujols.

“The problem I have about the ejection is that it was without warning,” Pujols said. “If the umpire knew that something could happen and you want to avoid people getting hurt, that’s what the warning is for.

“If (home plate umpire Myers) had any doubt, he could call me (over) and give the warning and stop the thing right there. Don’t let things happen and then run the manager, pitcher and catcher out. I don’t understand that.”

The outcome of the game was a 8-4 loss.  Brad James struggled in the first but garnered some measured praise from his manager.

“He was off in the first inning a little bit,” Pujols said. “He settled down after that. But I think he threw the ball better today than the last time I saw him pitch (against Class AAA Round Rock on April 7).

“But for his first outing of the year, I don’t worry too much about (the walks) right now.”

Colin Delome hit his second homer of the season to lead the offence.

Lou Palismano has headed back to extended spring training to rehab his injured shoulder.

Robert Bono brought back to back  0-4 win loss records into this season.  Two seasons of short season ball and not a single win.  That changed last night as Lexington beat Kannapolis 2-1 and Bono earned the win with 5 strong innings.

It feels good. But I’ve been doing it all along,” Bono said. “Just keep going out, throw the ball the same way. … Tonight, I was going right after it.”

The local paper reports that Bono “pitched like a crafty veteran over five shutout innings. Relying mostly on a sinking two-seam fastball and a curveball, he gave up five hits, no walks and struck out three.”

Brandon Barnes went 2 for 3 at the plate.  He like the Lexington team is having much different fortunes than a one year ago.  Last year, Barnes suffered through a 0-22 slump and was sent back down to extended spring training with a bingo batting average and striking out almost half the time.  At the same time, his team got out to a horrible start with the win loss record.  This year, through the first four games, the Legends are undefeated and Barnes is hitting .538 (7 out of 13) with 2 doubles, and zero strike outs.

It looks like Lancaster could use some help.  We predicted that the Lancaster team would be the weakest in the system and they are looking like it. Last night, they reached new lows by getting trounced 16-1 in their home opener.

The only highlights for the JetHawks is the C & C show.  Jason Castro had two doubles and is hitting .318 on the season.  Koby Clemens went 1 for 2 with two walks and is hitting .444 on the season.

Round Rock got it’s first look at Bud Norris.  Our reporter on the scene gave this report of his outing:

Spotty command
91ish FB
Pretty good breaking pitches

The Express got a three run homer from Marc Saccomanno to give them the lead after six innigns.  The lead didn’t last long as Omaha put up three in the 7th and three more in the 8th to send the Express to their 4th loss of the season 8-4.

Express pitchers are out of control.  They have walked 37 batters in 45 innings.

Let’s start the weekend trip around the farm in Lexington where the young arms have lived up to their hype through the first three games.  Jordan Lyles was solid but not spactacular in his Thurday start.  Friday’s game was rained out but Saturday had two outstanding pitching peformances from the Legends.

In game one, Ross Seaton gave up three hits and two walks while fanning two in five innings.  He gave up two runs but only one was earned; a home run that plated the unearned run as well.  Frederico Hernandez hit a three run home run and Brandon Barnes went 2 for 3 at the plate in the 6-3 win.

In game two, Brad Dydalewicz pitched 5 innings of no hit baseball in the Legends 13-2 victory.  He did walk four batters but picked off one of those baserunners.  Ebert Rosario, Brandon Barnes, & Albert Cartwright had 3 hits each and Russell Dixson and Kody Hinze both homered.

The Legends were off Sunday.  Robert Bono tries to continue the solid pitching tonight in the home opener.  Fans in Lexington can expect to see movement on the bases:

“I like movement. I like bodies moving,” (Lexington manager Tom) Lawless said before last week’s road trip. “If you get on base, we’re gonna be moving. We’re gonna steal. We’re gonna hit-and-run. We’re gonna take extra bases. We’re gonna put pressure on the defense.

“The more you do that, the reputation around the league knows that ‘if you bobble that ball, we’re gonna take the extra base.’ We’re gonna get thrown out — that comes with the territory. But we’re gonna be more successful trying to do it that way than waiting around trying to hit home runs. … I like the home run, but I don’t think you wait around for it. You create opportunities and then try to score the runs.”

Lancaster avoided the shut out Saturday night, scoring a run late in their 6-1 loss.  Sunday, they picked up their first win of the year through some power at the plate and working out of jams on the mound.  Brian Pellegrini & Jon Gaston hit home runs and Koby Clemens had a double and a triple to lead the JetHawks at the plate.  Christopher Hicks pitched 5 solid innings and Lo, Severino & Kelly all pitched their way out of jams for a 7-4 win.

Corpus Christi got a solo home run from Jhon Florentino to start Saturday nights game.  It turned out to be the only run in a 1-0 Hooks victory. Casey Hudspeth went six innings giving up just two hits and three walks while striking out

The Hooks' Jhon Florentino connects on his first home run of the year in the first inning against Tulsa. Photo: Steve Nurenberg

three to earn the win.  Paul Estrada closed out the ninth for the save.

Sunday, the game went to the 10th with the Hooks coming out on the losing end of a 6-5 decision.  The Hooks blew a 5-1 lead after 5 innings.

“It’s tough,” Hooks manager Luis Pujols said. “It’s tough anytime you lose.”

Drew Locke hit a 3 run homer for the Hooks in the game.  The Hooks also faced former Astros farm hand Jordan Parraz who went O-4 for NW Arkansas.

Round Rock pitchers have walked 29 batters in the first four games of the season.  The free passes have led to losses as the Express lost both Saturday and Sunday.  Their offences hasn’t been too much to write home about either.  JimR gives some first hand oberservations in the TZ.