Kila Ka'aihue (courtesy of oroyals.com)
If there’s one constant we can take away from the Omaha Royals’ month of May, it’s that their offense is going to be pretty good, and their pitching is going to need some work.
Omaha opened the scoring against Jason Hirsch in the 2nd inning thanks to the usual suspects for Omaha. Kila Ka'aihue led off the inning with a bloop single just over the shoulder of Sky Sox shortstop Jonathan Herrera. J.R. House followed that with a double to left to put runners on second and third with no out. Travis Metcalf drove in the first run with and RBI single, and Tommy Murphy drove Metcalf home two batters later making the score 2-0.
In the bottom of the third, the Sky sox plated three runs to take a momentary lead, thanks to a triple by Jonathan Herrera, a couple of singles, a double steal, and an error by Jose Duarte.
In the top of the seventh, Omaha rallied for the tie, but their inability to score more runs off what was apparently and effectively wild Damian Moss would come back to haunt them. Jose Duarte started it off by hitting a one out triple; the first of his career at this level, and was singled home by Tommy Murphy. A throwing error, and wild pitch by Moss eventually moved Murphy all the way to third, but a lineout by Irving Falu, and inning ending strikeout by Brayan Pena kept the score tied.
Carlos Rosa relieved Heath Phillips in the 7th and promptly retired the side in order, showing no signs of the melt down to come. In the top of the eighth, the Royals yet again let a chance to break the game open slip away, as they had the bases loaded with one out thanks to back-to-back fielding errors by Colorado Springs and a single by Cory Aldridge. Jose Duarte came through with an RBI ground out to take a 4-3 lead, but Tommy Murphy struck out to end the bigger threat.
The wheels fell off the proverbial wagon for the Royals in the next half inning in spectacular fashion. Carlos Rosa walked the first two batters he faced, allowed a single, and then threw two straight wild pitches, allowing the first two runs to score, giving the Sky sox a 5-4 lead. Yet another walk to reload the bases, and Rosa’s Jekyll and Hyde night was done.
Dusty Hughes faired little better, walking the first batter he faced to force in another run, and a Mike McCoy single aided by Jose Duarte’s second error of the game cleared the bases. With McCoy standing on third yet another wild pitch allowed him to come home, plating the final run of the inning. The final line: 12 Colorado Springs batters came to the plate, eight runs scored, four hits, four walks, three wild pitches, and one error.
The Royals never quit, that much is certain, and for a moment made it look as though a comeback was possible. An Irving Falu single, and a Brayan Pena home run made the score 11-6, but despite a Kila Ka'aihue double and J.R. House walk, the Royals would score no more. Travis Metcalf struck out, and Cory Aldridge grounded out to end the threat.
The loss puts the Royals back at .500 at 19-19 and still sit in fourth place in the PCL American North.
Kila Ka'aihue isn’t allowing his team’s recent struggles to impact his performance on the field. Ka'aihue went 4-5 yesterday with two doubles, and a run scored. After hitting .238 in April, Kila is batting at a .351 clip this month, and over his last 10 games is hitting an astounding .444 with four homers, 12 RBI, seven doubles, and has walked nine times, compared to striking out just five times.
Perhaps the only thing keeping Ka'aihue in Omaha at this point is the logjam currently residing at first base for his parent club. The Kansas City Royals currently have Billy Butler, and his improving defense and Mike Jacobs and his power bat at the position, and it seems unlikely that either will see enough of a reduction in playing time for it to make sense to recall Ka'aihue at this point in the season.
Matt Wright will make his second start of the season in the final game of this series against Colorado Springs’ Kurt Burkins, who is 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA.
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