Royals' Hernandez keeps Sounds silent
Hernandez pitched six hitless innings Tuesday as the Royals snapped a four-game losing streak by blanking the previously unbeaten Nashville Sounds, 4-0.
The 23-year-old right-hander did not allow a baserunner until shortstop Mike Aviles committed an error with two outs in the third. After walking Norris Hopper, he worked out of trouble by getting Ray Olmedo to ground out.
Hernandez (1-0) ended up striking out four and walking three, five days after giving up three runs on five hits over five innings against Memphis. He joined the Kansas City organization during Spring Training on a waiver claim from the Boston Red Sox.
The no-hit bid ended in the eighth when Luis Cruz led off with a single off Josh Rupe. Patrick Alris followed with another base hit, but Major League veteran Matt Herges came on and induced a pair of groundouts, including a double play, to end the threat. Blake Wood yielded one hit in a scoreless ninth.
Kila Ka'aihue smacked his third homer of the season, a two-run shot in the third, for the Royals (2-4). Big league veteran Wilson Betemit added a solo blast, his second in as many days.
Former Major Leaguer Kameron Loe (1-1) took the loss after allowing four runs on nine hits with a pair of strikeouts in six innings.