Romero unhittable in return for Kernels

Fernando Romero couldn't have scripted a better comeback.

The Twins' 17th-ranked prospect struck out four over five hitless innings in his first Minor League start in nearly two years as Class A Cedar Rapids blanked Quad Cities, 9-0, on Friday at Perfect Game Field.

Sidelined for nearly all of the 2014 and 2015 seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery, the right-hander had anxiously awaited his return. Kernels pitching coach J.P. Martinez -- Romero's rehab coordinator throughout last season -- said he knew the 21-year-old would show up ready.

"I knew what to expect coming in," Martinez said. "He's a competitor. He's been chomping at the bit for the last year and a half ready to get back out there, so I knew he was going to come out firing."

Romero (1-0) did just that, breezing through the first inning by striking out Myles Straw and Osvaldo Duarte and getting fourth-ranked Astros prospect Kyle Tucker to tap out to first baseman Zander Wiel.

The River Bandits' next nine batters also came up empty before Anthony Hermelyn reached on a throwing error by shortstop Jermaine Palacios leading off the fifth. Romero shrugged it off, striking out Connor Goedert and getting Christian Correa to ground into an inning-ending double play.

"What I was really happy about was that he threw a lot of strikes," Martinez said. "I think he threw [43] strikes out of 63 pitches. A guy with his mix and his stuff, if he lives in the strike zone, he's going to be just fine."

With Romero making his first start since June 22, 2014, the Kernels coaching staff decided to lift him after the fifth in favor of Anthony McIver.

The dominant outing came as little surprise to Martinez. He and Romero had spoken often on the phone while the non-drafted free agent pitched in extended spring training to start the year. The coach said he could sense his pupil's resolve.

"He was excited to get up here and we were excited to have him," Martinez said. "Like I said, I knew what to expect. I knew he was going to come out ready to go, with a chip on his shoulder, ready to show this league what he's got."

While the native of the Dominican Republic eventually will give up a hit, Friday's start proved to be as good a stepping stone as possible in more ways than one.

"I feel like to get his feet wet in this regard at home in front of a good crowd against a pretty solid team and to have success, that's definitely a good first step," Martinez said. "I see good things happening for him the rest of this year."

McIver carried the no-hit bid through the sixth before serving up a single to Osvaldo Duarte with one out in the seventh. Michael Cederoth pitched a perfect ninth to complete the Kernels' seventh shutout of the season.

Left fielder Daniel Kihle powered the Cedar Rapids offense by slugging a pair of homers and driving in a career-high six runs.

"He's putting together some really good at-bats so far this year, so I was really happy to see him have some success like he did tonight," Martinez said. "In terms of how that helped Fernando, I mean with a five-run cushion in the first two innings that took some of the pressure off and let him settle in and pound the zone."

Quad Cities starter Albert Abreu (0-5) recorded only two outs and was charged with three runs on four hits and a walk. He struck out two.