Royals on the Farm 6/12

AAA: Omaha bobbled its way to a 4-1 deficit entering the bottom of the 9th Sunday against Memphis but rallied only to fall short in a 4-3 loss. Memphis led, 2-0, in the 5th when Omaha pushed a run across on an RBI double by RF Aaron Guiel. The O-Royals committed 3 errors in the game to help Memphis score 3 unearned runs and the game went to the bottom of the 9th at 4-1. A walk to SS Luis Ugueto loaded the bases with 1 out and CF Adrian Brown grounded into a force out that scored 3B Chris Truby. Brown, who made it to first on the play, stole second for his 20th SB of the season and the throw from C Brad Cresse went into CF and allowed C Paul Phillips to score. LF Denny Hocking then grounded out to end the game. SP Chris George had a decent start but dropped to 4-4. He went 7 IP and allowed 3 R (1 ER) on 5 hits and a BB with 5 Ks to drop his ERA to 5.30. RP Justin Huisman went 2 innings and allowed 1 UER on 3 hits and 2 BB with 1 K to drop his ERA to 3.32. Brown was 3-5 with an RBI to improve his BA to .269, 2B Justin Gemoll was 1-4 to drop his average to .323 and Truby was 2-4 to improve to .264. Brown had 2 SBs on the day while Ugueto committed 2 errors to get to 5 on the season.

Omaha is 28-36 and 5 1/2 games back of Memphis. Tonight, the 16-game CWS road trip begins as Omaha begins a 4-game set at Oklahoma (37-27). Lord help us, RH Shawn Camp (1-3, 4.33) starts tonight vs. RedHawks LH Ryan Snare (0-1, 3.65). It's Camp's first start and let's hope he pitches like he has in the last couple appearances and not like he did in the ones up until June. In other Omaha news, RHP Stephen Bray got called up to AAA from High-A High Desert and LHP Matt Ford joined the bullpen after signing as a free agent after being recently released by the Brewers. At Double-A Huntsville this season, he was 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA in 17 relief outings. Ford spent all of 2003 with Milwaukee after being selected in the Rule 5 Major League draft from Toronto, going 0-3 with a 4.33 ERA in 25 games (4 starts).

AA: As reported yesterday, Wichita's game with Tulsa was rained out Sunday and will be made up as part of a doubleheader tonight. RHP Kyle Middleton (7-4, 2.72) will oppose Tulsa's Christian Parker (4-1, 1.40) in game 1. Tulsa will send Sandy Nin (1-3, 5.74) to the mound in game 2. No Wranglers starter was listed on Wichita's website for game 2. Wichita is 30-32 and 8 games back of Tulsa.

High-A: Rancho Cucamonga SP Michel Simard quieted High Desert's bats but the Mavs almost came back against Cucamonga but were saddled with a 4-3 loss Sunday. The Quakes led, 4-0, entering the 8th when High Desert loaded the bases with 2 outs and CF Chris Lubanski doubled home all 3 runners to close the gap to 4-3. DH Brandon Powell then struck out to end the inning and a leadoff single by C Adam Donachie in the 9th went for naught as the Mavs lost. SP Billy Buckner dropped to 4-8 as he went 5 IP and allowed 4 ER on 7 hits and a BB with 5 Ks to up his ERA to 4.29. RP Drew Endicott went 3 innings and allowed only 1 hit as his ERA sank to 4.95. Lubanski was 2-4 with a double and 3 RBI to improve his BA to .239 while Donachie was 2-3 with a BB to increase his BA to .271. 1B Kila Kaaihue was 0-4 to drop to .338 and Powell was 1-3 to improve to .329. Lubanski's RBI moved him to 43 on the season.

High Desert is 31-31 and 3 games back of Lake Elsinore. Tonight's series finale features LHP Chris Coughlin (0-5, 6.43) vs Quakes RHP Chris Hunter (5-4, 3.95). No Jered Weaver to face High Desert this series. In other Mavs news, first baseman Kila Kaaihue, third baseman Billy Butler and starting pitcher John Gragg III were all named to the California League squad in the annual Cal-Carolina League All-Star game, which takes place June 28th at Harry Grove Stadium in Frederick, MD. OF Mitch Maier and SP J.P. Howell were also chosen but, since they're called up to higher levels, will be unable to play. The 5 Maverick representatives were the most of any Cal League team.

Low-A: A 6-run 7th helped Fort Wayne overcome a 7-run inning by Burlington as the Bees lost, 10-7, to snap a 4-game win streak. Fort Wayne was ahead, 3-0, in the 3rd when Burlington broke out with 7 runs on an RBI single by newest Bee LF Pete Maestrales (Marrero's already paying dividends!), an RBI single by SS Mario Lisson, a 2-run single by C Damaso Espino, a 2-run double by 1B Rusty Brown and an RBI single by DH Kenard Springer. The Bees only mustered 3 more baserunners, tho, as Fort Wayne racked up 7 more runs en route to the win. SP Kyle Crist allowed 6 ER on 9 hits and 2 BB with 6 Ks over 6 2/3 IP to bump his ERA to 3.10. RP Adam Rowe blew his 3rd save and got the L to drop to 3-3 as he allowed 4 ER on 4 hits with 3 Ks over 2 1/3 IP. His ERA is now 6.67. Springer was 2-4 with an RBI to improve his BA to .203 and 2B Irving Falu was 2-4 with a double to improve to .213. Maestrales was 1-5 with an RBI to drop his BA to .300. Not a great debut but, hey, he was worth getting rid of Marrero.

Burlington is 31-32 and 4 games back of first. A three-game set at Cedar Rapids (27-36) starts tonight as LH Danny Christensen (0–3, 3.99) will start for the Bees. In other Bees news, LHP Matt Campbell was placed on the disabled list effective yesterday. Campbell sprained his ankle in a game against Beloit on June 1st. He missed his next turn in the rotation but now is going on the DL with a strained left shoulder. He is expected to be out up to two weeks. His roster spot will not be immediately filled.