Royals on the Farm 7/30

AAA: Omaha dropped the opener with Tacoma, 9-3, Saturday. The Rainiers took an early 4-0 lead before Omaha scored 3 in the 5th on an RBI force out by SS Luis Ugueto, a Tacoma wild pitch and RBI single by C Paul Phillips. Tacoma took off from there to win as Omaha made small threats but nothing big. SP Ryan Jensen went 4 IP and allowed 4 ER on 7 hits and 2 BB with a K to drop to 1-5 with a 5.40 ERA; RP Shane Nance went 2 2/3 IP and allowed 3 ER on 3 hits and a BB with 3 Ks to move his ERA to 4.64; and RP Justin Huisman went 1 1/3 IP and allowed 2 R (1 ER) on 3 hits and a BB with 2 Ks to make his ERA 4.53. RF Matt Diaz was 2-5 with a double to improve to .390; Phillips was 2-4 with a BB, double and RBI to improve to .271; 1B Justin Huber's AAA sluggishness continued as he was 0-4 to keep his BA at .000; and LF Chad Santos was 2-4 to improve to .259.

Omaha was 48-60 entering today. The Tacoma series continued tonight as J.P. Howell took the mound for Omaha.

AA: Wichita got pummeled by Arkansas, 15-3, Saturday. Arkansas had a 12-0 lead after 4 innings as Wichita scored its runs in the 7th and 8th innings on a solo homer by RF Cory Aldridge (his 18th), a Travs throwing error and an RBI single by 1B Brennan King. SP Kyle Middleton went 2 1/3 IP and allowed 10 R (9 ER) on 10 hits with 2 Ks to drop to 9-7 with a 4.51 ERA; RP Colt Griffin went 2 2/3 IP and allowed 2 ER on 2 hits with a K to move his ERA to 4.02; and RP Derrin Ebert went 4 IP and allowed 3 R (1 ER) on 4 hits with a K to make his ERA 5.45. IF Brett Groves was 2-5 with a double to improve to .222; LF Shane Costa was 2-5 to improve to .280; DH Josh Pressley was 0-4 to drop to .295; and Aldridge was 2-4 with a double, HR and RBI to improve to .287. SS Mike Aviles made his 30th error. IF Rudy Gomez made 2 to get to 6 on the season.

Wichita was 20-17 entering today as they wrapped up the Arkansas series.

High-A: High Desert's winning streak was snapped in a 2-0 loss to Lake Elsinore Saturday. The Mavs matched the Storm with 5 hits but could make nothing of them. The difference came in 2 XBH for the Storm compared to 1 for HD. SP Patrick Green did well in his High Desert debut with a quality start -- 7 IP, 1 ER, 4 hits, 5 Ks, 0 BB -- but got the loss to drop to 6-8 with a 3.92 ERA; and RP Greg Atencio went 1 IP and allowed 1 ER on 1 hit and 3 BB with a K to make his ERA 4.48. 2B Pete Maestrales was 0-4 to drop to .322; LF Billy Butler was 1-4 to drop to .345; C Jared Price was 0-2 with a BB to drop to .356; 1B Kila Kaaihue was 1-3 with a double to up his BA to .310; and 3B Brandon Powell was 0-3 to drop to .306.

High Desert was 19-16 entering today. The series with Lake Elsinore ended tonight.

Low-A: Burlington starter Kyle Crist went the distance and the Bees took a 9-1 win over Wisconsin Saturday. The Bees broke it open with 5 in the 2nd on a 2-run double by CF Cody Cure, an RBI double by SS Irving Falu and RBI singles from 3B Edward Lucas and DH Rusty Brown. They padded the lead with 4 in the 4th on a sac fly by C Damaso Espino and a 3-run homer by RF Brian McFall (his 9th). Crist allowed the ER on 3 hits with 6 Ks to improve to 9-2 with a 3.99 ERA. It was the first CG for Burlington this season and he took a perfect game into the 5th. Lucas was 2-4 with a BB, RBI and 2 RS to improve to .307; Brown was 3-5 with an RBI to improve to .292; and Cure was 2-3 with a BB, double and 2 RBI to improve to .300. Falu stole his 21st base.

Burlington was 21-15 and ended the series with Wisconsin today.

Rookie: One inning was all Idaho Falls was able to generate as far as offense goes in a 10-5 loss to end the series with Casper Saturday. The Rockies took a 6-0 early lead but Idaho Falls scored 5 in the 5th on a Rockies wild pitch, a 2-run single by SS Joshua Colafemina, a Rockies throwing error and an RBI ground out by CF Andrew Larsen. The Rockies pulled away in the 6th. SP Cody Harkcom got the loss with 2 IP of 6 R (5 ER) on 7 hits and a BB with 2 Ks to drop to 1-5 with a 10.44 ERA; RP Brandon Brantley went 3 2/3 IP and allowed 4 ER on 4 hits and a BB with 2 Ks to move his ERA to 6.75; RP Adam Kalkhof went 2 1/3 IP and allowed only 1 hit with 4 Ks to drop his ERA to 4.09; and RP Travis Trammell went an inning and allowed 1 hit with 2 Ks to drop his ERA to 8.31. 3B Gary Perez was 1-3 with a BB to drop to .362; 1B Brady Everett was 1-4 to drop to .406; and C Kiel Thibault was 0-3 with a BB to drop to .297. Perez made his 14th error.

Idaho Falls is 0-1 to open the second half. The Chukars had today off.

The ASL Royals' game with the Angels Saturday was rained out.

The ASL Royals were still 2-1 entering today. They had today off and play the Rangers tomorrow.