Royals on the Farm 4/26

AAA - Omaha: off day

The O-Royals start a 4-game set in Rosenblatt Stadium against Round Rock tonight. Brian Bass (0-2, 6.92) is the starter for Omaha. RP Joe Nelson was DFA'd by KC when Runelvys was activated so he'll probably be back in Omaha soon.

AA - Wichita: off day

The Wranglers hope to give the Midland Rockhounds a rude welcome as the teams match up for a 4-game set at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in Wichita starting tonight. SP Junior Herndon (1-1, 5.65) takes the hill for Wichita.

High-A - High Desert: Mavs 4, Stockton 3

Valentin 2-5, RS -- .340
Melgarejo 4-5, K, CS -- .304
Brown 3-5, 2B -- .296
Donachie 2-5, E (1), PB -- .261
2B Wilver Perez 2-4, K, RBI, RS -- .180
Lucas 0-4, BB, K, 2 RBI (8) -- .214
Gaffney 0-4, RBI, SF -- .300
Galloway 1-5, K, RS -- .323

Crist 3 1/3 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 5 H, 3 BB, 4 K -- 1.29 ERA
Weeden 2 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, K -- W, 3-0, 3.77 ERA
Moore 2 IP, ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 2 K -- SV, 2, 1.50 ERA

*** High Desert took control in the divisional race with the 4-3 win over the Ports to set Thursday's series finale as the rubber game. Lucas hit an RBI ground out in the 2nd and Perez followed with an RBI single to put the Mavericks up, 2-0. That was the score in the 4th when a Donachie passed ball and catch error helped the Ports put together 2 runs on a single by SS Cliff Pennington to tie the game. A Gaffney sac fly in the 6th gave the lead back to High Desert and Lucas drew a bases-loaded walk to drive home another run in the 7th and make the score 4-2. RP Nate Moore gave up a homer to the first batter he faced but allowed only one more hit in 2 IP to nail down the victory and pick up his 2nd save. The Mavs are 12-8 and 1/2 a game up on the division lead. Stockton starter Ryan Webb took his first loss of the season in giving up 3 ER over 5 2/3 IP to move his ERA to 1.96. Pennington was 1-4 to improve to .119 but made his 2nd error of the season. OF Richie Robnett and DH Nathan Espy were both 3-5 to improve to .250 and .438, respectively. C Landon Powell, another top A's prospect, hit the homer off Moore and was 1-4 to drop to .321.

The teams finish the series tonight. Pitchers: Mavs RH Billy Buckner (3-0, 2.78), trying to keep his good start rolling, vs. Ports SP Scott Drucker (2-1, 3.57).

Low-A - Burlington: Bees 8, Southwest Michigan 1

Thibault 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI (12), K, HBP -- .290
McConnell 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI, K, RS, SB -- .131
3B Lisson 1-3, BB, 2B (6), 3 RBI (18), RS, SF, E (3) -- .242
2B Joshua Johnson 1-3, 3 BB, K, 3 RS -- .208 in leadoff spot, but getting on base at a .381 clip
Santana 0-4, BB, RS -- .270

Nicoll 5 1/3 IP, ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 7 K!, WP -- W, 1-1, 1.80 ERA, first pro win
Damico and Hayes 3 2/3 IP of scoreless relief

*** The Bees jumped on SWM starter Jason Cayton early and Nicoll struck out 7 over 5-plus IP to propel the Bees to the win and set them up for a possible sweep of the D-Rays. Johnson walked in the 1st, was moved to second by McConnell, advanced to third on a fly out and then scored on a wild pitch to get the Bees on the board. The lead was widened in the 2nd as McConnell knocked a 2-run double and Thibault matched the feat to make the score 5-0 Bees. Nicoll allowed only 2 baserunners through 5 IP but gave up a 1-out triple in the 6th and was pulled for Damico, who balked in the run. That was the extent of the D-Ray damage, however, and a Lisson 2-run double in the 8th poured on a couple extra runs as gravy as the Bees took the 8-1 win. The Bees are 9-11 and 3 games back of first. SWM RP William Evers provided 3 IP of hitless relief to drop his ERA to 8.31 as Cayton took his 3rd loss. SWM pitchers gave up 9 walks in the loss. D-Rays LF James Hall was 2-4 with a double and triple to improve to .306 and RF Garrett Groce was 1-4 with a double to drop to .339.

The Bees go for the sweep tonight. Pitchers: Bees RH Matt Kniginyzky (2-0, 2.52) vs. D-Rays LH Mike Wlodarczyk (0-1, 2.21). That's a fun pitching matchup to spell.