Royals on the Farm 4/6/06

AAA -- Omaha: rainout. Rescheduled for Saturday as part of a doubleheader. That makes today opening day as Bobby Keppel makes his first start in the organization against Nashville Sounds SP Zach Jackson. He is a former 1st rounder from the Mets in 2000 who pitched 27 good innings at AAA Norfolk last season. He's only 23 going on 24 so may be a really good pickup. Winner gets first place in the division as both Iowa and Memphis lost yesterday.

AA -- Wichita: Tulsa 9, Wranglers 8 (16 innings) -- wild one

Gordon 2-7, BB, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 2 RS, 3 Ks
Butler 4-8, 2B, 2 RS, 1 K
Murphy 1-6, 2B, K, HBP
Maier 1-7, HR, RBI, BB, 5 Ks (ouch!!!), E, outfield assist
Lubanski 1-6, 2B, 2 BB, 3 Ks
Tupman 2-6, BB, K
A. Sanchez 1-7, HR, 2 RBI, 2 Ks, E

Redman 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, BB, 2 Ks -- good start
Song 3 1/3 IP, 6 ER on 8 hits, 4 Ks -- 16.20 ERA
Nunez 2/3 IP, 1 ER on 2 hits, 2 BB, 0 Ks -- first blown save
Cody Smith, 3 IP, 1 hit, 3 Ks
Markray 2 2/3 IP, 1 hit, 3 Ks

*** The Wranglers almost got two games for one on opening day. They were ahead, 8-2, at one point and Tulsa had a 5-run 9th to force extras. Not a good bullpen day. Maier homered in his first AB (before K'ing 5 times), Butler singled and Gordon doubled and an error brought both home. SS Angel Sanchez hit a 2-run shot in the 6th and Gordon hit a 3-run shot in the 7th to make it 8-2. RPs Seung Song (another new pickup) and Leo Nunez gave up the damage in the 9th and it stayed tied at 8 until the 16th before RP Ryan Braun gave up a walk-off shot to the first batter he faced in the inning. The Wranglers had a couple chances to score earlier in extras but couldn't get it done. They left 15 on base in the game. They're 0-1. Good news is Redman had a good outing, albeit at AA. Tulsa got good games from SS Troy Tulowitzki (first rounder last season), 3B Ian Stewart (Rockies' hot 3B prospect) and CF Jordan Czarniecki, who had 2 HRs.

Ryan Snare is set to go for Wichita tonight in game 2 against the Drillers' Steven Register.

High-A -- High Desert: Mavericks 6, Inland Empire 2

CF Ransel Melgarejo 3-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 RS
LF Michael Galloway 2-3, 2 2B, 2 BB, RBI
3B Ed Lucas 2-4, RS, 2 Ks, 2 throwing Es
2B Wilver Perez 2-4, RBI, 2 RS, K

SP Billy Buckner 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 4 Ks -- 1-0, 1.80 ERA
RPs Weeden/Barnes/DeHoyos -- combined 4 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 4 Ks

*** Pretty decent first game for the Mavs as Inland Empire was a thorn in the side in 2005. Buckner had a good first start but the Mavs fell behind, 2-0, before pushing across 2 runs in both the 3rd and 4th. Runs were added in the 6th and 8th on RBI doubles by Melgarejo and Galloway -- both of whom are new to the organization. It was a good day for the pitching staff all-around as the bullpen also locked it down. The Mavs are 1-0. Mariners' hot prospect SS Matt Tuiasosopo was 1-4 with an RBI, was caught stealing and had two errors in the field.

No announced starters again for today's game. I assume today would be Luis Cota's high-A debut for the Mavs.

Low-A - Burlington: rainout. Rescheduled as part of a Saturday doubleheader. SP Matt Kniginyzky gets the delayed start in today's opener. He was a reliever at Idaho Falls last season and was a 2005 23rd rounder out of High Point U in North Carolina. He goes up against Clinton SP Kyle Rogers.