Royals on the Farm 5/30

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 4, New Orleans 3

3B Teahen 1-4, HR (2), 2 RBI (13), 3 K -- .380, nice night despite the triple sombrero
CF Robinson 0-3, BB, RS, SB (9), OF assist at third -- .321
2B Gotay 1-4, RBI (20), K -- .275
LF Huber 1-3, K, HBP -- .274
SS Aviles 1-4, 2B (10), RBI (18), K, RS -- .241

Bernero 8 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 4 K -- W, 2-2, 3.27 ERA, having nice year as starter
Nunez 2/3 IP, H -- SV, 1, 4.50 ERA

*** A 3-run 1st was enough for Omaha and Bernero in taking the series opener versus New Orleans. Aviles doubled home Robinson and Teahen hit a 2-run homer in the 1st for a 3-0 Omaha lead. The Zephyrs scored their first run in the 4th but Omaha got it back in the 7th on a Gotay RBI single. New Orleans got another run in the 8th to cut the lead to 2 and Royals RP Frank Brooks got 1 out but gave up 2 hits to bring Leo Nunez into the game. Nunez gave up an RBI single but then got Zephyrs LF Tyrell Godwin to fly into a game-ending double play as Robinson relayed to Aviles who threw it to Teahen to double a runner off third. According to the Omaha World-Herald, it was a pretty controversial play as the Zephyrs claim the runner tagged up before coming home, but the home plate umpire ruled otherwise. Omaha is 21-31. Zephyrs 1B Larry Broadway was 3-4 with his 13th double and 40th RBI to improve to .344, 3B Brendan Harris was 2-4 with 2 RS to move to .326, RF Ryan Church was 0-4 to drop to .171 and C Brandon Harper was 1-3 to get to .333.

The series continues tonight. Starters: Zephyrs RH Pedro Astacio (0-0, 0.00) vs. RH David Elder (0-0, 3.91).

AA - Wichita: rainout

*** The game with Corpus Christi was rained out and made up tonight as part of a doubleheader.

High-A - High Desert: Mavs 4, Lake Elsinore 3

2B Perez 2-3, RS, HBP, SB (3), E (10) -- .277
1B Stodolka 1-3, 2 BB, RBI (27), SB (2) -- .310
LF Valentin 1-5, K, RS -- .295
C Donachie 1-4, 2B, 2 K -- .290
3B Lucas 0-4, 2 K -- .249

Christensen 6 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, BB, K -- ND, 5.28 ERA
Plummer 2 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, 3 K -- W, 6-1, 5.60 ERA
DeHoyos IP, nothing -- SV, 9, 0.98 ERA

*** A 9th-inning rally got High Desert the win. Stodolka singled home a run in the 1st but Lake Elsinore tied it off Christensen in the 3rd. CF Juan Senreiso singled home a run in the 5th but Lake Elsinore tied it again in the 6th on an RBI double. Senreiso threw out the would-be lead run at home via a relay through Perez on the hit and the Storm was stopped for the time being. They weren't stopped in the 7th as Plummer gave up a leadoff triple and then struck out 2 batters before giving up a tiebreaking RBI single for a 3-2 Storm lead. Mavs RF Brian McFall hit a leadoff homer in the 9th for his 8th of the season to tie the game and, with 2 out, Stodolka reached on an error by Storm 2B Sean Kazmar and Perez scored on the play to give High Desert the lead. DeHoyos got 3 ground outs in a row in the 9th to end it. High Desert is 24-28 and 7 1/2 games back of first. Storm CF Tim Turner was 2-4 with his 8th steal to move to .264, Kazmar was 2-4 to improve to .260 and 3B Chase Headley was 1-3 with his 25th RBI to move to .279.

The teams continue the set tonight. No announced pitchers.

Low-A - Burlington: Bees 5, Wisconsin 1

3B Lisson 2-3, BB, HR (5), RBI (32), K -- .213
SS McConnell 0-4, 2 K -- .184
1B Vega 0-4, 3 K, E (6) -- .236
CF Duarte 1-3, 2B, 3 RBI (16), RS, SB (12) -- .273
2B Johnson 1-3, BB, RBI (10), CS -- .250

Kniginyzky 7 IP, ER, 3 H, BB, 7 K, WP -- W, 6-2, 2.82 ERA
Oliveros and Garcia 2 shutout IP

*** Four runs in the 2nd and Kniginyzky's pitching got the Bees the win. The Bees took three walks to load the bases in the 2nd before Duarte cleared the bases with a double. Duarte stole third before scoring on a Johnson ground out for a 4-0 lead. Lisson homered to lead off the 3rd to extend the lead to 5 and Wisconsin scored its only run in the 4th. The Rattlers only had 3 hits after that. Burlington is 25-24. Rattlers 2B Ron Garth was 2-4 with 2 doubles to move to .273 and 3B Robert Hudson was 1-4 to drop to .283.

The series continued today. Pitchers: RH Carlos Rosa (4-3, 2.28) vs. Rattlers LH Jose Escalona (4-4, 3.65).

Royals on the Farm 5/29

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 4, Memphis 1

LF Huber 2-3, 2B, HR (8), 2 RBI (13) -- .272, coming around?
2B Gotay 2-4, HR (6), RBI (19), K -- .276
3B Teahen 1-4, HR (1), RBI (11) -- .388
CF Robinson 1-4 -- .330

Musser 5 IP, ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 2 K, HRA -- W, 2-3, 4.70 ERA, wasn't pretty but got it done
Hudson 4 IP, 2 H, 5 K -- SV, 1, 1.17 ERA

*** The O-Royals came back from 3 straight losses to the Redbirds to take the series finale. Teahen homered to lead off the 2nd for his 1st at AAA and, after DH Mike Aviles singled, Huber cracked a 2-run homer for his 8th of the season. Memphis' run came on a solo shot in the 4th off Musser but he and Hudson held the Redbirds to 5 hits in the game. Gotay hit a solo longball in the 8th to finish Omaha's scoring. That was his 6th and he's back up to .276. Omaha is 20-31 and 8 games back of first. Memphis SS John Nelson was 2-4 with his 9th homer and 21st RBI to improve to .213, RF Timo Perez was 1-3 to move to .320 and 1B John Gall was 0-3 to drop to .312.

Omaha starts a 4-game home set with the New Orleans Zephyrs (27-24, AAA Nationals) tonight. Pitchers: Zephyrs RH Andrew Good (0-4, 6.80) vs. RH Adam Bernero (1-2, 3.45). In other news, OF Aaron Guiel has been optioned back to Omaha to make room for DeJesus.

AA - Wichita: Corpus Christi 5, Wranglers 0

3B Gordon 1-3, BB, K, SB (12) -- .318
RF Butler 1-4 -- .295
LF Lubanski 1-4 -- .254
CF Maier 1-4, 2B (12), K -- .263
SS Sanchez 0-3 -- .292, ejected in 6th
C Tupman 0-4 -- .331
2B Murphy 0-2, BB, HBP, SB (3) -- .203

Song 6 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 6 K, WP -- L, 3-5, 3.74 ERA, hard loss
DePriest 2 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 2 K, WP -- 4.76 ERA

*** Wichita again got schooled by the Hooks in a 4-hit shutout. Two of the 4 hits came in the 1st on Maier's double and Butler's single but after Gordon's single in the 3rd, CC SP Juan Gutierrez set down 11 straight Wranglers before Murphy walked in the 7th and Lubanski singled. After grounding out to end the 5th, Sanchez was ejected by the first base umpire, I assume for arguing he was safe. Gordon walked in the 8th but he was Wichita's final base runner. Wichita is 21-30 and 10 games back of first. Gutierrez allowed only the 4 hits and a walk with a HBP over 7 IP to move to 5-2 with a 3.69 ERA. He K'd 5. Hooks C J.R. House was 2-5 with 3 RBI to move to 35 on the season and to .349 in BA, RF Hunter Pence was 2-4 to move to .299 and 2B Jonathan Ash was 2-4 with a triple to move to .353.

Tonight's game has been rained out and will be made up as part of a Wednesday double dip. Game 1 will start at 5 p.m. and, if needed, RSTN will join it in progress at 7 p.m. before showing game 2.

High-A - High Desert: Lake Elsinore 2, Mavs 0

1B Stodolka 1-4, K -- .310
C Donachie 1-3 -- .292
LF Tomlin 1-3 -- .214, that's all the hits
RF Valentin 0-3, BB -- .298
DH R. Brown 0-4, 2 K -- .297

Crist 6 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, BB, 6 K -- ND, 4.57 ERA, nice start
Weeden 2 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 2 K, HRA -- L, 4-2, 5.50 ERA

*** High Desert only managed 3 hits and couldn't take advantage of 4 Storm errors in losing their 4th straight game. The Mavs were hitless until the 4th and their other hits came in the 6th and 8th. The Mavs got 2 on with 0 out in the 8th but couldn't get a run home. Lake Elsinore broke the ice in the 8th on a solo homer by Pads 3B prospect Chase Headley and scored another run off Weeden that inning to take the 2-0 lead. The Mavs got 2 base runners in the 9th before OF Juan Senreiso struck out to end the game. High Desert is 23-28 and 8 1/2 games out of first. Storm SP Mike Ekstrom allowed only the 3 hits and a walk over 8 IP with 5 Ks to improve to 5-3 with a 2.76 ERA. RP Neil Jamison earned his 11th save in the 9th and dropped his ERA to 1.45. Headley was 2-3 with his 5th homer and 24th RBI in improving to .278, 2B Sean Kazmar was 2-4 to move to .254 and RF Jeremy Cleveland was 2-4 with his 21st RBI to move to .276.

The Mavs and Storm lock horns again tonight. No announced pitchers.

Low-A - Burlington: Bees 3, Wisconsin 2 (10)

SS McConnell 2-3, BB, RS -- .190
1B Vega 0-4, HBP -- .243
C Everett 1-3, picked off a runner but 4 SB against -- .345
3B Lisson 1-4, 2B (13), RBI (31) -- .204
CF Duarte 1-3, RS -- .272

Penn 7 IP, ER, 3 H, BB, K, WP -- ND, 3.45 ERA
de la Vara 2 IP, ER, 2 H, K, WP -- BS, 2, W, 3-2, 3.67 ERA

*** Two Wisconsin errors helped the Bees get the series-opening win. The Bees scored first on an RBI single by 2B Josh Johnson in the 3rd but Wisconsin finally got to Penn with a 6th inning sac fly to tie the game. Lisson doubled home the Bees' 2nd run in the 8th but de la Vara allowed the Rattlers to tie the game in the 9th for his 2nd blown save in the past few days. de la Vara gave up a leadoff triple in the 10th but got a K, a fielder's choice out at home and a pop out to end the inning. McConnell led off the bottom of the 10th with a single, was sacrificed to second by Lisson and scored the winning run on a grounder by Vega back to Rattlers RP Ruben Flores, who threw the ball away on the throw to first. Burlington is 24-24 and 6 games back of first. Rattlers SS Jeff Dominguez was 0-4 to drop to .284 and LF Casey Craig was 1-3 with his 20th RBI to move to .255.

The teams continue the set tonight. Pitchers: RH Matt Kniginyzky (5-2, 2.98) vs. Rattlers LH Harold Williams (0-1, 2.43).

Royals on the Farm 5/27 and 5/28

AAA - Omaha: Memphis 6, O-Royals 5 (8/Sat. G1)

2B Gotay 3-4, RBI (17) -- .266
DH Teahen 2-2, 2 BB, 2B (8), RS -- .421
SS Prieto 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI (7), E (5) -- .171
LF Huber 1-4, K, RS -- .260
CF DeJesus 1-4 -- .125, rehab game 2
RF K. Robinson 1-3, HBP, 2 RS, SB (8) -- .352

Snyder 6 2/3 IP, 5 R (3 ER), 6 H, 2 BB, 3 K, HRA, 3 WP! -- ND, 3.81 ERA
Nunez 1 1/3 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, K -- BS, 1, L, 0-1, 6.75 ERA, '06 AAA debut

*** Omaha blew game 1 by giving up 3 late runs to lose in extras in the 7-inning twinbill game. In the 1st, Robinson was hit by a pitch with 1 out, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error and scored on a Gotay single for a 1-0 lead. Snyder gave up a 2-run homer in the 2nd to give Memphis the lead but Omaha came back with 2 in the 4th on a 2-out, 2-run double by Prieto for a 3-2 lead. Memphis tied it in the 5th as Snyder had a walk and wild pitch in the inning but Omaha again moved ahead in the bottom of the inning on a double play ball by C Paul Phillips that scored Robinson. The O-Royals added a run in the 6th on a Prieto RBI single to take a 4-2 lead into the final inning. Snyder got the first 2 outs easy but then Memphis 2B Kevin Estrada reached on a fielding error by Prieto, Snyder threw a wild pitch to let him get to second, and Redbirds CF Skip Schumaker singled Estrada home to cut the lead to 1. Another wild pitch and a single by Memphis C Michel Hernandez put runners at second and third and brought Nunez into the game. Nunez gave up a game-tying single to 1B John Gall before getting out of the inning. Nunez gave up a walk and double to start the 8th and Memphis pushed a run across to take the lead. The O-Royals went down in order in the bottom of the inning to end the game. Omaha dropped to 19-29. Memphis 3B Travis Hanson was 3-4 to move to .245, Gall was 1-4 with his 20th RBI to drop to .315 and Schumaker was 1-4 with 2 RBI to drop to .377.

Memphis 4, O-Royals 3 (7/Sat. G2)

C Price 2-3, HR (3), RBI -- .200
LF Huber 0-3, K -- .252
DH Teahen 1-3, K -- .417
CF Robinson 1-3, BB, HR (1), RBI (15) -- .351
2B Gotay 1-4, HR (5), RBI (18), K -- .266

Baerlocher 5 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, BB, 3 K, 2 HRA -- L, 2-2, 3.42 ERA

*** Omaha blew 2 leads in the nightcap to drop another game. The O-Royals took another 1-0 lead in the 1st as Robinson led off the bottom of the inning with his first homer. Memphis tied it in the 3rd off Baerlocher but Omaha went back ahead that inning on a Gotay solo shot for his 5th of the season. Memphis got a solo homer from SS John Nelson in the 5th to tie it again and got a 2-run homer off Baerlocher from RF Timo Perez in the 6th to take a 4-2 lead. Price homered with 1 out in the 7th for his 3rd of '06 and Omaha got runners to second and third with 2 outs before Gotay popped out to end the game. Omaha moved to 19-30. Perez was 1-3 with his 5th homer to move to .308, Gall was 1-4 to drop to .313, Schumaker was 0-4 to drop to .358 and 2B Desi Relaford was 1-3 to improve to .121.

Memphis 6, O-Royals 3 (Sun.)

CF DeJesus 4-5, 2 RBI -- .385, rehab game 3
3B Teahen 0-3, BB, K -- .397
2B Gotay 2-4, 2B (7), K -- .271
LF Huber 2-4, 3B (1), 2 K, RS, E (4) -- .261
SS Prieto 2-4, 2B, RS -- .193
RF Robinson 0-5 -- .333

Brian Boehringer 6 2/3 IP, ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 2 K, HRA -- ND, 1.35 ERA in organizational debut
Loux 1 1/3 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, BB, K -- L, 0-2, 6.75 ERA

*** Memphis clinched the series with a late rally and Redbirds SP John Webb threw 130 pitches in a complete-game win. Memphis got a leadoff homer from 1B Brian Daubach in the 4th to break the ice but Omaha tied it in the 5th on a DeJesus RBI single. Boehringer had a good debut for Omaha with only the 1 ER over 6 2/3 IP, but RP Shane Loux faltered in the 8th when Memphis 3B Travis Hanson hit a 1-out, 2-run double and Nelson followed with a 2-run single. A fielding error by 1B Rick Bell helped the Redbirds to a run in the 9th for a 6-1 lead but Omaha rallied for 2 in the 9th after a Huber leadoff triple. Bell hit an RBI ground out to score Huber and DeJesus singled home another run later in the inning but it was too little, too late. Omaha dropped to 19-31 and is only 1/2 a game ahead of Memphis now for third in the 4-team division. Webb moved to 3-4 with a 4.26 ERA. Timo Perez was 3-5 with 2 doubles to improve to .320, Daubach was 3-5 with his 6th homer to move to .306, Schumaker was 0-5 to drop to .337 and Gall was 2-4 to move to .318.

The teams finish the series Monday. Pitchers: Memphis LH Randy Leek (2-3, 4.58) vs. LH Neal Musser (0-0, 1.93 in Omaha). Runelvys Hernandez got demoted to AAA Sunday after getting torched by the Yankees, so DeJesus must be coming back up.

AA - Wichita: Wranglers 5, San Antonio 3 (Sat.)

3B Gordon 1-3, BB, 3B (1), RS -- .314, back in action
RF Butler 1-4, RS -- .292
LF Lubanski 1-4, K, 2 RBI (18), OF assist at home -- .258
CF Maier 1-3, BB, K, RS, SB (4) -- .263
C Tupman 1-1, 2 BB, RS -- .342
SS Sanchez 2-5, K -- .302
DH Murphy 0-3, K, RS -- .212

Herndon 7 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, BB, 3 K -- W, 4-2, 4.70 ERA
Braun IP, 3 K -- SV, 4, 2.22 ERA

*** Wichita overcame losing a late lead to come back and beat the Missions by 2. Herndon gave up a walk and 2 doubles for 2 runs to start the game in the 1st and give San Antonio a 2-0 lead. 1B Kila Kaaihue got Wichita on the scoreboard with a sac fly in the 2nd and Wichita scored 2 in the 4th on a 2-out, 2-run single by Lubanski. The score remained 3-2 into the 7th when Herndon gave up a single and double to start the inning but Lubanski nailed the lead runner at home on the double. The Missions pushed a run across to tie the game. Gordon stepped up to lead off the 8th with a triple and scored when a Maier grounder was mishandled by Missions 1B Bryan LaHair, who Lubanski had thrown out at the plate previously. A 2-out wild pitch in the 9th brought Tupman home and gave Wichita a 5-3 lead. Braun set the side down in order in the 9th to end the game for his 4th save. Wichita moved to 20-29. LaHair was 1-4 to drop to .330, DH Erick Monzon was 1-3 to move to .333 and 3B Jesus Guzman was 1-4 with 2 RBI to drop to .256.

Wranglers 5, San Antonio 3 (Sun.)

3B Gordon 2-4, HR (9), RBI (23), K -- .318
RF Butler 2-4, HR (7), RBI (29) -- .296
LF Lubanski 0-3, K -- .254
CF Maier 1-4, RS, OF assist at second -- .263
SS Sanchez 0-3, 2 K -- .297
2B Murphy 0-3, BB, RS -- .207

Middleton 7 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 6 H, 2 BB, 3 K -- ND, 4.19 ERA
C. Smith 2 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, 2 K -- BS, 1, W, 2-0, 2.78 ERA

*** Sunday was a pretty good repeat of Saturday as Wichita again lost a late lead but came back to win late by the same score. DH Walter Sevilla hit an RBI ground out in the 3rd to give the Wranglers a 1-0 lead but San Antonio tied the game in the 4th. Wichita scored 2 in the 6th on back-to-back homers by Gordon and Butler -- hopefully the first of many times that happens in their careers -- to take a 3-1 lead but San Antonio scored once in the 7th to cut the lead to 1 and RP Cody Smith blew the lead in the 8th by giving up a leadoff triple and then a wild pitch. The Wranglers got runners to second and third with 2 out in the 9th when C Damaso Espino came through in the clutch to single home both runners and give Wichita a 5-3 lead. Smith finished the game to get the win. Wichita improved to 21-29. Missions CF Sebastien Boucher was 3-5 with his 10th SB to move to .219, 2B Ismael Castro was 3-4 to move to .327 and Monzon was 0-3 to drop to .300.

The Wranglers return home for 4 vs. the Corpus Christi Hooks (29-20, AA Astros) starting Monday. No announced pitchers. Wednesday and Thursday's games will be televised via RSTN on Fox Sports Midwest. Sevilla was recalled from High Desert after Nunez got called up to Omaha.

High-A - High Desert: Inland Empire 6, Mavs 4 (Sat.)

1B Stodolka 1-4, BB, K, RBI (26), RS -- .312
LF Galloway 2-4, K, RBI (17), RS -- .272
SS Falu 2-5, CS -- .257
CF Senreiso 2-4, 2 2B (7), BB, K, 2 RBI (22), SB (5) -- .250
DH R. Brown 0-2, 3 BB!, K, RS -- .299
3B Lucas 0-3, RS, HBP, SB (6) -- .259

Gragg III 5 IP, 5 ER, 8 H, 3 BB, 5 K, HRA, WP -- L, 0-2, 10.61 ERA
DeHoyos IP, 2 H, 2 K, WP -- 1.04 ERA

*** A 4-run 3rd propelled the 66ers to another win. Inland Empire scored a run in the 1st on a HBP, 2 hits and a walk with 2 outs but the Mavs answered with 2 in the 1st on a 2-out, 2-run double by Senreiso. The Mavs added a run in the 2nd on a Galloway RBI single but Gragg gave up an RBI single and a 3-run homer in the 4th to give Inland Empire the lead for good. The 66ers tacked on a run in the 8th and HD scored a garbage run in the 9th on a 2-out RBI single by Stodolka before Senreiso, who represented the winning run, grounded out to end the game. High Desert fell to 23-26. 66ers RP Mumba Rivera got the win with 4 IP of 2-hit relief to move to 4-2 with a 1.67 ERA, DH Yung-Chi Chen was 2-5 to move to .318, RF Michael Wilson was 2-5 to move to .336, SS Matt Tuiasosopo was 2-4 with his 24th RBI to move to .320 and C Brian Schweiger was 1-2 with his 1st homer and 4 RBI to move to .429.

Inland Empire 12, Mavs 2 (Sun.)

1B R. Brown 2-4, picked off -- .304
RF McFall 2-3, 2B, K -- .235
LF Valentin 0-4 -- .306
C Donachie 1-4 -- .291
3B Lucas 0-3, BB -- .254

Buckner 5 IP, 6 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 2 K, 2 HRA, 2 WP, E (2) -- L, 6-1, 3.22 ERA, perfect streak over for '06
Barnes 2 IP, 5 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, K, HRA -- 4.75 ERA

*** Two 4-run innings gave Inland Empire its 9th straight win. The 66ers got to Buckner for 2 in the 2nd but High Desert got a run back in the 4th as SS Irving Falu tripled to lead off the inning and 2B Wilver Perez drove him home with a sac fly. Buckner got torched for 4 runs in the 5th and Barnes gave up 4 in the 6th and the 66ers were up, 10-1. Runs in the 7th and 8th made the score 12-1 66ers but High Desert scored a run in the 8th on an RBI double by CF James Tomlin to make the final 12-2. High Desert dropped to 23-27 and 8 games back of first. They're on a 7-game skid. IE starter Robert Rohrbaugh got the win with 7 IP of an ER on 5 H with 5 K to move to 4-0 with a 1.33 ERA, Chen was 2-5 with his 11th double, 17th SB and 28th RBI to improve to .320, LF Chris Colton was 3-4 with his 1st homer to improve to .237, Wilson was 2-3 with his 7th homer to move to .344 and Tuiasosopo was 2-5 with 2 RBI to move to .323.

A 4-game set at the Lake Elsinore Storm (25-24, High-A Padres) starts Monday. No announced starters.

Low-A - Burlington: Beloit 4, Bees 3 (Sat.)

2B Arce 2-4, 2B, BB, K, E (8) -- .207
C Lowen 2-4, RS -- .230
SS McConnell 1-3, K, 2 HBP -- .179
1B Everett 1-4, K -- .391

Henninger 7 IP, ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 K -- ND, 4.07 ERA
Schambough 0 IP, ER, H, HRA -- BS, 1, L, 0-1, 1.57 ERA

*** Burlington rallied for a late lead but the 'pen lost it in the 9th. The Bees scored in the 3rd on a wild pitch that brought CF Jose Duarte home and Henninger 1-hit the Snappers through 6 IP. In the 7th, Beloit rallied with 2 out with 2 singles and a walk to bring home the tying run but the Bees came back to score 2 in the 8th on back-to-back RBI singles by DH Jeff Howell and RF Carlos Arroyo to take a 3-1 lead. That was the score entering the bottom of the 9th when a throwing error by Arce helped the leadoff hitter reach second. Snappers 1B Erik Lis hit a 1-out RBI double to cut the lead to 1 and bring in Schambough, who gave up a 2-run walkoff homer to the first batter he faced, CF Edward Ovalle. Burlington dropped to 23-23. Beloit SP Kyle Waldrop pitched an identical line to Henninger to drop his ERA to 3.79. Lis was 3-4 with his 20th double and 29th RBI to move to .358 and Ovalle was 1-3 with his 4th homer and 2 RBI to move to .248.

Beloit 7, Bees 2 (Sun.)

2B Johnson 3-4, K, RBI -- .248
1B Vega 1-4, K -- .250
DH Everett 0-3, BB -- .346
CF Duarte 1-3, 2B, K, RS, OF assist at home -- .271

Nicoll 7 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 0 BB, 3 K, HRA -- ND, 1.93 ERA, another good start
de la Vara 0 IP, 5 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, HRA -- L, 2-2, 3.62 ERA, ugly line, six batters, no outs

*** de la Vara's nightmare 8th forced the Bees to settle for a split of the 4-game set with Beloit. Burlington scored first in the 3rd on an RBI ground out by 2B Valentino Arce but a Beloit solo shot in the 4th tied the game. A Johnson RBI single in the 5th gave the Bees another lead but the Snappers tied the game in the 7th on a 2-out RBI double in which Duarte threw the would-be lead run out at the plate to end the inning. de la Vara allowed Beloit to load the bases with 0 out in the 8th before walking in a run and then giving up a grand slam to Snappers CF Edward Ovalle, who had a second straight big day at the plate with the homer. The Bees went down quietly in the 9th to end the game. Burlington fell to 23-24 and 6 games back of first. Snappers SP Brian Duensing went 6 IP and allowed 2 ER to get a no-decision and move his ERA to 2.19, Ovalle was 2-4 with his 5th homer and 4 RBI to move to .255, 1B Erik Lis was 0-3 with his 30th RBI to drop to .352 and DH Dwayne White was 3-4 to move to .221.

A 4-game home set with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (19-30, Low-A Mariners) starts Monday. Pitchers: RH Michael Penn (3-1, 4.15) vs. Rattlers LH Paul Fagan (1-5, 5.48).

Royals on the Farm 5/26

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 7, Memphis 0

LF Huber 2-4, 2B (3) -- .260
C Phillips 2-2, BB, 2B, SF, RBI (15) -- .282
RF Ambres 2-4, HR (2), 2 RBI (13), 2 RS -- .210
CF Robinson 2-5, K, 2 RBI (14) -- .352
2B Gotay 1-4, 3B (2), 2 RBI (16), RS -- .256

Elder 4 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, BB, 3 K -- ND, 3.91 ERA
Hudson 4 1/3 IP, 0 ER, K, no hits allowed -- W, 1-0, 1.59 ERA

*** An unexpected pitcher's duel took place between Elder, Hudson and Memphis (and former O-Royal) SP Dennis Tankersley. Each pitcher kept the other team in check until the bottom of the 7th, when Omaha scored 5 runs on a 1-out rally off Memphis relievers. A Memphis error allowed Omaha to load the bases and Robinson followed with a 2-run single before Gotay knocked in 2 more runs with a bases-clearing triple and Phillips added a sac fly for a 5-0 Omaha lead. Ambres' 2-run homer (only his 2nd) in the 8th capped the scoring as Hudson and Elder threw a combined 4-hitter. Omaha is 19-28 and snapped a 5-game losing streak with the win. Nothing like playing the team with the worst record in the PCL to do the trick for Omaha. Tankersley went 6 IP and didn't allow a run to drop his ERA to 4.76. Redbirds CF Skip Schumaker was 1-4 to drop to .384, C Michel Hernandez was 1-3 to move to .301, 1B John Gall was 1-4 to drop to .317 and former Royal 2B Desi Relaford was 0-4 for Memphis to drop to .100.

The teams are playing two today. Pitchers: G1 - Memphis RH Will Cunnane (0-0, 4.76) vs. RH Kyle Snyder (0-3, 3.78) and G2 - Memphis RH Alan Benes (2-1, 5.23) vs. RH Ryan Baerlocher (2-1, 2.41). RH reliever Leo Nunez joined Omaha after getting sent down by KC after 1 game and P Danny Tamayo was put on the DL with a bum shoulder. OF/DH Chad Allen is day-to-day with a hammy injury. Elder was a spot starter for Ed Yarnall, who had back stiffness. DeJesus is rehabbing in Omaha but didn't play Friday for some reason.

AA - Wichita: Wranglers 7, San Antonio 6

Gordon DNP -- still at wedding
RF Butler 1-3, BB, SF, 2 RBI (28), RS -- .293
LF Lubanski 0-2, 2 BB, K, SB (1), E (5) -- .258
CF Maier 0-4, BB, RBI (31) -- .262
C Tupman 2-4, RBI (17), RS, 2 throwing E (6) -- .336
SS Sanchez 2-5, 2B, 2 RS -- .299
2B Sevilla 2-3, 2 BB, K, 2 RS, picked off -- .295
3B Keim 2-4, K, 2 RBI, picked off -- .240
DH Murphy 0-5, K, RBI (17) -- .218

Bass 6 IP, 4 R (2 ER), 9 H, 2 BB, WP, pickoff -- W, 2-0, 2.57 ERA
Braun 2/3 IP, ER, 2 H, 2 K -- SV, 3, 2.30 ERA

*** A 5-run 6th did the trick for the Wranglers as Wichita became the third organizational team to break a losing streak Friday. The Missions got to Bass for 2 runs in the 2nd, including a run on a wild pitch, but Wichita got 1 back in the 4th on a Butler sac fly. 2-1 was the score in the 6th when the Wranglers loaded the bases with 0 out. Maier hit an RBI ground out as did Murphy before Tupman singled home a run and Keim singled home 2 more for a 6-2 lead. A Lubanski error helped fuel a 2-run San Antonio 6th to close the lead to 2 and, after Thad Markray came on to pitch the 7th, 2 walks helped the Missions add another run. Wichita got some insurance with a 2-out RBI single by Butler in the 9th to make the score 7-5 Wranglers and it was needed as Braun gave up a 2-out RBI single in the 9th but struck out Missions DH Erick Monzon to end the game. Wichita is 19-29. Monzon was 2-5 to move to .333, 1B Bryan LaHair was 1-5 to drop to .331, M's prospect RF Wladimir Balentien was 4-5 with his 34th and 35th RBI to move to .269 and 2B Ismael Castro was 2-3 to move to .298.

The teams meet again tonight. No announced pitchers.

High-A - High Desert: Inland Empire 20, Mavs 7

DH R. Brown 3-4, BB, HR (6), RBI (22), 2 RS -- .302
1B Stodolka 1-4, HR (7), 3 RBI (25), BB, K -- .313
C Donachie 3-4, 2 2B, BB, K, RBI (10) -- .292
SS Falu 2-5, RBI (15), RS -- .253
RF McFall 2-5, 2B, RS, SB (3), OF assist at first -- .231
3B Lucas 1-5, picked off -- .264

Cota 4 1/3 IP, 9 ER, 10 H, 3 BB, 4 K, 4 HRA!!! -- L, 1-6, 8.81 ERA, good lord
Moore, Rowe and Weeden -- 11 ER on 17 H but only 2 walks

*** Luis Cota isn't cutting it in High-A. The 66ers churned out 27 hits and 20 runs on High Desert and scored multiple runs in 7 of 9 innings. Brown hit a solo shot in the 1st for his 6th of '06 but Cota gave up homers in the 1st, 2nd and 2 in the 4th. High Desert scored a run on a wild pitch in the 3rd and actually tied the game at 7 with a 5-run 4th as Falu singled home a run, Stodolka bashed a 3-run homer for his 7th of the season and Donachie doubled home a run. Inland Empire moved back ahead in the 5th and scored 11 runs from the 7th to the 9th to run away with the game. High Desert is 23-25. IE RP Jon Lockwood pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings to get the win and move to 5-1 with a 3.22 ERA. 66ers DH Marshall Hubbard was 5-6 with 5 RBI to move to .275, 2B Yung-Chi Chen was 2-6 with 2 RBI to improve to .316, RF Michael Wilson was 4-6 with 2 doubles and 3 RBI to improve to .333 and SS Matt Tuiasosopo was 3-6 with 2 RBI to improve to .315 with 2 errors to move to 13 on the season.

The set continues tonight. Pitchers: Mavs lefthander John Gragg III vs. 66er righthander Aaron Jensen.

Low-A - Burlington: Bees 6, Beloit 1

2B Jirschele 3-4, BB, K, 2 RS, HBP -- .253
CF Duarte 2-4, BB, 3B, 2 K, RBI (13), RS, SB (10) -- .268
C Howell 2-4, BB, 2B, RBI, RS, SB (1), 2 PB -- .214
RF Arroyo 2-5, 2 RBI (14) -- .244
DH Everett 1-4, BB, 2B -- .421
SS McConnell 0-3, 2 BB, K, RS -- .176
3B Lisson 1-5, 2 RBI (30) -- .210

Rosa 6 IP, ER, 4 H, BB, K -- W, 4-3, 2.28 ERA
Hayes 3 hitless IP -- SV, 3, 2.12 ERA

*** The Bees got a 4-hitter out of Carlos Rosa and Chris Hayes and rallied for 6 runs for another win. Two of Beloit's 4 hits came in the 2nd as they scored their only run. Burlington moved ahead with 3 in the 3rd on a 2-run single by Arroyo and an RBI double by Howell and that stayed the score until the 8th when Lisson hit a 2-run single. Duarte tripled home a run in the 9th to finish the scoring. Burlington cracked .500 and is 23-22. Snappers 1B Caleb Moore was 1-3 with his 13th RBI to improve to .281.

Burlington looks for a win in game 3 tonight. Pitchers: Bees RH David Henninger (1-2, 4.63) vs. RH Kyle Waldrop (3-2, 4.13).

Royals on the Farm 5/25

AAA - Omaha: Fresno 3, O-Royals 1

CF DeJesus 0-4, 2 K -- rehabbing first game
2B Gotay 2-3, BB, K, SB (6) -- .256, in third slot in lineup?
RF Robinson 0-4 -- .349, back in Omaha now
LF Huber 1-3, BB, K, SB (2) -- .250
Teahen DNP
1B Rick Bell 1-4, RBI (8) -- .196

Bernero 6 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 9 K! -- L, 1-2, 3.45 ERA, OK start, anyway

*** Omaha dropped its 5th straight in getting swept by the lowly Grizzlies, who are now 20-27. Fresno SP Matt Kinney limited Omaha to 5 hits in the game and allowed the only Omaha run in the 9th. He retired the first 11 batters of the game before getting into a 2-out bases loaded jam in the 4th but got Huber to ground out to stifle the rally. Bernero did a good job of keeping Fresno in check until the 7th, when he loaded the bases with 1 out and was pulled in favor of RP Frank Brooks. Two singles later, Fresno had its 3-1 lead. Bell singled home a run in the 9th so Omaha got the tying run to the plate, at least, but it was all for naught. Omaha is 18-28. Kinney walked 3 and struck out 6 in moving to 4-3 with a 4.37 ERA. CF Clay Timpner was 3-4 to improve to .319, 2B Jed Hansen was 2-4 to move to .237 and 1B Chad Santos was 0-4 to drop to .245.

The Memphis Redbirds (15-30, AAA Cardinals) visit Omaha for a 5-game, 4-day set starting tonight. Pitchers: Memphis RH Will Cunnane (0-0, 4.76) vs. Omaha LH Eddie Yarnall (1-1, 3.69). The front page of the team site gives tonight's start to Omaha P Dave Elder (0-0, 4.91), so there's conflicting info.

AA - Wichita: San Antonio 1, Wranglers 0

Gordon DNP, brother's wedding being attended
RF Butler 2-4, K -- .292
LF Lubanski 0-3, BB, 3 K -- .261
CF Maier 0-4 -- .268
C Tupman 1-3, BB, 3 SB against -- .330
SS Sanchez 1-4, 2B, SB (4) -- .296
2B Murphy 0-4, K -- .229, struggling
3B Keim 2-3, K, CS -- .230

Cedeno 5 IP, ER, H, 8 BB!!!!, K, 2 WP -- L, 0-5, 5.04 ERA, one of the weirdest pitching lines ever
C. Smith 3 IP, 3 K -- 2.67 ERA

*** That's right, Wichita's Cedeno and C. Smith combined on a 1-hitter and the Wranglers still lost. It's just not their year. A ground-rule RBI double in the 2nd was the Missions' only hit and Wichita sprinkled its hits 1 per inning through most of the game. Three SA pitchers combined on the shutout. According to the Eagle, Butler cranked a ball in the 9th but the wind held it up for a warning track fly out. Wichita is 18-29 and, like Omaha, on a 5-game losing streak. Good times all around in the Royals' organization. Missions SP Brandon Moorhead went 6 IP and allowed 5 hits and 2 BB in improving to 2-3 with a 6.02 ERA. RP Jon Huber got his 9th save and dropped his ERA to 3.92. Missions C Luis Oliveros was 1-3 in moving to .095. 1B Bryan LaHair was 0-2 with 2 BB to drop to .335 and SS Erick Monzon was 0-2 with a RS to drop to .316.

The set continues tonight. No announced pitchers.

High-A - High Desert: Mavs 8, Rancho Cucamonga 7

DH Stodolka 1-4, BB, K, RBI (22), RS -- .321
1B R. Brown 0-4, BB, 2 K, RBI (21) -- .291
RF McFall 2-3, HR (7), 2 RBI (22), BB, 2 RS -- .224
CF Senreiso 1-4, RBI (20) -- .252
C Donachie 0-3, 2 BB, K, RS -- .275
LF James Tomlin 1-4, RBI, RS, K -- season debut
3B Lucas 1-4, BB, RBI (21), RS -- .266

Christensen 4 2/3 IP, 7 ER, 8 H, 2 BB, 6 K, WP, 3 HBP -- ND, 5.53 ERA, second bad start in a row
Barnes and Woodrow 4 1/3 IP scoreless relief. Woodrow 1-0, 4.61 ERA.

*** The Mavericks salvaged a disaster Thursday as they entered the 7th down, 7-0, and turned it around for a win. The Quakes scored 4 in the first 2 innings off Christensen to take early command and added 3 more in the 5th for the 7-0 advantage. High Desert struggled until the 7th when the Mavs scored 5 runs on a 2-run McFall homer (his 7th), a run being walked in, a Stodolka RBI single and a Senreiso RBI ground out. They were helped by 4 walks and an RC error in the inning. Tomlin hit an RBI ground out and 2B Michael Gaffney reached on an error that scored McFall in the 8th to tie the game and continue the Quake implosion. Stodolka walked to lead off the 9th, was sacrificed to second by Senreiso, advanced to third on a Donachie fly out and scored on Lucas' clutch soft fly hit to center that fell in to end the game. The Mavs got on base well as they drew 8 walks in the win They also took advantage of 4 Quake errors. High Desert is 23-24. RC SP Francisco Rodriguez went 6 1/3 IP and allowed only 2 ER. His ERA is 3.66. Quakes 2B Nate Sutton was 2-5 to move to .258, DH Cliff Remole was 1-3 to move to .331 and SS Sean Rodriguez was 1-5 to drop to .295. He also made his 13th error. 1B Michael Collins was also 0-2 with 2 HBP and his 33rd RBI to drop to .316.

The division-leading Inland Empire 66ers (28-19, High-A Mariners) ride a 6-game win streak into town for three games starting tonight. Pitchers: Mavs RH Luis Cota vs. 66ers RH Cibney Bello.

Low-A - Burlington: Bees 4, Beloit 2

CF Duarte 2-4, K, 2 RBI (12) -- .260
LF Santana 2-4, RBI, RS, SB (11) -- .286
DH Everett 1-2, 2 BB, K, RS, CS -- .467
SS McConnell 1-5, 2 E (11) -- .180, the minor-league SS are having a hard time fielding this season
1B Vega 0-3, K, RS, 2 HBP -- .260

Kniginyzky 7 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 9 K -- W, 5-2, 2.98 ERA, another solid start
de la Vara 2 IP, 3 K -- SV, 6, 2.23 ERA

*** Duarte got the key hit in the 8th as Burlington won its 3rd straight. The game was scoreless into the 5th when the Bees pushed a run across on two Snapper throwing errors that allowed Santana to score on a grounder by 2B Valentino Arce. Beloit got a 2-out, 2-run single in the bottom of the 5th to take the lead and entered the 8th up, 2-1. The Bees loaded the bases with 2 out and Duarte came through with a 2-run single followed by a Santana RBI single for a 4-2 Bees lead. De la Vara took it from there on the mound. Burlington is 22-22 and 5 games back of first. Beloit SP Eddie Morlan got a no-decision with 5 IP of an UER on 3 H and 3 BB to drop his ERA to 1.45. Beloit 1B Erik Lis was 0-2 to drop to .348, CF Edward Ovalle was 2-3 with his 11th and 12th RBI to move to .247 and Ron's son 1B Toby Gardenhire was 0-2 to drop to .194. Just to show there's plenty of nepotism to go around in the minors. On the Bees side, PH Jeremy Jirschele, son of Omaha manager Mike Jirschele, was 0-1 to drop to .228.

Game 2 of the set is tonight. Pitchers: Bees RH Carlos Rosa (3-3, 2.40) vs. RH Oswaldo Sosa (3-3, 2.86).

Royals on the Farm 5/24

AAA - Omaha: Fresno 5, O-Royals 4

3B Teahen 2-4, 2B, RBI (10), RS -- .400
RF Allen 2-3, 2B (12), K, RBI (33) -- .333, left with injured leg
2B Gotay 2-4, K -- .249
LF Huber 1-3, 2B, BB, RBI (11), RS -- .247
CF Ambres 1-4, 2B, RBI (11) -- .208

Musser 4 2/3 IP, ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 4 K, HRA -- ND, 5.05 ERA, decent start but only 4 2/3 IP???
Loux 2 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, BB, K, WP -- L, 0-1, 4.22 ERA

*** The Fresno Grizzlies matched Omaha's 4-run 6th with a 4-run 8th and set themselves up for a sweep of the Royals Thursday. It was a pitcher's duel between new Omaha pitcher Neal Musser and Fresno's Michael Tejera through 4 1/2 innings until Musser gave up a 1-out solo homer in the 5th to give Fresno a 1-0 lead. Omaha bounced back off Grizz RP Pedro Liriano in the 6th as Chad Allen doubled home a run but left with an injured leg after the hit. No report on the injury on the site yet. Teahen and Huber connected for back-to-back RBI doubles after Allen's hit to give Omaha a 3-1 lead and Ambres doubled home another run later in the inning for a 4-1 lead. RP Shane Loux took over for Musser in the 5th and pitched into the 8th, when he gave up 2 hits, a walk and then 3 more hits to allow 4 runs and blow the lead. Omaha had a 1-2-3 9th. Omaha is 18-27 and 7 1/2 games back of first. Tejera got a no-decision with 5 IP of 4-hit shutout pitching to drop his ERA to 2.59. Fresno CF Clay Timpner was 3-4 to move to .292, 1B Chad Santos was 1-4 with the game-winning RBI (34) to drop to .252, 2B Jed Hansen was 0-4 to drop to .230 and 3B Julio Cordido was 2-3 to move to .333.

The teams finish the series tonight. Pitchers: Omaha RH Bobby Keppel (3-4, 5.00) vs. RH Matt Kinney (3-3, 4.98). OF Kerry Robinson should join the team soon after (big surprise) clearing waivers. SP Adam Bernero was scratched from his Tuesday start due to illness but should be in place for his next start. The Royals also signed SP Brian Boehringer (37-year old with 4.36 ERA and 1.49 lifetime WHIP, just KC's style) from the scrap heap, so he'll probably be in KC or Omaha soon. Woo hoo!

AA - Wichita: Corpus Christi 4, Wranglers 0

Gordon DNP -- day off or lingering effects from Tuesday HBP? Or both?
RF Butler 1-3, BB -- .287
LF Lubanski 1-4, K -- .265
SS Sanchez 2-4, 2 K -- .297
CF Maier 0-4, 2 K -- .274
2B Murphy 0-4, 2 K -- .238
3B Keim 2-4, SB (1) -- .216

Song 5 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 4 K, HRA, WP -- L, 3-4, 3.83 ERA, where's the run support?
Braun 1 1/3 IP, K -- 2.02 ERA

*** OK, so maybe it's another unwise decision for the Royals to televise two Wranglers games with the Hooks next Wednesday and Thursday, because the Hooks owned Wichita in this series -- 22-7 over 3 games. I'm all for the Wranglers being on TV but it may be ugly. Of course, 99 percent of the games shown on RSTN are ugly, so it fits right in. Ba-dum-bum-ching. I'm here all week -- tip your waitress. Wichita actually outhit Corpus Christi, 7-5 on Wednesday, but had nada to show for it. Hooks SP Juan Gutierrez 4-hit the Wranglers through 7 IP while a 2-run shot in the 2nd and RBI double in the 4th set CC up with a 3-0 lead. Another homer in the 7th provided the rest of the Hooks' scoring. To give an example of the kind of night Wichita had, the Wranglers loaded the bases with 0 out in the 8th and sandwiched a Maier K between pop outs by Murphy and Butler to get nothing out of it. Wichita got runners to first and third with 1 out in the 9th but again got nothing. Wichita is 18-28 and 10 games back of first. When do the standings reset for the second half? Oh yeah, June 18 -- not too far away. Gutierrez walked 1 and K'd 9 to increase his TL-leading total to 58 Ks on the season. He's 4-2 with a 4.17 ERA. RF Hunter Pence was 1-3 with his 12th double to move to .310, CF Josh Anderson was 1-4 to move to .317 and 1B Derek Nicholson was 1-3 with his 2nd homer to move to .247.

A 4-game set at the San Antonio Missions (17-26, AA Mariners) starts tonight -- may be just what Wichita needs since SA is one of two teams in the TL more futile thus far than the Wranglers. Pitchers: Wranglers SP Brian Bass (1-0, 2.25) vs. SA's Brandon Moorhead (1-3, 7.08). Gordon will miss tonight's game and Friday's game because he's attending a wedding -- this according to the Wichita Eagle. The Eagle reports he was held out Wednesday as a precaution. RP Leo Nunez got the call to KC despite not having awesome stats in Wichita -- this is yet another move I don't get.

High-A - High Desert: Rancho Cucamonga 8, Mavs 1

DH Stodolka 0-4, 2 K -- .323
1B R. Brown 1-4, 2B (10), 2 K -- .299
SS Falu 1-3, BB, E (7) -- .255
RF McFall 1-3, K -- .213
C Duenas 1-3, HR (3), RBI -- .203
3B Lucas 0-3, 2 K -- .266

Crist 7 1/3 IP, 7 ER, 10 H, 2 BB, 4 K, 3 HRA, WP -- L, 1-1, 5.35 ERA, one ugly line

*** Quakes SP Nick Green went the entire 9 and gave up only 4 hits and a walk as Rancho Cucamonga rolled to an 8-1 win. Homers in the 1st and 2nd gave the Quakes a 3-0 lead and RC scratched out a run in the 5th before HD got its only run that inning on Duenas' solo shot for his 3rd of '06. The Quakes got another homer off Crist in the 6th and padded an already healthy lead with runs in the 8th and 9th. High Desert is 22-24 and 5 games out of first. Green K'd 9 in moving to 5-2 with a 3.81 ERA and struck out the side in the 9th. He's 3-0 against HD in 2006. Quakes 1B Clifton Remole was 2-5 to improve to .331, LF Patrick Reilly was 2-5 to move to .328 and SS Sean Rodriguez was 1-3 with his 7th homer and 27th and 28th RBI to improve to .298.

The series finishes up tonight. Pitchers: Mavs RH Luis Cota vs. Quakes RH "The Other" Francisco Rodriguez.

Low-A - Burlington: off day

*** A 4-game set at Beloit starts tonight. Good pitching matchup: Bees RH Matt Kniginyzky (4-2, 3.04) vs. Twins prospect RH Eddie Morlan (2-2, 1.67).

Royals on the Farm 5/23

AAA - Omaha: Fresno 6, O-Royals 5

3B Teahen 4-4, BB, 3B (2), 3 RBI (9), RS -- .392, guess he wants to come back to KC
C Phillips 2-3, HR (4), RBI (14), 2 BB, 3 RS -- .279
2B Gotay 2-5, K, RS -- .243
1B Bell 2-4 -- .192
LF Huber 0-4, BB, 3 K, CS (2) -- .244
DH Allen 1-4, BB, K -- .328

Baerlocher 4 1/3 IP, ER, 2 H, 4 BB, K, HRA -- ND, 2.41 ERA
Andrade 3 IP, 5 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 2 K, HRA -- BS, 1, L, 0-2, 4.15 ERA

*** Three ABs in the 7th made all the difference for the Grizzlies in dropping Omaha to its 3rd straight loss. SS Mike Aviles hit a sac fly to drive home Teahen, who tripled to lead off the 2nd, and give Omaha a 1-0 lead. Teahen came back up in the 3rd and hit a 2-run single to make the score 3-0 and he singled home another run in the 5th to make the score 4-0. Baerlocher had little trouble through the first 4 innings but gave up a leadoff homer in the 5th before RP Frank Brooks finished out the inning. The score was still 4-1 Omaha in the 7th when Andrade gave up 2 singles to start the inning, got a fly out, but then gave up an RBI single, 2-run double and 2-run homer (by Jed Hansen) to consecutive batters to blow the game. Phillips homered with 1 out in the 9th to get the Royals within 1 but Huber struck out on a foul tip with Teahen at first to end the game. Omaha is 18-26 and in third place in the PCL American North. Fresno RF Brian Horwitz, who I think tore up High Desert in some games earlier this season, isn't doing so hot at AAA. He was 0-4 to drop to .077. Hansen was 2-3 with his 3rd homer to improve to .237 and another former O-Royal, 1B Chad Santos, was 1-3 with his 32nd and 33rd RBIs to improve to .252.

Game 3 of the 4 game set will be played this afternoon. New pickup 25-year-old LHP Neal Musser (1-3, 5.45), who had been with Tucson in the D-Backs organization, is slated to start for Omaha. I assume he's taking Brian Bass' starting spot since Bass got bussed to Wichita.

AA - Wichita: Corpus Christi 9, Wranglers 1

3B Gordon 0-0, HBP -- hit in the 1st, left game in 3rd
RF Butler 2-4, K, OF assist at second -- .287
LF Lubanski 0-3 -- .266
CF Maier 0-4, 2 K -- .281
SS Sanchez 2-4, HR (2), RBI (19), 2B, K, RS, 2 E (15) -- .292
C Tupman 0-4 -- .330
2B Murphy 0-3, BB, SB (2) -- .247

Middleton 5 1/3 IP, 9 R (7 ER), 10 H, 2 BB, 3 K, 2 HRA -- L, 3-3, 4.55 ERA

*** The Wranglers had about as many errors (4) as hits (5) in getting creamed by the Hooks and SP Joshua Miller. Sanchez led off the game with a homer to put Wichita on top but things went south from there as Gordon was hit by a pitch and left in the 3rd as a precautionary measure, according to the team. Middleton gave up a run in each of the first 3 innings, including one thanks to a 2-out error by Sanchez, and 2 more in the 5th. Sanchez had a simultaneously good yet bad game as he made 2 errors in the field but had the homer and doubled in the 5th only to get thrown out trying to stretch it to a triple. A fielding error by 3B Brett Groves gave the Hooks an extra out in the 6th and they made it count for 4 runs as they homered twice in the inning. Meanwhile, Miller kept the Wichita bats quiet and got the complete game 5-hitter. Wichita is 18-27 and in third in the TL North. Miller walked 2 and K'd 5 in improving to 6-3 with a 3.98 ERA. Hooks RF Hunter Pence was 2-5 with his 11th double to move to .309, C J.R. House was 1-4 with his 26th RBI to drop to .337 and CF Josh Anderson was 0-5 but stole his 14th base in dropping to .319.

The series wraps up Wednesday afternoon as Wichita tries to avert the sweep. No announced pitchers.

High-A - High Desert: Mavs 6, Rancho Cucamonga 3

IF Sevilla 3-4, HR (1), 3 RBI (7), BB, 2 RS -- .263
1B Stodolka 2-4 -- .333!
LF Gaffney 2-5 -- .260
3B Lucas 2-4, HR (3), RBI (20) -- .272
DH R. Brown 1-4, picked off -- .300
CF Senreiso 1-3, BB, K, RBI (19), CS -- .262
C Donachie 1-4 -- .283
RF McFall 1-3, BB, HR (6), RBI (20), 2 RS -- .210

Buckner 6 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 10 H, 2 BB, 10 K!, WP -- W, 6-0!, 2.58 ERA
DeHoyos IP, 2 K -- SV, 8, 1.10 ERA

*** Buckner survived a shaky 1st to move to 6-0 and the Mavs hit 3 homers in the win. Buckner gave up 3 hits, a wild pitch and 2 runs in the 1st but one swing of the bat put the Mavs in front in the 4th on Sevilla's 3-run shot for his first of '06. Buckner let the Quakes tie it in the 5th but RC was foiled in a double steal attempt of second and home when the runner coming home was thrown out. A McFall homer in the 6th (his 6th) broke the tie and High Desert took advantage of a Quake error in the 7th as Senreiso singled home a run. Lucas' homer in the 8th (his 3rd) added some gravy to the Mav lead and DeHoyos shut the door in the 9th for his 8th save. High Desert is 22-23 and in fourth in the Cal Lg South but only 4 games back of first. RC 1B Clifton Remole was 3-5 to improve to .328, LF Patrick Reilly was 2-4 to move to .321 and C Michael Collins was 0-4 to drop to .325.

Game 3 of the series is tonight. Pitchers: Mavs RH Kyle Crist vs. Rancho Cucamonga RH Nick Green.

Low-A - Burlington: Bees 10, Wisconsin 3

DH Everett 2-4, BB, 2 RS -- .462
1B Vega 2-5, 2B, K, RS -- .267
OF Jirschele 2-4, BB, 2B, RS -- .231
CF Duarte 2-4, 2 RBI (10), K -- .252
3B Lisson 1-5, HR (4), 3 RBI (28), K -- .215
* 2B Josh Johnson stole 2 bases (6)

Nicoll 7 IP, ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 4 K, WP -- W, 3-2, 1.82 ERA!
Schambough IP, nothing -- 1.17 ERA

*** The Bees clicked on both sides of the ball in winning the 9th of the last 10 games. A Duarte RBI single in the 2nd and Lisson RBI ground out in the 3rd put Burlington on top, 2-0, but Wisconsin got a run back in the 4th. The Bees broke it open for good in the 6th with 7 runs on a bases-loaded walk to C Jeff Howell, a Duarte RBI single, a sac fly by LF Antonio Sabatini, 2 runs on Rattler throwing errors and a 2-run shot by Lisson for his 4th of the year. Johnson doubled home a run in the 7th and the bullpen secured the 10-3 win. Burlington is 21-22 and fourth in the MWL West, 5 games back of first. Rattler DH Jeff Dominguez was 0-3 to drop to .309 and 3B Ron Garth was 1-3 with his 24th RBI to improve to .277.

The Bees have Wednesday off before starting a 4-game set at the Beloit Snappers (22-22, Low-A Twins) Thursday.

Royals on the Farm 5/22

AAA - Omaha: Fresno 7, O-Royals 5

DH Allen 3-5, K, RS -- .329
3B Teahen 3-4, BB, K, 2B, RS -- .340, on FIRE, send him to AAAA
SS Aviles 3-5, 2B (9), K, 2 RBI (16) -- .255
RF D. Brown 2-3, 2B, BB, RBI -- .139, rare signs of life
LF Huber 0-5, K, RBI (10) -- .256, LF???
2B Gotay 0-3, BB, SF, RBI (14), 2 E (6) -- .238, not looking that good thus far
* The Royals lead the PCL with 53 errors thus far. As if Royals fans needed more bad news.

Snyder 7 1/3 IP, 6 R (1 ER), 8 H, BB, 7 K -- L, 0-3, 3.78 ERA
Hudson 2/3 IP, UER, H, 2 BB, WP -- 2.84 ERA

*** Two Gotay errors led to 6 unearned Fresno runs as Omaha dropped its 2nd straight game. Snyder gave up a run in the 1st on an RBI double by '05 O-Royal 1B Chad Santos, who is now in the Giants' organization. Gotay's first error of the game led off the Grizzlies' 2nd and Fresno rallied for 3 2-out runs to take a 3-0 lead. Omaha regrouped in the 4th as new LF Justin Huber hit an RBI ground out, Aviles followed with an RBI double and Dee Brown hit an RBI ground-rule double to cut the Fresno lead to 4-3. Omaha was helped by an error by Fresno 3B Jed Hansen (another former O-Royal, if I'm not mistaken) and Gotay hit a sac fly in the 6th to tie it at 4. Gotay fumbled a force attempt with 1 out in the 8th and Fresno cashed in as Hudson came in and walked in a run, gave up an RBI single and wild pitched a run home to give the Grizzlies some insurance. The O-Royals almost forced them to use that insurance as Omaha loaded the bases with 0 outs before Huber popped out for out #1, Aviles hit an RBI single and 1B Rick Bell hit into a game-ending DP. Omaha is 18-25 and 6 1/2 games back of first. Santos was 2-4 with his 31st RBI to improve to .250, SS Tomas De La Rosa was 3-3 with his 25th RBI to improve to .280 and Hansen was 0-3 to drop to .227.

Game 2 of the set is tonight. Pitchers: Omaha RH Adam Bernero (1-1, 3.32) vs. RH Alfredo Simon (0-5, 5.44).

AA - Wichita: Corpus Christi 9, Wranglers 6

3B Gordon 0-2, 2 BB, RBI (22), K, RS -- .313
RF Butler 1-4, K, RS -- .282
LF Lubanski 3-3, 2 2B (14), BB, RS -- .270, rebounds in first game at #9 spot in order
CF Maier 1-3, SF, 3B (2), RBI (30), RS -- .287
SS Sanchez 1-5, K, RS, SB (3) -- .287, not a good OBP guy in leadoff spot
C Tupman 1-3, 2B, HBP, RBI (16), RS, E (4) -- .343
2B Murphy 1-4, K, RBI (16) -- .255

Herndon 5 2/3 IP, 6 ER, 10 H, BB, 2 K, 3 HRA -- ND, 4.84 ERA, put the ball on a tee
DePriest 1 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, K, HRA -- L, 0-4, 4.12 ERA

*** The Wranglers had the momentum when a 5-run 6th tied the game at 6 but the Hooks, who have the best record in the TL at 27-16, took it back in the 7th and didn't return it. A 1-out triple by Maier in the 1st and an RBI ground out by Gordon gave Wichita a 1-0 lead but Herndon gave up 3 straight hits in the bottom of the inning to tie the game. Corpus Christi got its first homer off Herndon in the 2nd for a 2-1 lead and added 4 runs in the 4th on two more homers for a 6-1 lead. Wichita's offense came back to life in the 6th as Maier hit a 1-out sac fly to score Lubanski, and a Gordon walk and Butler single loaded the bases with 2 out. Hooks RP Joshua Muecke came in and hit Tupman with a pitch to drive in another run, Murphy followed with an RBI single and 1B Kila Kaaihue tied the game with a 2-run single before RP Monte Mansfield came in and struck DH Adam Keim out to end the inning. DePriest gave up an RBI ground out and solo homer in the 7th to allow the Hooks to regain a 2-run lead and RP Cody Smith gave up a CC insurance run in the 8th. Wichita didn't put up a serious threat after the 6th. Wichita is 18-26 and 9 games out of first. Hooks RP Jailen Peguero picked up his 12th save with an easy 9th to drop his ERA to 0.73. Hooks C J.R. House was 4-4 with his 5th homer to improve to .339, 1B Derek Nicholson was 3-3 with his 1st homer to improve to .239 and RF Hunter Pence was 2-4 with his 13th homer to improve to .307. Two other Hooks are hitting over .300 -- CF Josh Anderson at .328 and SS Ben Zobrist at .315.

The teams knock heads again tonight. No announced pitchers.

High-A - High Desert: Rancho Cucamonga 9, Mavs 6

1B Stodolka 2-3, HR (6), 2 RBI (21), BB -- .328, let us see what he can do in Wichita
3B Lucas 2-3, SF, RBI (19), RS -- .265
RF McFall 2-4, K, RS -- .207
DH R. Brown 2-5, 2B (9), K, 2 RS -- .301
CF Senreiso 1-3, SF, RBI (18), RS -- .260
C Donachie 1-4, 2B -- .284

Gragg III 4 1/3 IP, 6 ER, 8 H, BB, 4 K, 2 HRA, pickoff -- L, 0-1, 12.46 ERA, welcome back to the California League

*** Gragg got a rude welcome back to High Desert as the first batter for the Quakes homered and RC took off from there. After the homer by Quakes leadoff batter 2B Nate Sutton, a 2-run triple also in the 1st gave RC a 3-0 lead. Sutton scored again on an RBI double in the 2nd for a 4-0 Quakes lead but the Mavs got a run back that inning on a Lucas sac fly. Rancho Cucamonga got another homer in the 3rd to make the score 5-1 and the Quakes tacked on 3 more in the 5th off Gragg and RP Adam Rowe. Stodolka hit a 2-run longball in the 6th to cut the lead to 8-3 and a Senreiso sac fly in the 8th cut the lead to 9-4. LF Michael Gaffney hit a 2-run single in the 9th but that was it for the Mavs. High Desert dropped its 4th straight to fall to 21-23 and 4 1/2 games out of first. Sutton was 2-5 with his 1st homer to improve to .264, LF Drew Toussaint was 3-5 with 2 HR (5 on the season) to improve to .217, 1B Clifton Remole was 3-5 to move to .318 and C Michael Collins was 2-4 to improve to .333.

The series goes to game 2 tonight. Pitchers: Mavs RH Billy Buckner vs. Rancho Cucamonga LH Micah Posey.

Low-A - Burlington: Bees 12, Wisconsin 5

3B Lisson 3-4, BB, 2 RBI (25), 2 RS -- .215
C Everett 3-4, RBI, RS, CS -- .444
RF Jirschele 3-5, 2B, K, 2 RBI, RS -- .216
SS McConnell 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI (14), RS, 2 E (9) -- .179
1B Vega 2-5, 2B, HR (6), RBI (20), 2 RS -- .261
LF Sabatini 2-4, SF, HR (1), 2 RBI -- .147

Penn 6 IP, 5 R (3 ER), 10 H, 0 BB, 5 K -- W, 3-1, 4.15 ERA
Damico 3 IP, 0 ER, H, 2 K -- SV, 1, 3.47 ERA

*** Penn survived a rough first couple innings and the Bees got it done on offense to win the 8th of their last 9 games. Lisson hit an RBI single in the top of the 1st for Burlington but Wisconsin got the run back off Penn in the bottom of the inning. The Bees scored 3 in the 2nd on an RBI double by DH Jeff Howell, a Sabatini sac fly and McConnell RBI single. Wisconsin once again matched Burlington with 3 in the 2nd thanks in part to a McConnell fielding error but it was mostly Burlington after that. The Bees scored 1 in the 5th on a Vega solo homer (his 6th) and again in the 6th on Sabatini's first homer of '06. Wisconsin got that run back in the bottom of the 6th but Burlington scored 3 in the 7th on an RBI single by Everett, a Jirschele RBI single and RBI ground out by CF Jose Duarte. They polished the Timber Rattlers off with 3 in the 8th on a McConnell RBI double, Lisson RBI single and Jirschele RBI single. Burlington is 20-22 and 5 1/2 games out of first. Rattlers SS Jeff Dominguez was 1-5 to drop to .315 and 3B Ron Garth was 1-4 with his 23rd RBI to drop to .276. LF Casey Craig was 2-4 to move to .273.

The teams finish the set tonight. Pitchers: Bees RH Chris Nicoll (2-2, 1.93) vs. Rattlers LH Paul Fagan (1-4, 5.31).

Royals on the Farm weekend 5/19-5/21

AAA - Omaha: Sacramento 10, O-Royals 6 (Fri.)

RF Allen 3-5, 2B (10), K, 2 RBI (30), RS -- .312
2B Gotay 1-3, 2 BB, K, RS, SB (5) -- .235
3B Teahen 1-3, 2B, BB, K, 2 RBI, E (2) -- .257
LF D. Brown 1-4, RS -- .074

Tamayo 2 2/3 IP, 6 ER, 7 H, 0 BB, 6 K, HRA -- L, 3-2, 4.21 ERA
Loux 3 IP, 4 UER, 4 H, 2 BB, 2 K -- 1.12 ERA
Andrade 2 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K -- 1.88 ERA

*** RP Shane Loux, manager Mike Jirschele and hitting coach Terry Bradshaw (the other Terry Bradshaw) were all ejected in the loss. A solo homer off Tamayo gave Sacramento a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st but Omaha rallied for 4 in the 3rd on an RBI single by DH Alejandro Prieto, an RBI double by Allen and a 2-run double by Teahen. Unfortunately for the Royals, things imploded in the 3rd. With 2 outs and 1 River Cat run already across the plate, another run was singled home and, for reasons unreported on anything I've seen online, Jirschele got tossed by the first base ump. Three more hits and an error by CF Chip Ambres brought in 3 more runs and chased Tamayo in favor of Loux. Omaha got back within a run in the 5th on an RBI single by Allen but Sacramento put the game away with 4 in the 6th in another 2-out rally sparked in part by a Teahen throwing error. Loux was lifted for Andrade and, during the process, was tossed along with Bradshaw. Andrade walked a run home after the incident and then gave up a 2-run single before getting out of the inning. Omaha scored a meaningless run in the 9th on a sac fly by C Paul Phillips to make the final score 10-6 Sacto. Omaha dropped to 17-23 with the loss. River Cats DH Nathan Espy was 2-4 with his 2nd AAA homer to improve to .408, C John Baker was 1-4 to drop to .311 and 1B Daric Barton was 2-5 with 3 RBI to move to 22 on the season and improved his BA to .270.

O-Royals 2, Sacramento 1 (Sat.)

3B Teahen 3-4, 2B, 2 RBI -- .308, heating up, in Omaha anyway
RF Allen 2-4, RS -- .317
1B Huber 0-4, K -- .286, back with Costa up after two wasted weeks
2B Gotay 1-4, 2B -- .236
LF D. Brown 0-3 -- .067

Keppel 7 IP, ER, 5 H, BB, 3 K -- W, 3-4, 5.00 ERA
Baerlocher 2 IP, 0 ER, H, BB, 4 K -- SV, 1, 2.51 ERA

*** Keppel had a great start and Omaha survived errors by Aviles (no. 10) and Keppel himself (2) to get the win. Sacramento drew first blood with a run in the 3rd but Omaha scored its runs in the 4th on a Teahen 2-run double and Keppel took it from there. He allowed 3 base runners from the 4th through the 7th and Baerlocher did the rest. Omaha moved to 18-23. Sacramento C Jeremy Brown was 0-4 to drop to .316, Espy was 0-4 to drop to .387 and Barton was 0-4 to drop to .262.

Sacramento 4, O-Royals 3 (Sun.)

RF Allen 2-4, 2B (11), K, 2 RBI (32), OF assist at second -- .321
3B Teahen 1-4, 2B -- .302
CF Ambres 2-4, RBI (10), K -- .210
2B Gotay 2-4, BB, 2 RS -- .242
1B Huber 0-4, 2 K -- .272
LF D. Brown 1-3, HBP, K -- .091

Yarnall 4 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, BB, 5 K, 3 HRA -- put on a fireworks display from the mound, L, 1-1, 3.69 ERA
Elder 4 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, BB, K -- 4.91 ERA

*** Yarnall gave up all the damage Sacramento would need to take the 4-game set, 3-1, with the 4-3 win Sunday. An Allen RBI single in the 1st got Omaha off to a good start but Yarnall gave an omen of things to come with a longball given up to the second batter he faced. A leadoff homer by Jeremy Brown in the 2nd for the River Cats gave them the lead and Brown homered again in the 4th -- a 2-run shot -- for a 4-1 Sacramento lead. Allen doubled home a run in the 5th and Ambres singled home a run in the 6th to close the Sacramento lead to 1, but Omaha wouldn't threaten again. Omaha dropped to 18-24 and 6 1/2 games out of first. River Cats SP Shane "Hawaiian Punchout" Komine (I had to report the nickname) got the win despite giving up 10 hits and 3 ER and striking out only 2 over 5 1/3 IP. His ERA is 5.08. Brown was 2-4 for Sacramento and moved his season HR total to 6 with a .325 BA. Espy was 1-4 to drop to .380 and Baker was 0-2 to drop to .303.

Omaha moves on to Fresno to take on the Grizzlies (16-27, AAA Giants) for 4 games starting Monday. Pitchers: Omaha RH Kyle Snyder (0-2, 4.24) vs. RH Brian Cooper (2-3, 4.80).

AA - Wichita: Tulsa 3, Wranglers 2 (8/Fri. game 1)

3B Gordon 0-3, BB -- .308
RF Butler 2-4, 2B (12), RBI (23) -- .287
LF Lubanski 0-4, 2 K -- .265
C Tupman 0-1, 3 BB! -- .351, on-base machine
CF Maier 0-2, BB, K -- .282
SS Sanchez 3-3, BB, RS -- .284
2B Murphy 0-4, K -- .241
1B Kaaihue 2-3, BB -- .207

Song 5 1/3 IP, ER, 4 H, 3 BB, K -- wasn't the most beautiful start but had the win in hand, ND, 3.68 ERA
Nunez 2 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, BB, 4 K -- BS, 3, L, 1-2, 4.50 ERA

*** Nunez blew his 3rd save and Wichita dropped a game they could have won in the opener of a 7-inning twinbill with Tulsa Friday. The Drillers scraped together a run in the 3rd but Wichita took the lead with an RBI single by DH Adam Keim in the 4th and a 5th-inning RBI double by Butler. 2-1 Wranglers was the score entering the 7th and set-to-be-final inning when Tulsa SS Troy Tulowitzki came through with a clutch 2-out RBI single off Nunez to tie the game. A double and triple back-to-back in the 8th off Nunez gave Tulsa the lead and Wichita squandered two base runners in the bottom of the inning to end it. Wichita dropped to 17-24. Tulowitzki was 1-4 with his 17th RBI to drop to .292, Tulsa DH Joe Gaetti was 0-3 to drop to .316, 3B Ian Stewart was 1-4 to drop to .252 and CF Jordan Czarniecki was 0-1 with 2 BB to drop to .295.

Wranglers 3, Tulsa 2 (8/Fri. game 2, deja vu)

3B Gordon 1-4, 2B (13) -- .306
RF Butler 1-3, HR (6), 2 RBI (25), BB -- .287
LF Lubanski 0-4, K -- .259, ice cold
CF Maier 1-4, K, RBI (29) -- .281
SS Sanchez 2-3, BB, 2 RS -- .291
2B Murphy 2-3, K -- .261

Bass 8 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, BB, 8 K, HRA -- W, 1-0, 2.25 ERA, looked much better in AA than he did in Omaha

*** The Wranglers turned the tables on Tulsa in game 2 with a late inning comeback of their own. Bass got a complete game in his '06 AA debut and Butler did the heavy work on offense. There was 1 hit in the game going into the 5th with Bass working on a perfecto when a double and 2-run homer made that vanish and gave the Drillers a 2-0 lead. After a Sanchez single off Tulsa SP Enmanuel Ulloa in the 6th, Butler hit a 2-out, 2-run longball for his 6th of '06 to tie the game. The game went into "extras" in the 8th when a Sanchez walk and Gordon double put runners at second and third with 1 out. Butler was intentionally walked to bring up Maier, who made the Drillers pay with a walkoff single/grand slam?. The slash and question mark are there because Maier rounded first and joined the celebration at the plate. He said he thought the ball bounced on the warning track and the outfielder tossed it over the fence in frustration while some said it cleared the fence. Anyway, Wichita won the game and Maier got credit for a single. The Wranglers were 18-24 after the twinbill. Ulloa went 7 IP and K'd 6 to move his ERA to 3.43 with the 2 ER. Gaetti was 0-3 to drop to .305, Stewart was 0-3 to drop to .247 and Czarniecki was 1-3 to move to .295.

Tulsa 7, Wranglers 6 (Sat.)

3B Gordon 3-4, 2 RS, SB (11) -- .317
RF Butler 0-3, BB, RBI (26) -- .282
LF Lubanski 1-5, 2 K, RS, E (4) -- .257
CF Maier 2-4, K, RS -- .287
C Tupman 1-4, 2 RBI (15) -- .343
2B Keim 3-4, HR (1), RBI (10) -- .221
SS Sanchez 1-4, K, RS, E (13) -- .290
DH Murphy 0-2 -- .256, left game with sore shoulder after Friday collision at home plate, day-to-day

Cedeno 4 2/3 IP, 7 R (6 ER), 8 H, 2 BB, K, 2 WP -- L, 0-4, 5.45 ERA
C. Smith and Braun 4 1/3 IP, 2 H combined

*** Tulsa's damage was done early and often in the series finale. A Lubanski fielding error helped the Drillers to a 1st-inning tally but Wichita scored 2 in the 1st on a single by Gordon and ensuing fielding error that allowed Lubanski to score, and an RBI DP ball by Maier for a 2-1 lead. Tulsa tied things in the 3rd and surged ahead with 2 in the 4th off Cedeno but Wichita retied it in the 4th with 2 runs on a Butler RBI ground out and Tupman RBI fielder's choice. Cedeno again couldn't hold on as Tulsa rallied for 3 in the 5th for a 7-4 lead. Keim went solo in the 5th for his 1st homer of '06 and Tupman singled home a run in the 8th to cut the lead to 1 but Wichita couldn't get the equalizer. Wichita dropped to 18-25 with the loss and is 8 games back of first. Tulowitzki was 3-5 with his 14th double and 18th RBI to move to .302, Stewart was 1-5 with his 5th triple to drop to .245, Gaetti was 2-5 to move to .310 and Czarniecki was 1-4 with his 21st RBI to drop to .294.

Sunday: off day

*** The Wranglers got a day off before starting a 3-game set at the Corpus Christi Hooks (26-16, AA Astros) Monday. With Bass getting sent down to Wichita, IF Walter Sevilla went back to High Desert.

High-A - High Desert: Lake Elsinore 10, Mavs 2 (Fri.)

LF Valentin 1-4, 2 K -- .310
DH Stodolka 0-4, K -- .319
1B R. Brown 2-3, HR (5), 2 RBI (19), BB -- .301
RF McFall 2-4, K -- .212
CF Senreiso 1-4, 2 K -- .261
C Donachie 0-3, BB, K -- .274
3B Lucas 0-4, K, E (6) -- .265

Cota 3 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, BB, 4 K, HRA -- L, 1-5, 7.83 ERA, bad season stays that way, I say move him to Burlington and let him join the stud rotation there until he gets his crap together
Weeden and Woodrow ugly 6 IP

*** Lake Elsinore came into Adelanto as the division leader and played that way in running the Mavs off the diamond in scoring in all but 3 innings. High Desert took a 2-1 lead on Brown's 2-run homer in the 1st but, unfortunately, that was it for the Mavs. Cota got shelled again and so did the two relievers put in against the Storm and High Desert only threatened in the 6th when the Mavs loaded the bases but couldn't make anything happen. High Desert was 21-20 after the loss. Storm SP Mike Ekstrom moved to 4-2 with a 2.32 ERA with 5 2/3 IP of 2 runs allowed with only 1 ER. Storm LF Javis Diaz was 3-6 to move to .321, 1B Tim Brown was 3-4 with 2 RBI to move to 20 on the season and improved to .286 and Pads' 3B prospect Chase Headley was 2-4 with 2 doubles to improve to .259.

Lake Elsinore 6, Mavs 2 (Sat.)

1B Stodolka 1-3, SF, RBI (19) -- .319
LF Valentin 1-1, RBI (19), SB (1) -- .316, injured leg
SS Falu 2-4, 2B, 2 RS, SB (9) -- .253
CF Senreiso 0-4, 2 K -- .250
3B Lucas 0-4, K -- .257

Christensen 6 2/3 IP, 4 R (3 ER), 7 H, BB, 5 K, 3 HRA -- L, 1-4, 4.80 ERA, like Yarnall, a launching pad on the mound

*** The Storm pulled away late to get in position for a possible sweep with the 6-2 win Saturday. After Lake Elsinore got a solo homer in the top of the 1st, Falu led off the High Desert 1st with a double and scored on a Valentin single. The Mavs were in business with 0 out when Valentin hurt his leg at third base and left the game and High Desert could do no further damage that inning. From the way it sounded on the team site, it was something like a hammy or quad injury. Another homer put the Storm back in front in the 2nd but a Stodolka sac fly knotted it back up in the 3rd. Lake Elsinore's third homer of the game off Christensen in the 4th gave the Storm the lead for good as they added 1 in the 7th and 2 in the 9th. The Mavs only had 2 base runners after the 3rd. High Desert dropped to 21-21 with the L. Headley was 4-4 with 2 HR (4 on the season) and 4 RS to improve to .280, Diaz was 0-5 to drop to .295 and 2B Sean Kazmar was 2-4 with his 3rd homer to improve to .262.

Lake Elsinore 6, High Desert 5 (Sun.)

Stodolka and Valentin DNP
2B Perez 3-4, SB (2) -- .289
1B R. Brown 2-5, 3B, RBI (20), 2 RS -- .298
CF Senreiso 2-5, HR (7), 2 RBI (17), 2 K, E (3) -- .258
C Donachie 2-3, BB, RBI -- .286
DH Lucas 1-4, K -- .257

Plummer 5 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 9 H, BB, 3 K, HRA -- ND, 5.93 ERA
Barnes 4 IP, ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 5 K -- L, 1-2, 3.81 ERA

*** Things looked rosy after a 3-run Mavs 1st but it was downhill from there as Lake Elsinore got the sweep. A Brown RBI single, wild pitch and RBI single by Donachie helped High Desert to the 3-0 advantage. Lake Elsinore immediately begin chipping away with 1 in the 2nd off Plummer and 2 more in the 3rd to tie the game. A leadoff triple by Rusty Brown in the 3rd was followed by an RBI single by Senreiso to help the Mavs back into the lead but a 2-run homer in the 5th after a key error by Senreiso in which he and LF Michael Galloway let the ball drop between them gave the lead back to the Storm. High Desert tied it once more in the bottom of the frame on a redemption homer by Senreiso (his 7th) but the Storm scraped together a run off Barnes in the 9th and High Desert went down in order in the bottom of the 9th to end it. The sweep dropped High Desert to 21-22 and 4 1/2 games out of first. Headley was 2-3 with his 19th RBI to improve to .288, Diaz was 2-4 to move to .308 and LF Drew Davidson was 2-5 with his 1st homer of '06 to improve to .246.

The Mavs open a 4-game home set with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (22-21, High-A Angels) Monday. According to the team site, LH John Gragg III, who had been at Wichita, is slated to start in his return to the California League. He was arguably the team's best starter in '05 in leading the team with 13 wins.

Low-A - Burlington: Bees 3, Lansing 2 (Fri.)

CF Duarte 2-4, SB (8) -- .252
DH Vega 0-3, BB, 2 K -- .260
SS McConnell 0-3, HBP, 2 K, RS -- .179
C Thibault 1-4, K, RS -- .230
LF Santana 0-4, 2 K -- .274

Kniginyzky 7 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, BB, 8 K, HRA -- W, 4-2, 3.04 ERA
Garcia and Hayes 2 hitless IP, Hayes 2nd save

*** Burlington got the sweep of the Lugnuts as 3 1st-inning runs was good enough for SP Matt Kniginyzky and the Bees got the gift of 5 Lansing errors. Two errors on a ground ball by Thibault for a potential force play in the 1st allowed the Bees' first run to score and a sac fly by 1B John Lowen and an RBI single by 3B Jeremy Jirschele put the Bees up, 3-0. Lansing scored runs off Kniginyzky in the 4th and 7th to cut the Bees' lead to 1 but RPs Eliszer Garcia and Chris Hayes locked it down and Burlington won its 6th straight. The win and 4-game sweep of Lansing (first time since '99 that happened) moved the Bees to 18-21. On a sour note, Thibault left the game in the 9th after getting spiked in the leg sliding into second and needed seven stitches to close the cut. He's expected to be out 2 weeks and C Brady Everett, who was supposed to play at High Desert but broke his hand late in ST, will start out in Burlington while Thibault is on the shelf. Lansing SP Billy Carnline took the hard luck loss with 6 IP of 3 unearned runs to drop to 3-2 with a 2.09 ERA. Lansing 2B Sean Shoffit was 0-4 to drop to .295, CF Cory Patton was 1-4 with his 14th double to drop to .282 and DH Joey Metropoulos was 1-4 to drop to .282.

Bees 4, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Low-A Mariners) 1 (Sat.)

1B Vega 1-4, 2 K -- .259
RF Arroyo 1-1, RBI (12), RS -- .235
CF Duarte 0-3, BB, RBI, RS, CS -- .245
3B Lisson 0-2, 2 BB, K, RBI (23), HBP, 2 SB (10) -- .183
SS McConnell 0-3, BB, K, RBI (12), HBP, SB (5) -- .174

Henninger 6 IP, UER, 5 H, BB, 6 K -- ND, 4.63 ERA
Harkcom and Schambough 3 IP scoreless relief, Schambough (SV 3, 1.23 ERA)

*** A 4-game set at Wisconsin (17-24 entering the series) started well for the red-hot Bees as they won their 7th in a row after entering the 9th being shutout with 1 hit. A throwing error by C John Lowen trying to nail a stealing base runner at third led to the Rattlers' only run in the 1st and the Bees couldn't figure out either Wisconsin SP Jose Escalona or RP Joseph Woerman through 8 IP. A 6th-inning single by Lowen broke up the no-hitter but the Bees were still struggling to start the 9th when RP Edgar Guaramato took the mound for the Rattlers. Vega singled and advanced to second on a throwing error and, after a walk to Jirschele and HBP on DH Valentino Arce loaded the bases with 1 out, a fielder's choice by Duarte tied the game. The bases stayed loaded thanks to the throw for the force at home by 1B Chao Kuan Wu being late. Arroyo followed with an RBI single to give the Bees the lead before Arce was forced at home on the next play. The Bees padded the lead in an unusual way as McConnell and Lisson got hit with pitches with the bases loaded to bring home 2 runs and make the score 4-1 Bees. Kraig Schambough came in to pitch the 9th for Burlington and had no trouble. The Bees improved to 19-21. Escalona went 6 IP and allowed only 1 hit but walked 5 and K'd 8 in dropping his ERA to 2.95. 2B Jeff Dominguez was 3-4 for Wisconsin to move to .304 but also made his 13th error, SS Robert Hudson was 1-4 to drop to .294 and 3B Ron Garth was 1-4 to drop to .270.

Wisconsin 4, Bees 3 (11/Sun.)

DH Lisson 3-6, 2B (12) -- .198
C Lowen 2-4, 2 2B (6), K, 2 RBI (17), RS, E (4) -- .228
3B Jirschele 2-5, K -- .188
1B/C Everett 1-5, K, E (1) -- .200, season debut
2B Johnson 1-1, 5 BB!!!, 2 RS -- .228, great eye, I guess
SS McConnell 0-4 -- .168
1B Vega 0-2, K -- .255
LF Santana 1-5, K, SB (10) -- .269
* Bees left 13 on base

Rosa 4 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 7 H, 2 BB, 3 K -- ND, 2.40 ERA
de la Vara 2 IP, 0 ER, H, 5 K -- BS, 1, 2.37 ERA
Garcia 1/3 IP, ER, H, HRA -- L, 0-2, 3.86 ERA

*** The winning streak finally snapped for Burlington with one pitch -- a pinch-hit walkoff homer by Garth in the 11th. The teams literally matched runs in the 1st, 4th and 7th before Garth's homer ended it. A Lowen force out scored Johnson, who drew 1 of 5 walks for him in the game in the 1st, to get the Bees on the board. A Lowen throwing error was part of Wisconsin's run scoring rally in the 1st to tie the game and a Wisconsin 2nd inning rally was thwarted when Bees RF Carlos Arroyo threw a runner out at the plate via Johnson's relay. Burlington moved ahead in the 4th on a Duarte RBI single but the Rattlers put together a 2-out rally in the bottom of the frame to once more tie the game. A Lowen RBI double gave the Bees a third lead in the 7th but RP Rayner Oliveros gave up a 1-out double in the bottom of the inning to get pulled in favor of de la Vara, who struck out the next batter before giving up an RBI double to tie it at 3. The Bees got runners at first and third with 1 out in both the 9th and 10th but could do nothing with the chances so, after an uneventful Bee 11th, Garth came up to lead off the Wisconsin half and homered off Garcia to left to end it. Burlington dropped to 19-22 and 5 games back of first. RP Woerman got the win for Wisconsin with a hitless IP to drop his ERA to 2.01. Dominguez was 4-6 for the Rattlers with his 11th RBI to move to .319, 1B Bryan Sabatella was 3-5 to improve to .170 and Hudson was 1-5 to drop to .290.

Game 3 of the series got an early start Monday and the Bees won, 12-5. Michael Penn got the start for Burlington. That game will be detailed in the next RoF report.

Royals on the Farm 5/18

AAA - Omaha: Sacramento 3, O-Royals 2

3B Teahen 2-2, 2B, RBI, 2 BB, E (1) -- .250, AAAA player???
C Phillips 2-4, 2B, K, RS -- .275
2B Gotay 0-4, BB, 2 K, picked off -- .233, not getting it done, ejected in 9th
SS Blanco 0-5, K -- .282, Berroa Jr.
RF Allen 1-3, BB, K, RS, SB -- .303
LF D. Brown 0-3, BB -- .043, avg says it all

Bernero 6 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 0 BB, 4 K, HRA -- ND, 3.32 ERA, has done all right as a starter
Brooks 2 IP, ER, 3 H, BB, 3 K -- L, 0-2, 8.36 ERA, better than other recent outings

*** Omaha got one inning of scoring offense Thursday and it wasn't enough as the O-Royals dropped the opener with the River Cats. Following the example of their big league brethren, the O-Royals loaded the bases with 0 out in the 2nd but failed to score after 2 Ks and a pop out. Sacramento 3B Scott McClain went solo in the 2nd to give the River Cats an early lead and the River Cats manufactured another run in the 5th to take a 2-0 lead. Omaha finally got the offense going in the 6th as Teahen doubled home a run and CF Chip Ambres, who had been one of the bases-loaded Ks in the 2nd, hit a sac fly to tie the game. After a Dee Brown walk loaded the bases, Gotay popped out to end the inning. Frank Brooks came in to pitch the 7th for Omaha and the River Cats pushed the lead run across. After Gotay was called out on strikes for the second out of the 9th, he was tossed and Blanco K'd to end the game. Omaha is 17-22 and 4 1/2 games back of first. River Cats SP Dan Meyer, the on-again, off-again A's pitching prospect, got a no decision with 2 ER over 5+ IP to make his ERA 4.46. CF Doug Clark was 3-3 to improve to .335, DH Nathan Espy, who haunted Wichita at Midland earlier this season, was 2-3 to improve to .403, A's hot prospect 1B Daric Barton was 0-4 to drop to .265, Moneyball C Jeremy Brown was 1-4 to drop to .333 and RF Jason Perry, another Wrangler nemesis at Midland, was 0-4 to drop to .053, so he isn't doing so hot at AAA.

Game 2 of the series is tonight. Pitchers: Omaha RH Danny Tamayo (3-1, 2.35) vs. RH Juan Dominguez (2-5, 6.69). The team site reports SP Brian Bass was demoted to Wichita. Over 7 starts, the 24-year old was 1-5 with a 7.59 ERA and allowed 49 hits in 32.0 innings, with 14 walks and 11 strikeouts. Bass had given up 16 earned runs in 7.0 innings for a 20.57 ERA in his last two starts. Also the site speculates 1B Justin Huber will return to town when Shane Costa is called up any day now.

AA - Wichita: Tulsa 8, Wranglers 7

3B Gordon 2-5, 2B (12), RBI (21), K, RS, SB (10) -- .314
RF Butler 0-3, BB, RS -- .281
LF Lubanski 1-4, 2B (12), RBI (16), RS -- .272
CF Maier 1-4, 2B (11), 2 RBI (28), RS -- .286
DH Costa 1-4, K -- .375, rehab game 2
2B Murphy 2-3, 2 RBI (15), HBP, RS, CS, E (3) -- .259, heating up back from DL
SS Sanchez 0-4, BB, RS, E (12) -- .270

Middleton 6 IP, 4 R (3 ER), 6 H, 3 BB, 5 K, HRA -- ND, 3.78 ERA
Hoelscher 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, K, HRA -- BS, 2, 4.50 ERA
DePriest 2 2/3 IP, ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 2 K -- L, 0-3, 3.44 ERA

*** A 7-run 5th gave Wichita a 7-3 lead but the Wrangler pen couldn't hold the Drillers down. Middleton gave up 3 runs in the 4th thanks in part to errors by Murphy and Sanchez to give Tulsa a 3-0 lead. The Wranglers exploded in the 5th as C Damaso Espino and Lubanski had back-to-back RBI doubles, Gordon followed two batters later with an RBI double, Maier came through with a 2-out, 2-run double and Murphy followed with a 2-run single to make the score 7-3 Wichita. Middleton gave up a run in the 6th and, after Hoelscher came in for the 7th, the reliever gave up a 3-run homer to Drillers C Alvin Colina to tie the game. As the Wrangler offense sputtered, Tulsa pushed a run across on a sac fly in the 9th to take the 8-7 lead and Gordon struck out with a runner at second in the 9th to end the game. Wichita is 17-23 and 7 games back of first. Tulsa RP Manuel Corpas picked up his 10th save with a scoreless 9th to drop his ERA to 1.69, SS Troy Tulowitzki was 1-6 to drop to .293, RF Joe Gaetti was 2-3 to improve to .329, 3B Ian Stewart was 1-5 to drop to .252 and CF Jordan Czarniecki was 2-4 to move to .297.

The teams match up for a doubleheader tonight. No announced pitchers for the Wranglers. According to the Eagle, Shane Costa is slated to head back to KC today. I also assume Bass will take Ryan Snare's vacated spot in the rotation.

High-A - High Desert: Mavs 3, Lancaster 2 (7/game 1)

RF Valentin 1-4, HR (4), RBI (18) -- .312
1B Stodolka 2-3, BB, K, RS, E (6) -- .330
CF Senreiso 2-4, RBI (15), K -- .275
LF Galloway 0-3, BB, K, RBI (16)
3B Lucas 0-2, BB, K, SB (5) -- .277

Buckner 6 IP, 2 ER, 8 H, 3 BB, 3 K, HRA -- W, 5-0, 2.39 ERA, great start to '06
DeHoyos IP, BB, 2 K -- SV, 7, 1.17 ERA

*** Buckner didn't keep Lancaster totally quiet but did enough to get the W and move to 5-0 on the season as the Mavericks opened a Thursday twinbill with a narrow win over the JetHawks. Two walks followed by an RBI force out by Galloway gave High Desert a 1-0 lead in the 1st and, after Valentin struck his 4th homer to lead off the 3rd, Senreiso singled home a run that inning to make the score 3-0. Buckner didn't have completely smooth sailing in any inning and the JetHawks finally got to him in the 5th for an RBI double. Buckner gave up a solo homer in the 6th to shrink the lead to 1 but got out of the inning. DeHoyos came in to pitch the 7th and sandwiched a walk between 2 Ks before getting a fly out to end the game. Lancaster CF Chris Rahl was 2-3 with 2 doubles (17 on the season) and his 27th RBI to improve to .370 and DH Mark Reynolds was 0-3 to drop to .321.

Mavs 6, Lancaster 3 (7/game 2)

C Donachie 3-3, HR (2), 2 RBI (8), 3 RS -- .283
1B R. Brown 3-4, HR (4), RBI (17) -- .292
RF McFall 2-2, 2B, SF, 3 RBI (19) -- .200
DH Galloway 0-3, BB, K -- .276
3B Lucas 0-2, BB, RS -- .273
Stodolka DNP

Crist 6 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 3 K -- W, 1-0, 4.50 ERA
Barnes IP, BB, 3 K! -- SV, 2, 4.09 ERA

*** Crist got his 1st High Desert win thanks to some steady offense from the Mavericks. Crist gave up a run in the 1st but High Desert retaliated with 3 in the 2nd on a Donachie 2-run shot (his 2nd) and an RBI double by McFall. The Mavs added a run in the 4th on a McFall sac fly to take a 4-1 lead but Crist gave up a 2-run double that frame to close the gap to 1. A Brown solo homer (his 4th) and a McFall RBI single in the 6th gave the Mavericks some insurance and RP Justin Barnes allowed two baserunners in the 7th but struck out the side to end the game. High Desert is now 21-19 and 1 1/2 games back of first after taking 3 of 4 from the cellar-dwelling JetHawks. Rahl was 1-4 with a K to drop to .367, Reynolds was 0-2 to drop to .315 and RF Carlos Gonzalez was 2-3 with his 28th RBI to improve to .277.

A 3-game home set with the division-leading Lake Elsinore Storm (22-17, High-A Padres) starts tonight. No announced starters.

Low-A - Burlington: Bees 2, Lansing 1 (12)

CF Santana 3-5, 2 CS -- .290
1B Vega 2-4, BB, 2 K -- .267, hot streak continues
SS Arce 2-4, BB, RBI -- .209

Nicoll 5 2/3 IP, ER, 3 H, BB, 7 K -- ND, 1.93 ERA!
Schambough 2 1/3 IP, BB, 3 K -- 1.29 ERA
de la Vara 4 perfect IP, 3 K -- W, 2-1, 2.54 ERA
*6 1/3 combined hitless IP out of the pen!

*** Burlington had a great day on the pitcher's mound as three hurlers held the Lugnuts to 3 hits over 12 IP but the offense was another story as the Bees finally pushed the winning run across in the 12th. RF Carlos Arroyo hit an RBI fielder's choice to get Burlington started in the 3rd but the Bees couldn't buy a run otherwise. Lansing tied the game in the 6th thanks in part to a missed catch error by Bees 2B Josh Johnson and Nicoll exited the game. The teams took turns shutting each other down on offense with 1-2-3 innings the norm for the latter part of the game. Vega led off the Bees' 12th with a single and PR Jeremy Jirschele stole second with 2 outs to get into scoring position. Santana singled him to third and after Johnson walked to load the bases, Valentino Arce came through with a clutch single to win the game for Burlington. The Bees are 17-21 and on a 5-game win streak. Lugnuts SP Russell Savickas allowed only 1 ER over 6 IP to drop his ERA to 2.68, 2B Sean Shoffit was 0-4 to drop to .303 and 3B Anthony Hatch was 2-4 to move to .279.

The Bees will try to break out the brooms on Lansing Friday. Pitchers: Bees SP Matt Kniginyzky (3-2, 3.10) vs. Lugnuts RH Billy Carnline (3-1, 2.43). I gotta say, the Bees starting rotation gives me some hope for the future. Rosa, Nicoll and Kniginyzky especially have been great thus far.

Royals on the Farm 5/17

AAA - Omaha: off day

Omaha and Sacramento (17-22) start a 4-game set tonight in Sac-town. Omaha is 17-21.

AA - Wichita: Wranglers 7, Tulsa 3

3B Gordon 1-3, HR (8), RBI (20), BB, 2 RS -- .311
RF Butler 0-3, K, HBP, 2 RS -- .287
DH Lubanski 1-4, BB, RBI (15), K, RS -- .273
CF Maier 2-4, 2B (10), HR (6), 2 RBI (26) -- .287, RBI machine back in business
LF Costa 2-4, RBI -- .500, rehabbing
C Tupman 1-1, 2 BB, RBI (13), SF -- .355
SS Sanchez 0-5, E (11) -- .277
2B Murphy 1-4, 2B, K, RS -- .244

C. Smith 4 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 6 H, 0 BB, K -- ND, 2.88 ERA
Markray 3 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, K -- W, 1-0, 2.20 ERA
Braun 1 1/3 IP, K, nothing else -- 2.42 ERA

*** The Wranglers kept their hot streak going Wednesday with the victory over Tulsa to get their 5th win in a row. The bats went to work early as the Wranglers scored in both the 1st and 2nd on an RBI single by Costa in his first rehab AB in AA and an RBI single by Lubanski for a 2-0 lead. Tulsa got on the board in the 3rd but the Wranglers answered with 2 that inning on a fielding error on a Butler hit to 3B that scored Gordon and a Tupman sac fly. The Drillers stayed in the game by scoring 2 off SP Cody Smith in the 4th but Wichita put the game away with 3 in the 5th on a leadoff homer by Gordon (his 8th, which went so far over the fence it hit the boulevard in that direction) and a 2-run dinger by Maier (his 6th). Markray and Braun took it from there. Wichita is 17-22 and 6 games back of first. Rockies SS prospect Troy Tulowitzki was 0-5 to drop to .299, CF Jordan Czarniecki, who killed the Wranglers in a series earlier this season, was 2-3 to move to .290, Gary's son LF Joe Gaetti was 1-4 to drop to .315 and RF Seth Smith was 2-4 to move to .265.

The Wranglers try to keep the mojo working today in game 2 of the set. No announced pitchers. The Wranglers' games with Corpus Christi May 31 and June 1 will be televised on RSTN. Check your local listings.

High-A - High Desert: rainout

*** The game was rescheduled as part of a twinbill today with Lancaster. The Mavs are 19-19.

Low-A - Burlington: Bees 7, Lansing 2

2B Arce 3-5, 2 RBI -- .195
LF Santana 2-2, 2 BB, RBI, RS -- .266
C Lowen 2-4, 2B, 2 RS -- .240
1B Vega 1-4, HR (5), 3 RBI (19), E (5) -- .258, killing the ball lately
SS McConnell 0-3, BB, K, HBP -- .183
DH Thibault 0-3, RS, HBP -- .231, sliding BA

Penn 6 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 3 K -- W, 2-1, 4.02 ERA
Damico 2 IP, 0 ER, H, K -- 3.98 ERA

*** Bees pitchers held the Lugnuts to 6 hits and the Bee hitters took advantage of 2 Lansing errors in the 7-2 win. Lansing generated 2 runs off Penn in the 4th but the Bees bounced back to rally for 5 that inning on Vega's 3-run blast (his 5th) and, after an error, wild pitch and walk loaded the bases with 0 out, Arce singled home 2 runs to put Burlington on top, 5-2. A DP ball by OF Carlos Arroyo scored another Bee run in the 6th and the Bees added their final run in the 8th on a Santana RBI single. Burlington is 16-21 and 4 1/2 games back of first. Lugnuts 2B Sean Shoffit was 1-5 with his 10th error to drop to .312.

The series continues tonight. Pitchers: Bees RH Chris Nicoll (2-2, 2.00) vs. Lansing RH Russ Savickas (1-0, 2.87).

Royals on the Farm 5/16

AAA - Omaha: Colorado Springs 6, Omaha 5 (11)

RF Allen 3-5, K -- .302
3B Teahen 3-5, 3B, RBI, RS -- .200
CF Ambres 4-5, RBI, CS -- .208, over the Mendoza line with a 4-hit day
C Phillips 2-5, BB, RBI (12), K, 2 RS -- .267
SS Blanco 2-6, 3B (4), K, RS, SB (1), E (12) -- .294
LF D. Brown 1-5, 3 K -- .050, first AAA hit of '06

Snyder 5 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, BB, 4 K, balk -- ND, 4.24 ERA
Loux 2 2/3 IP, ER, 4 H, 0 BB, K -- BS, 1, 1.80 ERA
Andrade 2 IP, ER, 3 H, 0 BB, K, HRA -- L, 0-1, 2.25 ERA

*** The Omaha bullpen couldn't hold a 2-run lead and a homer in the 11th made the difference for the Sky Sox in the series ending victory over the O-Royals. Colorado Springs scored in the 1st off Snyder but Omaha took the lead with 3 in the 4th on a Teahen RBI triple, sac fly by 2B Mike Aviles and Ambres RBI single. Snyder got touched up for another run in the 5th to cut the lead to 1 but Omaha got it back in the bottom of the inning on a Phillips RBI single after a leadoff triple by Blanco. RP Luke Hudson came on for the 6th and left with the bases loaded and 1 out in the 7th in favor of RP Shane Loux, who gave up a single and double to give Colorado Springs a 5-4 lead. A throwing error on a pickoff attempt allowed Phillips to score from second in the 7th and the game was tied at 5. Andrade came in to pitch the 10th and Omaha dodged a bullet as Colorado Springs got runners at first and third with 0 out. Andrade struck out Sky Sox LF Sean Barker swinging and the runner at third was caught trying to steal home on the play in an odd DP and Andrade got the next batter to line out to end the threat. In the 11th, Andrade's luck ran out as he gave up a 2-out solo homer to Sky Sox SS Omar Quintanilla, his 1st of '06. Omaha got runners to first and second with 2 out in the bottom of the inning, as one of the outs was on a missed bunt by Dermal Brown, but Phillips popped out to end the game. Omaha is 17-21 and 4 1/2 games back of first. Former Royal gas can Nate Field got the win for Colorado Springs with 2 IP of 1-hit ball to move to 2-2 with a 5.87 ERA. Quintanilla was 3-4 with the homer to improve to .280, DH Carlos Rivera was 1-5 to drop to .325 and CF Ryan Spilborghs was 2-5 to move to .309.

The O-Royals have Wednesday off before starting a 4-game set at the Sacramento River Cats (17-22, AAA Athletics) Thursday.

AA - Wichita: Wranglers 11, Springfield 5

3B Gordon 1-3, BB, HBP, 2 RS -- .310
RF Butler 3-5, 2B (11), 2 RBI (22), RS -- .292
LF Lubanski 0-2, 3 BB, K -- .273
2B Murphy 3-5, 2B, HR (5), 2 RBI (24), 2 RS -- .243
CF Maier 1-4, RBI (24), RS, SF -- .281
1B Kaaihue 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI (13), K, 2 RS -- .200
SS Sanchez 1-5, RS -- .287

Herndon 7 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 4 K, 2 HRA -- W, 3-2, 4.15 ERA

*** The Wranglers dropped the lumber on Springfield Tuesday with 7 runs in the first 3 innings en route to the easy win to take 4 of 5 from the Cards. A Butler RBI single and Maier sac fly gave Wichita a 2-0 lead after 1 and a throwing error and wild pitch allowed Kaaihue and C Damaso Espino score in the 2nd before a Sanchez DP ball brought another run home and a Butler RBI double gave Wichita a 6-0 lead after 2. Murphy homered to lead off the 3rd but homers in the 6th and 7th got Springfield 3 runs to make the score 7-3. Five straight hits to start the 7th, including a Murphy RBI double and 2-run double by Kaaihue, gave Wichita a 10-3 lead and a force out by DH Brett Groves brought the team's final run across home plate. RP Leo Nunez gave up 2 ER in the 9th but finished the game. Wichita is 16-22 and 6 games back of first. Cards 1B Juan Richardson was 3-4 to improve to .385 but also made his 2nd error of the season in the loss. Former KC farmhand DH Josh Pressley was 2-3 for Springfield with his first AA homer of '06 to improve to .267.

As the Wranglers ride a 4-game winning streak, a 5-game home set with the Tulsa Drillers (21-17, AA Rockies) starts Wednesday. Pitchers: Tulsa SP Alberto Arias (3-1, 3.38 ERA) vs. the Wranglers' Cody Smith (1-0, 2.57 ERA). The Wranglers released starter Ryan Snare on Sunday, which was no huge loss as he had a 6.62 ERA and 1.92 WHIP in 35 IP. According to the Wichita Eagle, OF Shane Costa may be in town later this week to rehab with Wichita.

High-A - High Desert: Mavs 13, Lancaster 8

LF Valentin 3-6, HR (3), 2 RBI (17), K, 2 RS -- .315
SS Falu 3-6, HR (1), 4 RBI (14), 2 RS, E (5) -- .254
DH Stodolka 2-4, 2B (15), BB, 2 RS -- .321
3B Gaffney 3-5, RS -- .283
1B R. Brown 2-5, HR (3), RBI (16), 2 RS -- .285
CF Senreiso 2-5, 2B, 3B (2), 3 RBI (14), 2 K -- .263
RF McFall 2-5, HR (5), 2 RBI (16), K, 2 RS -- .184

Plummer 4 1/3 IP, 6 R (5 ER), 7 H, BB, 6 K, 2 HRA -- ND, 5.68 ERA
Rowe 2 1/3 IP, 0 ER, H, BB, 3 K -- W, 3-1, 4.58 ERA
Moore 2 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, BB, 5 K -- SV, 4, 3.10 ERA

*** It was a Cal-League special as the smoke cleared on a combined 21 runs on 29 hits with High Desert winning. Lancaster had the mojo early but the Mavericks had a big inning late in the game to get the victory. After a leadoff single by Falu in the top of the 1st, Valentin hit a 2-run bomb to center and went back-to-back with a solo shot by Brown for a 3-0 Mavs lead. C Adam Donachie added a sac fly in the inning to score Stodolka, who doubled after Brown's homer. That wouldn't be near enough offense Tuesday as Plummer gave up 2 homers in the 2nd to allow Lancaster to cut the lead to 1. Senreiso doubled Stodolka home in the 3rd but the JetHawks answered with 3 more that inning to take a 6-5 lead. The lead was short-lived as the Mavericks scored twice in the 4th on a 2-run shot by McFall and added a run in the 6th on a Falu RBI single. Five runs in the 8th for High Desert pretty much put the game away as Falu showed some rare longball power with a 3-run homer for his 1st of '06 and Senreiso hit a 2-run triple. The Mavs are 19-19 and 2 games back of a three-team logjam in first. JetHawks CF Chris Rahl was 2-5 to move to .364 and SS Mark Reynolds was 3-4 to improve to .330. DH Javier Brito was 1-3 with his 5th homer to drop to .351.

The series continues tonight. Pitchers: Lancaster's Matt Green (1-3) vs. the Mavs' Kyle Crist (0-0).

Low-A - Burlington: Bees 4, Lansing 1

1B Vega 2-3, HR (4), 2 RBI (16), K -- .258, hitting well lately
SS McConnell 1-3, RBI (11), K, RS, SB (4), picked off -- .189
DH Thibault 1-4, RBI (16), K -- .238
LF Santana 1-1, RS, SB (9) -- .242

Rosa 6 2/3 IP, ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 6 K -- W, 3-3, 2.41 ERA
Garcia, Hayes and de la Vara 2 1/3 IP of hitless relief -- de la Vara's 5th save

*** The Bees finally dodged the raindrops long enough to get in a game and took down the Lugnuts behind the pitching of Carlos Rosa. Lansing's only 2 hits of the game came in the 4th off Rosa and plated a run to give the Lugnuts a 1-0 lead. A Vega 2-run homer in the 5th gave the Bees the lead and Rosa allowed only a walk in any inning other than the 4th before leaving in favor of RP Eliszer Garcia with 2 out in the 7th. McConnell squeeze-played a run home in the 8th and Thibault singled home a run that inning to give the Bees a 4-1 lead and de la Vara quietly shut the door in the 9th by striking out the side with a HBP mixed in. The Bees are 15-21 and 4 1/2 games back of first. Lansing starter Chi-Hung Cheng took a hard loss with 6 IP of 2 ER on 3 H with 8 K to drop to 5-3 with a 3.20 ERA, 2B Sean Shoffit was 1-4 to drop to .316 and LF Cory Patton was 1-4 with his 30th RBI to drop to .295.

The series continues today. Pitchers: Bees RH Michael Penn (1-1, 4.66) vs. Lugnuts RH Kristian Bell (3-1, 4.38).

Royals on the Farm 5/15

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 6, Colorado Springs 4

2B Gotay 2-5, 3B, RBI (13), 2 K, RS -- .240
SS Aviles 2-4, K -- .265
RF Allen 1-4, K, RS -- .292
3B Teahen 1-2, 2 BB, 2 RS -- .120
LF D. Brown 0-4 -- still at .000, can we end the renewed Dermal experiment already?

Yarnall 5 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 8 K, HRA -- ND, 2.93 ERA
Baerlocher 2 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, K, HRA -- W, 2-1, 2.92 ERA

*** It was a game of 2s as there were 5 2-run half-innings and Omaha came out on top by 2. 1B Rick Bell doubled home a run and CF Chip Ambres hit a sacrifice fly in the 2nd to put the O-Royals ahead, 2-0. Colorado Springs tied the game in the 5th on a 2-run homer off Yarnall but Gotay tripled home a run in the 7th followed by an RBI single by DH Alejandro Prieto for a 4-2 Omaha lead. Omaha added runs in the 8th on a 2-run double by C Jared Price and RP Ryan Baerlocher gave up 2 runs in the 9th but held on to preserve the victory. Omaha is 17-20 and 4 1/2 games back of first. Sky Sox SP Miguel Asencio took the loss with 4 ER and 8 K over 7 IP to drop to 2-3 with a 4.59 ERA. Sky Sox 1B Carlos Rivera was 1-4 to drop to .330 and CF Ryan Spilborghs was 1-5 to drop to .305. RF Jeff Baker hit his 3rd homer and picked up his 29th RBI in going 1-4 to drop to .287.

The series is wrapping up as I write and it's 5-5 in the 8th. Starters were: Sky Sox RH Jon Asahina (1-2, 6.10) vs. Omaha RH Kyle Snyder (0-2, 4.33). RP Joe Nelson was called up to KC to replace new pickup RP Chris Booker, who gave up 3 HRs in one inning in his team debut and promptly went on the DL with a reported groin injury.

AA - Wichita: Wranglers 7, Springfield 6

3B Gordon 1-4, BB, RBI (19), K -- .310
RF Butler 0-3, HBP, K -- .282, slumping
LF Lubanski 0-5, 2 K, RBI (14), E (3), OF assist at home -- .277
CF Maier 2-4, 2B (9), HR (5), RBI (23), K, 2 RS -- .282
SS Sanchez 2-4, BB, 2 RBI (18), E (10, double digits) -- .290
2B Murphy 2-4, 2B, RBI (11), 2 RS -- .217
C Tupman 2-4, RS, SB (1) -- .348
* The Wranglers turned 4 DPs

Cedeno 3 IP, 6 UER!, 3 H, 4 BB, K -- ND, 4.63 ERA, not a good start
DePriest 3 IP, 0 H, 2 BB, K -- ND, 3.45 ERA
Gragg III IP, BB, nothing else -- W, 1-1, 5.02 ERA

*** Wichita came back from a 6-0 deficit and capped it off with 3 in the bottom of the 9th to get the victory. Fielding errors by Sanchez and Lubanski along with 3 walks, a bases-loaded double and two RBI singles helped the Cards build a 6-0 lead but Lubanski atoned on the play that included his error by throwing a runner out at the plate via relay man Donnie Murphy. The score remained 6-0 in the 5th when Maier led off with a double and was singled home by Murphy. A fly into a force out by DH Adam Keim brought another run home, a Lubanski ground out brought a third run home and an RBI single by Sanchez made the score 6-4 but Sanchez was cut down at second trying to stretch the hit. The Wranglers entered the bottom of the 9th down, 6-4, and Maier homered to lead off the inning and cut the lead to 1. With 2 out and the bases loaded, Springfield RP Mark Worrell Jr. walked Sanchez and Gordon to bring the tying and winning runs home and give Wichita the win. Wichita was 15-22 after the game and riding a 3-game win streak. The loss was Worrell's 2nd blown save. Springfield DH Juan Richardson was 2-3 with 3 RBI to improve to .361 and C Iker Franco was 0-3 to drop to .302.

The teams wrapped up the series with a game this morning and Wichita moved to 16-22 with a 11-5 win. They're now out of the cellar with a 4-game win streak rolling and 6 games back of Springfield. Report on that one in the next RoF.

High-A - High Desert: Lancaster 14, Mavs 4

OF Valentin 2-5, RBI (15), 2 K, RS -- .304
2B Perez 3-4, RS -- .303
1B Stodolka 1-4, K -- .314
LF Galloway 1-2, 2B (9), 2 RBI (15), HBP -- .291
C Donachie 1-4, RS -- .271
3B Lucas 1-4, RBI (18), K, CS -- .281

Christensen 4 IP, 8 ER, 11 H, BB, 2 K, 2 HRA -- L, 1-3, 4.91 ERA, ugly start
DeHoyos IP, BB, nothing else -- 1.26 ERA

*** Lancaster scored in all but 2 innings and High Desert got blown out by the JetHawks. The score was 7-0 in the 5th when High Desert got on the board with 3 runs on an RBI single by Valentin and a 2-run double by Galloway. It was 14-3 when High Desert scored its last run in the 8th on an RBI single by Lucas. Christensen and RPs C.J. Woodrow and Brandon Weeden all got touched up by Lancaster. High Desert is 18-19 and 3 games back of first. Lancaster SP Gregory Smith moved to 4-0 with 6 IP of 3 ER and 5 K to make his ERA 2.24. JetHawks CF Chris Rahl was 3-5 with 3 RBI to move to .363, SS Mark Reynolds was 2-4 with his 8th homer to move to .314 and LF Javier Brito was 2-3 to move to .352. Three other JetHawks had a multi-hit game in the drubbing.

Game 2 of the series is tonight. Pitchers: JetHawks SP Kellen Raab vs. the Mavs' Jarod Plummer.

Low-A - Burlington: double rainout

*** The scheduled doubleheader of games with Quad Cities won't be made up according to the team site. Burlington (14-21) begins a 4-game home set with the Lansing Lugnuts (23-13, Low-A Blue Jays) tonight. Pitchers: Lugnuts SP Chi-Hung Cheng (5-2, 3.24) vs. Bees SP Carlos Rosa (2-3, 2.64). The Bees haven't played since Saturday so they should be well-rested.