Royals on the Farm 6/21

AAA - Omaha: Iowa 1, O-Royals 0

DH Allen 2-4, 2B, 2 K -- .335
LF Huber 1-3, 2B (7), 2 K, OF assist at second -- .249
RF Costa 0-4, 3 K -- .273
CF Guiel 0-4, 2 K -- .231
SS Blanco 0-2, HBP -- .272

MacDougal IP, ER, 0 H, BB -- L, 0-1, 9.00, rehabbing
Osborne 4 IP, 6 H, 2 K -- 3.24 ERA
Baerlocher 2 IP, nothing -- 3.65 ERA
Loux IP, K -- 8.69 ERA

*** MacDougal got the start and gave up a run in his IP before three Royals pitchers and Iowa SP Rich Hill dueled it out with Hill coming out on top. MacDougal walked the leadoff man in the 1st, who then stole second and advanced to third on an error by Omaha 2B Chris Clapinski. A sac fly brought him home for what would be the only run of the game. Omaha only had 4 hits in the game and couldn't take advantage of 2 Cubs errors. Omaha had 11 straight outs to end the game and Costa, Clapinski and C Paul Phillips each struck out 3 times. Omaha is 28-44. Hill allowed only the 4 hits with 10 K over 7 IP in improving to 4-1 with a 2.12 ERA. RP Michael Wuertz finished the game for his 5th save and had 5 Ks in 2 IP to drop his ERA to 1.69. Cubs CF prospect Felix Pie was 2-4 to move to .257, LF Mike Restovich was 1-3 with his 32nd RBI to move to .315 and SS Ryan Theriot was 0-3 with his 13th SB to drop to .307.

The series continues Thursday night. Pitchers: RH Denny Bautista (0-1, 5.00) vs. Cubs LH Ryan O'Malley (3-3, 3.94). IF Fernando Cortez is set to join the Royals later this week.

AA - Wichita: all-star break final day

*** The Wranglers get back into action Thursday night as the Frisco RoughRiders (35-35 first half, AA Rangers) come to town to start a 4-gamer. Wranglers standouts Alex Gordon and Billy Butler were announced Wednesday as two of the members for the U.S.' roster in the '06 Futures game during All-Star weekend festivities in Pittsburgh. That game is usually televised on ESPN or ESPN2.

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

3B Lucas 3-4, 2 2B (17), 3 RBI (29), RS, 2 SB (10) -- .254
LF Tomlin 3-4, 2B, RBI, 2 RS, K -- .242
RF Valentin 1-4, 2B, E (6) -- .299
2B Perez 1-5, RBI (19), 2 K -- .292
DH McFall 0-4, RBI (41), RS -- .239

Gragg III 8 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 11 K! -- W, 3-3, 3.40 ERA, gotta like that K/BB ratio
DeHoyos IP, BB -- 2.60 ERA

*** John Gragg had a great start and the Mavs got their first win of the second half. High Desert got it going in the 2nd as McFall hit an RBI ground out and Lucas doubled 2 runs home to make the score 3-0. Perez singled home a run in the 5th to extend the lead and Gragg took a 1-hitter through 6 IP. IE broke through for 2 in the 7th but the Mavs put it away with 2 in the 9th on a James Tomlin RBI double and a Lucas RBI single. High Desert is 1-2. IE 2B Jack Arroyo was 1-4 to drop to .417 and DH Brian Schweiger was 1-3 to drop to .407. Either all the 66ers' studs had the day off or some roster moves were made after Tuesday's end of the first half.

A 3-game home set with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (1-2, High-A Angels) starts Thursday night. RH Billy Buckner starts for the Mavs.

Low-A - Burlington: all star break final day

*** The Bees start the second half at home Thursday night with the first of 4 against the West Michigan Whitecaps (Low-A Tigers). Carlos Rosa (6-3, 2.57) starts for Burlington.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Chukars 11, Casper 9

RF Bigler 2-3, 2 BB, 2 RBI, 3 RS, 2 SB (2) -- .667
CF Dickerson 1-5, 3B (2), RBI, 3 K, RS -- .400
SS Gil 2-4, 2 RBI, RS -- .500
C Morizio 2-4, BB, RBI, RS, 2 SB against, 3 CS against, pickoff -- .500
LF Morel 1-5, K, HR (1), SF, 4 RBI (7) -- .364
DH Hayes 1-3, 2 BB, 2 K, RS -- .125
2B Maddox 1-4, BB, 2B (3), RS -- .300
*Each member of the lineup scored at least once.

Teaford 2 1/3 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, K, pickoff -- ND, 15.43 ERA, rough start to career
Abreu 2 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 2 H, 4 BB, 3 K, WP -- 13.50 ERA
Hartsock 4 IP, ER, H, 2 BB, 4 K, WP -- W, 1-0, 2.25 ERA, nice start to career

*** The Chukars came from behind three times to get another close win over the Rockies. '06 draftee Everett Teaford gave up 3 runs in the 1st to spot Casper a lead and he and RP Juan Abreu gave up another run in the 3rd to make the score 3-0 Rockies. The game turned in the 4th as Idaho Falls scored 7 on a bases loaded balk, an RBI single by '06 draftee Brett Bigler, who had a great game, a 2-run single by Gilbert Gil and a 3-run homer by OF Alvi Morel. Casper stormed back to take the lead with 4 in the 5th thanks to Abreu walking the bases full and giving up a ground-rule double and RBI single. The Chukars tied it in the 6th on a Morel sac fly but Casper regained the lead that inning off another '06 draftee, Aaron Hartsock. The see-saw lead went back IF's way in the 7th as the Chukars scored 2 on a Dickerson RBI triple and Bigler RBI single. Hartsock settled down to get through the 7th and 8th and the Chukars added a run in the 9th on a ground out by '06 draftee C Matt Morizio. Hartsock got a double-play ball to end the game in the bottom of the 9th. Idaho Falls is 2-0 and the only undefeated team in the Pioneer League thus far. Casper 3B Michael Milliron was 3-4 with a double and 3 RS to set a .750 BA and C Jhaysson Agustin was 2-4 with 2 doubles, 3 RBI and 2 RS to move to .286.

Game 3 of the 4-gamer is Thursday night. No announced starters.

Rookie - AZL: opening day Thursday

The Royals open the season in Arizona against the Rangers. Players to watch on this team include '05 2nd round stud SS Jeff Bianchi, who hopefully is past his back problems that shortened his 2005 campaign, new signee '06 2nd round pick 3B Jason Taylor, 4th rounder OF Derrick Robinson, 10th rounder OF Nick Van Stratten, 15th rounder OF Nicholas Francis, 16th rounder SS Tyrone Wilson, '05 7th round pick P Brent Fisher and '05 8th rounder C Nick Doscher. The organization got 3rd rounder P Blake Wood signed but I haven't seen if he'll be stationed in Arizona or Idaho Falls to start his career.