Royals on the Farm 7/21

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 4, Round Rock 3

LF Costa 2-4, RS -- .381
RF Allen 1-4, RBI (63), RS -- .327
3B Aviles 2-3, RBI (31) -- .250
CF K. Robinson 1-4, CS (8) -- .296
C Tupman 1-3 -- .263
SS Blanco 0-3 -- .238
2B Cortez 1-4, RS -- .207

Keppel 4 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, BB, 2 K, HRA -- ND, 4.57 ERA
Nunez 3 IP, ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K, HRA, pickoff -- W, 2-2, 1.80 ERA
Loux 2 IP, H, 2 K -- SV, 2, 6.43 ERA

*** Omaha was being shut out on 3 hits entering the 7th but broke out to get the narrow win. Bobby Keppel gave up a 2-run homer in the 2nd to give the Express a 2-0 lead but that was the only damage he allowed before being pulled after a 1-2-3 4th. Leo Nunez gave up a solo homer to the first batter he faced and Omaha was down, 3-0. Omaha's biggest threat entering the 7th had been 2 1-out singles in the 5th but a double-play ball by Rick Bell ended the inning. Three straight singles started the big 7th for Omaha as the third -- by Chad Allen -- drove home the Royals' first run. A walk loaded the bases before Mike Aviles singled home a run, Bell drove home a run with his second double-play ball and a wild pitch scored the go-ahead run to make it 4-3 Royals. RP Shane Loux came in for the 8th and gave up only a 2-out 9th-inning single to lock down the win. Omaha is 40-59. The Royals handed Round Rock SP Chris Sampson only his 2nd loss with 4 ER on 9 H and a walk with 0 K over 8 IP to drop him to 10-2 with a 2.62 ERA. Express RF Brian Gordon was 2-4 with 2 HR (9) and 3 RBI (38) to move to .215 and DH Joe McEwing was 0-4 to drop to .276. C Hector Gimenez was 2-4 to move to .277.

The teams face off for a doubleheader Saturday. Game 1 pitchers are Express all-star and top Astros prospect RH Jason Hirsh (10-2, 2.18) vs. RH Adam Bernero (2-2, 3.20). In other news, the Game 2 starter for Omaha is Andy Van Hekken, who KC signed and assigned to Omaha. He'll go up against the recently demoted Astros P Wandy Rodriguez. This from the Omaha World-Herald: "Left-handed pitcher Andy Van Hekken, 26, who pitched briefly in the majors for Detroit in 2002, is expected to join the Royals for today's doubleheader. Van Hekken was 3-6 with a 5.56 ERA for Somerset of the independent Atlantic League." Those numbers aren't too promising, but we'll see what he can do. With Reggie Sanders going on the DL, Shane Costa also got called back to KC after the game. Newest Royal Jeff Keppinger is also supposed to join the team Saturday. Justin Huber missed his 3rd straight game with his "tight hammy."

AA - Wichita: Wranglers 4, Springfield 2

3B Gordon 1-2, 2 BB, K, 3 RS, 2 SB (19) -- .300, 40-40 or 30-30 potential?
RF Butler 2-4, RBI (73), K -- .319
2B Murphy 2-3, 2 2B (21), BB, RS -- .241
DH D. Brown 2-4, RBI (41), K -- .276
CF Maier 1-4, CS -- .276
LF Lubanski 0-4, K -- .266
SS Sanchez 0-4, K -- .284
C Donachie 1-4, RBI, E (2) -- .208

Herndon 7 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 8 H, BB, 5 K -- W, 7-4, 4.34 ERA
Lowery IP, BB, 2 K -- SV, 1, 7.62 ERA

*** The Wranglers took an early lead and held on to win. A Cards fielding error scored Alex Gordon in the 1st but Junior Herndon gave up an RBI single in the 2nd to tie it at 1. An Adam Donachie RBI single put Wichita back in front in the 2nd and Dee Brown singled home a run in the 3rd to make it 3-1 Wranglers. Herndon allowed a run in the 4th to close the lead back to 1 and it stayed that way until the bottom of the 7th when Billy Butler singled home Gordon to make it 4-2. Herndon was pulled for Nate Hoelscher with 2 on and 1 out in the 8th and worked out of the slight jam before Devon Lowery came on with 1 on and 0 out in the 9th and closed it out. Wichita is 15-13 and a game up on first again. Springfield DH Amaury Marti was 1-2 with 2 RS to move to .348.

The teams match up for the series finale Saturday night. Billy Buckner pitches for Wichita.

High-A - High Desert: Stockton 7, Mavs 2

1B Stodolka 0-2, 2 BB -- .305
SS Falu 2-5, 2B (17), RS, E (12) -- .270
CF Valentin 2-4, SB (2) -- .295
C Duenas 2-4, 2 RBI (25) -- .268
LF Tomlin 0-4, K -- .295

Gragg 6 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 8 H, 3 BB, 3 K -- L, 6-4, 3.40 ERA, snapped 6-game win streak
Vacek 2 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, WP -- 9.00 ERA, High-A debut
Rowe IP, BB, K -- 4.87 ERA

*** John Gragg III got touched up in the 6th and the Ports took the series opener. Gragg had trouble early but was able to get out of jams until the 4th when he gave up 2 runs on 2 hits and an Irving Falu error. Tomas Duenas got the Mavs on the scoreboard with an RBI single in the 4th but Gragg gave up 3 runs on 5 hits in the 6th to make it 5-1. RP Chase Vacek made his High Desert debut in the 7th and allowed 2 ER on 2 hits, a walk and a wild pitch. Duenas singled home another run with 2 out in the 8th and the Mavs got 2 1-out singles in the 9th but couldn't score again to lose, 7-2. High Desert is 14-13. Ports 2B Eduardo Cornejo was 2-4 with an RBI to move to .397 and 3B Brian Snyder was 2-4 with a double and 3 RBI to move to .304. C Landon Powell was 1-4 with a RS to drop to .260.

The series continues Saturday night. Luis Cota pitches for HD.

Low-A - Burlington: Wisconsin 6, Bees 5

CF Duarte 2-5, 2 K, RS, OF assist at home -- .268
3B Lisson 2-4, K, RBI (48), SB (27) -- .251
SS O. Pena 1-3, BB, HR (1), 3 RBI (3), K, CS -- .125
2B Johnson 0-4, K, RS -- .263
C Everett 1-2, BB, SF, RBI (16), K, RS -- .255

Kniginyzky 3 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 3 K, HRA, WP -- ND, 3.31 ERA
Oliveros 3 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 4 K, WP -- 3.24 ERA
Schambough 1 1/3 IP, ER, H, BB, 3 K, HRA -- L, 2-5, 2.37 ERA

*** The Bees took a 6th-inning lead but couldn't hold it as Wisconsin got a big hit in the top of the 9th. Matt Kniginyzky allowed a run on a wild pitch in the 1st but the Bees came back to score 2 in their half on a Mario Lisson RBI single and Brady Everett sac fly. Wisconsin took the lead in the 3rd on a 2-run homer and added a run in the 5th off RP Rayner Oliveros. Burlington regained the lead with 1 swing of the bat in the 6th as newest Bee Omar Pena hit a 1-out, 3-run homer for his 1st of the season and a 5-4 Bees lead. Oliveros and RP Chris Hayes combined to allow the Rattlers to rally for a 2-out tying run in the 7th and RP Kraig Schambough gave up a leadoff homer in the top of the 9th to give Wisconsin the lead. The Bees went down in order in their last gasp. Burlington is 12-16. Rattlers 1B Johan Limonta was 3-5 with a double and 2 HR (3) for 4 RBI (12) to move to .256 and SS Chris Minaker was 2-5 to move to .333.

The series continues Saturday night. Chris Nicoll pitches for the Bees.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Great Falls 7, Chukars 6

CF Dickerson 3-4, BB, 2B (6), 2 RBI (16), K, 2 CS (4) -- .333
SS McConnell 2-5, 3B, 3 RBI (9), 2 K, RS, E (1) -- .500
LF Morel 1-3, 2 BB, 3B, RBI (19), K, 2 RS, SB (9) -- .299
2B Mertins 0-3, HBP, 2 K, E (5) -- .418
DH Maddox 0-3, HBP -- .286
C Morizio 0-4, K -- .333

Mozingo 2 1/3 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 2 K, HRA -- ND, 8.85 ERA, yet to be overly impressive
Chambliss 4 2/3 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 4 H, BB, K, HRA, 2 WP, balk -- L, 0-2, 4.02 ERA

*** An Idaho Falls comeback wasn't to be Friday as the Chukars lost to the White Sox again. Harold Mozingo had a rough start as he gave up 3 runs on 4 hits and a walk, including a homer, in the 2nd. He left in the 3rd and was credited with another ER after Tyler Chambliss allowed a run on a wild pitch. The Chukars got back into the game with a 3-run 3rd as two 2-out walks were followed with a 2-run triple by Chris McConnell and a Joe Dickerson RBI single. Dickerson tied the game in the 5th with an RBI double but the Chukars coughed up the lead again in the 6th as a Chambliss balk and McConnell error helped lead to a run. Chambliss gave up 2 more runs in the 7th and GF had a 7-4 lead. Alvi Morel tripled home a run in the Chukar 7th but McConnell struck out to end the inning. The Chukars loaded the bases with 1 out in the 8th but Marc Maddox lined into a double play as Brenan Herrera was caught off third. McConnell hit a 2-out RBI single in the 9th to cut the lead to 1 but Herrera grounded out to end the game. Idaho Falls is 18-13 and tied for first. White Sox RF Christian Marrero was 3-3 with a double, his 2nd homer and 9th RBI to move to .272, CF Archie Gilbert was 2-4 with a double and RBI to move to .388 and C Kris Welker was 2-3 with his 1st homer and 2 RBI to move to .500.

The teams play again Saturday night. No announced starters.

Rookie - AZL: off day

*** The Royals were set for a twinbill against the Giants Saturday and earned a split. More on that in the next report.