Royals on the Farm 7/25

AAA - Omaha: Las Vegas 20, O-Royals 8

RF Allen 3-5 -- .327
2B Keppinger 2-5, RS -- .316
CF K. Robinson 3-5, 2 2B (17), 4 RBI (28), K, RS, OF assist at third -- .293, production from #9 slot
1B Cortez 2-6, RBI -- .234
C Tupman 0-4, BB, 2 RS, E (2) -- .222

Bautista 3 IP, 11 ER, 11 H, 3 BB, K -- L, 2-4, 7.42 ERA, how can he have such good starts and then such horrible ones?
Keppel 2 2/3 IP, 7 ER, 10 H, 2 BB, K, 2 HRA, WP -- 5.30 ERA, those two didn't fool many Tuesday
Loux 1 1/3 IP, K -- 6.75 ERA
Price IP, 2 ER, 3 H -- 6.00 ERA, why keep trotting out a position player?

*** The 51s were high rollers Tuesday as they scored in bunches and crushed the Royals. The Royals actually scored first as they put together 3 straight 1-out singles in the 1st and DH Mike Coolbaugh drove the run home for a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately, Las Vegas got to bat and Denny Bautista was giving off gas fumes. Seven straight 51s reached base as Las Vegas rallied for 6 runs in the 1st inning. The inning only ended when Kerry Robinson threw out a runner at third who was practicing the well-known "Berroa method" of base running. Robinson kept up the good play by doubling home 2 runs in his first AB of the game in the 2nd and Fernando Cortez singled Robinson home to cut the Vegas lead to 6-4. A throwing error by Matt Tupman helped the 51s score their first run of the 2nd on a steal attempt at third and Bautista gave up an RBI triple to make it 8-4. Bautista actually had a 1-2-3 inning in the 3rd but then reverted to giving up runs by giving up 2 in the 4th before getting pulled for Bobby Keppel, who fared only a little better. Keppel allowed a third Vegas run in the 4th (credited to Bautista) and, after Omaha scored on an RBI single by LF Rick Bell in the 5th, Keppel gave up 2 that inning and 5 in the 6th, including 2 homers and a 2-run double to make it 18-5 Vegas. Robinson doubled home 2 more runs in the 7th and Cortez hit an RBI ground out to make it 18-8 but C Jared Price was brought in to relieve Shane Loux and gave up 2 runs to finally finish the scoring. Omaha is 41-63. Vegas CF Matt Kemp was 4-5 with 3 doubles, 4 RBI and 3 RS to move to .385, C Edwin Bellorin was 2-4 with his 6th homer and 5 RBI (32) to move to .250, RF Delwyn Young was 4-6 with his 30th double, 14th homer and 2 RBI (68) to move to .282 and LF James Loney was 3-5 with 2 RBI (55) to improve to .380. Two other 51s -- the team is loaded with prospects, I didn't even get to Andy LaRoche -- had 3-hit games and another had a 2-hit game as the team drilled out 24 hits.

The teams face off again Wednesday night. Pitchers: RH Adam Bernero (2-3, 3.34) vs. Las Vegas LH Hong-Chih Kuo (1-2, 5.75).

AA - Wichita: Tulsa 14, Wichita 7

3B Gordon 1-5, HR (16), RBI (56), K -- .298
RF Butler 2-5, 2 RS -- .322
C Espino 3-4, 2 RBI (12), RS -- .268
CF Maier 2-4, RBI (67), 2 K, RS -- .289
LF Lubanski 2-5, RBI (51), K -- .270
2B Murphy 0-5 -- .229, majors to can't-play-AA in one season

Musser 2 2/3 IP, 11 R (5 ER), 9 H, 4 BB, 3 K, 4 HRA!, WP -- L, 4-2, 4.81 ERA, second straight bad start, no one can say this organization doesn't need pitching
Markray, DeHoyos and Cedeno gave up an ER each

*** When an error by SS Walter Sevilla helped lead to 6 runs in the 1st for the Drillers, it was easy to figure out it may not be the Wranglers' night. Neal Musser gave up a grand slam and another homer in the 6-run 1st and Wichita could get no closer than 4 the rest of the game. Wichita scored 2 in the 2nd on a 2-run single by C Damaso Espino but the Drillers scored 5 in the 3rd, including 2 more homers off Musser for an 11-2 lead. Alex Gordon hit a solo homer in the 3rd for his 16th of the season and the Wranglers scored twice in the 4th on RBI singles by Sevilla and Chris Lubanski. Thad Markray gave up a solo homer in the 5th for Tulsa's 5th homer of the game but Wichita got 2 runs back that inning on a Mitch Maier RBI single and Kila Kaaihue sac fly. That was it for the Wranglers, tho, as Tulsa tacked on 2 more over the final innings to win by a touchdown. Wichita is 17-15 and a game up on first. Tulsa CF Jordan Czarniecki, who did some damage against the Wranglers in early contests this season, was 4-5 Tuesday with 2 HR (11) and 5 RBI (50) to improve to .282, RF Seth Smith was 3-5 with his 10th homer and 4 RBI (49) to improve to .292, SS Troy Tulowitzki was 2-5 with 2 doubles (26) to move to .296 and 1B Joe Koshansky was 1-5 with his 85th RBI to drop to .302.

Wichita will try for a split of the 4-gamer Wednesday night. Junior Herndon takes the mound. P Tyler Lumsden is supposed to join the Wranglers soon -- I assume for the Arkansas series that starts Friday.

High-A - High Desert: Modesto 9, Mavs 8

1B Stodolka 1-4, BB, HR (11), 3 RBI (54), K, E (11) -- .305
2B W. Perez 2-5, RS -- .282
CF Senreiso 2-4, RBI (48), RS, OF assist at home -- .269
3B E. Lucas 2-4, 2 RBI (44), K, E (14) -- .283
LF Valentin 1-4, BB, RBI (43), 2 RS -- .299
C Thibault 1-4, K, RS, PB (1) -- .167

Green 3 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, K, HRA -- ND, 8.53 ERA
de la Vara 1 2/3 IP, 4 UER, 3 H, E (1) -- BS, 1, L, 0-2, 3.38 ERA

*** Both teams had a comeback but the Nuts got the win with a late rally. Modesto took a 4-0 lead as the Mavs' offense couldn't get going. The Nuts scored once in the 2nd and 4th and twice in the 5th as Patrick Green made his second start of the year coming off an injury for the Mavs. The Mavs were being 2-hit by Modesto SP Greg Reynolds before he was pulled to start the 6th and the Mavs capitalized. HD scored 6 that inning on a bases loaded walk by Geraldo Valentin, a Mike Stodolka RBI ground out, RBI singles by Juan Senreiso and Brian McFall and a 2-run single by Ed Lucas for a 6-4 lead. Modesto got 1 run back off RPs Chase Vacek and Gilbert de la Vara in the 7th but the Mavs scored twice in their half on a Stodolka 2-run blast for his 11th of the season. Errors by Stodolka and de la Vara helped the Nuts with their 8th-inning comeback as all 4 runs in the inning were unearned and Modesto took a 9-8 lead. HD could only muster one more single and that was it for the Mavs. High Desert is 15-15 and 1 1/2 games back of first. Reynolds, the Rockies' 1st rounder in '06 (must be niced to have him signed and contributing), allowed 2 hits and a walk over 5 IP to lower his ERA to 2.65 and 5 Nuts had 2-hit games led by LF Justin Nelson going 2-3 with 2 walks, his 7th triple, 12th homer and 3 RBI (55) to move to .235. Nuts 2B Corey Wimberly was 1-5 to drop to .311.

The teams continue the series Wednesday afternoon. Brandon Weeden gets a spot start for HD.

Low-A - Burlington: Bees 3, Beloit 2

1B Vega 3-4, HR (13), 2 RBI (51) -- .247
DH Sweeney 0-3, BB, 2 K, RS -- .000, first rehab game
C Howell 2-4, 2 K -- .248
CF Duarte 0-4, BB, K, RS, SB (21), OF assist at home -- .265
2B Johnson 1-2, 3 BB -- .252
3B Lisson 1-5, 2 K, GW RBI (49) -- .250

Rosa 6 2/3 IP, ER, 6 H, BB, 4 K, balk -- ND, 2.63 ERA, another good start
Schambough 2 1/3 IP, ER, 2 H, 2 K -- BS, 3, W, 3-5, 2.44 ERA

*** Two swings of the bat helped the Bees get the win over the Snappers. Carlos Rosa had the Snappers shut down on 3 hits entering the 4th when Miguel Vega hit a 2-run homer (his 13th) to left that also brought home Mike Sweeney, who had walked to lead off the inning. Rosa gave up a 2-out RBI triple in the 5th to spoil the shutout bid but was pulled in the 7th after Jose Duarte threw out the would-be tying run at the plate for his MWL-leading 17th outfield assist. Kraig Schambough got the final out of the inning. The Bees loaded the bases with 2 out in the 8th but SS Omar Pena grounded out to kill the insurance rally. Chris McConnell's replacement is hitting a hefty .114 -- so much for an upgrade. Schambough gave up a leadoff double in the 9th and the Snappers got an RBI ground out to tie the game. Duarte walked with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch before Mario Lisson singled him home to end the game. The Bees are 14-18. Beloit 3B Whitney Robbins was 1-4 to drop to .321 and 1B Erik Lis was 1-4 with his 32nd double to move to .314.

The series continues Wednesday night. Matt Kniginyzky gets the start for the Bees. SP Daniel Cortes has joined the Bees and may be joined by one of the Dodger pickups, if they don't go to High Desert.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Chukars 6, Ogden 5

DH Maddox 3-5, K, RS -- .300
CF Dickerson 1-5, 2B (7), K -- .317
SS McConnell 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI (11), 2 K, E (3) -- .415
2B Mertins 2-3, BB, RS, picked off -- .413
RF Gonzalez 2-4, RBI, 2 RS, E (2) -- .211
LF Morel 0-5, 2 K, RS -- .296

Hardy 6 IP, ER, 2 H, 5 K -- W, 3-0, 2.92 ERA, another good start

*** The Chukars took the lead midway and fought off a late rally by the Raptors to get the victory. Rowdy Hardy gave up a triple and RBI ground out to the first 2 batters he faced but didn't give up another hit until a 2-out single in the 6th. Meanwhile, Idaho Falls took the lead with a 5-run 4th as O.D. Gonzalez hit an RBI single, 3B Eduardo Nunez hit a sac fly, a fielding error and a wild pitch allowed the third and fourth runs to score and Chris McConnell hit an RBI single to make it 5-1 Chukars. McConnell stroked an RBI double in the 6th to pad the lead but Nunez was thrown out at the plate to keep a second run from scoring and end the inning. Dan Best came in to pitch the 7th and got out of a 2-on, 0-out jam in that inning but gave up 2 singles and a 3-run homer to start the 8th and quickly trim the lead to 6-4. After a walk, Burke Baldwin came in and got out of the 8th without further damage. Baldwin gave up a run in the 9th and put the tying run at second but got 2 Ks to end the game. IF is 21-14 and tied with Orem atop the division. Ogden 1B Rick Taloa was 1-4 with his 7th homer and 4 RBI (21) to move to .271 and DH Matt Berezay was 2-5 to move to .300.

The teams wrap up the series Wednesday night. No announced pitchers.

Rookie - AZL: Brewers 7, Royals 2

3B Taylor 0-3, BB -- .303
2B A. Perez 2-3, BB, RBI (13), SB (9), CS (4) -- .288
CF D. Robinson 0-4, K -- .213
LF Dyson 0-5, RS -- .327
RF Van Stratten 0-3, BB -- .268
1B S. Lucas 1-2, 2B (7), RS -- .326

Arias 5 2/3 IP, 5 R (3 ER), 7 H, BB, 2 K -- L, 1-3, 2.54 ERA

*** The Royals had a chance for a share of the first-half AZL title but lost to the Brewers for the third time in four tries to finish in a tie for second. Alwin Perez put the Royals on top with a 2nd inning RBI single but the Brewers got the run back on a 2-out RBI double off Henry Arias in the bottom of the inning after an error and passed ball helped the cause. The Brew Crew rallied for 3 off Arias in the 5th but 3 Brewer errors in the top of the 6th helped the Royals to a run to cut the lead to 4-2. RP Henry Barrera gave up a 2-out, 2-run single in the 6th and another insurance run came on a bases loaded walk by RP Yensi Lopez in the 7th. The Royals loaded the bases with 2 out in the 8th but failed to score and went down quietly in the 9th to end the game. The Royals dropped to 17-11 and finished the first half a 1/2 game back of the Pads for first. Brewers SS Brent Brewer (has his name on front AND back of his uni) was 2-5 with 3 RBI (11) to move to .222 and DH Andrew Lefave was 1-5 to drop to .447.

The Royals get a 1-day break before the second half starts with night games Thursday.