Royals on the Farm 7/31

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 12, Tucson 2 (7/G1)

CF K. Robinson 4-4, 2 RBI (32), 2 RS -- .311, flourishing in #9 hole
1B Keppinger 1-4, BB, 3 RBI (12), RS -- .415
SS Prieto 3-4, HR (2), 3 RBI (12), 3 RS -- .206
C Tupman 2-3, BB, RBI (2), 3 RS -- .289
3B Aviles 2-5, 3B (3), K, RS, E (15) -- .253
2B Cortez 1-4, BB -- .244
RF Allen 1-5, K -- .323

Bernero CG (7 IP), 2 R (1 ER), 4 H, 3 BB, K, HRA -- W, 4-3, 2.99 ERA, nice outing

*** Adam Bernero took a 1-hitter into the 6th and the Royals cruised to the win in the opener of a Monday doubleheader. Matt Tupman started Omaha's scoring with an RBI single in the 2nd and Kerry Robinson started a 4-4 day with an RBI single two batters later. Jeff Keppinger took a bases loaded walk to make it 3-0 before Chad Allen flew out to end the rally. Omaha posted another rally with 2 outs in the 3rd as Alejandro Prieto hit a 3-run homer for his 2nd of the season and Keppinger added an RBI single after Robinson and Fernando Cortez singled. Mike Aviles hit a 1-out triple in the 4th and scored on a Rick Bell sac fly to make it 8-0. Tupman and Prieto started off the Omaha 7th with singles and a Robinson single scored Tupman to make it 9-0. A Tucson throwing error allowed another run and Keppinger hit into an RBI force out to score the Royals' 11th run before another Sidewinder error helped make it 12-0. Bernero gave up a 1-out homer in the 7th to lose his shutout and an Aviles error led to an unearned run before Bernero closed it out. Omaha improved to 44-65. Tucson 1B Chris Carter was 2-3 with his 17th homer and 76th RBI to move to .308, DH Miguel Montero was 1-2 with a double to move to .439 and SS Alberto Callaspo was 1-3 to stay at .333.

Tucson 7, O-Royals 5 (7/G2)

2B Keppinger 1-3, RBI (13) -- .409
RF Allen 1-4, 2B (24), 2 RBI (69) -- .322
3B Cortez 1-2, 2 BB, RBI (6), RS, SB (2) -- .248
CF K. Robinson 1-3, 2 RS -- .311

Osborne 4 IP, 6 ER, 11 H, 2 BB, 2 K, HRA, E (2) -- L, 0-4, 6.97 ERA, gas can is back
Sisco 2 IP, ER, 2 H, 3 K, HRA -- 4.50 ERA, Omaha debut

*** Tucson didn't waste time in getting revenge for the game 1 drubbing as they clubbed Donovan Osborne for 5 runs in the 1st en route to earning a twinbill split. Omaha stranded a runner at third in the top of the 1st and here's how the Tucson 1st went: triple, sac fly, single, wild pitch, RBI double, walk, fly out, RBI single, 2-run double plus Osborne error and inning-ending K. The Royals did get 3 runs back in the 2nd on a 2-out rally that included a Cortez RBI single and 2-run single by Keppinger that was aided by a Sidewinder error. Another Tucson triple in the 2nd resulted in another run to make it 6-3 Sidewinders. Chad Allen delivered a 2-out, 2-run double in the 4th to cut the lead to 6-5 but Scott Hairston homered off Andy Sisco in the 6th for an insurance run for Tucson. Omaha went down in order in the 7th. Omaha moved to 44-66. Carter was 3-4 for Tucson with his 24th double and 2 RBI (78) to move to .312, Hairston was 2-4 with his 21st homer and 61st RBI to move to .324 and Callaspo was 2-4 with his 12th triple to move to .335.

The series concludes Tuesday night. Pitchers: LH Andy Van Hekken (1-1, 5.25) vs. Tucson LH Mike Bacsik (10-0, 2.69), who was supposed to pitch game 1 Monday but was bumped back.

AA - Wichita: Arkansas 10, Wranglers 7

3B Gordon 1-4, BB, 2B (30), K, E (10) -- .314, 12-game hit streak
Butler DNP
DH Sweeney 0-5, 2 K -- .222, rehab
LF Lubanski 2-5, 3B (8), HR (11), 4 RBI (58), K -- .275
CF Maier 1-5, RS, OF assist at third -- .291
2B Murphy 1-4, K, RS -- .233
C Bako 1-4, RBI, RS -- .125, rehab
SS Sanchez 1-4, 2 RS -- .286

Musser 4 IP, 9 ER, 11 H, 4 BB, K, 2 HRA, WP, pickoff -- L, 4-3, 5.81 ERA, season's gone south quick
Cedeno 2 IP, BB, 4 K -- 6.25 ERA
Markray 2 IP, ER, H, K -- 2.51 ERA

*** Neal Musser did a good Donovan Osborne impression as the Travelers scored 9 runs in the first 4 innings and held on to win. Alex Gordon doubled with 1 out in the 1st but was stranded at third and Arkansas jumped on Musser quick. Four hits and two walks added up to 4 runs in the 1st for the Travs and Musser gave up a 3-run homer to Brandon Wood in the 2nd to make it 7-0. Arkansas added an RBI single in the 3rd and a solo homer in the 4th off Musser to increase the lead to 9 before Wichita's offense finally awoke on a 2-out rally in the 6th. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for Paul Bako, who singled home 1 run and, on a would-be force out to end the inning, Arkansas blew the play to allow 2 more runs to score before Chris Lubanski cranked a 3-run homer to right for his 11th of the season. Lubanski tripled home a run in the 8th to cut the Arkansas lead to 9-7 but the Travs got an insurance run off Thad Markray in the 8th and Wichita went down in order in the 9th. Wichita is 21-16 and 4 1/2 games up on first. Travs SP Rafael Rodriguez allowed 6 runs over 5 2/3 IP but only 1 was earned as he moved to 5-6 with a 6.82 ERA, Wood was 2-4 with his 3rd triple, 23rd homer, 16th SB and 3 RBI (72) to move to .275 and 3B Matt Brown was 1-4 with his 35th double and 2 RBI (60) to move to .306.

Junior Herndon starts for Wichita in the series finale Tuesday night.

High-A - High Desert: Inland Empire 3, Mavs 2

1B Stodolka 2-3, 2 BB, K -- .303
CF Senreiso 2-5, 2 K -- .278
2B Gaffney 2-4, BB, 2B (7) -- .277
C Thibault 2-4, 2B, RBI (5), 2 K -- .205
LF Tomlin 1-4, 2B (16), K, RS -- .298
3B E. Lucas 0-4 -- .283
*12 left on base

Green 5 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, 4 K, HRA -- L, 0-1, 6.35 ERA
Weeden 2 1/3 IP, ER, H, 2 BB, K, HRA -- 5.56 ERA

*** The Mavs lost despite holding Inland Empire to only 4 hits. Patrick Green gave up a solo homer in the 1st to put the 66ers up early and 2 hits and a sac fly in the 3rd led to another IE run after High Desert stranded 2 runners in both the 1st and 3rd. Brandon Weeden gave up a homer in the 6th to make it 3-0 66ers but back-to-back doubles by James Tomlin and Kiel Thibault to lead off the 7th finally broke the ice for the Mavs. Tomas Duenas drew a bases loaded walk later in the inning to make it 3-2 but Ed Lucas popped out to end the threat. The Mavs didn't threaten again. High Desert is 18-18 and a game back of first. 66ers 1B Reed Eastley was 2-4 with 2 HR (7) and 2 RBI (54) to move to .271 and RF Casey Craig was 0-2 to drop to .342.

The Mavs move on to pay the San Jose Giants (22-16) a visit for 3 games beginning Tuesday night. No announced starters.

Low-A - Burlington: Lansing 4, Bees 3

LF Arce 3-4, 2B (9), 2 RS -- .247
3B Lisson 2-3, BB, RBI (52), K, SB (32) -- .255
2B Johnson 1-3, 3B (4), RBI (32), 2 K -- .247
CF Duarte 1-4, RS, OF assist at second -- .278
RF Arroyo 2-4, 2 CS -- .261

Kniginyzky 5 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, BB, K, 2 HRA -- ND, 3.22 ERA
Harkcom and Garcia 2 1/3 IP scoreless relief
Hayes 1/3 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 2 H, BB -- BS, 4, L, 3-4, 2.47 ERA

*** The Bees found a way to both turn a triple play and lose their third of four games in the 9th inning as they dropped their 5th straight. Lansing picked up the 4-game sweep. Mario Lisson hit an RBI single for his 52nd RBI in the 1st and things seemed to be going the Bees' way as they turned a triple play on a sliding catch by Jose Duarte in the 1st that he threw to second to double off a runner there and 2B Josh Johnson tagged the runner out who had advanced from first thinking Duarte trapped it. It was Burlington's first triple killing since 1989. A wild pitch scored another Bee run in the 3rd to make it 2-0 before Matt Kniginyzky gave up a solo homer in the bottom of the frame to cut the lead in half. Johnson tripled home a run in the 5th to increase the lead back to 2 and Kniginyzky gave up another solo homer in the 6th to cut it back to 1. The Bees offense could do no more damage and Chris Hayes came in to pitch the 9th with a 3-2 lead. A single, sac bunt and error by 1B Miguel Vega and an intentional walk loaded the bases with no outs. The Bees got a force out at home but then a ground ball to SS Omar Pena was misplayed and the tying and winning runs scored to end the game. The Bees are 15-23. 3B Jason Armstrong was 3-5 with a double and 2 RBI to move to .278 and LF Luke Hetherington was 2-3 with 2 HR (5) and 2 RBI (17) to move to .257.

The Clinton LumberKings (9-29, Low-A Rangers) bring a 9-game losing streak to town for 4 games starting Tuesday night. Chris Nicoll starts for Burlington.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Orem 6, Chukars 4

CF Dickerson 3-4, HR (4), RBI (20), 2 RS -- .339
1B Turner 1-4, HR (4), 3 RBI (18), K -- .193
2B Mertins 0-4, K, E (7) -- .385
SS McConnell 0-4, 2 K -- .304
LF Morel 2-4, OF assist at second -- .291
DH Maddox 0-2, BB, HBP, RS -- .288
RF Bigler 0-3 -- .236

Hardy 6 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 3 K -- L, 3-1, 2.93 ERA

*** Idaho Falls was stifled on 6 hits and a 9th-inning comeback wasn't to be as Orem took out the Chukars again. Joe Dickerson hit his 4th homer of the season in the 1st to give IF a 1-0 lead but a triple and sac fly off Rowdy Hardy in the 4th tied the game. Orem took the lead off Hardy in the 6th and added 3 in the 8th off Jacob Eckley to make it 5-1. RP Bryan Casey gave up another run in the 9th and it was 6-1 entering the bottom of the 9th. A Dickerson single and Marc Maddox HBP were followed by a 3-run homer by Jase Turner for his 4th of the season to cut it to 6-4 but the next three Chukars went down in order to end it. The Chukars are 0-2 and have lost 4 straight. Orem SP Kenneth Herndon went 5 2/3 IP and allowed an ER on 3 hits to improve to 3-2 with a 2.48 ERA, LF Chris Pettit was 2-3 with 2 doubles (10) and 2 RBI (27) to move to .317 and 3B Abel Nieves was 2-4 with a double, 2 errors (9) and his 17th RBI to move to .265.

The short series ends Tuesday night. No announced starters.

Rookie - AZL: off day

*** The Royals are 3-1 and play the Rangers Tuesday night.