Royals on the Farm 8/16

AAA - Omaha: Albuquerque 9, O-Royals 1 (7/rain)

3B Keppinger 2-3 -- .366
LF Huber 1-3, 2B (16), K -- .279
RF Costa 0-2, K, SF, RBI (20) -- .360
2B Cortez 2-2, BB, 3B (2) -- .246
CF K. Robinson 0-3, RS, SB (16) -- .318
SS Blanco 0-2 -- .237

Osborne 6 IP, 8 ER, 10 H, 2 BB, 6 K, 2 HRA -- L, 0-6, 7.38 ERA, think he's done? Hard to pitch with a giant fork sticking out of your back.
Loux IP, ER, 3 H, K, WP -- 6.70 ERA

*** The sad-sack Royals dropped another one to Albuquerque as God took mercy on them and rained it out in the middle of the 7th with Omaha down, 9-1. A Shane Costa sac fly in the 1st actually gave the Royals a lead but it didn't last long with Donovan Osborne on the mound. He gave up a game-tying homer in the 2nd and a whopping 7 runs in the 3rd on 5 hits (including a homer) a walk and a HBP but stayed in the game (guess the bullpen can't take it????). Omaha stranded 6 runners from the 2nd through the 6th and a Shane Loux wild pitch scored an Albuquerque run to make it 9-1 before the game was called for rain before the bottom of the 7th. The Royals are 45-80. Isotopes starter Nic Ungs allowed an unearned run over 6 IP on 5 hits and a walk to move to 9-9 with a 3.99 ERA. 2B Edgar V. Gonzalez was 2-4 with his 1st homer and 3 RBI (16) to move to .394, C Nick Trzesniak was 2-4 with his 3rd homer and 3 RBI (18) to move to .273 and 3B Jason Wood was 2-4 with his 20th double and 69th RBI to move to .280.

Game 3 of the set is Thursday night. Pitchers: 'Topes RH Yusmeiro Petit (4-4, 4.05) vs. LH Andy Van Hekken (1-3, 5.60). The Royals' current 10-game losing streak is the longest since they started keeping track in 1989. I don't know why they didn't keep track before that, but whatever. The team is last in the PCL in Ks, but actually middle-of-the-pack in ERA (well, 5th from the bottom there) and WHIP and last in the league in walks allowed. Needless to say, there are a lot of ERAs in the 4s, 5s and higher on this team. They're near the bottom in all three batting average categories, last in walks taken, but like with pitching also have the fewest Ks on offense. Team OBP is .323 (third or fourth from last, and that's with Teahen's .500 OBP over a month factored in). It's isn't necessarily gonna get better with Chad Allen, maybe the team's most consistent hitter other than Costa or Keppinger, gone now. Hopefully Dayton Moore can help change things in Omaha.

AA - Wichita: Wranglers 11, San Antonio 10

3B Gordon 1-5, 2B (35), 3 K, RS -- .321
CF Maier 5-5(!), 3 RBI (81), RS -- .297, yeah, 5-5, but all singles
RF D. Brown 3-4, HBP, RBI (63), 2 RS -- .307
LF Lubanski 2-5, BB, 3B (9), RBI (63), K, 2 RS -- .275
1B Keim 2-5, RBI (25), 2 RS -- .254, taken Kaiihue's job?
C Espino 2-4, SF, 2 RBI (16) -- .261
SS Sanchez 1-4, RBI (50), 2 RS -- .282
DH Sevilla 1-5, 2 RBI (14), 2 K -- .221

Herndon 4 2/3 IP, 7 ER, 10 H, 2 BB, 5 K, 2 HRA -- ND, 5.22 ERA
Musser 3 1/3 IP, H, BB, 4 K -- W, 6-3, 5.65 ERA
C. Smith 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 HRA -- 3.09 ERA, rough game for Cody
DeHoyos 2/3 IP, K -- SV, 6, 1.44 ERA

*** Who needs Billy Butler? The Wranglers pounded out 11 runs on 17 hits in the first game without the top prospect hitter and, despite holding a 9-3 lead at one point, held on for a wild 11-10 win. The star for the game was Mitch Maier, who knocked in 3 runs with a 5-for-5 night. The Wranglers needed the runs because Junior Herndon didn't bring his best stuff to the mound. Herndon gave up 2 runs in the top of the 1st on 3 hits, including a 2-out 2-run single. His teammates picked him up in their half with 3 runs on an Angel Sanchez RBI single after a Chris Lubanski leadoff triple, and RBI singles by Adam Keim and Maier. San Antonio tied it in the 3rd with a solo homer off Herndon but Wichita again surged ahead with 4 runs in the 3rd on a Damaso Espino sac fly, a 2-run single by Wally Sevilla and a Lubanski RBI single to make it 7-3. Alex Gordon led off the 4th with a double and the Wranglers would score 2 that inning on RBI singles by Maier and Espino to make it 9-3. Herndon wasn't done feeding the Missions' fire, tho, as he gave up a 3-run homer and RBI single to close the gap to 2 before being pulled in favor of Neal Musser. Musser had a great outing in getting the game into the 9th without further damage from San Antonio. The Wranglers increased their lead back to 4 with 2 runs in the 7th on RBI singles by Dee Brown and Maier. Cody Smith came in to start the 9th for the Wranglers and his pitching performance went homer, single, homer, single, single, force out to close the lead to 11-10 before Frank White finally took him out of the game for Gabe DeHoyos. DeHoyos got a K and induced a force out to end the game. Wichita is 32-21 and 6 games up on first. Missions OF Wladimir Balentien was 2-4 with his 19th homer and 3 RBI (71) to move to .244, 3B Matt Tuiasosopo was 3-5 with an RBI to move to .201 and OF Mike Wilson was 1-4 with his 9th homer and 2 RBI (34) to move to .301. Three other Missions had multi-hit games.

The series wraps up Thursday night as the Wranglers go for their 13th straight over San Antonio. Billy Buckner is set to start for Wichita. In other news, the Royals have confirmed Zack Greinke will finish out the AA season before perhaps being a September call-up to KC.

High-A - High Desert: Mavs 9, Visalia 5

1B Stodolka 1-3, 2 BB, K, RS -- .313, no callup yet, but has 15-game hit streak and 34-game on-base streak
DH Duenas 3-5, 2B (12), RBI (38), RS -- .286, has made late season surge
3B E. Lucas 3-4, BB, 2 RBI (56), 2 RS, SB (15) -- .283
RF McFall 2-4, 2B (22), RBI (63) -- .244
C Thibault 1-3, BB, 2 RBI (14), RS -- .325, doing well in Cal League, 10-game hit streak
LF Tomlin 1-4, K -- .286
CF Valentin 0-5, K, RS -- .279
SS Falu 2-5, RBI (39), 2 K, RS -- .278
2B Gaffney 2-5, K, 2 RS -- .260

Green 6 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 5 K, 2 HRA -- W, 2-1, 6.84 ERA
de la Vara 3 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 4 K, WP -- SV, 4, 3.74 ERA

*** Two big innings earned the Mavs a win over the Oaks. The Mavs loaded the bases with no outs in the 3rd and only got 1 run on an Ed Lucas double play ball to take an early lead. Two homers off Patrick Green in the 4th gave Visalia a 3-1 lead but the Mavs stormed back with 5 in the 5th after again loading the bases with no outs. Tomas Duenas started the run scoring with an RBI single followed by a Lucas bases loaded walk, a wild pitch that scored Mike Stodolka, an RBI double by Brian McFall and an RBI ground out by Kiel Thibault to make it 6-3. A Gilbert de la Vara wild pitch in the 7th gave Visalia a run but the Mavs scored 3 in the bottom of the inning on RBI singles by Lucas, Thibault and Irving Falu. de la Vara gave up a run in the 9th but closed it out for his 4th save. High Desert is 24-27 and 3 games back of first. Oaks LF Shaun Cumberland was 3-4 with a triple and 2 RS to move to .254, C Josh Arhart was 1-4 with his 14th homer and 2 RBI (57) to move to .308 and 1B Chris Nowak was 1-3 with his 10th homer and 87th RBI to move to .306.

The teams wrap up the season series Thursday night. John Gragg pitches for HD.

Low-A - Burlington: South Bend 11, Bees 1

SS Johnson 1-2, 2 BB, SB (16) -- .252
CF Duarte 1-4 -- .270
2B Arce 1-3, BB, RBI (18) -- .261
LF/CF Santana 1-4, K -- .242, team only had 4 hits
DH Everett 0-1, 3 BB, RS -- .239

Hochevar 2 IP, 2 K, WP -- great first outing in short stint, 32 pitches, struck out '05 1st pick Upton for first A-level K
Santiago 2 1/3 IP, 9 R (8 ER), 11 H, HRA -- L, 2-5, 6.92 ERA

*** Luke Hochevar not only got to see his first Royals minor-league action, he also got to see why the Bees have a losing record. The Bees managed only 4 hits in the game and Mario Santiago got shelled after taking over for Hochevar after his 2 near-perfect innings and the Silver Hawks got the easy win. The only batter who reached on Hochevar in the 2nd was on a Mario Lisson error and, after a wild pitch got the runner to second, Hochevar got out of the inning without any damage before Santiago took over in the 3rd. The Bees' lone run came in the 2nd on a Valentino Arce RBI single on which he was thrown out to end the inning trying to stretch it to a double. Santiago gave up an RBI ground out and 2-run homer in the 3rd, 4 more runs in the 4th and left with 2 on and 1 out in the 5th before Cody Harkcom gave up a 3-run homer to the first batter he faced to make it 10-1 SB. The Bees loaded the bases with 1 out in the 5th and made nothing of it and didn't threaten again. The Silver Hawks added another run in the 9th. The Bees are 22-31. SB SP Vince Bongiovanni went 5 IP and gave up an ER on 3 hits and 6 walks(!) with 2 Ks in improving to 5-2 with a 3.72 ERA. CF Justin Upton was 2-4 with his 12th homer and 3 RBI (62) to move to .266 and 2B Steve Mena was 3-4 with his 6th homer and 3 RBI (39) to move to .260.

The teams finish the series Thursday night as Chris Nicoll starts. Hochevar's next start will be Monday and he's slated for a 50-pitch count.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Missoula 11, Chukars 8

CF Dickerson 2-5, 2B (10), 2 RBI (29) -- .303
1B Maddox 2-5, 2 2B (15), 2 RBI (26), K, RS -- .312
2B Mertins 1-4, BB, RBI (17), RS -- .367
SS McConnell 0-3 -- .259
C Morizio 1-3, BB, 2B, K, RS -- .262
LF Bigler 0-2, BB, K, RS, SB (12) -- .219

Hardy 2 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, BB, 2 K -- L, 4-3, 3.00 ERA
Baldwin 2 1/3 IP, H, 4 K -- 4.28 ERA

*** The teams combined for 13 runs in the last 2 innings and Missoula held on for an 11-8 win. Rowdy Hardy gave up a run in the 1st and 3 in the 3rd on a batch of singles to make it 4-0 Osprey. The Chukars had only 1 hit through 4 innings and Joe Dickerson was thrown out at home in the 5th trying to score on a Matt Morizio double to keep IF scoreless. A Missoula fielding error scored Brett Bigler in the 6th to get the Chukars on the board but Missoula matched the run off Aaron Hartsock in the 7th and scored 3 in the 8th off Chase Vacek to make it 8-1. IF came back with 2 in the 8th on a Dickerson 2-run double to cut it to 8-3 but Missoula scored 3 again in the 9th on a 3-run homer off Jacob Eckley to make it 11-3. Morizio was walked by Missoula RP Jason Neighborgall to start the 9th and three straight wild pitches allowed him to score. Neighborgall walked 2 more Chukars before getting pulled and another walk loaded the bases with no outs. Kurt Mertins singled home a run, Gilbert Gil hit an RBI ground out and Marc Maddox doubled home 2 runs to cut the lead to 11-8 but that was as close as the Chukars would get as Dickerson flew out and Brenan Herrera struck out to end it. IF is 6-11 and 6 games out of first. Osprey CF Tyler Jones was 3-5 with his 4th triple and 3 RS to move to .301, SS Matt Oxendine was 3-4 with 2 RBI and 2 RS to move to .263 and RF Dan Perales was 1-4 with his 5th homer and 3 RBI (29) to move to .254.

Game 2 of the set is Thursday night. No announced starters.

Rookie - AZL: Angels 7, Royals 2

3B Taylor 2-4, RBI (20), E (9) -- .292
DH Francis 3-4, 3B (3), RS -- .283
LF Dyson 0-5, 2 K, OF assists at third and second -- .287
RF Van Stratten 1-3, BB, RS, SB (13) -- .262
C Doscher 1-3, BB, 2 K, E (4) -- .267
CF D. Robinson 1-3, BB, K, CS (13) -- .232

A. Morales 6 IP, 6 R (3 ER), 8 H, 2 K, 2 WP -- L, 6-6, 4.98 ERA
McLintock IP, ER, 2 H, BB -- 2.88 ERA

*** The Royals couldn't get any offense going until it was too late and the Angels knocked the Royals out of a 3-way first-place tie. A Jason Taylor fielding error helped the Angels score a run off Angelo Morales in the 1st and, after the Royals stranded 2 runners in scoring position through 3 innings, the Angels scored 3 in the 4th off Morales to make it 4-0. Nick Francis was stranded at third after tripling in the 4th and the Angels scored twice more in the 6th off Morales to make it 6-0. The Angels scored a gravy run in the 9th off Jake McLintock and the Royals scored 2 in the bottom of the 9th on an RBI single by Taylor and an RBI force out by Tyrone Wilson. The Royals loaded the bases after that but Jarrod Dyson struck out to end the game. The Royals are 11-6 and a game back of first. Angels SP Vladimir Veras went 6 scoreless IP with 4 hits and a walk allowed with 5 Ks to move to 7-2 with a 1.50 ERA. 2B Alex Fonseca was 2-4 with 2 doubles to move to .340 and DH Matt Sweeney was 1-4 with his 6th triple and 2 RBI (32) to move to .348.

The Royals play the 12-5 Giants Thursday night.