Royals on the Farm 9/11

AA - Wichita: Corpus Christi 11, Wranglers 5 (Hooks lead best-of-5 series 1-0)

3B Gordon 1-3, 2 BB, 2 RS, SB -- .286
RF Butler 2-5, RBI, RS -- .400
DH D. Brown 2-4, BB, 2 2B, 2 RBI -- .444
LF Lubanski 1-4, BB, RS -- .182
CF Maier 1-4, HR, 2 RBI, K -- .238
2B Murphy 1-4, 3 K -- .450
SS Sanchez 0-4, K -- .238

Greinke 6 IP, 6 ER, 12 H, 2 BB -- L, 0-1, 5.25 ERA in playoffs, no Ks against Hooks offense
Musser 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 3 BB -- 16.20 ERA
Cedeno and Song 2 1/3 IP hitless relief

*** Two big innings got the Hooks the early advantage in the series. Zack Greinke had a dismal start as he gave up a run on 3 straight hits with 1 out in the 1st but Wichita tied it in the bottom of the 1st on a Dee Brown RBI double. Zack didn't get off so easy in the 2nd as he gave up 3 singles and a double with 2 outs in a 4-run Hooks rally. The Wranglers inched closer in the 4th on a 2-run homer by Mitch Maier to make it 5-3 but the Hooks scored on a 6th-inning sac fly to stretch the lead back to 3. The wheels came off in the 7th as Neal Musser came in and loaded the bases on 2 walks and a HBP. An RBI force out and walk brought in Jarod Plummer, who allowed 2 RBI singles for 3 more runs. Juan Cedeno came in and walked in a run to finish off the Hooks' 5-run rally and make it 11-3. Brown hit an RBI ground out and Billy Butler hit an RBI single to cut it to 11-5 but a Brown 9th-inning double would be the Wranglers' only other baserunner thereafter as CC locked it down. Hooks SP Juan Gutierrez got the win with 3 ER on 6 hits and 3 walks with 4 K over 6 IP. The Hooks 2, 3 and 4 batters did most of the damage as DH Tike Redman was 3-5 with a double, RBI and 3 RS, RF Hunter Pence was 3-5 with 4 RBI and 2 RS and 1B Walter Young was 3-4 with 4 RBI.

Game 2 is Tuesday night as the Wranglers try to rebound from the beating. Billy Buckner pitches for Wichita in the final home game of the season for the Wranglers. Alex Gordon was named Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year today.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: The best-of-3 Pioneer League Championship Series starts Tuesday night in Missoula vs. the Osprey. Rowdy Hardy (5-3, 2.80 ERA) takes on Missoula SP Anthony Barnette (6-4, 3.89 ERA) in game 1.