Royals on the Farm 4/7

AAA -- Omaha: O-Royals 5, Albuquerque 1

LF Butler 0-3, BB, RS -- .273
SS Berroa 2-4, 2B, RBI (2), picked off, E (1, missed catch) -- .545, did help turn 2 DPs
RF Maier 2-4, RBI, K -- .273
CF Gathright 0-4, BB, K, RS, SB -- .083
1B Huber 1-3, BB, 2B, RBI, RS -- .273
3B Cortez 1-3, BB, 2 RS -- .333
2B Blanco 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI -- .100

Lumsden 5 IP, 0 ER, H, 2 BB, 3 K -- W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, what a AAA debut
Shiell 4 IP, ER, H, BB, 3 K -- SV, 1, 2.25 ERA, combined 2-hitter

Tyler Lumsden more than lived up to billing Saturday as he allowed 1 hit over 5 IP and the Royals got their first win of the season. Angel Berroa doubled in the 1st but, with 2 out, got picked off to end the inning. He did bounce back to hit a 2-out RBI single in the 3rd and give Omaha a 1-0 lead. Lumsden cruised through the 3rd and 4th and got out of a 2-on, 1-out jam in the 5th before giving way to Jason Shiell. Isotopes starter Wes Obermueller and RP Ross Wolf walked the bases loaded in the 6th and Justin Huber took a bases loaded walk to score another Omaha run. Mitch Maier followed with an RBI single for his first AAA ribbie and Omaha led, 3-0. Albuquerque scratched out a run in the 7th but Huber led off the 9th with a double and was one of 2 runs later doubled home by Andres Blanco to make it 5-1 Omaha. Shiell had a perfect 8th and 9th to lock down the 4-inning save. The Royals are now 1-2 and a game back of Memphis. 'Topes CF Chad Hermansen was 2-2 with 2 doubles to improve to .750 on the series and was the only Isotope to get a hit.

Today's series finale pits Omaha RH Dewon Brazelton vs. LH Paul Mildren. Shane Costa is day-to-day with a "sore right cheek" after taking a pitch to the helmet in the season opener. The Royals move on to a 4-game set at the Round Rock Express (AAA 'Stros) Monday.

AA -- Wichita: Corpus Christi 5, Wranglers 1 (7/game 1)

DH Lubanski 0-3 -- .000
3B Lewis 1-2, SF, RBI -- .500
RF Padilla 1-3, 2B, RS -- .333
C Donachie 0-3, 2 K, 2 PB -- .000
2B Falu 1-3 -- .333
1B Brazell 1-2, BB -- .500
SS Brewer 1-3 -- .333

Hochevar 4 1/3 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 7 H, 4 BB, 4 K, WP, pickoff -- L, 0-1, 8.31 ERA, way overshadowed by Patton
C. Smith 1 2/3 IP, 2 H, 2 K, E -- 0.00 ERA
Atencio IP, BB, K -- 0.00 ERA

The Wranglers couldn't figure out Hooks ace Troy Patton and Luke Hochevar had a rough outing in the twice-delayed opener for both teams. C Adam Donachie had 2 passed balls in the 1st inning, including one on a strikeout, and Hochevar had 2 walks to load the bases but Hochevar got out of the jam with a double play ball. He wasn't as lucky in the 2nd as he gave up a leadoff triple and a 2-out RBI single to spot the Hooks a 1-0 lead. Wranglers RF Jorge Padilla doubled to lead off the 2nd and Richie Lewis hit a sac fly to tie the game. A Hochevar wild pitch was part of a 2-run Corpus Christi 3rd as the Hooks took command and Hochevar gave up 2 singles and a sac fly in the 5th before Cody Smith was brought in and made a throwing error to allow another run to score to make it 5-1 Hooks. The Wranglers went down in order vs. Patton in the 4th, 5th and 6th but got the first two runners on in the 7th vs. Hooks RP German Melendez. The Wranglers loaded the bases with 2 out to bring the tying run to the plate but CF Adam Greenberg grounded out to short to end it. Three players had 2 hits for the Hooks and Patton allowed 4 hits with 2 Ks over 6 IP to pick up the win.

Wranglers 5, Corpus Christi 1 (7/game 2)

RF Padilla 3-3, RS -- .667
LF Lubanski 1-3, HR, RBI, K, RS -- .167
CF Greenberg 1-3, HR, 3 RBI, K, RS -- .143
3B Lucas 1-2, RBI -- .500
1B Stodolka 0-2, K, RS -- .000

Christensen 4 IP, ER, 6 H, 5 K, HRA -- ND, 2.25 ERA
Santos 2 IP, H, 2 K -- W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA
DeHoyos IP, BB, 2 K -- 0.00 ERA

A big shot by Adam Greenberg made most of the difference as the Wranglers earned a split with CC. Danny Christensen got the start for the Wranglers and gave up a 2-out homer in the 1st to Hooks 1B Todd Self to make it 1-0. Christensen gave up 2 more singles in the inning but wriggled out without any more damage. He stranded another 2 runners for the Hooks in the 3rd and Wranglers LF Chris Lubanski made his first hit of the season a longball to tie the game with 2 out in the Wichita 4th. A Self error aided the Wranglers' cause in the 5th as Ed Lucas hit an RBI single and, with 2 out, Greenberg cranked a 3-run homer to left for his first hit of the season to make it 5-1 Wichita. Closer Gabe DeHoyos struck out 2 in the 7th to lock down the win. The Wranglers are 1-1. LF Ray Sadler and DH Noochie Varner had 2 hits each for Corpus Christi.

A 3-game set versus the San Antonio Missions (3-0, AA Pads) starts today. Billy Buckner makes his first start versus Missions lefty Cesar Ramos in game 1. The Missions feature top organizational prospects 3B Chase Headley, C Nick Hundley and OF Will Venable.

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: Myrtle Beach 3, Blue Rocks 0

CF Duarte 1-4, K -- .167
DH Vega 1-3, BB, K -- .455
C Clark 1-3, K, PB -- .333
SS Johnson 0-4, K -- .091
3B Lisson 0-4, K -- .182

Nicoll 4 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, BB, 3 K -- L, 0-1, 6.75 ERA, no run support
Oliveros 3 IP, 2 H, BB, K -- 0.00 ERA
Humen IP, 2 K -- 0.00 ERA

A rough 2nd and only 4 hits on offense did in the Blue Rocks Saturday as Wilmington found the going tough vs. 3 Pelicans pitchers. Rocks SP Chris Nicoll gave up a leadoff single, 1-out RBI triple, and then an RBI single to Pelicans CF Quentin Davis, who went on to steal second and third and score on a sac fly to make it 3-0 MB. Wilmington got 2 on with 1 out in the 3rd but a ground out and K ended the threat. The Blue Rocks had only 3 baserunners after the 3rd as pitchers Dustin Evans, Adam Stanley and Tyler Bullock held them in check. Nicoll, Rayner Oliveros and David Humen were almost as good after the 3rd but the damage was done. The Rocks are 1-2. Pelicans 2B Mike Rozema was 2-3 with the RBI triple while Davis was 2-3 with an RBI and 3 SB in the win. SS Elvis Andrus and 3B Eric Campbell were a combined 0-7 with a walk.

Rightys Julio Pimentel and Kyle Crist will pitch for Wilmington in the series finale today versus Pelicans southpaw Jake Stevens. Looks like that sorry Burlington offense from '06 has carried over to Wilmington in '07 as the Rocks are hitting a Carolina League worst .167.

A -- Burlington: Bees 4, Kane County 0 (7)

CF Dyson 2-4, SB -- .375
SS McConnell 1-4, 2 RBI -- .286
1B Turner 1-3, 2B, RBI, K -- .167
DH S. Lucas 0-1, BB, SF, RBI -- .000
2B Mertins 1-3, BB, K, RS, SB -- .429
3B Maddox 0-2, BB, K, RS -- .400
LF Dickerson 0-0, 3 BB, SB, RS -- .333, great day for the OBP
RF Morel 1-2, BB, K, RS, SB -- .500, steal from last year's AZL team carrying over to Burlington

Teaford 4 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, BB, 4 K -- ND, 0.00 ERA
Chambliss 2 1/3 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K, WP -- W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA

Bees pitchers Everett Teaford and Tyler Chambliss combined on a 5-hitter as Burlington stole 4 bases in a shutout victory. Teaford got out of a 2-on, 1-out jam in the 2nd and the Bees broke through in the 4th with an RBI double by Jase Turner and a sac fly by Scott Lucas. Burlington threatened again by loading the bases with 1 out in the 5th but couldn't cash in. In the 6th, they did cash in as Chris McConnell came through with a 2-out, 2-run single to make it 4-0 Bees. Teaford was on a tight pitch count, so finished one out shy of qualifying for the deserved win. Chambliss got out of small jams in the 6th and 7th to end it. Burlington is 2-0. Game 2 of the proposed make-up doubleheader was canceled because of the cold and will be made up later this month. Cougars SS Michael Affronti was 3-3 with a steal in the loss.

Sunday is an off-day for Burlington before a 2-game set at home versus the Peoria Chiefs (A Cubs) starts Monday.