Royals on the Farm 5/29

AAA -- Omaha: Tacoma 7, O-Royals 5

1B Butler 0-4, SF, RBI (34), K -- .316
CF Gathright 2-5, K, 2 RS, 3 SB (17) -- .323, on a tear
3B Cortez 2-4, BB, RBI (15) -- .294
RF Padilla 2-4 -- .296
2B Lewis 1-4, RBI (9), RS -- .226
DH Brazell 0-5 -- .322, all of a sudden, he's got a power outage
SS Aviles 0-4, BB, K, RS, E (9) -- .327
LF Maier 1-4, 2 K, RS -- .276
C Tupman 1-4 -- .315

Buckner 4 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 6 K -- ND, 4.13 ERA
Shiell 4 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, BB, K, 2 HRA -- L, 0-2, 3.07 ERA

Omaha got the game tied midway through but Tacoma fought back to take the series opener. Two Tacoma errors helped the Royals to a run in the 2nd on a ball hit by Joey Gathright but Omaha left the bases loaded. Starter Billy Buckner gave up an RBI single and 2-run double in the bottom of the inning as Tacoma took a 3-1 lead. Omaha tied it in the 5th on a 2-run single by Fernando Cortez that was aided by another Rainier error. Jason Shiell came on for the bottom of the 5th and gave up a walk and then a 2-run homer to CF Adam Jones to give the lead back to Tacoma. Shiell allowed another run on 2 hits in the 6th and then, after a Billy Butler sac fly scored a run in the 7th, served up a leadoff shot to Jones in the Tacoma 7th to make it 7-4. Richie Lewis drove home a run with a single in the 8th but a Gathright line out stranded 2 and the Royals stranded 1 in the 9th as Julio Mateo picked up his 2nd save for Tacoma. Omaha is 26-26 and 3 1/2 games back. Jones was 2-4 for Tacoma with 2 HR (9) and 3 RBI (35) to move to .304, SS Oswaldo Navarro was 1-2 with his 12th error, 10th double and 2 RBI (11) to move to .219 and C Jeff Clement was 2-4 with his 25th RBI to move to .238. SP Jorge Campillo picked up the W with 7 2/3 IP of 5 runs (3 ER) on 9 hits and a walk with 3 Ks to move to 3-4 with a 3.86 ERA.

Game 2 of the set is tonight. Probable starters: Omaha RH Zach Day (1-0, 4.04) vs. Rainiers RH Justin Lehr (5-0, 2.64).

AA -- Wichita: Wranglers 7, Frisco 5

3B Stodolka 1-4, GS (4), 4 RBI (20), 2 K, RS -- .293, 3B???
DH Joseph 1-3, HR (3), 2 RBI (15), RS -- .228
LF Lubanski 1-3, BB, HR (7), RBI (25), K, 2 RS -- .300, Wranglers dug the longball Tuesday
RF Blalock 2-4, K, RS -- .196, new addition Jake, Hank's little brother
C Donachie 1-1, 2 BB, 2B (5), RS, E (2) -- .190

Nunez IP, ER, 2 H, K -- 9.00 ERA, not the smoothest rehab inning, but OK
Hochevar 6 2/3 IP, 4 R (1 ER), 5 H, 0 BB, 8 K, 2 HRA, WP -- W, 3-5, 5.01 ERA, like the K/BB ratio, but still grooving pitches
Plummer 1 1/3 IP, 2 H -- SV, 5, 4.56 ERA

The Wranglers handed Eric Hurley his first loss of the season thanks to a grand slam by Mike Stodolka. Leo Nunez got the rehab start and gave up a run on 2 hits in the 1st. Hurley got dinged in the 3rd when Adam Donachie doubled and Onil Joseph smacked a 2-run homer for his 3rd of the season to make it 2-1 Wranglers. Hurley gave up a leadoff homer to Chris Lubanski in the 4th for his 7th of the season and Wichita had a 3-1 lead. Luke Hochevar came in for the 2nd and cruised with only 2 hits allowed through 5 IP. Two hits and a walk loaded the bases for Wichita to start the 6th and Stodolka stepped up and smoked a 2-2 pitch to left for a grand slam -- his 4th homer -- and a 7-1 Wichita lead that chased Hurley. An error by SS Jace Brewer started the Frisco 7th on a down note for Wichita but Hochevar got 2 outs before giving up a 2-run homer to DH Jim Fasano to cut the lead to 7-3. Frisco 2B German Duran led off the 8th with a homer and the RoughRiders scored another run that inning on an Adam Donachie throwing error on a steal of third. Jarod Plummer relieved Hochevar with 2 out and none on and gave up 2 singles in the 9th but picked up his 5th save. Wichita is 22-29 and 4 1/2 games back after snapping the 7-game skid. Fasano was 2-4 for Frisco with his 5th homer and 2 RBI (20) to move to .296, Duran was 2-4 with his 11th homer and 24th RBI to move to .299 and RF Anthony Webster was 2-4 with his 8th double, 10th SB and 2 RS to move to .274. Hurley took the loss with 7 ER on 6 hits and 3 walks with 5 Ks over 5+ IP to drop to 6-1 with a 2.61 ERA.

The series continues tonight. Probable starters: Wichita righty Carlos Rosa (2-2, 4.75) vs. Frisco righty Doug Mathis (4-3, 2.53). New pickup Jake Blalock, who was with Frisco in the Rangers organization before being traded to KC Monday, made a diving catch to end the game. I finally found the trade on Rotowire.com -- he was traded to KC for a PTBNL. He went from Philly to Texas last season in the Robinson Tejeda-David Dellucci deal to join his big brother Hank and hit .266 with a .711 OPS in Frisco last season. He was hitting .170 with a .475 OPS in Frisco prior to the trade. He turns 24 in August.

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: Blue Rocks 4, Kinston 1

SS Lisson 3-5, 2B (12), 2 RBI (28), RS, SB (8) -- .304
3B Perez 3-5, 2 2B (9), 2 RS -- .312
2B Johnson 2-4 -- .220
RF McFall 0-3, SF, RBI (16), 2 K -- .246
DH Vega 0-4, RBI (19), K -- .200
CF Duarte 1-5, K, RS -- .275
1B Kaaihue 0-2, 2 BB, SB (1) -- .266

Hardy 8 IP, ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 6 K -- W, 6-0, 1.21 ERA, the man's dominating the league
Barnes IP, H, 2 BB, K -- SV, 2, 3.04 ERA

Rowdy Hardy did his thing again and gift-wrapped a 4-1 Blue Rocks win. Hardy allowed a run in the 1st on 2 hits and a DP ball that scored a run but proceeded to sit 7 down in order, allow a single and then sit down another 16 in a row through the 8th. Meanwhile, Wilver Perez and Mario Lisson led off the 4th with doubles and the Rocks got a Brian McFall sac fly and Miguel Vega RBI ground out to take a 2-1 lead. Lisson singled home a run in the 5th and, after Perez hit another double in the 7th, drove him home with another single to make it 4-1. RP Justin Barnes loaded the bases in the 9th but got out of the threat without any damage for his 2nd save. Wilmington is 26-24 and 1/2 a game up on first. Kinston CF Jose Constanza was 2-3 with a walk to move to .269, 2B Chris De La Cruz was 2-4 to move to .299 and SP Sung-Wei Tseng took the loss with 6 IP of 3 ER on 6 hits and 2 walks with 5 Ks to drop to 0-5 with a 3.27 ERA.

Wilmington is going for the sweep as I type. Starters: Rocks right-hander Blake Johnson (3-4, 4.06) vs. Kinston’s Frank Herrmann (3-1, 2.56).

A -- Burlington: Bees 6, Wisconsin 4

DH Everett 2-3, BB, 2B (10), HR (3), RBI (10), 2 RS -- .286
SS Bianchi 2-4, 2 2B (5), 2 K -- .233
LF Jirschele 2-3, S -- .300
C Morizio 1-3, SF, HR (3), 2 RBI (11), 2 RS -- .237
3B Thompson 1-4, HR (10), RBI (23), RS -- .226
RF Gonzalez 1-3, SF, RBI (11), K, SB (5) -- .213
CF Robinson 0-4, BB, K, OF assist at third -- .248
2B McConnell 0-4, K -- .210

Mozingo 5 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, BB, 5 K, WP -- W, 4-5, 4.30 ERA
Hayes 2 IP, K -- 5.32 ERA
Chambliss 2 IP, ER, 3 H, BB, 3 K, HRA -- SV, 3, 1.88 ERA

A run of production in the middle innings earned the Bees their second straight win in the opener versus the Rattlers. SP Harold Mozingo gave up 2 runs in the 2nd on a walk, hit, force out and RBI double but Derrick Robinson nailed a runner at third to end the rally. Sac flies by Matt Morizio and O.D. Gonzalez tied the game in the bottom of the inning. Mozingo gave up a run in the 4th but Morizio scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the frame to re-tie it at 3. Brady Everett gave the Bees the lead with a solo homer in the 5th for his 3rd of the season and Morizio led off the 6th with his 3rd homer to make it 5-3 Bees. Mike Thompson smacked his 7th homer to lead off the 7th for his 10th of the season and Burlington made it 6-3. The Rattlers left 2 on in the 8th and got a solo homer by DH Carlos Peguero in the 9th but Tyler Chambliss got out of the inning with his 3rd save. Burlington is 21-28. Wisconsin 1B Gerardo Avila was 2-3 with his 3rd RBI to move to .280, C Jair Fernandez was 2-4 with his 5th double and 7th RBI to move to .279 and SP Tony Butler took the loss with 5 IP of 4 runs (2 ER) on 6 hits and a walk with 4 Ks to drop to 0-5 with a 4.91 ERA.

The series continues tonight. Probable starters: Bees right-hander Josh Cribb (1-3, 4.81 ERA) vs. Wisconsin right-hander Steven Richard (1-1, 3.38). SP Jason Godin has been promoted to Wilmington. He was 1-1 with a 1.84 ERA and a save in seven games at Burlington.

Royals on the Farm 5/28

AAA -- Omaha: O-Royals 8, New Orleans 3

1B Butler 3-5, HR (10), 2 RBI (33), 2 RS -- .326
CF Gathright 3-5, 3B (2), RBI (18), K, RS -- .320, I like how he's playing this season
SS Blanco 2-3, RBI (8), 2 RS -- .196, nearing Mendoza line but reinjured knee
3B Aviles 2-5, 2 K, RS -- .333
2B Cortez 1-3, S, SF, 2B (6), 3 RBI (14) -- .289
LF Maier 0-3, BB, SF, RBI (26), 2 K -- .276
DH Brazell 0-5, K -- .341, what a difference a couple days makes
C Tupman 1-3, BB, RS -- .313
*Omaha still left 10 on base.

Lumsden 5 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 4 K, HRA -- W, 4-3, 5.63 ERA
Ray 2 1/3 IP, 2 BB, K -- 4.32 ERA
Markray IP, nothing -- 4.35 ERA

The O-Royals finally got a somewhat easy win over the Zephyrs to finish a 7-1 homestand. Omaha starter Tyler Lumsden loaded the bases with 1 out in the 2nd but got out of the jam with only 1 run in. Omaha loaded the bases in the bottom of the frame, also with 1 out, and Andres Blanco singled home a run to tie the game. A Mitch Maier sac fly in the 3rd put Omaha ahead, 2-1, and the O-Royals scored 3 in the 4th on a Joey Gathright RBI triple, Fernando Cortez sac fly and Billy Butler solo homer -- his 10th -- to make it 5-1 and chase New Orleans starter (and former WSU Shocker) Mike Pelfrey. Lumsden got in some trouble in the 6th as he got the first 2 outs but then gave up a solo homer to LF Chip Ambres and three straight singles to score another run and cut it to 5-3. RP Ken Ray stranded the bases loaded and Omaha got a run back in the bottom of the 6th on a Butler RBI single. The Royals scored 2 in the 7th on a 2-out rally of 3 singles and a 2-run double by Cortez off RP Willie Collazo to make it 8-3. Ray and Markray finished the game to preserve the win. Omaha is 26-25 and 3 1/2 games back as the Royals moved over .500 for the first time this season. Ambres was 2-4 with his 7th homer and 25th RBI to move to .247 and Pelfrey took the loss with 3 2/3 IP of 5 runs (4 ER) on 7 hits, 2 walks and a K to drop to 0-1 with a 3.52 ERA.

Omaha starts a 4-game set at the Tacoma Rainiers (22-30, AAA Mariners) tonight. Probable starters: Omaha RH Jason Shiell (0-1, 2.43) vs. RH Jorge Campillo (2-4, 3.90). Tacoma's roster features M's prospects OF Adam Jones (.299 BA, .889 OPS, top organization prospect), C Jeff Clement (.232 BA, .761 OPS, #2 prospect in org.), OF Wladimir Balentien (.332 BA, .961 OPS, 11 HR, 10/12 SB) and 2B Yung Chi Chen (.333 BA, .761 OPS in only 5 games). In other news, RP Gabe DeHoyos got the bump to AAA after going 2-0 with a 0.84 ERA and 2 saves (21.0 IP, 10 H, 7 BB, 17 K) in 13 relief appearances for Wichita. In the "obvious" department, Craig Brazell was named PCL Batter of the Week for the week that ended Sunday. Over 7 games, Brazell hit .414 (12-29) with 8 home runs, 14 RBI and 9 runs scored. He's the 1st Omaha batter to win the award since Matt Diaz in July 2005.

AA -- Wichita: off day

The 21-29 Wranglers start a 3-game home set with the Frisco RoughRiders (31-17, AA Rangers) tonight. Wichita is 0-3 versus Frisco. Probable starters: Righty Leo Nunez (no record) makes a rehab start for the Wranglers versus vs. Frisco ace righty Eric Hurley (6-0, 1.83 ERA, 0.98 WHIP in 64 IP). In other news, RP Cody Smith, who was one of the better stories of '06 in the Royals' minors, has been released after posting a 1-0 record, 6.43 ERA and 2.21 WHIP in 14 IP.

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: Blue Rocks 6, Kinston 5

CF Duarte 3-5, 2B (8), K, 2 RS, SB (11) -- .277
DH Vega 2-4, 2 2B (7), RBI (18), RS -- .205
3B Lisson 2-5, 2B (11), RBI (26), RS, CS -- .295
1B Kaaihue 1-4, BB, RBI (31), RS -- .269
C Thibault 1-3, BB, RBI (13), E (3), PB (2) -- .246
LF Bigler 1-3, HBP, RBI (15), CS -- .238
2B Maddox 0-5 -- .305

Cortes 3 2/3 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 3 H, 4 BB, 5 K, HRA -- ND, 4.06 ERA, control problems flared up
Haltiwanger 2 1/3 IP, ER, 3 H, 2 BB, K, 2 WP -- 4.03 ERA
D'Amico 3 IP, ER, 2 H, 2 K, HRA -- BS, 1, W, 3-0, 2.35 ERA, vultured win

A 9th inning run got the Blue Rocks the win in the series opener with Kinston. A hit, walk and Kiel Thibault throwing error got the Tribe a run in the 1st off starter Dan Cortes but Miguel Vega doubled home a run and scored on a Brett Bigler single to give Wilmington a 2-1 lead in the 2nd. Mario Lisson doubled in a run in the 3rd and scored on a Kila Kaaihue ground out to make it 4-1 Rocks. Cortes gave up a solo homer to LF Chris Gimenez in the 4th and was pulled with 1 on and 2 out for Russ Haltiwanger, who sandwiched a hit batsman between 2 wild pitches and then sandwiched 2 walks around a 2-run single to tie the game at 4. He stranded the bases loaded, tho, and the Rocks moved back ahead in the 6th on a Thibault RBI single. Wilmington left the bases juiced in the 7th and Yovany D'Amico gave up a solo homer to C Max Ramirez in the bottom of the inning to re-tie it at 5. Jose Duarte led off the Wilmington 9th with a double, advanced on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch to give the Rocks a 6-5 lead. D'Amico faced no serious trouble in the 9th to end it for his 3rd win. Wilmington is 25-24 and 1/2 a game back. Ramirez was 2-5 with his 7th homer and 2 RBI (29) to move to .301, RF Jose Constanza was 2-4 with a walk, his 11th SB and 2 RBI (13) to move to .261 and Gimenez was 1-4 with his 2nd error, 11th homer and 24th RBI to move to .258. Kinston RP Kyle Collins got the loss with 2 IP of an ER on 2 hits and a K to drop to 2-2 with a 7.36 ERA.

The series goes to game 2 tonight. Probable starters: Rocks ace Rowdy Hardy (5-0, 1.22), who leads the league in ERA, versus Kinston's Sung-Wei Tseng (0-4, 3.12).

A -- Burlington: Bees 3, Clinton 0

2B Mertins 3-4, 2B (6), RBI (20), E (6) -- .252
3B Jirschele 1-4, HR (2), 2 RBI (6), RS -- .277
CF Robinson 1-3, S, K, SB (6) -- .257
SS Bianchi 0-4 -- .220
LF Dickerson 0-4, RS -- .260

Santiago 6 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 4 K -- ND, 2.49 ERA, great start, no run support
Campbell 3 IP, 2 H, 2 K -- W, 3-2, 3.40 ERA

The Bees' bats awoke late to salvage one game of the series versus the LumberKings. Starters Mario Santiago and Clinton's Zach Phillips dueled for 6 innings as Burlington stranded a runner at third in the 2nd and 4th. With two out and Derrick Robinson at second in the 5th, Kurt Mertins singled but was thrown out trying to get to second to end the would-be rally. Clinton got 2 on with 0 out in the 5th but couldn't score and, when John Slusarz took over for Phillips in the 8th, the Bees cashed in with a Mertins RBI double to make it 1-0. With 2 out and 1 on in the 9th, Jeremy Jirschele gave the Bees some needed insurance with a 2-run homer for his 2nd of the season to make it 3-0. P Matt Campbell, who had come on in the 7th, put 2 on with 1 out in the 9th but induced a double play to end it for his 3rd win. Burlington is 20-28. Clinton 3B John Whittleman was 1-4 with his 17th double to move to .350 and Slusarz took the loss with 3 runs (1 ER) on 3 hits over 2 IP to drop to 0-2 with a 3.43 ERA.

The Bees start a split 4-game series with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (16-33, A Mariners) tonight. Probable starters: Bees RH Harold Mozingo (3-5, 4.18) vs. Rattlers LH Tony Butler (0-4, 5.18). Wisconsin's roster features M's prospects Butler (stats already noted, also has ugly 2.05 WHIP), SS Carlos Triunfel (.309 BA, .730 OPS, 16 errors, 17 years old) and P Anthony Varvaro (3-5, 5.66 ERA, 1.45 WHIP), not to mention Seattle manager Mike Hargrove's son Andy (.239 BA, .740 OPS).

Royals on the Farm 5/27

AAA -- Omaha: O-Royals 8, New Orleans 6

1B Butler 1-5, 2B (7), 3 K -- .315
LF Maier 2-4, HR (4), 3 RBI (25), 2 RS, SB (4) -- .280
SS Blanco 3-4, RBI (7), 2 RS -- .181
C Clark 2-3, S, 2B (1), HR (1), 2 RBI (2), RS -- .286
RF Padilla 2-2, BB, SF, RBI (10), CS -- .281
3B Aviles 2-5, 2B (11), 2 RS, SB (2) -- .332
2B Cortez 2-5, K, SB (6) -- .288
CF Gathright 1-3, 2 BB -- .311
DH Brazell 1-5, 2B (4), K, RS -- .364

Bale IP, K -- 0.00 ERA, back on rehab trail
Hendrickson 4 IP, 5 ER, 8 H, BB, HRA, WP -- W, 4-3, 5.36 ERA, not pretty
Musser 2 IP, 3 H, 3 K -- 0.00 ERA
Giron 2 IP, ER, 3 H, BB, 2 K -- SV, 3, 5.52 ERA

Some early production got Omaha the win to earn at least a split of the series. After a perfect 1st from rehabbing P John Bale, Omaha's Ben Hendrickson gave up a single and then a 2-run homer to Zephyrs LF Chip Ambres as part of a 3-run 2nd to make it 3-0 Zephyrs. Omaha put 2 on with 1 out in the bottom of the 2nd and Jorge Padilla hit a sac fly before Andres Blanco singled home a run and Cody Clark doubled home the tying run to make it 3-3. The Zephyrs scored once in the 3rd to regain a 1-run lead but Omaha got back-to-back doubles by Craig Brazell and Mike Aviles before Mitch Maier cranked a 3-run homer to right for his 4th of the season to make it 6-4 O-Royals. Hendrickson finally hurled a scoreless inning in the 4th and Clark led off the Omaha 4th with his 1st AAA homer to make it 7-4. The Zephyrs got 1 run back in the 5th to cut the lead to 2 but Omaha left the bases loaded in the 5th to keep New Orleans in the game. New Orleans stranded the bases loaded off Neal Musser in the 7th and the Royals added to the lead in their half on a Gathright fielder's choice out that scored a run. The Zephyrs put the first 2 on in the 9th but, after NO scored a run on a double play ball, Roberto Giron got the save with an Ambres fly out. Omaha is 25-25 and 4 games back. Zephyrs 2B Jake Gautreau was 3-5 with 2 doubles (3) and 2 RS to move to .333, 1B Andy Tracy was 3-5 with his 6th double, 37th RBI and 2 RS to move to .281 and Ambres was 1-5 with his 6th homer and 2 RBI (24) to move to .240. Starter Chan Ho Park, who beat Omaha not long ago this season, took the loss with 4 2/3 IP of 7 ER on 14 hits, 2 walks and 3 Ks to drop to 3-4 with a 6.34 ERA.

The series wraps tonight. Probable starters: New Orleans RH Mike Pelfrey (0-0, 1.54) vs. LH Tyler Lumsden (3-3, 5.74).

AA -- Wichita: Midland 9, Wranglers 5

1B Stodolka 2-3, BB, 2B (11), HR (3), 2 RBI (16), 3 RS -- .295, coming around from beaning?
CF Greenberg 2-4, 2B (9), RBI (17), K -- .248
LF Joseph 2-4, 2B (5) -- .225
RF Valentin 1-4 -- .281

Christensen 5 1/3 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, BB, 5 K -- L, 1-4, 5.98 ERA
Plummer 1/3 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, BB, K, HRA -- 4.81 ERA
Atencio and Santos 2 1/3 IP scoreless relief

A 6-run 6th got Midland the win and Wichita its seventh straight loss. Mike Stodolka hit a 2-out solo homer in the 1st off Midland starter Luis Ramirez for his 3rd of the season. Midland tied it in the 2nd off starter Danny Christensen but Wichita moved back ahead in the 4th on a 2-out RBI double by Adam Greenberg. Midland took the lead with 2 runs on 3 doubles in the 5th and put it away in the 6th. Christensen's line that inning went triple, sac fly, single and he was pulled for Jarod Plummer, who continued the inning with a single, walk, K, grand slam (to C Landon Powell), double and RBI single before leaving for Greg Atencio, who allowed a single before getting out of the inning. With 2 out in the 8th, Stodolka doubled home a run off RP Dan Denham, scored on a wild pitch and the Wranglers notched another run on a Midland error to cut it to 9-5. The Wranglers stranded 2 in the inning, tho, and left 1 on in the 9th to end it. Wichita is 21-29 and 5 1/2 games back. Powell was 2-4 with his 6th double, 3rd homer, 5 RBI (13) and 2 RS to move to .221, SS Gregorio Petit was 2-5 with his 8th error, 2 doubles (5) and his 23rd RBI to move to .327 and 2B Brian Snyder was 1-4 with his 24th RBI to move to .311. Ramirez went 7 IP and allowed 2 ER on 5 hits and a walk with 4 Ks to move to 2-2 with a 4.13 ERA and RP Steven Sharpe picked up his 8th save.

The Wranglers move back to Wichita for 3 versus the Frisco RoughRiders (31-17, AA Rangers) starting Tuesday. Today's an off day. Frisco swept Wichita last week in a 3-game set.

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: Myrtle Beach 6, Blue Rocks 5 (10)

1B Kaaihue 2-2, 2 BB, 2B (8), 2 RBI (30) -- .270
2B Johnson 2-5, 2 RBI (7), K -- .210
3B Maddox 2-5, 2 2B (7), 2 RS -- .322
LF Perez 1-4, RBI (15), 2 K, RS, SB (7) -- .297

Pimentel 5 IP, 4 R (2 ER), 8 H, BB, 2 K, E (2) -- ND, 2.28 ERA
Humen 2 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K -- 2.74 ERA
D'Amico 1 1/3 IP, ER, H, 3 K -- 2.19 ERA
de la Vara 2/3 IP, 2 H, BB, K -- BS, 3, 0.38 ERA
Barnes 0 IP, ER, 2 H, BB -- L, 0-2, 3.16 ERA

Wilmington battled back to take a late lead but couldn't hold it in the 9th and lost in extras. Starter Julio Pimentel gave up 4 runs in the 2nd on a walk, 4 hits and his own throwing error to make it 4-0 Pelicans. With 2 out in the Blue Rocks 3rd, SS Elvis Andrus' 13th error helped put 2 on and Kila Kaaihue hit a 2-run double to cut the lead in half. Pimentel got out of a bases-loaded jam in the 5th and RP David Humen did the same in the 6th. In the top of the 8th the Rocks got 2 on with 1 out and Wilver Perez drove home a run with a single before Josh Johnson came through with a clutch 2-out, 2-run single to give the Blue Rocks a 5-4 lead. RP Yovany D'Amico was pulled with 1 on and 1 out in the 9th and Gilbert de la Vara came in. de la Vara gave up back-to-back singles to tie the game but stranded the bases loaded. Justin Barnes came in to pitch the 10th and gave up a walk, single and walkoff single to 3B Eric Campbell. Wilmington is 24-24 and tied for first. Pelicans DH Roberto Alvarez was 3-5 with his 2nd triple and 2 RBI (8) to move to .234, Kila's younger brother 1B Kala Kaaihue was 3-4 with his 9th double to move to .233 and Andrus was 2-5 with his 10th double and 13th RBI to move to .229. RP Kevin Gunderson got the win with 2 IP of a hit and K to move to 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA.

The Rocks start a 3-gamer at the Kinston Indians (29-19, A-Adv. Tribe) tonight. Probable starters: Blue Rocks right-hander Dan Cortes (0-3, 3.95) opposing K-Tribe righty Kevin Dixon (1-3, 3.59).Wilmington is 2-4 versus the K-Tribe thus far.

A -- Burlington: Clinton 6, Bees 0

SS McConnell 1-4, 2B (8), K -- .215
CF Robinson 1-4, 2 K -- .255
1B Turner 1-3, 2 K -- .185, Bees only had 3 hits
DH Bianchi 0-4, 2 K -- .231
LF Dickerson 0-3 -- .267
3B Thompson 3 E (10)

Teaford 5 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, BB, 4 K -- L, 1-5, 5.73 ERA
Hartsock 3 IP, 2 R (1 ER), H, BB, 2 K -- 2.08 ERA

The Bees got off to a rough start and couldn't touch Clinton starter Omar Poveda in the shutout loss. SP Everett Teaford gave up 3 runs on a walk, 3 hits and a sac fly and Clinton had a 3-0 lead in the 1st. Poveda had a no-hitter into the 4th and Teaford allowed another run in the 3rd to make it 4-0. Poveda retired 12 of 13 before being pulled to start the 8th. RP Aaron Hartsock allowed runs in the 7th and 8th and LumberKings RP Brett Zamzow allowed 1 hit in 2 IP to polish off the victory. Burlington moved to 19-28. Clinton 1B Mauro Gomez was 3-4 with his 8th double and 3 RBI (20) to move to .242, SS Marcus Lemon was 1-4 with his 1st triple and 10th RBI to move to .219 and LF Chad Tracy was 0-2 with his 38th RBI to move to .290. Poveda got the win with 7 IP of 2 hits and a walk with 8 Ks to move to 5-1 with a 2.01 ERA.

The series wrapped up today with a Bees win. Starters were Bees RH Mario Santiago (1-3, 2.82) and Clinton LH Zach Phillips (5-2, 3.05).

Royals on the Farm 5/26

AAA -- Omaha: New Orleans 2, O-Royals 1

1B Butler 0-3, SF, RBI (31), 2 E (4) -- .320
2B Cortez 2-4, K -- .285
DH Brazell 0-4, 2 K -- .375
CF Gathright 1-4, K, RS, SB (14) -- .310
3B Aviles 1-3 -- .330
LF Maier 1-3 -- .276
C Tupman 0-3 -- .317
SS Blanco 0-3 -- .156

Wright 7 IP, ER, 4 H, 3 K -- ND, 3.35 ERA, looking like nice pickup for Moore
Buckner 2 IP, ER, 2 H, BB -- L, 4-1, 3.60 ERA

The teams combined for 12 hits but could only muster 3 runs as the Zephyrs evened the series in yet another 1-run game. Joey Gathright led off the bottom of the 1st with an infield single, stole second, advanced to third on a Fernando Cortez single and scored on a Billy Butler sac fly to give the Royals a 1-0 lead. Butler and Cortez were stranded, however, and Omaha starter Matt Wright gave up a 2-out RBI double in the 2nd to tie the game. Three double plays kept the game scoreless through the middle innings as Wright and Brian Lawrence dueled. Billy Buckner took over in the 8th and gave up 2 singles, a sac bunt and a sac fly to give the Zephyrs a 2-1 lead. Omaha went down in order in the 8th and 9th to end it. Omaha is 24-25 and 3 games back. Zephyrs CF Jesus Feliciano was 2-3 with a RS to move to .269, C Sandy Alomar Jr. (yup, still playing) was 1-4 with his 4th double and 11th RBI to move to .296 and Lawrence got the win with 7 IP of an ER on 6 hits with 2 Ks to move to 1-3 with a 5.79 ERA. RP Ivan Maldonado picked up his 4th save.

Game 3 of the set is Sunday afternoon. Planned starters: Zephyrs RH Chan Ho Park (3-3, 5.49) vs. RH Ben Hendrickson (3-3, 4.84).

AA -- Wichita: Midland 6, Wranglers 1

CF Greenberg 2-4, 3B (5), RS -- .241
DH Gaffney 0-3, RBI (7) -- .286
3B Eure 1-4, 3B (1), 2 K -- .259
1B Stodolka 1-4, K -- .286
RF Valentin 1-3, BB -- .282

Connolly 5 1/3 IP, 6 ER, 10 H, BB, 3 K -- L, 2-2, 5.72 ERA
Cedeno 1 2/3 IP, 2 H, K -- 4.87 ERA
DeHoyos IP, K -- 0.84 ERA

Wichita starter Mike Connolly kept the Wranglers in the game for a while but got no run support before collapsing as Wichita lost its sixth straight. Connolly gave up 2 runs on 4 hits in the 1st with the big hit being a 2-run single by 1B Brant Colamarino as Midland jumped ahead. Wichita stranded 2 in the 3rd and left a runner at third in the 6th. Connolly gave up 3 runs on 4 hits in the bottom of the frame before Juan Cedeno was brought in and gave up another RBI single to make it 6-0 Midland. Adam Greenberg tripled to lead off the Wichita 7th and scored on a Mike Gaffney ground out to get Wichita on the scoreboard but the Wranglers only had one more base runner as they went down without further threats. Wichita is 21-28 and 5 1/2 games back. Midland CF Richie Robnett was 1-4 with his 14th double and 2 RBI (29) to move to .225, Colamarino was 1-4 with 2 RBI (14) to move to .239 and 2B Brian Snyder was 2-4 with 2 doubles (16) to move to .312. Starter Andy Shipman got the win with 6 2/3 IP of an ER on 6 hits and a walk with 3 Ks to move to 3-2 with a 2.81 ERA.

The series wraps up Sunday afternoon. No starters announced yet.

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: Myrtle Beach 4, Blue Rocks 2

3B Lisson 1-4, BB, HR (3), RBI (25), 2 RS -- .294
1B Vega 1-4, RBI (17), K -- .204
DH Kaaihue 1-4, HBP, 2 K -- .260
CF Duarte 0-4, S, K -- .269
2B Maddox 0-5, K -- .318
LF Perez 0-2, BB, HBP, K, SB (6), OF assist at third -- .299
* The Rocks left 11 on base.

Nicoll 2 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 0 H, 3 BB, 3 WP -- L, 2-4, 5.95 ERA, control problems
Oliveros 4 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, BB, 2 K, HRA -- 1.76 ERA
de la Vara 1 2/3 IP, H, K -- 0.39 ERA

The Rocks never led as starter Chris Nicoll got wild and the Pelicans got the win. The Pelicans scored a run in the 2nd on a walk, hit batsman, wild pitch, and squeeze bunt, then added a run in the 3rd on a walk, 2 wild pitches and a sac fly to make it 2-0 Myrtle Beach. Mario Lisson got the Blue Rocks in the game on a solo homer in the 4th for his 3rd of the season. Rayner Oliveros gave up a triple and 2-run homer back-to-back in the 6th as Myrtle Beach made it 4-1. Miguel Vega hit an RBI single in the 8th and the Rocks loaded the bases with none out in the 9th before Marc Maddox struck out, Lisson flew out and Kila Kaaihue struck out swinging to end the game. Wilmington is 24-23 and still a game up on first. Pelicans 3B Eric Campbell was 1-3 with his 3rd homer and 2 RBI (6) to move to .205, RF Quentin Davis was 2-2 with his 5th double and 18th RBI to move to .257 and SP Moises Hernandez went 7 innings and allowed an ER on 3 hits and 2 walks with 4 Ks to move to 7-2 with a 3.17 ERA.

The rubber game of the set is Sunday afternoon. No starters announced yet.

A -- Burlington: Clinton 3, Bees 2

LF Dickerson 2-4, 2B (7), K -- .273
CF Robinson 2-5, 2 K -- .255
1B Turner 1-2, BB, HBP, HR (3), 2 RBI (11), RS -- .181
SS McConnell 0-4, K, E (8) -- .214
DH Everett 0-2, 2 BB, RS -- .270

DiPietro 5 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 5 H, 2 BB, 5 K, 2 WP -- L, 1-2, 4.42 ERA
Hayes 3 IP, H, 3 K -- 5.82 ERA
Barrera IP, K -- 0.00 ERA, season debut

Burlington fell behind early and didn't recover as Clinton took game 2 of the set. Starter Ryan DiPietro gave up 3 runs in the 2nd on a walk, 3 hits and a Chris McConnell error. Burlington loaded the bases with no outs off Clinton starter Kasey Kiker in the 3rd but Kiker struck out the side after that to escape the jam. DiPietro stranded 2 in the 4th and the Bees did the same in the bottom of the frame. DiPietro stranded 2 more in the 5th but Burlington couldn't get to Kiker. The Bees got 1 on with 1 out in the 9th and Jase Turner cranked a 2-run shot off RP Jonathan Hollis for his 3rd of the season. O.D. Gonzalez and Derrick Robinson struck out, tho, to end the game. The Bees are 19-27. Clinton 3B Jay Heafner was 1-4 with his 2nd double and 4th RBI to move to .204, SS Marcus Lemon was 1-4 with his 9th RBI to move to .218 and RF K.C. Herren was 1-3 with his 11th double to move to .343. Kiker got the win with 4 hits and 3 walks allowed with 8 Ks over 5 IP to move to 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA.Hollis picked up his 2nd save.

The series shifts to Clinton for game 3 Sunday afternoon. Probable starters: Bees LH Everett Teaford (1-4, 5.56) vs. Clinton RH Omar Poveda (4-1, 2.26).

Royals on the Farm 5/25

AAA -- Omaha: O-Royals 8, New Orleans 7

LF Butler 1-5, RBI (30), K -- .328
CF Gathright 3-5, 2B (6), 2 RS, SB (13) -- .312
1B Brazell 2-4, 2 HR (13), 3 RBI (24), 2 RS, E (3) -- .397
C Tupman 2-4, K -- .327
RF Maier 1-3, SF, 2 RBI (22), RS -- .275
2B Lewis 1-4, HR (1), 2 RBI (8), RS -- .211
DH LaRue 1-4, 2B (1), RS -- .083
SS Aviles 1-4, K, RS -- .330

Day 5 IP, 6 ER, 10 H, 3 BB, 2 K, 2 HRA -- ND, 4.04 ERA
Hoelscher 4 IP, ER, H, BB, 2 K, HRA -- W, 1-0, 4.94 ERA

It took a late comeback for Omaha to pick up its fifth straight win in yet another 1-run game against the Zephyrs. Omaha starter Zach Day gave up 2 runs on 3 hits, a walk and sac fly in the 2nd but the Royals tied it in the bottom of the 2nd on a leadoff homer by Craig Brazell and a Mitch Maier sac fly. New Orleans moved back ahead in the 4th and added 3 runs on homers by 1B Andy Tracy and DH Ricky Ledee in the 5th to make it 6-2. With 2 out and 1 on in the 6th, Brazell hit yet another homer to continue his hot streak and put his AAA total at 13. Nate Hoelscher gave up a leadoff homer to CF Ben Johnson in the 7th and New Orleans took a 7-4 lead. Joey Gathright led off the Omaha 8th with a double and tried to score on a Billy Butler grounder to short with one out but was thrown out at the plate as the Zephyrs preserved the 7-4 lead. Guillermo Mota came on to try and finish it in the 9th and Maier singled a run home with 1 out to close the gap to 7-5. Mota got the second out before giving up a game-tying 2-run homer to Richie Lewis for his 1st at AAA, and Gathright followed with a single. Joey stole second and, after Fernando Cortez drew a walk, Butler singled Gathright home to end the game. Omaha is 24-24 and 2 1/2 games back. Tracy was 3-4 with his 12th homer, 2 RBI (36) and 2 RS to move to .272, Ledee was 3-4 with his 6th homer, 26th RBI and 2 RS to move to .261 and 2B Jake Gautreau was 1-3 with his 1st double and RBI to set a .333 BA at AAA. Mota got his 1st blown save and the loss with 4 ER on 5 hits and a walk with a K over 2/3 IP to move to 0-1 with a 9.53 ERA.

The series continues tonight. Probable starters: Zephyrs RH Brian Lawrence (0-3, 7.01) vs. Omaha RH Matt Wright (2-2, 3.75).

AA -- Wichita: Midland 3, Wranglers 2 (10)

CF Greenberg 2-3, BB, S, RBI (16), SB (10), CS (4) -- .233
RF Valentin 2-3, BB, HBP, picked off twice -- .280
3B Eure 2-5, 2B (3), 2 K, RS -- .259
1B Stodolka 1-5, 2 K, RS -- .287
DH Gaffney 0-2, 2 BB, SB (1) -- .304
*Wichita left 10 on base.

Cromer 7 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 2 H, 3 BB, 3 K, E (1) -- ND, 5.26 ERA
Plummer 2 IP, ER, H, 2 K, HRA -- L, 1-3, 3.38 ERA

Wichita dropped yet another game as the losing streak continued. The RockHounds scored on 2 walks, a single and sac fly off Wranglers starter Jason Cromer in the 1st. Wichita stranded 2 in the 2nd but got on the board in the 3rd as a 2-out Midland error allowed a run to score on a Geraldo Valentin single and Adam Greenberg singled home a run to make it 2-1 Wranglers. A Cromer throwing error in the 5th allowed Midland to tie the game but neither Cromer nor Midland starter Michael Madsen gave any more ground. Wichita stranded 2 in the 6th and left the bases loaded in the 8th as the game went into extra innings. RP Jarod Plummer had pitched perfect 8th and 9th innings but the game ended abruptly in the 10th on a leadoff homer by Midland DH Casey Myers. Wichita is 21-27 and 5 games back. Myers was 1-4 with his 2nd homer and 8th RBI to move to .356, C Landon Powell was 1-3 with his 5th double to move to .211 and Madsen allowed 2 ER on 5 hits and 2 walks with 5 Ks to move his ERA to 1.75. RP Steven Sharpe got the win with a hit over 2 IP to move to 2-0 with a 1.62 ERA.

The series goes to game 2 tonight. Probable starters: TBA for Wichita and righty Andy Shipman (2-2, 3.09) for Midland.

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: Blue Rocks 12, Myrtle Beach 2

2B Maddox 3-4, BB, RBI (14), 3 RS -- .338
1B Vega 2-4, BB, 2B (5), 4 RBI (16), K, RS -- .202
C Thibault 2-4, BB, 2B (7), 3 RBI (12), RS -- .250
DH Kaaihue 2-6, RBI (28), RS -- .260
SS Arce 2-4, BB, 2B (9), RBI (9), RS -- .263
RF McFall 1-4, BB, RBI (15) -- .250
CF Duarte 0-3, 2 BB, K, 3 RS, SB (10) -- .275
3B Lisson 1-5, BB, RBI (24), 2 K, 2 RS -- .295

B. Johnson 7 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 5 K -- W, 3-4, 4.06 ERA
Haltiwanger IP, K -- 4.05 ERA
Barnes IP, H, K, WP -- 2.81 ERA

The Blue Rocks jumped all over Pelicans starter J.C. Cuevas and cruised to the win. Wilmington scored 2 in the 1st on a Marc Maddox RBI single and a 2-out RBI single by Miguel Vega to take the early lead. Myrtle Beach scored a run off SP Blake Johnson in the 1st but he got out of the inning without further damage. The Blue Rocks loaded the bases to chase Cuevas with none out in the 2nd and RP Beau Jones walked Mario Lisson to force in a run, induced a 1-out RBI ground out by Brian McFall and gave up a bases-clearing double to Kiel Thibault to make it 7-1 Blue Rocks. Wilmington loaded the bases to start the 3rd as well and that chased Jones for RP Sergio Valenzuela, who gave up a Kaaihue RBI single and a bases-clearing double by Vega to make it 11-1 Rocks. The Pelicans scored off Johnson in the 3rd but that would be all they could muster as Johnson and 2 relievers would allow only 2 hits after that. A Valentino Arce RBI force out in the 8th padded Wilmington's lead to 12-2 and that's how it ended. Wilmington is 24-22 and 1 1/2 games up on first. Pelicans CF Jordan Schafer was 1-3 with his 4th triple and 7th RBI to move to .279, SS Elvis Andrus was 0-3 with his 12th RBI to move to .222 and Cuevas took the loss with 5 ER on 4 hits and 4 walks with a K over an IP to drop to 0-7 with a 6.39 ERA.

The series continues tonight. Probable starters: Wilmington righty Chris Nicoll (2-3, 5.85) versus Carolina League wins leader and Pelicans right-hander Moises Hernandez (6-2, 3.42).

A -- Burlington: Clinton 4, Bees 2

C Howell 1-4, HR (1), 2 RBI (4), K, RS, E (1) -- .250
2B McConnell 1-3, HBP, 2B (7), 2 K, SB (8) -- .220
LF Dickerson 1-4, K -- .266
SS Bianchi 0-4, RS -- .243

Cribb 5 1/3 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 6 K -- L, 1-3, 4.81 ERA
Godin 3 2/3 IP, H, 2 BB, 2 K -- 1.84 ERA

Burlington outhit the LumberKings but couldn't outscore them as Clinton took the series opener. Starter Josh Cribb loaded the bases with 1 out in the 3rd and a sac fly and 2-run double made it 3-0 Clinton. Two Clinton errors led to a run on a Jeff Howell force out in the 4th as the lead was cut to 3-1. Back-to-back doubles to start the 6th notched another run for Clinton to make it 4-1. Howell cranked his 1st homer of the season in the 9th but the Bees couldn't rally. Burlington is 19-26. Clinton DH Chad Tracy was 2-4 with 2 doubles (17) and 3 RBI (37) to move to .299, 3B John Whittleman was 1-2 with 2 walks, his 16th double and 12th error to move to .372 and Clinton starter Michael Ballard got the win with an UER on 4 hits and a walk with 2 Ks over 6 IP to move to 6-3 with a 4.06 ERA. RP Brennan Garr notched his 2nd save.

The teams match back up tonight. Probable starters: Bees LH Ryan DiPietro (1-1, 4.55) vs. Rangers' prospect LH Kasey Kiker (0-0, 0.00).

Royals on the Farm 5/24

AAA -- Omaha: O-Royals 3, Oklahoma 2 (8/G1)

1B Butler 0-2, HBP -- .330
CF Gathright 2-3, BB, 2 RBI (17), K, picked off, E (1) -- .308
3B Aviles 1-3, RBI (27) -- .326
DH Brazell 1-3, 2B (3), K -- .383
C LaRue 0-2, S -- .000
LF Maier 0-3 -- .267
RF Padilla 1-2, BB, 2 RS -- .254
SS Blanco 0-1, 2 S -- .161

Shiell 6 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 5 K, HRA -- ND, 2.43 ERA
Musser 2 IP, BB, K -- W, 2-0, 0.00 ERA

Omaha was held silent by former Royal P Mike Wood but rallied late to force "extras" in a planned 7-inning game and won in the 8th. SP Jason Shiell gave up a solo homer to RedHawks 2B Tug Hulett, the second batter of the game, and Oklahoma had a 1-0 lead. Wood took a no-hitter into the 6th as Shiell dodged a couple bullets to keep the score at 1-0. With 1 on and 1 out in the 6th, Joey Gathright broke up the no-no with an RBI single that also tied the game. Neal Musser replaced Shiell with 2 on and 0 out in the 7th and allowed a sac fly to give the RedHawks a 2-1 lead. Craig Brazell doubled to lead off the Omaha 7th and Mike Aviles drove home pinch runner Richie Lewis with a single to tie the game once more and force extra innings. Jorge Padilla led off the Omaha 8th with a single and Wood was pulled for A.J. Murray with 1 out and Padilla at second. Gathright came through again with a walkoff single that scored Padilla to give Omaha the 3-2 win. Oklahoma C Nick Trzesniak was 2-3 to set a .667 BA, Hulett (son of former major leaguer Tim Hulett) was 1-4 with his 2nd homer and 19th RBI to move to .312 and Wood took the loss with 3 ER on 4 hits and 2 walks with 2 Ks to drop to 3-1 with a 2.58 ERA.

O-Royals 10, Oklahoma 6 (7/G2)

LF Butler 1-2, 2 BB, HR (9), 4 RBI (29), 2 RS -- .333, clutch grand slam
1B Brazell 2-4, 2 HR (11), 3 RBI (21), K, 2 RS -- .391, flammable
2B Lewis 2-2, SF, 2B (4), 3 RBI (6), RS -- .208
SS Aviles 2-3, 2B (10), RS -- .331
RF Maier 2-3, 2 2B (7), 2 RS -- .274
CF Gathright 0-3, BB, RS -- .301
DH LaRue 0-3, HBP, K -- .000
C Tupman 1-2, BB, RS -- .320

Markray 3 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, BB, K -- 4.50 ERA
Giron IP, 3 ER, 2 H, BB, 2 K, HRA -- 5.59 ERA
Ray 2 IP, ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K, HRA -- W, 2-1, 4.76 ERA
Buckner IP, H, 2 K -- 3.50 ERA

Craig Brazell had another 2 homer game and a 7-run outburst in the 6th got Omaha the comeback win and the 4-game sweep of the RedHawks. SP Thad Markray gave up 2 runs on 3 hits in the 2nd but a Richie Lewis sac fly in the 3rd cut the lead to 2-1. Roberto Giron came in for the 4th and allowed a solo homer by RedHawks RF Kevin West to make it 3-1 Oklahoma. Brazell cranked a 2-run homer off RP Franklyn German in the bottom of the 4th to tie the game and mark his 10th at AAA. The Royals stranded 2 in the inning and Oklahoma got a 2-run single by LF Jason Botts off Ken Ray in the 5th to take a 5-3 lead. A leadoff homer by 3B Dave Matranga off Ray in the 6th made it 6-3 RedHawks when Omaha came up in the bottom of the inning. With the bases loaded and 1 out, Lewis singled 2 runs home and a Gathright walk reloaded the bases. With 2 out, Butler stepped up versus RP Michael Bumstead and took a 2-0 pitch out of the park to left for a grand slam that made it 9-6 Omaha. Brazell followed with his 11th homer and Omaha had a 10-6 lead. Billy Buckner gave up a leadoff double in the 7th but set the next three down in order to end it. Omaha is 23-24 and 3 1/2 games back. Matranga was 2-3 with his 1st double, 3rd homer, 3 RBI (11) and 1st SB to move to .270, Botts was 2-4 with his 13th double and 2 RBI (36) to move to .270 and West was 2-4 with his 3rd homer and 10th RBI to move to .262. RP A.J. Murray took the loss with 5 ER on 3 hits and 2 walks with 2 Ks in 1 IP to drop to 2-2 with a 5.82 ERA.

The O-Royals start a 4-game home set versus the New Orleans Zephyrs (23-25, AAA Mets) tonight. Probable starters: Zephyrs LH Adam Bostick (2-3, 5.55) vs. RH Zach Day (1-0, 2.93). Butler received a curtain call from the Omaha fans for his grand slam. Omaha is 1-3 versus New Orleans thus far. Three of those 4 went into extras and all were 1-run games.

AA -- Wichita: Frisco 11, Wranglers 4

LF Valentin 2-4, E (2) -- .266
3B Eure 1-4, HR (2), 2 RBI (8), RS -- .245
SS Falu 1-4, BB, 2 RBI (10), K, CS -- .244
1B Stodolka 1-4, 2 K, RS -- .291
DH Gaffney 1-4, K, RS -- .318
CF Greenberg 1-2, BB, HBP, 2B (8), K, RS -- .222

Rosa 1 2/3 IP, 7 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, K, HRA, E (1) -- L, 2-2, 4.75 ERA, oooooof
Santos 2 1/3 IP, 2 UER, 2 H, 2 BB, K -- 4.15 ERA
Atencio 2 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 K, HRA -- 4.32 ERA
Tamayo 1 2/3 IP, K -- 0.00 ERA

Carlos Rosa got hammered for a change and Wichita dropped its 4th straight in taking the sweep from Frisco. Jeff Eure hit a 2-run homer in the top of the 1st off SP Doug Mathis for his 2nd homer and the Wranglers surged ahead. That surge came to an abrupt halt in the Frisco 2nd when Rosa gave up 5 runs on 5 hits, 2 walks and his own throwing error and Arthur Santos came in and gave up a 2-run double to make it 7-2 Frisco. Irving Falu hit a 2-out, 2-run single in the 4th to cut it to 7-4 but Santos gave up a 2-run double in the bottom of the inning to make it 9-4. RP Greg Atencio gave up a leadoff homer to 1B Adam Fox in the 5th and walked in a run in the 7th. Wichita managed only 2 hits after the 4th. Wichita is 21-26 and 4 1/2 games back. Frisco C Salomon Manriquez was 3-4 with 2 doubles (4) and 3 RBI (20) to move to .291, 3B Travis Metcalf (former KU player) was 2-4 with his 12th double and 2 RBI (29) to move to .299 and 2B German Duran was 1-3 with his 10th homer and 2 RBI (23) to move to .287. Mathis got the win despite 4 ER on 5 hits and 2 walks with 5 K over 5 IP to move to 4-3 with a 2.53 ERA.

The Wranglers start a 3-game set at the Midland RockHounds (27-15, AA Athletics) tonight. Probable starters: Wichita lefty Jason Cromer (2-3, 6.21) vs. Midland righty Michael Madsen (3-0, 1.45, 0.87 WHIP, I prefer to call him Mr. Blonde or Budd, myself). Midland's roster features A's prospects C Landon Powell (.208 BA, .623 OPS), 3B Jeff Baisley (.274 BA, .788 OPS) and OF Richie Robnett (.224 BA, .639 OPS, team leading 27 RBI).

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: off day

Wilmington starts a 3-game set at the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (19-26, A-Adv. Braves) tonight. The Blue Rocks are 2-5 versus the Pelicans thus far. Probable starters: Rocks RH Blake Johnson (2-4, 4.30) vs. Pelicans RH Jairo “J.C.” Cuevas (0-6, 5.35).

A -- Burlington: Bees 3, Great Lakes 2

3B Mertins 1-3, BB, RBI (19), K, SB (10) -- .243
LF Dickerson 1-3, BB, K, 2 RS, 3 SB (11) -- .267
CF Robinson 1-4, K -- .247
SB McConnell 0-2, 2 BB, SB (7) -- .218
SS Bianchi 0-3, BB, K -- .257

Mozingo 5 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 5 K -- W, 3-5, 4.18 ERA
Hartsock 1 1/3 IP, H -- 1.96 ERA
Chambliss 2 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 4 K, WP -- SV, 2, 1.64 ERA

RP Tyler Chambliss had a shaky 9th but held on for his 2nd save as Burlington earned a 4-game split versus the Loons. With 2 outs and a man on second in the 3rd, Derrick Robinson singled and an error by pitcher Clayton Kershaw allowed the runner to score to make it 1-0 Bees. With 2 out and Joe Dickerson on first in the 4th, Dickerson stole second and advanced to third on another Loons error before pulling off a straight steal of home to give the Bees a 2-0 lead. Dickerson walked and stole second in the 6th before Kurt Mertins singled him home to make it 3-0. Chambliss stranded 2 in the 8th after SP Harold Mozingo and Aaron Hartsock pitched 7 scoreless innings. Chambliss gave up a leadoff single and RBI double before loading the bases with no outs. A K was followed by a sac fly to cut the lead to 1 but Chambliss struck out DH Adolfo Gonzalez to end it. Burlington is 19-25 and 10 games back. Great Lakes 2B Preston Mattingly was 2-4 with his 4th double and 12th RBI to move to .190, RF James Peterson was 1-2 with 2 walks and his 4th double to move to .391 and Kershaw took the loss with 4 IP of 2 R (1 ER) on 3 hits and 3 walks with 7 Ks to drop to 4-2 with a 2.79 ERA.

The Bees start a split 4-game set with the Clinton LumberKings (27-17, A Rangers) tonight. Probable starters: Bees RH Josh Cribb (1-2, 4.45) vs. Clinton LH Mike Ballard (5-3, 4.60). The Bees are 2-2 versus Clinton thus far. As I predicted at one point earlier this season, P Brent Fisher was put on the DL with a rotator cuff strain (he wasn't the same pitcher as the last couple seasons) and P Henry Barrera has been brought up from extended ST. Barrera started the season in Burlington but was sent down after it was determined he had an "illegal delivery," whatever that means.

Royal legacy #2 -- the 1980 Royals (97-65)

The summer of 1980 was the setting for the nation's eyes focusing on Kansas City as 27-year-old George Brett had the best season of his career in leading the Royals to the postseason for the fourth of the last five seasons and, this time, the Royals didn't succumb to the Yankees in the postseason. Unfortunately, the Philadelphia Phillies did stand in the way in the Royals' first trip to the World Series and a case of hemorrhoids was among the factors to help do in Brett and the Royals. In 1979, the Royals had won but hadn't lived up to the standards set by Whitey Herzog's teams from '76-78 in making the playoffs. KC placed second in the AL West and Herzog's conflicts with the front office led to his firing. Orioles coach Jim Frey got his first managerial shot and would make the best of it in '80 by helping guide the Royals to their second-best record ever.

Thanks to a lineup featuring few weak links, the Royals' offense was among the best in the American League. The Royals topped the AL in batting (.286), hits, triples and steals and were top five in OBP (.344, third), doubles (third), slugging (.413, fourth), runs scored (809, fourth), and strikeouts (fifth lowest). The Royals were sixth in walks drawn and, as usual in Royals Stadium, ninth in HR. The pitching staff couldn't live up to those standards but was solid with top five finishes in saves (third), walks (third), shutouts (10, fourth), ERA (3.83, fifth), hits allowed (fifth), runs allowed (694, fifth), and homers allowed (129, fifth). KC's 37 complete games were sixth in the AL and the team only lagged in Ks at 13th.

GM Joe Burke made no huge moves after the disappointment of '79 but did tweak the team in ways that paid off. Closer Al Hrabosky was granted free agency as Dan Quisenberry had proven his worth in '79; OF Al Cowens, who had been productive from '77-79, was the cornerstone of a three-player trade to California that netted IF Rance Mulliniks and 1B Willie Aikens; and Burke also let SS Freddie Patek go via free agency (after Patek had held down that position throughout the '70s) with an eye on giving U.L. Washington a try at short. Patek's departure would put the SS position in flux in KC over time with only intermittent periods of production, including the Kurt Stillwell years ('88-91, decent hitting, not great D), the Greg Gagne years ('93-95, great D, sporadic O), and Rey Sanchez years ('99-01, solid D, again unsatisfactory O). Burke's in-season moves had little impact. Former Reds closer Rawly Eastwick was brought in for 22 innings of sub-par relief, aging OF Jose Cardenal was brought in and actually hit OK in 25 games (albeit with bad defense), and that about sums it up. The 1980 draft year was fairly quiet in Kansas City. The January drafts saw no good players missed by KC and the biggest get of the June draft was seventh rounder C Don Slaught, who would be packaged with first rounder P Frank Wills in the trade for Jim Sundberg in '85. KC passed up Danny Tartabull in round 3 (although they would get his best years anyway), took SS Cliff Pastornicky over Eric Davis in round 8 and, like many teams, passed repeatedly on P Oil Can Boyd (16th rounder to BoSox) and C Darren Daulton (25th rounder to Phils).

Put simply, 1980 belonged to George Brett as he chased the first .400 season BA since Ted Williams. He had exhibited greatness, especially in '76, '77 and '79, but put his career on another level with what he did at the plate in 1980. Brett won the team's first league MVP award, set team records in batting (.390), OBP (.454), slugging (.664), OPS and OPS+ (1.118 and 202), hit 33 doubles, 9 triples and 24 HR, drove in 118 runs (team record then, fifth all-time among Royals now), scored 87 runs, drew 58 walks compared to only 22 Ks, was intentionally walked 16 times and stole 15 bases. His efforts brought him the most deserved Silver Slugger award in KC history and his 137 runs created tied his '79 season for a team record in that stat (he later eclipsed that mark in '85). OF Willie Wilson won the only Gold Glove of his career (playing mostly LF with AO in CF), the first of 2 Silver Slugger awards (along with '82) and hit .326 with a .778 OPS, 133 runs scored (led league, team record at the time since outdone by Johnny Damon), 230 hits (team record including Royals record 184 singles, led AL), 28 doubles, 15 triples (third all-time among Royals, led AL with Alfredo Griffin) and 79 SB (second all-time among Royals, he's the only guy in Royals history with more than 70 steals in a season) in 705 AB (MLB record that still stands). DH Hal McRae also produced again by hitting .297 with an .825 OPS, 39 doubles, 5 triples, 14 HR, 83 RBI and 10 SB; RF Clint Hurdle would play below-average D in right but hit .294 with an .807 OPS, 31 doubles, 10 HR and 60 RBI in 130 games; and 25-year-old Aikens would taste success in KC by hitting .278 with a .789 OPS, 24 doubles, 20 HR, 98 RBI, and average D at first while grounding into 23 DPs. Not as productive but decent were regulars U.L. Washington (shaky but rangy D, .273 BA, .711 OPS, 11 3B, 20 SB), C Darrell Porter (not great D, .249 BA, .696 OPS, 69 walks compared to only 50 Ks), and CF Amos Otis (good D, .251 BA, .699 OPS, 10 HR, 16 SB). 2B Frank White wasn't really handy with the bat, at least during the season (.264 BA, .646 OPS), but won his fourth straight Gold Glove, hit 23 doubles and stole 19 bases. The bench was led by backup C John Wathan, who hit .305 with a .783 OPS, 27 XBH, 17 steals and 50 walks compared to 42 Ks in 126 games. He also hit into 19 DPs. Cardenal joined the team late but did hit .340 with a .754 OPS in 25 games and third catcher/utility guy/Brett caddy Jamie Quirk hit .276 with a .704 OPS in 62 games. That was about it, tho, as the team didn't get a lot of production from IF Dave Chalk (.667 OPS in 69 games), 1B Pete LaCock (.547 OPS in 115 games), or fourth OF Rusty Torres (.417 OPS, bad D in 51 games).

The story on the pitching mound in '80 was the emergence of Dan Quisenberry as a premier closer, although Larry Gura had a nice year as a starter. Gura led a hearty rotation with an 18-10 record, 2.95 ERA, 16 complete games and 4 shutouts in 36 starts and 280 IP. Dennis Leonard had an all-things-considered good season by going 20-11 (fourth all-time among Royals in season wins) with a 3.79 ERA, 9 complete games, 3 shutouts and 155 Ks in 38 starts and 283 IP, although he did lead the AL in ER and HR allowed (118 and 30). SP Rich Gale was 13-9 with 1 save, a 3.92 ERA, 6 complete games and a shutout in 32 games (28 starts) and 190 IP; Paul Splittorff was 14-11 with a 4.15 ERA and 4 CG in 34 games (33 starts) and 204 IP; and Renie Martin was 10-10 with 2 saves, a 4.39 ERA and 2 CG in 32 games (20 starts) and 137 IP despite walking more than he struck out. The what-could-have-been career of Steve Busby came to an unfortunate end in '80 as he went 1-3 with a 6.17 ERA in 11 games (6 starts) and 42 IP. Quisenberry and Marty Pattin were the lone bright lights in a shaky pen for KC. Quisenberry won his first Rolaids Relief Award by appearing in an AL-best 75 games (third among Royals, first at that time), and going 12-7 with 33 saves (tied Goose for the AL lead, eighth all-time among Royals) and a 3.09 ERA in 128 IP. Pattin was 4-0 with 4 saves and a 3.64 ERA in 37 games and 89 IP. Nobody else on the staff was close to league average as Gary Christenson was 3-0 with 1 save and a 5.17 ERA in 24 games and 31 IP; Eastwick was 0-1 with a 5.32 ERA in 14 games and 22 IP; and lefty Jeff Twitty was 2-1 with a 6.04 ERA in 13 games and 22 IP. George's brother Ken Brett was brought in late in the season and did pitch 13 scoreless innings.

Unlike in other years, there would be no dogfight through the final week as the Royals took control of the AL West in late May and pulled away from there to clinch the division in mid-September. The Royals played well through June but turned up the pressure by going 41-16 in July and August to put a stranglehold on the competition. The ascent to the top coincided with Brett's run at .400 as the team got on a massive roll. The team didn't look that remarkable in the early going, though, as a 10-8 April put the team in the middle of the pack. Winning 8 of 9 in mid-May, including a 3-game sweep in Anaheim against the Angels, put the Royals 2 1/2 games up on first and an 8-game win streak in early June made the lead 5 1/2 games over the ChiSox. As of May 26, Brett was hitting .267 but a 3-5 game at Oakland kickstarted a 10-game hot streak that raised his average to .333. A hitless game at Texas was followed by another 9-game hitting streak that raised his average to .374. A hitless day on a July 17 loss in Boston left him at .366 but the Royals were still 10 1/2 games up on first as the fun for Brett really began. Brett began a 30-game hitting streak the next day at New York and, as the team won 14 of 16 in mid August to move 15 1/2 games up on the division, Brett crossed from .394 to .401 with a 4-4 game in KC versus Toronto. The streak ended 2 days later at Texas but Brett would range from .397 to .406 into early September. A 2-4 day at home versus Oakland Sept. 19 put Brett at .400 but that would mark his last day at the threshold of baseball immortality as a 4-27 stretch versus Oakland, Seattle and Minnesota dropped his average to .384. The slump coincided with an 8-game losing streak that dropped the team's lead to 12 1/2 games but the division was clinched by then and the only thing in the balance was Brett's batting average. Brett was 7-10 over the next 3 days to snap the slump and get his average back to .391 but it settled at .390 after going 3-9 in the final 3 games. The Royals' division run ended with a 14-game lead as the team was 49-32 at home and 48-33 on the road to finish at 97-65 (pythagorean W-L was 92-70). The team saw 2.28 million fans come to Royals Stadium to watch them play.

Two years after losing their second straight heartbreaker ALCS in the playoffs to the New York Yankees, the Royals were set for a rematch in '80 as Dick Howser had guided the Yankees to a 103-59 record but only a 3-game win of the AL East over a good Baltimore team. The Yankees were led by a good lineup with OF Reggie Jackson, 1B Bob Watson and 2B Willie Randolph as the cornerstones and a pitching staff led by Tommy John, Ron Guidry and closer Goose Gossage. The Royals went about their business in each game of the series as game 1 saw them defeat Guidry, 7-2, behind a 3-4 game from White and 2-hit days from Brett and Otis as Gura got the complete-game win. Gura gave up back-to-back homers to Rick Cerone and Lou Piniella in the 2nd but a White 2-run double in the 2nd keyed a comeback as the Royals came back to score 7 unanswered runs to win. Game 2 was somewhat tighter as the Royals took a 3-0 lead on SP Rudy May and Leonard and Quisenberry held off the Yankees to win, 3-2. White was again 2-3 and Wilson drove home 2 runs with a 3rd inning triple. New York's runs came in the 5th off Leonard but he bounced back to retire 8 in a row. New York tried to tie the game in the 8th but Randolph was thrown out at home by Wilson in left (via a Brett relay) on a Watson double to salvage the lead. Quisenberry pitched the 9th to lock down the win. Game 3 saw dramatics in the 7th as the Royals swept the Yankees, 4-2. Aikens was 3-4 and McRae, Wilson and Washington had 2-hit games as White homered with 1 out in the 5th and give SP Paul Splittorff a 1-0 lead. Split and Quisenberry (who Frey brought in in the 6th) gave up 2 runs in the 6th thanks in part to a White error to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead. Gossage relieved Tommy John with 2 out and 1 on in the 7th and gave up a Washington single before Brett jacked a 3-run homer to make it 4-2 KC. Quisenberry loaded the bases with none out in the 8th but got a lineout double play from Cerone and a ground out from Jim Spencer to end the threat. He set the Yanks down in order in the 9th and the Royals had punched their ticket to the World Series on the Yankees' home turf. White was named ALCS MVP by going 6-11 for a .545 BA while Brett hit 2 HR but began experiencing problems with hemorrhoids that would also impact the World Series. Washington and Aikens hit .364 and Otis hit .333 for KC. Wilson also hit .308 with 4 RBI for the Royals in the series. Fortunately for KC, the Royals hadn't relied on any of their bullpen other than Quiz as all three starters had solid starts and Quisenberry had taken care of the rest. That wouldn't be the case in the World Series.

The Phillies had outlasted Montreal in the NL East to go 91-71 and win by a game before winning an NLCS that went to the limit with Houston. The Phils were another team led by a great third baseman (Mike Schmidt) with a solid supporting cast featuring 1B Pete Rose, OF Greg Luzinski and 4th OF Lonnie Smith as well as defensive stalwarts Garry Maddox, Bob Boone, Manny Trillo and Larry Bowa. Pitching started with lefty Steve Carlton and ended with standout closer Tug McGraw. The Royals would get close but get no cigar in game 1 in Philadelphia as Aikens and Otis combined to go 5-8 with 6 RBI but Leonard couldn't keep the Phils in check. Otis gave the Royals the lead with a 2-run homer in the 2nd and Aikens matched the feat in the 3rd as the Royals took command but Leonard gave up a crucial 3-run homer to OF Bake McBride in the bottom of the 3rd to give the Phils a 5-4 lead and blow whatever momentum KC had. Leonard gave up another run in the 4th and was pulled for Renie Martin. The Phils' defensive reputation held true as Maddox robbed Brett of potential extra bases on a leaping catch at the wall in the 5th and then hit a sac fly in the bottom of the inning to make it 7-4 Phillies. The score stayed that way into the 8th when Aikens stepped up with a 2-run big fly off SP Bob Walk to close the gap to 1 and bring in McGraw. McGraw got Wathan to ground into a double play to end the rally and then K'd 2 in the 9th to end the game. Game 2 was another hard loss for KC as Quisenberry faltered late and Brett had to leave the game with hemorrhoid problems. Both starters -- Gura and Carlton -- bent but didn't break in the early going as Carlton stranded 5 Royals over the first 3 innings and Gura was perfect through 4 innings but got dinged in the 5th with 2 runs on 3 hits and a sac fly. A Trillo error allowed KC to score a run in the 6th but Brett stayed in the clubhouse as the Royals took the field for the bottom of the inning. Replacement Dave Chalk walked as part of a 3-run 7th for KC that featured a 2-run double by Otis and a Wathan sac fly to make it 4-2 KC. Quisenberry pitched the 7th and then came out for the 8th and got lit up, as 2 doubles and 2 singles scored 4 runs to give the Phils a 6-4 lead. The Royals didn't threaten as Ron Reed shut the door for Philly in the 9th and the Phils took a 2-0 series lead. McRae was 3-4 while Brett and Otis had 2 hits each in the loss. With the shift to Royals Stadium for game 3, the home fans saw the team put up a fight. The third game went to 10 innings as Philadelphia forced extras but the Royals got the win. Brett was back in the lineup after surgery on his hemorrhoids following game 2 and stepped right back into the flow with a 1st inning homer off starter Dick Ruthven to give KC a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately, KC starter Rich Gale gave the run right back in the top of the 2nd but a McRae RBI single in the 4th made it 2-1 Royals. That lead lasted 1 batter into the 5th as Schmidt homered to tie the game. Otis homered to put KC back ahead, 3-2, in the 7th and this time Renie Martin blew the lead in the 8th on a 2-out RBI single by Rose. Quisenberry came in and put out the fire again and stranded 3 over the 9th and 10th to keep KC in the game. With 2 out in the bottom of the 10th, Wilson stole second and was singled home by Aikens to cut the Phils' series lead in half. Five Royals had 2-hit games in the win. Phils game 4 starter Larry Christenson had posted a 4.03 ERA in the regular season but lasted only 1/3 of an inning in the game 4 start as Brett tripled home a run, Aikens cranked a 2-run homer and Otis doubled home a run to chase the starter for RP Dickie Noles. The Phils got an unearned run off Leonard in the 2nd but Aikens hit his second homer in 2 innings off Noles in the 2nd to make it 5-1 KC. The game stayed that way into the 7th when Leonard gave up a Boone sac fly to cut it to 5-2. Quisenberry gave up a Schmidt sac fly in the 8th but stranded 1 and then pitched a perfect 9th to end it. Aikens was 2-3 with his second 2-homer game of the series and 3 RBI while McRae and Otis also had 2-hit games. Brett was only 1-5 but did have an RBI. The win tied the series at 2 games each and made game 5 in Kansas City the next day a crucial game for both teams, as the series was cut to a best-of-3. Gura took the hill for the Royals while Phils manager Dallas Green sent 21-year-old Marty Bystrom, who had appeared in only 6 regular season games, to the mound. Quisenberry, who had taken the mound in games 2 and 3 of the ALCS and every game of the World Series, would again factor in and perhaps show some fatigue in a blown save. Both teams threatened early but neither scored until the 4th when the Phils got 2 runs on an Aikens error that Schmidt made Gura pay for with a 2-run homer. The Royals cut into the lead in the 5th as Brett hit an RBI ground out and Otis led off the 6th with a homer to tie the game. Two more hits chased Bystrom for RP Ron Reed and Washington hit a sac fly to make it 3-2 KC. Frey went to the Quisenberry well once more with 2 on and 1 out in the 7th and Quiz stranded both runners. The Royals stranded 2 in their half and the game went into the 9th still at 3-2 Royals. Schmidt singled off Brett's glove to start the inning and pinch-hitter Del Unser hit a clutch RBI double to tie the game. With 2 out and Unser at third, Trillo singled off Quisenberry's glove to push the lead run across. McGraw walked the bases loaded with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th but Jose Cardenal struck out and the Phils had taken the game and a big 3-2 series lead. The Royals had left 13 on base in the loss as Wilson, Porter, Otis and Washington had 2-hit games and Brett was 1-5 with an RBI again. With the win and the momentum, it was the worst time for the series to shift back to Veterans Stadium for Kansas City. With the series on the line, Frey set Gale out to pitch while Philly gave Carlton a second series start. This time, things would go differently from game 2. Gale lasted until the 3rd before giving up 2 runs on a 2-run single by Schmidt after Frank White's second error of the series. Renie Martin was pulled with 2 on and 1 out in the 5th and Splittorff allowed a run credited to Martin to make it 3-0 Phillies. A Boone RBI in the 6th made it 4-0 as Carlton took a 2-hit shutout into the 7th. The Royals finally got a run off Carlton and McGraw in the 8th but stranded the bases loaded. Kansas City loaded the bases once more off McGraw with 1 out in the 9th but White grounded out and Willie Wilson struck out to end the series as Philadelphia celebrated a championship. Brett, Wathan and Cardenal had 2-hit games and Frey finally played other pitchers than the starter and Quisenberry, but it was one game too late. He used Marty Pattin in game 6, when he could have been using him and Quiz all along and saving Quiz for the absolute crucial situations. McRae, Otis and Aikens combined to go 0-9 in the loss, however, in the meat of the order. Schmidt was the MVP after hitting .381 with 7 RBI in the series and Keith Moreland, Boone and Bowa also had a good series at the plate. Otis had arguably the best series among Royals by hitting .478 with 3 HR and 7 RBI, Aikens hit .400 with 4 HR and 8 RBI and Brett and McRae both hit .375 while combining for only 4 RBI. Hurdle hit .417 in 12 AB but Porter took heat by only hitting .143 while Wilson hit only .154 and LCS MVP White hit .080 with 2 errors. Here's a link to the series stats. Not much is made over the long run of the '80 World Series but it was actually filled with some tight games. It was karma, in a way, that KC got the comeback done in the '85 series.

After the season, the Royals let Pete LaCock go via free agency as he played his last MLB game, let C Darrell Porter go via free agency (where he would land in St. Louis with Whitey and help the Cardinals to an '82 World Series title), and settled in for a repeat run in '81. Obviously Frey didn't build up much front office support in his one year tenure as he was fired after a poor start in the split season of '81. Dick Howser, who the Royals had vanquished as manager of the Yankees in the '80 playoffs, was brought in and helped lead the team back to the playoffs in '81. Howser would keep the team in contention in '82 and '83 before getting back to the playoffs in '84 and leading the team to the promised land in 1985.


1980 Pipeline Royals MVP -- George Brett. Easiest choice of the countdown.










1980 Pipeline Royals LVP -- I've gotta split it between Joe Burke and Jim Frey. Burke should have done something to bolster the bullpen a little more while Frey probably shouldn't have leaned on Quisenberry so much during the World Series. The Royals were so close to winning that series. Couldn't find a picture of Burke on-line, so Frey with the Cubs is gonna have to suffice. This was another year there just wasn't one player to point to as "the" weak link.




The '80 Royals.

Royals on the Farm 5/23

AAA -- Omaha: rainout

The game with Oklahoma was postponed and will be part of a doubleheader today. Game 1 pits Oklahoma RH Mike Wood (3-0, 2.32) vs. RH Jason Shiell (0-1, 2.32), and game 2 pits Oklahoma RH Scott Shoemaker (0-1, 5.40) vs. RH Thad Markray (2-1, 4.33).

AA -- Wichita: Frisco 8, Wranglers 0

2B Falu 2-4, 2B (5) -- .244
C Espino 1-3, 2B (3), K, E (3) -- .197
3B Gaffney 1-3, K -- .325
1B Stodolka 0-4, 3 K -- .292
LF Valentin 0-4, K -- .253
CF Greenberg 1-3 -- .218, moved from leadoff to nine hole

Hochevar 4 2/3 IP, 7 R (3 ER), 8 H, BB, 2 K, HRA, E (1) -- L, 2-5, 5.47, ungood with negatory run support
Cedeno 2 1/3 IP, ER, H, 3 K, HRA -- 5.30 ERA
Tamayo IP, H, K -- 0.00 ERA, '07 AA debut

Frisco starter Eric Hurley lived up to the hype while Luke Hochevar struggled again as Frisco posted a 5-hit shutout of Wichita. The game was scoreless through 2 1/2 innings before Hochevar gave up a leadoff homer to DH Salomon Manriquez in the bottom of the 3rd. Frisco scratched out another run on 2 hits in the 4th and, as Wichita managed only 2 hits through 5 innings, the RoughRiders slapped together a rally in the 5th. Hochevar's 5th went single, single, force out, single, walked run in, run on Hochevar fielding error, force out with run on Damaso Espino throwing error, 2-run single, then he was pulled with Wichita down, 7-0. RP Juan Cedeno gave up a solo homer to 2B German Duran in the 6th and Wichita stranded 2 in the 9th in their biggest scoring threat of the game. Wichita is 21-25 and 3 1/2 games back. Frisco LF Steve Murphy was 1-4 with 3 RBI (18) to move to .283, Duran was 2-4 with his 9th homer, 21st RBI and 2 RS to move to .286 and Hurley allowed 5 hits and a walk with 8 Ks in his complete-game shutout to move to 6-0 with a 1.83 ERA.

Wichita will try to avert the sweep tonight. Probable starters: Wichita righty Carlos Rosa (2-1, 2.83) vs. Frisco lefty Doug Mathis (3-3, 1.91). Hochevar's WHIP is now an unhealthy 1.52.

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: Blue Rocks 5, Potomac 2

1B Kaaihue 1-3, SF, 2B (7), 2 RBI (27), K -- .257, hot streak continues
3B Lisson 1-3, BB, 2B (10), RBI (23), 2 RS, SB (6) -- .298
LF Bigler 1-3, RBI (14) -- .244
2B Maddox 1-4, RS, SB (3) -- .316
CF Duarte 0-3, BB, 2 K, RS, 2 SB (9) -- .280
RF Perez 0-2, 2 BB, SB (5) -- .310
*Wilmington returned the favor by stealing 6 on Potomac Wednesday a day after the Nats did that to the Rocks.

Hardy 7 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, BB, 5 K, E (1) -- W, 5-0, 1.22 ERA
D'Amico 1 2/3 IP, K -- SV, 1, 1.64 ERA

The Blue Rocks established an early lead and Rowdy Hardy and Yovany D'Amico took care of the rest as Wilmington won the series finale. The Rocks got to work in the 1st as they had runners on the corners and 1 out and pulled the successful double steal with Jose Duarte stealing home. A Kila Kaaihue sac fly made it 2-0 Rocks after the 1st. Mario Lisson and Kaaihue proved again to be a potent 3-4 lineup combo with back-to-back RBI doubles in the 3rd to make it 4-0 Rocks. Hardy was perfect through 4 IP and the Rocks picked up an insurance run in the 6th on a Brett Bigler RBI single to make it 5-0. The Nats finally got to Rowdy in the 7th with 2 runs on 3 hits but that was all the trouble either he or D'Amico would get into in the game. Wilmington is 23-22 and now a game up on first place. RF Edgardo Baez was 2-3 for the Nats with his 6th double and 21st RBI to move to .258, 2B Ofilio Castro was 0-4 to drop to .307 and SP Clint Everts took the loss with 5 R (4 ER) on 5 hits and 5 walks with 3 Ks over 5 2/3 IP to drop to 1-5 with a 5.89 ERA.

The Blue Rocks have today off before starting a 10-game road trip in Myrtle Beach.

A -- Burlington: Bees 4, Great Lakes 2

CF Robinson 3-4, K, RS -- .247
1B Everett 2-4, 2B (9), 3B (1), RBI (9), RS -- .277
3B Jirschele 2-3, BB, 2B (4), RBI (4), E (1) -- .279
SS Bianchi 2-4, RBI (7), RS, SB (2) -- .269, staying healthy (fingers crossed)
2B McConnell 1-4, SB (6) -- .221

Campbell 5 IP, ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 6 K, E (2) -- W, 2-2, 3.68 ERA
Santiago 4 IP, UER, 4 H, 3 K -- SV, 1, 2.82 ERA

Burlington finally beat the Loons to set up a chance at a series split today. SP Matt Campbell got off to a rough start by making a throwing error on a pickoff attempt and giving up a run in the 1st but settled down to shut the Loons down thereafter in his stint. The Bees scored 2 runs in the 2nd on a Jeremy Jirschele single that was aided by a Loons error to make it 2-1 Burlington. Jeff Bianchi drove home a run in the 5th on another play aided by a Great Lakes error and Mario Santiago took over pitching duties in the 6th. He had no worse trouble than Campbell had and the Bees added an RBI triple from Brady Everett in the 7th to make it 4-1. The Loons scraped together another run in the 9th but Santiago got out of the inning with h is 1st save of the season. Burlington is 18-25 and 11 games back. Loons CF Trayvon Robinson was 2-5 with his 16th RBI and 3rd error to move to .252, DH Eduardo Perez was 2-4 to move to .297 and 1B James Peterson was 1-3 with his 3rd double to drop to .381. SP Cody White got the loss with 3 R (2 ER) on 7 hits and 2 walks with 2 Ks over 5 IP to drop to 3-5 with a 2.91 ERA.

The series wraps tonight. Probable starters: Bees RH Harold Mozingo (2-5, 4.75) vs. Great Lakes LH Clayton Kershaw (4-1, 2.84, Dodgers' top pitching prospect).

Royals on the Farm 5/22

AAA -- Omaha: O-Royals 8, Oklahoma 3

LF Butler 1-3, BB, RS -- .336
1B Brazell 2-4, 2 HR (9), 3 RBI (18), 2 RS -- .386, en fuego, leads minors with 16 total HR btwn AA and AAA
3B Aviles 2-3, BB, 2 HR (4), 2 RBI (26), 3 RS, E (8) -- .326
C Tupman 2-3, BB, 2 RBI (12) -- .316
SS Blanco 2-4, RBI (6) -- .163
CF Gathright 0-4, BB, K -- .300
DH LaRue 0-3, HBP, 2 K, RS -- .000, first rehab game
RF Maier 1-4, RS -- .272

Lumsden 6 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 2 K, 3 HRA -- W, 3-3, 5.74 ERA
Buckner 1 1/3 IP, 2 H, K -- 3.71 ERA
Braun IP, H, K -- 0.00 ERA

The teams combined for 7 HR, including 2 each by Craig Brazell and Mike Aviles, and Omaha scored 8 runs for the second straight day in taking another game from the RedHawks. Omaha starter Tyler Lumsden gave up the first homer of the day, a solo shot to 1B Nate Gold in the 2nd, to give Oklahoma a 1-0 lead. Brazell and Aviles countered with their first homers of the game in the bottom of the inning for their 8th and 3rd of the season, respectively, and Omaha took a 2-1 lead. The O-Royals rallied for 3 runs with 2 outs in the 4th as Matt Tupman hit a bases-loaded 2-run single and Andres Blanco hit an RBI single to chase Oklahoma starter Steven Rowe and make it 5-1. Billy Butler walked to lead off the 5th and Brazell cranked his 2nd homer of the night for his 9th of the season to make it 7-1 Omaha. Lumsden gave up homers to RF Marlon Byrd and SS Dave Matranga in the 6th and 7th to cut the lead to 7-3 but Aviles hit a 2-out solo homer in the bottom of the 7th for his 4th of the season to extend the lead back to 5. P Billy Buckner stranded 2 RedHawks in the 8th and Oklahoma got 1 hit off RP Ryan Braun in the 9th before Braun closed the door. Omaha is 21-24 and 4 games back. Matranga was 2-4 with his 2nd homer and 8th RBI to move to .250, Byrd was 1-4 with his 6th homer and 31st RBI to move to .360 and 2B Tug Hulett was 2-4 to move to .313. Rowe took the loss with 5 ER on 6 hits and a walk over 3 2/3 IP to drop to 2-1 with a 6.14 ERA.

Game 3 of the set is tonight. Probable starters: RedHawks (and former Royals) RH Mike Wood (3-0, 2.32) vs. RH Jason Shiell (0-1, 2.32). Brazell's working on a streak of 2 straight 2-HR games. As noted, Jason LaRue began a rehab assignment Tuesday. P Danny Tamayo was sent down to Wichita.

AA -- Wichita: Frisco 8, Wranglers 2

RF Joseph 2-4 -- .236
2B Falu 1-2, BB, 3B (1), RBI (8), RS -- .236
SS Brewer 1-4, RBI (11), 2 K -- .282
1B Stodolka 1-4 -- .303, first game back from beaning
LF Lubanski 1-4, K -- .299
DH Gaffney 0-4 -- .324

Christensen 5 IP, 6 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 5 K, 3 HRA -- L, 1-3, 5.68 ERA, still don't get his (minor) hype
Atencio 2 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 3 K, HRA -- 3.97 ERA
Santos IP, nothing -- 4.66 ERA

Frisco put together 4 2-run innings combined to only 1 for the Wranglers as the RoughRiders took the series opener. Wichita starter Danny Christensen gave up 2 runs on 3 hits and a walk in the 1st and Frisco starter Luis Mendoza took a perfect game into the 5th. Christensen gave up a 2-run homer to 2B German Duran in the 4th and, after Jeff Eure broke up Mendoza's perfection with a single in the 5th, the RoughRiders got solo shots by CF Brandon Boggs and DH Salomon Manriquez in the bottom of the frame to make it 6-0. Irving Falu broke up the shutout with an RBI triple in the 6th and scored on a Jace Brewer single to close it to 6-2. Greg Atencio gave the runs back, however, in the 7th on a 2-run homer by Frisco 3B Travis Metcalf (a native of Wamego, KS, and former KU player). Wichita loaded the bases with 1 out in the 9th but Mike Gaffney grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end it. Wichita is 21-24 and 3 1/2 games back. Boggs was 2-4 with his 2nd homer, 7th RBI and 2 RS to move to .318, Manriquez was 2-4 with his 6th homer and 2 RBI (16) to move to .268 and Metcalf was 1-3 with his 7th homer, 2 RBI (27) and 2 RS to move to .295. Mendoza allowed 2 ER on 5 hits with 6 Ks over 7 IP to improve to 4-0 with a 5.57 ERA.

The series continues tonight. The team site appears to be down for the time being, but I think tonight was the big pitching matchup of Wichita's Luke Hochevar (2-4, 5.44) and Frisco ace Eric Hurley (5-0, 2.13).

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: Potomac 8, Blue Rocks 6 (11)

2B Maddox 2-6, 2 RBI (13), K -- .319
SS Arce 2-4, BB, 2B (8), K, 2 RS -- .254
1B Kaaihue 1-3, 2 BB, 2B (6), RBI (25), K, RS -- .255
RF McFall 1-4, HBP, 3B (3), RBI (14), RS -- .250
3B Lisson 1-4, BB, 2 K, SB (5) -- .297

Cortes 4 2/3 IP, 4 R (2 ER), 6 H, 3 BB, 8 K, WP, E (1) -- ND, 3.95 ERA
Pimentel 4 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K -- 2.14 ERA
Humen 2 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 2 K -- L, 1-4, 3.00 ERA

The Blue Rocks forced extras with a late comeback but couldn't get the W. Starter Dan Cortes gave up a sac fly in the 1st and 3 runs on 2 hits, a walk, a wild pitch, a throwing error and a sac fly to make it 4-0 Potomac. Nats SP Carlos Martinez kept the Blue Rocks quiet until the 5th when they scored 2 on a 2-run error by SS Marcos Yepez on a ball hit by Marc Maddox. The Nats got the runs back in the 7th on 2 hits and a walk off P Julio Pimentel and the score was 6-2 Potomac. The Rocks went to work on RP Eddy Baeza in the 8th as Kila Kaaihue hit an RBI double and Brian McFall followed with an RBI triple then scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-5. Nats RP Adam Carr came in to close out the 9th but Maddox hit a clutch RBI single to tie the game. Maddox ended up stranded at second and the game went into extras. RP David Humen put two runners on with 1 out in the 11th and loaded the bases with an intentional walk before getting the second out. 1B Steve Mortimer and DH Matt Rogelstad came through with back-to-back RBI singles to make it 8-6 and a would-be third run was thrown out at the plate by Rocks LF Felix Peralta to end the inning. The Rocks got 1 on in the bottom of the 11th but couldn't rally. Wilmington is 22-22 and still tied for first. Rogelstad was 3-6 with his 16th RBI to move to .259, Mortimer was 2-6 with 2 RBI (35) and his 7th SB to move to .264 and 3B Ofilio Castro was 2-6 with his 10th double and 14th RBI to move to .315. The Nats stole 6 bases off C Todd Balduf and the Rocks' pitchers, including 3 by RF Edgardo Baez.

The series concludes tonight. Probable starters: Rocks southpaw Rowdy Hardy (4-0, 1.02, leads league in ERA) vs. Nationals prospect Clint Everts (1-4, 5.81).

A -- Burlington: Great Lakes 10, Bees 7

C Howell 2-4, BB, 2B (1), 2 RBI (2), RS -- .500, season debut
1B Turner 1-4, HBP, 2 RBI (9), K, E (1) -- .176
3B Thompson 2-5, HR (9), RBI (22), 2 RS -- .237
SS Bianchi 2-5 -- .254
DH Everett 2-4, HBP, K, 2 RS -- .267
RF Morel 2-4, K, RS -- .240
CF Robinson 0-4, BB -- .224
LF Dickerson 0-4, HBP, K, RS -- .265
*The Bees left 10 on base.

Teaford 4 IP, 8 ER, 11 H, 6 K, HRA -- L, 1-4, 5.56 ERA, at least no walks
Hayes 3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, 3 K, HRA -- 6.75 ERA
Chambliss 2 IP, H, 2 K -- 0.90 ERA

The Bees couldn't keep up with the Loons' scoring onslaught in dropping another game to Great Lakes. SP Everett Teaford had a rough night that began with a 3-run 1st on 4 hits. He allowed another run on 2 hits in the 2nd before the Bees scored 1 in the 2nd on a Loons error that scored Brady Everett. The Bees surged ahead with 4 in the 3rd on a 2-out rally of a 2-run single by Jeff Howell, who was making his season debut, and a 2-run single by Jase Turner to make it 5-4 Bees. That didn't last long as the Loons scored 4 in the 4th on 2 singles, a triple and a 2-run homer by SS Francisco Lizarraga. Mike Thompson blasted his 9th homer of the season in the bottom of the inning to cut it to 8-6 but RP Chris Hayes gave up a leadoff homer to 3B Josh Bell in the 5th. A Jeff Bianchi hit scored a run in the 6th thanks to a Loons error but Great Lakes got it back in the 7th on 2 hits off Hayes. The Bees got the tying run to the plate in the 9th but Turner grounded into a double play to end the game. Burlington is 17-25 and 11 games out. Bell was 3-5 with 2 doubles (7), his 4th homer and 3 RBI (20) to move to .246, CF Trayvon Robinson was 2-5 with his 2nd triple and 3 RBI (15) to move to .246 and Lizarraga was 2-5 with his 2nd homer and 2 RBI (12) to move to .312. Loons SP Josh Wall allowed 7 runs (5 ER) on 8 hits and a walk with 4 K over 5 IP but got the win to move to 2-5 with a 6.00 ERA. RP Garrett White picked up his 2nd save.

Game 3 of the set is tonight. Probable starters: Bees LH Matt Campbell (1-2, 3.98) vs. Loons LH Cody White (3-4, 2.83). Thompson is tied for the league lead with 9 HR.

Royals on the Farm 5/21

AAA -- Omaha: O-Royals 8, Oklahoma 1

1B Butler 1-4, BB, 2 K, RS -- .336
DH Brazell 4-5, 2 HR (7), 5 RBI (15), 2 RS -- .377, think he's got AAA down
C Tupman 3-4, RS, SB (1) -- .304
CF Gathright 2-3, 2 BB, RBI (15), 2 RS, SB (12) -- .310
SS Blanco 1-4, 2B (2), RBI (5), RS -- .146
2B Cortez 1-4, BB, RS -- .302
3B Aviles 0-5, K -- .320
LF Maier 1-5, K -- .272
*Omaha left 10 on base.

Hendrickson 7 IP, ER, 7 H, BB, 3 K -- W, 3-3, 4.84 ERA
Ray 2 IP, 2 H, 2 K -- 4.79 ERA

Omaha steamrolled RedHawks starter Armando Galarraga over the first 2 innings while Royals starter Ben Hendrickson pitched well in an 8-1 win. Hendrickson gave up a sac fly in the 1st but shut out Oklahoma over the next 6 innings. Meanwhile, the Royals did their own damage with 3 runs in the 1st on a Galarraga wild pitch that scored Joey Gathright and a 2-run homer by Craig Brazell for his 6th of the season at Omaha. Andres Blanco doubled home a run in the 2nd and was singled home by Gathright before Brazell singled Joey home to make it 6-1 O-Royals. The Royals padded the lead off RP Michael Bumstead in the 7th as Brazell cranked a 2-run shot for his 2nd of the game and 7th of the season at AAA. Ken Ray stranded 2 in the 9th to finish it. Omaha is 20-24 and 4 games back. Oklahoma C Guillermo Quiroz was 2-3 to move to .358, CF Freddy Guzman was 2-4 with a RS to move to .245 and LF Jason Botts was 1-3 with his 12th double and 34th RBI to move to .274. Galarraga took the loss with 6 IP of 6 ER on 8 hits and 3 walks with 3 Ks to drop to 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA to start his season at AAA.

Game 2 of the set is tonight. Probable starters: Omaha lefty Tyler Lumsden (2-3, 6.06) vs. Oklahoma's Steven Rowe (2-0, 4.91).

AA -- Wichita: off day

I spoke too soon yesterday about Wichita starting the series with Frisco. The series begins tonight. Probable starters: Wichita lefty Danny Christensen (1-2, 5.03) vs. Frisco righty Luis Mendoza (3-0, 6.17).

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: Blue Rocks 6, Potomac 5

3B Lisson 2-3, BB, HR (2), 2 RBI (22), 2 RS -- .299
DH Kaaihue 2-4, HR (6), 3 RBI (24), RS -- .254
1B Vega 1-4, HR (1), RBI (12), K, RS -- .200
CF Duarte 1-5, 2 K, RS -- .286
RF McFall 1-2, 2 BB, 2B (9), E (2) -- .250
LF Bigler 0-2, 2 BB, 2 SB (7) -- .241

Nicoll 5 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, K, 2 WP -- W, 2-3, 5.85 ERA
Oliveros 2 1/3 IP, ER, 2 H, 4 K -- 1.35 ERA
de la Vara 1 2/3 IP, 2 BB, K, WP -- SV, 4, 0.42 ERA

Wilmington grabbed the lead midway through and held on tight to the win. Mario Lisson hit his 2nd homer of the year for a 2-run blast in the 1st and the Blue Rocks took a 2-0 lead. Potomac scored a run on a hit and wild pitch in the 2nd by SP Chris Nicoll and moved ahead in the 3rd with 3 runs on 3 hits and an error by SS Valentino Arce (his 6th of the season). Kila Kaaihue singled home a run in the 3rd to cut the Potomac lead to 4-3 and Miguel Vega led off the 4th with his 1st homer of the season to tie the game at 4. Kaaihue stepped up again in the 5th and cranked a 2-run homer off RP Anthony Pearson for his 6th of the season to make it 6-4 Wilmington. Rayner Oliveros took over for Nicoll in the 6th and left with 1 on and 1 out in the 8th. Gilbert de la Vara came in and gave up a sac fly but got out of the inning with the 6-5 lead. In the 9th, the Nats loaded the bases with 1 out on an error by Brian McFall, walk and intentional walk by de la Vara. Gilbert induced a force play at home to get out #2 and then got a ground out to end the game for his 4th save. Wilmington is 22-21 and now tied for first. Potomac 3B Ofilio Castro was 2-4 with a walk, his 9th double and 2 RBI (13) to move to .315, C Luke Montz was 0-3 with a sac fly and 2 RBI (20) to move to .239 and SS Ian Desmond was 2-3 with a walk and his 5th double to move to .244. Pearson took the loss with 2 ER on a hit and 4 walks with 1 K over 2 IP to drop to 0-2 with a 5.21 ERA.

The series continues Tuesday night as the Blue Rocks search for sole possession of first place. Probable starters: Rocks right-handed piggybackers Dan Cortes (0-3, 3.97) and Julio Pimentel (3-0, 1.93) vs. Nats righty Carlos Martinez (1-2, 4.58).

A -- Burlington: Great Lakes 7, Bees 4

2B Mertins 3-4, 2 RBI (18), RS -- .250
RF Gonzalez 2-4, HR (2), RBI (10), K, RS -- .234
DH Bianchi 2-5, K, RS -- .241
3B Thompson 2-5, K -- .230
C Everett 1-3, HBP, RBI (8) -- .256
CF Robinson 1-5, K -- .235
SS McConnell 0-3 -- .220
LF Dickerson 1-4, BB, 2B (6), RS, CS -- .273
*Burlington left 10 on base.

Fisher 5 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, 3 BB, K -- L, 1-4, 5.09 ERA
DiPietro 4 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 5 BB, 3 K, HRA -- 4.55 ERA

The Loons notched 12 hits and 8 walks off pitchers Brent Fisher and Ryan DiPietro and took their first ever game against the Bees. Fisher allowed a run on 3 hits in the 1st and, as the Bees failed to put together a rally early on, went on to allow 3 runs in the 5th on 2 walks and 3 hits, all with 2 outs, to make it 4-0 Loons. Burlington left the bases loaded in the 5th but finally put a number other than 0 on the scoreboard in the 6th with a run on a Kurt Mertins RBI single. DiPietro allowed a run on a sac fly in the 7th but stranded the bases loaded. O.D. Gonzalez hit a solo homer in the bottom of the 7th for his 2nd of the season for the Bees to cut the lead to 5-2 but DiPietro returned the favor with a solo shot by C Juan Apodaca in the 8th. With 2 out in the Bees 8th, Mertins and Brady Everett singled home runs to cut it to 6-4 but that was as close as Burlington would get. DiPietro gave up an RBI triple in the 9th and the Bees stranded 2 in the bottom of the 9th as Loons RP Miguel Ramirez picked up his 2nd save. Burlington is 17-24 and 10 games out now. Great Lakes 3B Adolfo Gonzalez was 4-4 with his 3rd double, 1st triple, 2 RBI (8) and 1st SB to move to .381, 1B Eduardo Perez (not Tony's son, this is a different Eduardo) was 2-3 with 2 walks, 2 RBI (16), a RS and 3 SB (6) to move to .295 and SS Francisco Lizarraga was 2-4 with 2 doubles (6) and 2 RBI (10) to move to .308. Loons starter Arismendy Castillo got the win with an ER on 7 hits and a walk with 2 Ks over 6 IP to move to 1-1 with a 3.94 ERA.

The series continues tonight. Probable starters: Bees LH Everett Teaford (1-3, 4.31) vs. Loons RH Josh Wall (3-4, 3.83). In roster news, catcher Jeff Howell has rejoined the Bees' roster from extended ST after rehabbing from wrist surgery and 1B Scott Lucas was released after hitting .194 in 25 games.

Royals on the Farm 5/20

AAA -- Omaha: New Orleans 5, O-Royals 4 (10)

1B Butler 1-4, HBP, 2B (6) -- .340
3B Aviles 3-5, 2B (9), RS, E (7) -- .329, is it just me or has there even been a whisper of Aviles going to KC?
DH Brazell 3-5, RS -- .333
RF Padilla 2-4, BB, HR (3), 2 RBI (9), RS -- .245
C Tupman 1-2, BB, 2 RBI (10), PB (5) -- .284
CF Gathright 1-4, BB, HBP, K -- .301
LF Maier 1-4, BB, 2 K, RS, SB (3) -- .274
SS Blanco 0-5, 2 K -- .141, Andres isn't cutting it
*Omaha left 12 on base.

Wright 6 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 4 K -- ND, 3.75 ERA, bullpen failed again
Tamayo 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, BB, K -- 20.25 ERA
Hoelscher 2 IP, ER, 3 H, BB, K, HRA -- BS, 1, 5.40 ERA
Giron IP, ER, H, BB, K -- L, 0-2, 4.82 ERA

For the second day in a row the O-Royals' bullpen failed them as Omaha blew a late 4-run lead and lost in extras. Jorge Padilla got the O-Royals started with a solo homer in the 2nd for his 3rd of the season at AAA. Omaha catcher Cody Clark left the game in the 5th after a play at the plate that cut down a Zephyr runner and Matt Tupman took over. Omaha loaded the bases with no outs in the 6th and Padilla hit an RBI single followed by a 2-run Tupman single as Omaha made it 4-0. The rally stalled there, however, which would come into play later. The Royals stranded 2 in scoring position in the 7th and Danny Tamayo took over for starter Matt Wright to begin the bottom of the frame. Tamayo gave up three straight doubles to start the inning and score 2 runs and was pulled for Nate Hoelscher with 2 on and 2 out. Hoelscher gave up an RBI single before getting out of the jam and Omaha's lead was down to 4-3. With 2 out in the 8th, New Orleans C Robinson Cancel picked a good time for his 1st homer of the season as the game was tied at 4. Omaha left 2 in scoring position in the 9th and the Zephyrs left 2 on versus RP Roberto Giron in the bottom of the inning. Giron loaded the bases with 1 out in the 10th and a sac fly by 2B Anderson Hernandez ended the game. Omaha is 19-24 and 5 games back. Cancel was 2-4 with his 2nd double, 1st homer and 2 RBI (5) to move to .353, LF Jesus Feliciano was 1-4 with his 4th double and 5th RBI to move to .311 and 1B Andy Tracy was 2-5 with his 31st RBI to move to .262. RP Steve Schmoll got the win with a perfect 10th to move to 1-1 with a 4.78 ERA.

Omaha moves on to 4 at home against the Oklahoma RedHawks (21-21, AAA Rangers) starting tonight. Probable starters: RedHawks RH Armando Galarraga (no stats yet) vs. RH Ben Hendrickson (2-3, 5.50). Omaha is 1-2 versus Oklahoma thus far.

AA -- Wichita: Arkansas 5, Wranglers 3

RF Valentin 2-4, 3B (2), 2 RBI (14) -- .268
C Donachie 2-4, 2 2B (4), RBI (12), K -- .207
DH Falu 2-4, 2 K, RS -- .231
2B Gaffney 2-4, RS -- .364
LF Lubanski 0-3, BB -- .301

Connolly 3 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, 2 K -- L, 2-1, 5.03 ERA
Santos 1 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, K -- 4.91 ERA
Plummer 2 IP, ER, 2 H, 3 K, HRA -- 3.27 ERA
DeHoyos 2 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, K, WP -- 0.89 ERA

Arkansas got to three of the four Wrangler pitchers Sunday to split the 4-game set. The Travelers pushed a run across off SP Mike Connolly in the 2nd and Connolly was pulled with 2 on and 1 out in the 4th. Arthur Santos gave up an RBI single and Arkansas took a 2-0 lead. As Wichita continued to struggle for offense, the Travs got a 2-run single from SS Sean Rodriguez in the 5th. Wichita got those 2 runs back in the bottom of the frame as Adam Donachie doubled home a run and a Geraldo Valentin ground out brought home another run to make it 4-2. RP Jarod Plummer came on for the 6th and gave up a solo homer to C Tim Duff. Valentin tripled home a run in the 7th but was stranded at third and Wichita got the tying run to the plate in the 9th but couldn't cash in with a rally. Wichita is 21-23 and 2 1/2 games back. RF Greg Porter was 3-5 for Arkansas with his 6th double and 18th RBI to move to .253, Duff was 2-4 with his 2nd homer and 2 RBI (8) to move to .276 and Rodriguez was 1-4 with 2 RBI (22) and his 6th SB to move to .252. Travs RP Kevin Lynch got the win with 3 IP of an ER on 3 hits and a walk with 2 Ks to move to 1-0 with a 4.32 ERA. RP Jose Arredondo picked up his 6th save.

Wichita moves on to three games at the Frisco RoughRiders (26-16, AA Rangers) starting tonight. No announced starters. Frisco's roster features Rangers prospects P Eric Hurley (5-0, 2.13 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, top organizational pitching prospect, high school teammate of Billy Butler), P Edinson Volquez (2-0, 1.50, 1.08 WHIP), IF German Duran (.280 BA, .854 OPS) and OF Anthony Webster (.258 BA, .758 OPS).

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: off day

The Blue Rocks had a day off before starting a 3-game home set versus the Potomac Nationals (19-21, A-Adv. Nats) tonight. The Rocks are 3-0 versus Potomac thus far. Probable starters: Rocks right-hander Chris Nicoll (1-3, 5.66) vs. Potomac righty Garrett Mock (1-0, 0.00).

A -- Burlington: Bees 7, South Bend 1

1B Turner 3-4, 2 RS -- .171
CF Morel 3-4, HR (2), 4 RBI (9), RS, SB (5) -- .230
RF Gonzalez 2-4, 2 2B (8), 2 RBI (9), 2 RS -- .223
C Morizio 1-3, S, RBI (9), RS -- .254
LF Dickerson 1-4 -- .274
SS McConnell 0-4, K -- .225

Godin 6 IP, ER, 5 H, BB, 4 K -- W, 1-1, 2.10 ERA, first pro win
Cribb 3 IP, H, BB, 3 K -- SV, 1, 4.45 ERA

Burlington turned up the offense in the middle innings and split the 4-game series with South Bend. The Silver Hawks scored a run on 3 hits and a walk off SP Jason Godin in the 1st to put the Bees down early. Godin settled down to retire the last 7 batters he faced but the Bees didn't help him out with run support until the 5th when they scored 4 runs on a Matt Morizio RBI single and 3-run homer by Alvi Morel for his 2nd of the season. Burlington added 3 runs in the 6th on a 2-run double by O.D. Gonzalez and a Morel RBI single to make it 7-1. RP Josh Cribb stranded 2 Silver Hawks in the 8th but had a perfect 9th to pick up the 3-inning save for his 1st of the season. Burlington is 17-23 and 9 games back. South Bend 1B Brad Miller was 2-4 with his 9th double to move to .255, SS Yunesky Sanchez was 1-4 with his 11th RBI to move to .307 and CF Joey Side was 1-4 to move to .350. SB starter Anthony Barnette took the loss with 5 1/3 IP of 7 runs (6 ER) on 9 hits and a walk with 3 Ks to drop to 3-2 with a 3.19 ERA.

The Bees start 4 for their first matchup ever versus the newest Midwest League team, the Great Lakes Loons (17-24, A Dodgers) tonight. Probable starters: Bees LH Brent Fisher (1-3, 4.75) vs. Loons RH Arismendy Castillo (0-1, 5.40). The Loons are managed by former Tigers catcher Lance Parrish. The Loons roster features Dodgers prospects P Clayton Kershaw (4-1, 2.84 ERA, top organizational pitching prospect, 19 years old), Don's son 1B Preston Mattingly (.188 BA, .490 OPS, 15 E) and 3B Josh Bell (.232 BA, .653 OPS, 14 E).