Royals on the Farm 5/30 and 5/31

Note: Due to some unforeseen Internet hiccups, there may be no Royals on the Farm reports for Friday and Saturday. I'll probably try to do a weekend wrapup Monday, if possible.

AAA -- Omaha: Tacoma 5, O-Royals 0 (Wed.)

1B Butler 1-4, 2 K, picked off, E (5) -- .319
SS Aviles 1-4 -- .325
CF Gathright 0-3, K, picked off -- .317
RF Padilla 2 OF assists

Bale IP, K -- 0.00 ERA
Day IP, 3 UER, 2 H, BB -- L, 1-1, 3.93 ERA
Markray 3 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, BB -- 4.50 ERA
Hoelscher 2 IP -- 4.60 ERA
DeHoyos IP, H -- 0.00 ERA

Tacoma starter Justin Lehr hurled a gem as Tacoma took a second straight versus Omaha. A 2-out error by Billy Butler in the 2nd left the door open and Zach Day gave up 3 unearned runs on a bases-loaded double by Rainiers SS Oswaldo Navarro. RP Thad Markray came on for the 3rd and gave up a run that could have been more if not for an outfield assist by Jorge Padilla on a leadoff double that cut the runner down at third via relay man Richie Lewis. Markray gave up another run in the 4th and Lehr had a 2-hitter through 5 innings. Omaha stranded 2 in the 6th as Butler was picked off at first to end the inning. The O-Royals didn't threaten in any other inning. Tacoma LF Jeremy Reed was 2-4 with his 12th double and 23rd RBI to move to .280 and Lehr stayed undefeated by going 8 IP with 5 hits, a walk and 2 Ks to move to 6-0 with a 2.34 ERA.

O-Royals 4, Tacoma 1 (Thu.)

DH Butler 1-4, 2 RBI (36), RS -- .312
3B Cortez 3-5, RS, 2 SB (8), E (3) -- .302
CF Gathright 2-5, RS, 2 SB (19) -- .319
RF Maier 1-3, SF, RBI (27) -- .277
2B Lewis 1-4, RBI (10) -- .232
LF Huber 1-3, BB, RS -- .264, back from DL and back in left
SS Aviles 1-4 -- .324
DH Brazell 1-4, K, CS -- .316
C Tupman 1-4, 2B (3) -- .305

Wright 6 1/3 IP, ER, 5 H, BB, 6 K, HRA -- W, 3-2, 3.10 ERA, looking good
Musser 2 2/3 IP, H, 3 K -- SV, 1, 0.00 ERA

Early scoring and some nice pitching from Matt Wright got the O-Royals the win. A double steal by Joey Gathright and Fernando Cortez in the 1st paid off in a Billy Butler RBI ground out to give Omaha a 1-0 lead. Richie Lewis singled home a run in the 2nd and Mitch Maier hit a bases-loaded sac fly in the 3rd to make it 3-0. The Royals tried some more trickery that inning but it backfired as Craig Brazell was thrown out trying to steal home. Wright's only damage came in the 4th on a solo homer by DH Wladimir Balentien. Omaha got the run back in the 5th on a Butler RBI single to make it 4-1. Wright and Neal Musser stranded 2 in the 7th and Musser only gave up a 9th inning double before wiping the hit away quickly to end the game for his 1st save. Omaha is 27-27 and 4 1/2 games back. Balentien was 2-4 for Tacoma with his 12th double, 12th homer and 40th RBI to move to .327, 1B Bryan LaHair was 2-4 with his 15th double to move to .262 and SP Juan Done took the loss with 6 1/3 IP of 4 runs (2 ER) on 10 hits and a walk to drop to 0-1 with a 2.84 ERA.

The series concludes tonight. Probable starters: Omaha RH Ben Hendrickson (4-3, 5.36) vs. Tacoma LH Jake Woods (2-3, 6.15). C Paul Phillips cleared waivers and is back in Omaha. To make room, C Cody Clark went back to Wilmington. The Royals will move on to a 4-game set at the Portland Beavers (24-29 entering play Friday, AAA Pads) Saturday. The Beavers' roster features only 1 Pads prospect -- P Cesar Carrillo, who's on the shelf with an arm injury. Mainly their roster is filled with guys over 25. Kind of like Omaha the past 2 seasons. Not this year, but '05 and '06.

AA -- Wichita: Frisco 5, Wranglers 2 (Wed.)

2B Brewer 2-3, HBP, RBI (12) -- .259
SS Falu 2-4, RBI (11), SB (9) -- .252
RF Joseph 2-3, K, RS, SB (5) -- .236
DH Lubanski 0-4, K -- .293
1B Stodolka 0-3, BB, 2 K, E (2) -- .287

Rosa 4 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, BB, 2 K, HRA, E (2) -- L, 2-3, 5.14 ERA
Cedeno 2 1/3 IP, BB, K -- 4.37 ERA
Tamayo IP, ER, 2 H, WP -- 2.45 ERA
Lowery IP, 2 BB, K, WP -- 0.00 ERA, back from DL

A 4-run 5th got Frisco the runs needed to win. Jace Brewer hit a 2-out RBI single in the 3rd to give Wichita the lead and SP Carlos Rosa took a 2-hit shutout into the 5th before Frisco scored 4 on 4 hits and a Rosa error. The hits included a 2-run homer by CF Brandon Boggs. The RoughRiders added a run on 2 hits off RP Danny Tamayo in the 8th but Wichita got it back in the bottom of the inning on an Irving Falu RBI single. Wichita couldn't come up with a rally, however. Frisco LF Steve Murphy was 3-4 with his 20th RBI to move to .278, Boggs was 2-4 with his 3rd homer and 2 RBI (10) to move to .250 and SP Doug Mathis got the win with 7 1/3 IP of 2 ER on 8 hits and 5 Ks to move to 5-3 with a 2.52 ERA. RP Jesse Ingram picked up his 11th save.

Frisco 8, Wranglers 3 (Thu.)

C Donachie 2-4, 2 2B (7), 2 RBI (14) -- .202
DH Valentin 2-3, BB, K -- .290
1B Stodolka 1-4, HR (5), RBI (21), K, RS -- .286
LF Lubanski 0-4, 2 K -- .286
RF Blalock 1-4, 2B (2), K, RS, OF assist at home -- .186

Cromer 4 IP, 6 ER, 8 H, BB, 3 K, HRA -- L, 2-4, 6.09 ERA
Santos 1 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, HRA -- 4.44 ERA
Atencio 3 1/3 IP, H, BB -- 3.64 ERA

Frisco gave SP Edinson Volquez all the run support he needed in taking 2 of 3 to finish the series. Wichita starter Jason Cromer gave up 2 runs on 3 hits before recording an out in the 1st but Wichita tied it in the 2nd on a 2-out, 2-run double by Adam Donachie. Cromer gave up a 2-run homer to DH Salomon Manriquez in the 4th and allowed 2 more runs in the inning to make it 6-2 Frisco. RP Arthur Santos came on for the 5th and gave up a leadoff homer to C Kevin Richardson, but Jake Blalock prevented further damage later in the inning with an outfield assist at home to end the rally. Wichita stranded 2 in the 5th and Frisco picked up another run off Santos in the 6th. Mike Stodolka hit a solo homer for his 5th of the season in the 6th but the Wranglers stranded 2 more in the inning and only had 1 more base runner thereafter. Wichita is 22-31 and 6 1/2 games back. Manriquez was 2-5 with his 8th homer and 3 RBI (23) to move to .278, Richardson was 3-5 with his 8th homer, 27th RBI and 2 RS to move to .228 and RF Anthony Webster was 3-5 with his 16th RBI to move to .278. Volquez got the win with 3 ER on 7 hits and 2 walks with 6 Ks over 5 2/3 IP to move to 3-0 with a 3.18 ERA.

The Wranglers start a 3-game set at the Midland RockHounds (31-17, AA Athletics) tonight. The RockHounds swept Wichita last weekend. Probable starters: Wichita lefty Mike Connolly (2-2, 5.72) vs. Midland righty Andrew Shipman (3-2, 2.81). RP Devon Lowery had torn his patella tendon after last season and debuted Wednesday.

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: Kinston 10, Blue Rocks 8 (Wed.)

LF Perez 4-5, HR (3), 4 RBI (19), 2 RS, SB (8) -- .337, very nice night, on hot streak
CF Duarte 3-4, BB, RBI (12), K, RS, CS -- .285
1B Vega 2-5, 2B (8), RBI (20), K, RS -- .205
2B Maddox 1-5 -- .300
3B Lisson 1-4, SF, RBI (29), K, RS -- .303
DH Kaaihue 1-4, BB, RS -- .265
SS Arce 0-4, RBI (10), 2 K, RS -- .238

B. Johnson 5 1/3 IP, 6 ER, 8 H, K -- ND, 4.63 ERA
Green 2/3 IP, 2 ER, H, HRA -- BS, 2, L, 0-2, 4.96 ERA, back from DL
Humen 2 IP, 2 UER, H, 2 BB, E (2) -- 2.52 ERA

Wilmington held a 6-1 lead at one point but let it slip away as Kinston took the series finale. SP Blake Johnson gave up a run in the 1st but Wilmington scored 2 in the 2nd on a 2-run homer by Wilver Perez for his 3rd of the season. The Blue Rocks added a run in the 3rd on a Mario Lisson sac fly and 2 in the 4th on a Valentino Arce fielder's choice that scored Perez and a Jose Duarte RBI single to make it 5-1. Perez singled home a run in the 5th to make it 6-1 but the K-Tribe got the run back in the bottom of the inning on 2 hits and a sac fly. The wheels fell off for Johnson and the Rocks in the 6th as 3 hits scored 2 runs and another hit chased Johnson for Patrick Green, fresh off the DL, with 1 out and 2 on (awful rough situation to throw Green into). Green hit a batter, got a fly out and then gave up a grand slam to SS Josh Rodriguez to give Kinston an 8-6 lead. RP David Humen gave up 2 runs in the 8th but the Rocks tried to rally in the 9th as 2-out RBI singles by Miguel Vega and Perez closed the gap to 10-8 but Todd Balduf lined out to end the game. Rodriguez was 1-2 for Kinston with 2 sac flies, his 5th homer, 12th error and 6 RBI (22) to move to .224, DH Michael Aubrey was 2-3 with his 7th RBI to move to .333 and RP Dan Cevette got the win with 2 IP of a hit, walk and 2 Ks to move to 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA.

Salem Avalanche 9, Blue Rocks 5 (Thu.)

3B Lisson 2-5, K, RS, SB (9) -- .306
RF Perez 0-4, RS, SB (9) -- .324
1B Vega 1-3, SF, 2B (9), 2 RBI (22), K -- .207
DH Kaaihue 1-1, SF, 2 BB, RBI (32), 2 RS -- .270
CF Duarte 1-5, 2 K -- .283
C Thibault 1-3, BB, RBI (14) -- .248
2B Maddox 1-5, K, RS -- .295

Godin 4 IP, 6 ER, 8 H, 2 BB, 2 K -- L, 0-1, 13.50 ERA, probably wanted better debut at level
Oliveros 2 IP, 2 H, 3 K -- 1.65 ERA
Nicoll 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K -- 6.49 ERA
de la Vara 1 1/3 IP, 2 K -- 0.36 ERA, been bulletproof all season

Three 3-run innings got the Avalanche the win. A Miguel Vega sac fly in the 2nd gave Wilmington a 1-0 lead and Rocks SP Jason Godin got out of a bases loaded jam that inning. He wasn't as lucky in the 3rd as Salem scored 3 runs on 4 hits to take a 3-1 lead. A Kila Kaaihue sac fly in the 4th cut the lead to 1 but Salem scored 3 more in the bottom of the inning on 3 hits, a walk and hit batsman to make it 6-2. The Rocks jumped back into the game in the 6th with 3 runs on a Salem error, RBI double by Vega and RBI ground out by Kiel Thibault to make it 6-5 Salem. The tying run was left at third and Chris Nicoll, who came on in relief for the 7th, got 2 quick Ks before allowing 2 walks, a single and a 3-run double to CF Josh Flores to make it 9-5 Avalanche. The Rocks loaded the bases in the 8th but didn't rally and got the first 2 batters on in the 9th but couldn't cash in. Wilmington is 26-26 and 1 1/2 games back. Salem SS Tim Torres was 3-5 with 2 RBI (5) and his 2nd error to move to .385, Flores was 1-4 with his 12th double and 3 RBI (23) to move to .324 and DH Ole Sheldon was 1-4 with 2 RBI (25) to move to .304. Salem SP Sergio Perez got the win with 5 1/3 IP of 5 runs (1 ER) on 5 hits, 2 walks and 3 Ks to move to 3-3 with a 5.65 ERA and RP Samuel Gervacio picked up his 10th save.

The series with the Avalanche (31-22, A-Adv. Astros) continues with game 2 tonight. Probable starters: Rocks right-hander Julio Pimentel (3-0, 2.28) vs. Salem southpaw Chris Salamida (3-3, 3.02).Wilmington is 4-3 versus Salem thus far. Salem's on an 11-game winning streak. P Dan Cortes was placed on the temporary inactive list for unspecified reasons.

A -- Burlington: Bees 10, Wisconsin 9 (Wed.)

3B Mertins 3-3, 2 BB, 3B (2), HR (3), 2 RBI (22), 3 RS -- .265, double short of cycle
C Howell 3-5, HR (2), 2 RBI (6), 2 RS -- .250
CF Robinson 2-5, K, RBI (4), RS -- .254
2B McConnell 2-4, BB, RBI (9), K, RS, SB (9) -- .217
SS Bianchi 2-5, RBI (8), SB (3) -- .242
DH Everett 1-4, BB, RBI (11), 2 K -- .284
LF Dickerson 1-5, RBI (15), K, RS -- .258
RF Morel 0-4, BB, RBI (10), 2 K, RS -- .220
* The Bees left 11 on base.

Cribb 4 1/3 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 6 K, 2 HRA -- ND, 5.45 ERA
Barrera 2 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, K, 2 HRA -- 8.10 ERA
Hartsock 2 1/3 IP, ER, 3 H, 2 K -- W, 2-1, 2.22 ERA

A 6-run 2nd got Burlington started and the Bees held off the Timber Rattlers to take another game from Wisconsin. SP Josh Cribb got touched up in the 1st on a solo shot by RF Kuo Hui Lo but the Bees picked him up in a major way in the 2nd with 6 runs on a bases-loaded walk by Alvi Morel, RBI singles by Derrick Robinson, Chris McConnell and Jeff Bianchi, another bases-loaded walk by Brady Everett and a Joe Dickerson RBI force out to make it 6-1. The Rattlers got out of the inning when Jeff Howell flew out to right and Lo nailed Bianchi at the plate. The easy lead didn't last long as Cribb gave up 4 runs in the 3rd on 3 hits and a 2-run homer by 3B Alex Liddi to cut it to 6-5. Kurt Mertins led off the 5th with a triple and Howell followed with a 2-run homer for his 2nd of the season to make it 8-5. The Bees left the bases full in the 6th and the lead disappeared in the 7th when RP Henry Barrera gave up a 2-run homer to DH Carlos Peguero and a solo homer to LF Gerardo Avila to tie it at 8. Mertins stepped up with 1 on and 1 out in the 8th and slammed a 2-run homer to left for his 3rd of the season to make it 10-8 Bees. RP Aaron Hartsock gave up back-to-back doubles to lead off the 9th and put the tying run in scoring position but sandwiched 2 Ks around a ground out to end the game with the tying run 90 feet from scoring. Lo was 3-5 for Wisconsin with his 4th double, 2nd homer, 20th RBI and 4 RS to move to .274, Peguero was 3-5 with his 5th double, 4th homer and 3 RBI (20) to move to .258 and RP Andrew Barb took the loss with an IP of 2 ER on 3 hits with 2 Ks to drop to 2-1 with a 2.49 ERA.

Bees 5, Wisconsin 4 (Thu.)

3B Mertins 2-4, BB, 2 RBI (24), K, SB (11) -- .271
CF Dickerson 2-4, RBI (16), RS, 2 SB (13) -- .264
1B Turner 1-4, RBI (12), K, RS -- .183
DH Thompson 0-4, RBI (24), K -- .220
2B McConnell 1-4, RS -- .218
SS Bianchi 1-4, 2B (6), RS -- .242

DiPietro 5 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 4 K -- W, 2-2, 4.50 ERA
Hayes 3 2/3 IP, ER, 4 H, 3 K -- SV, 2, 4.94 ERA

Burlington again took an early lead and had to hang on to take a third game from the Rattlers. Bees starter Ryan DiPietro gave up 3 straight doubles in the 1st as Wisconsin took a 2-0 lead. The Bees responded with 3 in teh 2nd on a Jase Turner RBI single and a 2-run single by Kurt Mertins as he carried his momentum from Wednesday into Thursday's tilt. DiPietro held the Rattlers in check and the Bees added 2 runs in the 5th on an RBI ground out by Mike Thompson and a Joe Dickerson RBI single to make it 5-2 Bees. DiPietro gave up a run in the 6th and left with the bases loaded and 1 out before RP Chris Hayes got a K and pop out to escape further damage. Hayes stranded 2 in the 7th and took a 5-3 lead into the 9th. He got 2 Ks in the 9th before giving up 2 singles that brought a run in to make it 5-4 before Hayes got a fly out to end the game and notch his 2nd save. Burlington is 23-28 and 9 1/2 games back. Rattlers LF Leury Bonilla was 3-5 with his 13th double, 1st triple, 12th RBI and 3 RS to move to .246, DH Carlos Peguero was 2-3 with his 6th double, 2 HBP and 2 RBI (22) to move to .267 and 3B Alex Liddi was 3-4 with his 9th double and 16th RBI to move to .224. Rattlers SP Robert Harmon took the loss with 3 2/3 IP of 3 ER on 4 hits and 2 walks with a K to drop to 1-3 with a 5.53 ERA.

The series ends tonight as Burlington goes for the sweep. Probable starters: Bees LH Everett Teaford (1-5, 5.73) vs. Rattlers RH Kyle Parker (2-1, 1.35). In other news, C Ross Boudreaux has hung 'em up and retired. The Bees have a busy weekend as the Cedar Rapids Kernels (27-22, A Halos) come to town for six games in four days. The teams will play a double-header on both Saturday and Monday to make up for two games snowed out at Cedar Rapids back in the first week of the season. 18-year-old Venezuelan P Edward Cegarra has joined the team for his pro debut. Cegarra is 5-1 and 150 lbs. and will fit snugly in manager Jim Gabella's pocket when not on the mound. All joking aside, Cegarra was 3-1 with a 1.36 ERA in 11 games (10 starts) in the Dominican league in 2006. The Kernels' roster features Angels prospects C Hank Conger (.269 BA, .783 OPS, 7 HR, 28 RBI leads team), P Sean O'Sullivan (4-3, 2.44 ERA), 2B Ryan Mount (.250 BA, .641 OPS) and corner IF Matt Sweeney (.290 BA, .785 OPS, 13 errors).