Royals on the Farm 7/15

AAA -- Omaha: Iowa 13, O-Royals 2

1B Brazell 2-4, RBI (52) -- .321
3B Brewer 2-3, BB, 2B (3), RS -- .275
RF Costa 2-5, K -- .349
C Tupman 2-4 -- .284
3B Lewis 2-4, 2B (7), K -- .232
CF Maier 0-1 -- .304, left in 3rd after fouling ball off knee in 1st, considered minor
LF Lubanski 0-3, BB, K -- .170
SS Aviles 0-4, K -- .302

Hochevar 5 IP, 5 ER, 5 H, BB, 7 K, 3 HRA -- L, 0-1, 9.00 ERA, 7 Ks/1 BB is nice, at least
Hoelscher 2 2/3 IP, 5 ER, 5 H, BB, K, HRA -- 4.04 ERA
Markray 1 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, BB -- 4.76 ERA

The same problem that has plagued Luke Hochevar all season -- giving up longballs -- was all too evident in his AAA debut Sunday as the Cubs touched him up for 5 runs en route to a 13-2 win. Cubs CF Felix Pie clubbed a 2-run homer in the 1st and 3B Scott Moore did the same in the 2nd before Pie repeated the trick with a leadoff homer in the 3rd to make it 5-0 and give the Cubs all their runs to that point via roundtripper. Craig Brazell trimmed into the lead with an RBI single in the 3rd and Derek Wathan scored on a wild pitch in the 7th to cut it to 5-2 as Hochevar's only damage came on the homers. Nate Hoelscher had kept the Cubs quiet for a couple innings entering the 8th but gave up 5 runs that inning on 4 hits and a 3-run homer by Moore to make it 10-2. RP Thad Markray allowed 3 runs on 3 hits and a walk in the 9th and Omaha stranded 2 in the bottom of the 9th to fall very far short of a rally. Pie was 3-5 with his 6th double, 2 HR (6) and 3 RBI (28) to move to .386, Moore was 3-3 with his 17th double, 2 HR (13) and 5 RBI (53) to move to .262 and SP Juan Mateo went 6 IP of an ER on 8 hits, a walk and 3 Ks for the win to move to 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA. RP Mike Nannini got his 1st save with 3 IP of relief.

Omaha is 45-50. The O-Royals start a 4-game set at the Albuquerque Isotopes (47-47, AAA Marlins) tonight. They are 4-4 versus the 'Topes. Probable starters tonight: Omaha LH Tyler Lumsden (5-5, 6.17) vs. Isotopes LH Paul Mildren (5-6, 5.76). Justin Huber was activated from the DL and Jace Brewer was released in preparation for tonight's game. With Reggie Sanders coming off the DL for KC, Joey Gathright will also rejoin Omaha after hitting a paltry .315 in KC (note the sarcasm). Not like he was playing well or anything.

AA -- Wichita: Wranglers 5, Arkansas 3

1B Stodolka 3-4, RBI (40), RS -- .291, average on rise lately
2B Valentin 2-4, 2 RS -- .308
RF Padilla 1-3, BB, RBI (17), RS -- .351
DH Kaaihue 0-2, 2 BB, RBI (11), K -- .276
3B Nettles 0-3, SF, RBI (7) -- .209

Mattox 6 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 6 H, 2 BB, 5 K, 3 WP -- 3.78 ERA
Bausher 2 IP, H, 2 BB -- W, 1-2, 10.57 ERA
Plummer IP, H, K -- SV, 9, 2.68 ERA

A 3-run 8th got Wichita the win. Wranglers starter D.J. Mattox dodged a couple early bullets from the Travs and the Wranglers got the scoring started with a 2-run 3rd on RBI singles by Mike Stodolka and Jorge Padilla to make it 2-0. Wichita stranded both guys, however, and Arkansas tied it in the 4th on 2 hits, 2 Mattox wild pitches and a steal of home that ignited an argument that got Wichita manager Tony Tijerina ejected. An Irving Falu error in the 6th helped the Travs take a 3-2 lead and that was the score entering the Wichita 8th. The Wranglers loaded the bases with 1 out off Travs RP Aaron Pullin and a Kila Kaaihue walk tied the game. Stodolka scored on a passed ball and Jeff Nettles hit a sac fly to make it 5-3 Wranglers. Jarod Plummer stranded 1 in the 9th for his 9th save. Travs C Corey Myers was 3-4 with 2 RBI (10) and his 3rd passed ball to move to .393 and Pullin took the loss with 1/3 IP of 3 runs (2 ER) on 2 hits and 2 walks for his 3rd blown save and loss to drop to 3-4 with a 4.23 ERA.

Wichita is 9-14 and 7 games back. The series continues tonight. Probable starters: Travs righty Miguel Gonzalez (5-3, 2.80, 1.12 WHIP) vs. Wichita righty Greg Atencio (4-4, 3.54, 1.24 WHIP).

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: off day

A 4-game home set vs. the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (11-10, A-Adv. Braves) starts tonight. The Rocks are 5-8 versus the Pelicans. Probable starters: Rocks right-hander Julio Pimentel (6-3, 2.48) and Pelicans righty J.C. Cuevas (5-8, 3.99).

A -- Burlington: Bees 7, Great Lakes 5

3B Thompson 2-4, BB, 2 2B (17), 2 K, RS -- .231
CF Dickerson 2-5, 2B (17), RBI (33), 2 RS, SB (18) -- .294
1B Turner 3-5, RBI (20), K -- .212
LF Walton 1-3, BB, HR (2), RBI (9), 2 K, RS -- .271
DH Everett 2-4, BB, 2B (20), RS -- .305
SS Bianchi 1-4, HBP, RBI (21), RS, SB (8) -- .221
C Morizio 1-4, BB, RBI (21), K, picked off, E (5) -- .228
RF Peralta 0-4, SF, RBI (10), 2 K, picked off -- .233
*The Bees stranded 10.

Mozingo 4 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 9 H, 2 K -- 4.50 ERA
Cribb 2 2/3 IP, ER, H, 2 BB, 2 K -- 6.08 ERA
Hayes 1/3 IP, UER, H -- 3.75 ERA
Hartsock 1 2/3 IP, BB, K -- BS, 3, W, 6-3, 2.62 ERA; the vulture

The Bees blew a 1-run lead in the 8th but won it in the 9th. Burlington jumped ahead with 2 runs in the 2nd on an RBI single by Jase Turner and a Felix Peralta sac fly. The Bees stranded 2 and starter Harold Mozingo held the Loons quiet until the 5th when Great Lakes scored 3 runs on 3 hits off Mozingo and a ground out off RP Josh Cribb. Jamar Walton tied it in the 7th with his 2nd Bees homer and the Bees scored 2 more runs in the inning on a Joe Dickerson RBI double and a throwing error on his steal of third. A walk and double off Cribb in the 7th cut the lead to 5-4 and a Matt Morizio throwing error in the 8th helped the Loons tie the game. The Bees loaded the bases with 1 out in the 9th and Morizio atoned for his error with a tie-breaking RBI single before Jeff Bianchi singled home a run to make it 7-5. The Bees left the bases loaded and Aaron Hartsock stranded 1 in the 9th to get the win. Loons RF Thomas Giles was 3-5 with his 3rd triple and 14th RBI to move to .329, LF Matt Berezay was 3-5 with his 33rd RBI to move to .245 and RP David Pfeiffer got the loss with 2 IP of 2 ER on 4 hits, a walk and 2 Ks to drop to 2-2 with a 4.10 ERA.

Burlington is 12-10 and 1/2 a game back of first. The teams are wrapping up the season set tonight. Starters: Bees RH Matt Kniginyzky (1-0, 2.70) vs. Loons RH Arismendy Castillo (2-6, 4.99).

Rookie -- Idaho Falls: Missoula 6, Chukars 2

1B Robinson 2-4, 2B (8), RBI (28), K -- .375
RF Gonzalez 2-4, 2B (8), RBI (11), K, RS -- .330
2B Evangelho 1-3, BB, RS, CS -- .362, moved up to 2 hole
3B Van De Keere 1-4, 2B (7) -- .314
DH Seratelli 0-3, BB, 2 K -- .309

Snipes 5 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 6 H, 4 K -- L, 1-2, 5.48 ERA
Denton 1 2/3 IP, ER, 4 H, HRA -- 7.30 ERA
Swaggerty 1 1/3 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, WP, balk -- 2.92 ERA
Roach IP, ER, 3 H, 2 K -- 3.65 ERA

The Osprey strung together 6 1-run innings to overcome the Chukars and even the series at a game each. Missoula scored a run on 2 hits off SP Clegg Snipes in the 1st and a run on 2 doubles in the 3rd to take an early lead. O.D. Gonzalez hit an RBI double in the 3rd to cut the lead in half but Snipes gave up another run on a single, hit batsman, passed ball and sac fly in the 5th to make it 3-1. Clint Robinson doubled home a run in the 6th to cut it to 3-2 but that was all the Chukars could get. The Osprey scored once in each of the 7th, 8th and 9th off the Chukars' pen and Idaho Falls left the bases loaded in the 8th before going down in order in the 9th as RP Josh Blake picked up his 1st save for Missoula. Osprey 2B Taylor Harbin was 4-4 with 2 doubles (3) and 3 RBI (22) to move to .307, LF Peter Clifford was 4-5 with 2 doubles (7), his 3rd homer and 12th RBI along with 4 RS to move to .297 and starter Thomas Layne got the win with 5 1/3 IP of 2 ER on 6 hits, 2 BB and 6 Ks to improve to 2-3 with a 4.67 ERA.

IF is 18-8 and 5 games up on first. Game 3 of the set is tonight. No announced starters on the team site.

Rookie -- Burlington: B-Royals 8, Johnson City 2

CF Lough 3-4, HR (1), 2 RBI (2), 2 RS -- .538
1B Lane 1-3, BB, 2B (6), 2 RBI (19), RS, SB (5) -- .366
SS Martin 2-4, 2B (8), HR (1), RBI (7), RS -- .220, first pro homer for both him and Lough
DH Amyx 1-4, 2B (5), RBI (12), RS -- .262
2B Perez 2-4, RS, CS -- .286
C Hill 0-4, RBI (3), E (1) -- .154
LF Norris 0-4, BB, 2 K, RS -- .266
RF Tucker 1-4, K, RS -- .327

Augustine 5 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, 2 K -- W, 2-1, 0.83 ERA, nice start
Bradley 4 IP, 3 H, BB, 2 K, E (1) -- SV, 2, 1.77 ERA

The Royals did all their work in 2 innings in ripping the Cardinals. Starter Joe Augustine stranded 2 Cards in the 2nd but gave up a leadoff triple and sac fly in the 4th to make it 1-0 JC. The Royals answered with 3 runs in the bottom of the frame on a David Lough solo homer for his 1st pro longball, a Brett Amyx RBI double and Tom Hill RBI force out that made it 3-1. Augustine gave up a sac fly to cut the lead back to 1 but Burlington locked it up with 5 runs in the 7th on a solo homer by Kyle Martin (his 1st pro shot), a Lough RBI single, a 2-run double by Jake Lane and a Cards error that scored Lane to make it 8-2. P Anthony Bradley held the Cards quiet over 4 innings to pick up his 2nd save. Cards CF Travis Mitchell was 3-4 with 2 SB (2) to move to .290 and SP Brian Broderick took the loss with 5 IP of 3 ER on 7 hits and 2 Ks to drop to 1-2 with a 2.08 ERA.

Burlington is 16-8 and a 1/2 game up on first. The series is wrapping tonight and the game is currently in a rain delay with the Royals up, 7-0. Alex Caldera started for Burlington and Kyle Martin had a grand slam in the 1st. Let's hope it doesn't get washed away.

Rookie -- AZL: Royals 5, Padres 4

C McCauley 1-4, 2B (5), 2 RBI (5), RS, PB (2) -- .278
3B Donovan 3-4, 2 RS -- .329
CF Craze 1-3, 2 BB, HR (2), RBI (9), RS, SB (2), CS (2) -- .250
RF Jacobo 1-2, HBP, 2B (2), RBI (3), K, OF assist at home -- .167
2B Angel 1-3, 2B (5), SF, RBI (9), K -- .255
LF Huber 1-3, BB, 2B (4), K -- .360, wrapped up rookie rehab
1B Wood 1-4, K -- .343

B. Wood 3 2/3 IP, 2 UER, 5 H, 5 K -- 0.00 ERA
Lehmann 4 IP, ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 2 K, HRA -- 4.15 ERA
Santerre 1/3 IP, ER, BB, K -- W, 2-1, 5.79 ERA
Van Slyke IP, H, BB, K, WP -- SV, 3, 0.96 ERA

The Royals held off a late Pads surge for the win. Two hits, a Royals error and a passed ball on Sean McCauley helped the Pads take a 2-0 lead in the 1st but the Royals got 1 run that inning on a leadoff inside-the-park homer by Ian Craze for his 2nd HR of the season. The Royals stranded 2 and P Mike Lehmann came in with 2 on and 2 out in the 4th and left the bases full. The Royals stranded 2 in the 4th and 5th and Astin Jacobo nailed a Padre at the plate to kill a would-be rally in the 6th and keep the score 2-1 Pads. Jacobo then came through at the plate with an RBI double in the bottom of the 6th and Ryan Angel hit a sac fly to make it 3-2 Royals. A 2-out solo homer in the 8th tied the game for the Padres but McCauley had the big hit with a 2-run double in the Royals 8th to make it 5-3. RP Eric Van Slyke loaded the bases with 1 out in the 9th and allowed a run before getting a game-ending K for his 3rd save. Pads CF Yefri Carvajal was 1-5 with his 10th double and 2 RBI (19) to move to .373 and RP Dylan Axelrod took the loss with an IP of 2 runs (1 ER) on 3 hits, a walk and K to drop to 0-2 with a 9.45 ERA.

The Royals moved to 9-11 and are 5 games out. They had today off.