Royals on the Farm 7/17

AAA -- Omaha: O-Royals 6, Albuquerque 5

DH Brazell 2-4, HR (25), 2 RBI (54), K, 2 RS -- .318
3B Lewis 1-4, HR (4), 3 RBI (26), RS, E (6) -- .237, average still low but he's picked it up some lately
CF Maier 0-3, SF, RBI (44), K -- .302
RF Costa 2-3, BB, RS -- .350
SS Aviles 1-4 -- .300
1B Huber 0-4, 2 K -- .252
LF Lubanski 1-4, K -- .185

Wright 6 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K, 2 HRA -- 3.86 ERA
Markray 3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 5 K, HRA, WP -- W, 4-4, 4.83 ERA

The Isotopes took a 2-run lead into the 9th before Richie Lewis stepped into the spotlight to help lead Omaha to the win. After the O-Royals stranded 2 in the 1st, starter Matt Wright allowed a solo homer to LF John Gall to spot the 'Topes a 1-0 lead. Craig Brazell flipped the lead around in the 3rd with a 2-out, 2-run homer to left for his 25th AAA longball and 32nd overall to make it 2-1. A Mitch Maier sac fly in the 5th made it 3-1 but then the Isotopes started to get to Wright. He gave up a solo homer to 3B Scott Seabol to lead off the 5th and stranded 2 in the inning before giving up the equalizer in the 6th on back-to-back doubles to start the inning. The lead run was left at third but Thad Markray allowed a solo homer to C Josh Baker in the 7th to give the lead back to Albuquerque. The Isotopes scratched out another run in the 8th on 2 hits and a wild pitch to make it 5-3. Former Royals reliever Nate Field came on in the 9th for the Isotopes and gave up 2 singles before Lewis stepped up with 1 out and cranked a 3-run homer to left for his 4th of the season to give Omaha a 6-5 lead. Markray pitched a 1-2-3 9th to nail down the win. Gall was 3-4 for Albuquerque with his 21st double, 12th HR and 2 RBI (42) to move to .313 and Field had his 4th blown save and took the loss with an IP of 3 ER on 3 hits and 2 Ks to drop to 6-5 with a 2.61 ERA.

Omaha is 46-51. Game 3 of the set is tonight. Probable starters: Omaha RH Scott Elarton (2-3, 6.28) vs. RH Daniel Barone (5-0, 2.72).

AA -- Wichita: Arkansas 9, Wranglers 6 (10)

LF Padilla 2-3, 2 BB, HR (3), 4 RBI (23), RS -- .356
3B Nettles 2-5, RBI (12), K -- .264
C Espino 2-4, 2B (9), picked off runner -- .268
CF Greenberg 2-4, BB, 2 RS, 2 SB (13), CS (7) -- .256
1B Stodolka 1-3, 2 BB, K, 2 RS, picked off -- .293
RF Valentin 0-3, 2 BB, K, RS -- .310
DH Kaaihue 0-4, BB, 2 K -- .260

Rosa 4 1/3 IP, 6 R (5 ER), 5 H, 5 BB, 4 K, HRA -- 5.48 ERA, been disappointing at AA, like Luis Cota was last season
Connolly 2 1/3 IP, H, 3 BB, 3 K -- 5.93 ERA
Bausher 3 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, BB, HRA -- L, 1-3, 9.82 ERA

A 4-run 7th got Wichita back in the game but Arkansas got a big homer in the 10th to knock the Wranglers out. Jorge Padilla singled home Adam Greenberg in the 1st to make it 1-0 Wichita but Arkansas touched up SP Carlos Rosa for 2 runs in the 3rd, 3 runs in the 4th and another run on an error in the 5th. Much like Luke Hochevar has been in his starts, Rosa was the victim of just one pitch here and there as the 3rd-inning runs came on a 2-out, 2-run double and the 4th-inning runs came on a 3-run homer. He also had trouble with his command as he allowed 5 walks in his outing Tuesday. Jeff Nettles singled home a run in the 6th to cut it to 6-2 and, with 2 outs in the 7th, the Wranglers warmed up their bats. Wichita loaded the bases and Greenberg scored on a passed ball before Padilla smacked a 3-run homer to left to tie the game off RP Chris Hunter. The Wranglers left a runner at third in the 8th and the game went to extras before Tim Bausher gave up a 2-out, 3-run homer to 3B Freddy Sandoval to break the game open. The Wranglers stranded a runner in the 10th. Sandoval was 2-5 for the Travs with his 7th homer and 3 RBI (44) to move to .292, LF Coby Smith was 3-3 with his 2nd homer, 3 RBI (6) and 9th SB to move to .304 and RP Von Stertzbach got the win with 2 IP of 3 walks and a K to improve to 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA. He gets bonus points from me for having a cool name.

Wichita is 10-15 and 6 games back. The series wraps up tonight. Probable starters: Travelers hot prospect righty Nick Adenhart (6-3, 3.31) vs. Wranglers lefty Dan Christensen (2-9, 5.65, 1.58 WHIP).

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: Myrtle Beach 5, Blue Rocks 4 (11)

SS Johnson 2-3, HR (1), 2 RBI (20), RS -- .254
2B Maddox 2-6, RBI (33) -- .270
C Thibault 1-4, BB, 3B (2), RBI (23), K, E (6) -- .265
CF Duarte 2-5, BB, RS, OF assist at third -- .283
3B Lisson 0-6, K -- .251
SS McConnell 1-2, K -- .266, defensive replacement in 9th
*The Rocks stranded 12.

Chambliss 5 IP, ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 5 K -- 5.68 ERA, best high-A start yet
Green 2 2/3 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K, WP -- 4.35 ERA
Haltiwanger 2 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, BB, E (1) -- BS, 4, 3.89 ERA
Oliveros IP, ER, H, BB, K, HRA -- L, 1-2, 2.77 ERA

The Rocks blew a 2-run 9th inning lead, kept the game alive in the 10th and then lost in 11 as the bullpen faltered. Starter Tyler Chambliss loaded the bases with Pelicans with 0 outs in the 2nd and walked in a run before getting out of the jam. The score stayed 1-0 until the 5th when Josh Johnson hit his first homer of the season for a 2-run shot to give Wilmington a 2-1 lead. Marc Maddox singled home a run in the 7th to make it 3-1 and RP Russ Haltiwanger came in with 2 out and 2 on in the 8th and got out of the jam. Unfortunately, the 9th wasn't as steady for Haltiwanger as he gave up 2 singles, made a throwing error on a pickoff attempt, allowed a sac fly and then gave up 2 more singles to tie the game. The rally died only when Jose Duarte nailed a runner at third on the last of the 4 singles. The Rocks had a chance to end it with the bases loaded and 1 out in the 9th but blew the chance. Haltiwanger came back out after his shaky 9th and allowed a run on 2 doubles in the 10th. Kiel Thibault kept the Rocks in it with a huge 2-out RBI triple in the 10th but, again, the Rocks left him at third. Rayner Oliveros relieved Haltiwanger for the 11th and gave up a solo homer to CF Jordan Schafer to give the lead back to Myrtle Beach. This time, the Rocks didn't have a rally in them as they stranded a runner to end it. Schafer was 2-6 for the Pelicans with his 6th homer and 28th RBI to move to .294 and RP Kris Medlen got the win with 2 IP of an ER on 3 hits, a walk and 3 Ks to improve to 1-0 with a 3.52 ERA.

Wilmington is 15-9 and 1 1/2 games up on first. The series continues tonight. Probable starters: Rocks right-hander Dan Cortes (2-6, 3.98) vs. Myrtle Beach righty Tommy Hanson (0-0, 3.27). I don't know about you, but I'm feeling great about the Ruben Gotay trade right now. He's hitting over .300 for the Mets while we turned Jeff Keppinger into Haltiwanger, who has 4 blown saves in 8 chances at A-Advanced. A sterling deal if I've ever seen one. Keppinger's also at MLB now with the Reds. That's not to say the Royals would have a role for either Gotay or Keppinger at the major league level right now. They've had enough trouble shuffling around the roster they've got.

A -- Burlington: Bees 4, Lansing 2

SS Mertins 4-5, 2 RBI (34), RS -- .263
RF Walton 1-3, HBP, HR (3), RBI (10), K, 2 RS -- .273, in a groove right now
DH Everett 1-4, RBI (34) -- .307
CF Robinson 0-5, K -- .250
LF Dickerson 1-4, BB, K -- .293
1B Castillo 1-4 -- .208

Teaford 5 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 6 K -- W, 4-8, 5.42 ERA, nice start
Cegarra 3 2/3 IP, 3 H, 3 K -- SV, 1, 3.54 ERA

Three Lansing errors helped the Bees get a win in the series opener. Starter Everett Teaford started things off rockily with a walk and double to start the 1st but C Jeff Howell picked off the runner at third and Teaford escaped the jam. Jamar Walton hit his 3rd homer for a solo shot in the 3rd to make it 1-0 Bees but Teaford gave up the tying run on 2 hits and a walk in the bottom of the inning. The Lugnuts made 3 errors in the 5th and the Bees cashed them into 2 runs on a single by Kurt Mertins to take a 3-1 lead. Ed Cegarra was brought in with 1 on and 1 out in the 6th and allowed an RBI single before escaping the inning with the 3-2 lead. Brady Everett got the run back with an RBI single in the 7th and Cegarra stranded 1 in both the 7th and 9th to pick up his 1st save. Lugnuts CF Yuber Rodriguez was 3-4 with his 35th RBI and 7th SB to move to .256 and SP Zach Dials took the loss with 6 IP of 3 runs (1 ER) on 5 hits, a walk and 2 Ks to drop to 4-5 with a 4.62 ERA.

Burlington is 14-10 and tied for first. Game 2 of the set is already under way. Starters: Bees RH Jason Godin (2-1, 2.09) vs. Lansing LH Nate Starner (8-7, 4.58).

Rookie -- Idaho Falls: Missoula 11, Chukars 6

RF Gonzalez 3-4, HR (3), RBI (13), K, 2 RS, OF assist at second -- .343
LF Morel 2-4, 2 2B (5), 2 RBI (7), K, RS, OF assist at third -- .210
SS Seratelli 1-3, BB, RBI (22) -- .320
CF Ortiz 1-5, RBI (10), RS, SB (4) -- .344
DH Evangelho 1-4, RBI (8), K, RS -- .343
1B Robinson 1-3, HBP, K -- .376

Norton 0 IP, 6 ER, 6 H, BB, HRA -- L, 1-2, 2.86 ERA, yikes, can't have a much worse start than that, right, Luke Hudson?
Phillips 5 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, BB, K -- 3.92 ERA
Swaggerty 1 2/3 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K, WP -- 2.57 ERA
Roach 2 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, K, WP -- 5.02 ERA

The Chukars didn't recover from a 6-run Missoula 1st to drop 3 of 4 with the Osprey. Here's how starter Ben Norton's 5th pro start went: double, 2-run homer, single (then steal), single, RBI single, walk, 2-run single, pulled. Justin Phillips came in and allowed another run to score before escaping the inning with a 6-0 Osprey lead. The Chukar bats awoke in the 5th for 5 runs on a Zach Evangelho RBI single, 2-run Alvi Morel double, Adrian Ortiz RBI single and Anthony Seratelli RBI single that cut it to 6-5. Phillips was pulled for Ben Swaggerty with 2 in scoring position and 1 out in the 6th and Swaggerty gave up 2 RBI singles to make it 8-5. O.D. Gonzalez led off the Chukar 6th with his 3rd homer to cut it back to a 2-run lead but RP Jason Roach gave up 3 runs in the 8th and 9th combined and IF couldn't rally. Osprey RF Jimmy Principe was 4-6 with his 1st double and 2 RBI (4) to move to .309, CF Peter Clifford was 3-6 with his 9th double, 4th homer and 4 RBI (17) to move to .326 and starter Bryan Henry got the win despite 5 IP of 6 ER on 10 hits, a walk and K to "improve" to 4-0 with a 3.69 ERA.

Idaho Falls is 19-9 and 7 games up on first. The Chukars are off today to start a road trip.

Rookie -- Burlington: rainout

The game was postponed by rain and will be made up as part of a doubleheader tonight. No announced starters on the team site.

Rookie -- AZL: Mariners 7, Royals 1

3B Donovan 1-4, 2B (8), RBI (9), K, 2 E (9) -- .324
CF Richardson 1-2, 2 BB, SB (3), picked off -- .164
LF Craze 1-3, BB, K, RS, SB (3) -- .256
PR-C McCauley 1-1, picked off -- .297, team only had 4 hits
SS F. Cruz 0-4, K -- .158

Hodge 4 IP, 4 R (2 ER), 4 H, BB, K -- L, 1-2, 2.21 ERA
Feickert 2 2/3 IP, ER, 2 H, 2 BB, K -- 9.64 ERA
Rada 1 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 3 K, balk -- 6.10 ERA

The Royals scored first but 3 errors and 3 picked off base runners helped kill their cause along with only 4 hits as the Mariners did the rest of the scoring. Hilton Richardson walked and was picked off in the 1st and it cost the Royals a run as Dennis Donovan hit an RBI double later in the inning to make it 1-0 Royals. Astin Jacobo was picked off in the 3rd for the Royals as 2 hits later in the inning went for naught and 2 Royal errors in the bottom of the 3rd helped the Mariners even the score. The M's moved ahead with a 3-run 5th off starter Mitch Hodge as they chased him from the game with 3 hits and the aid of Donovan's 2nd error of the game. Sean McCauley was picked off in the 7th and the Mariners scored again in their half of the inning to make it 5-1. The scoring wrapped with 2 Mariner runs off RP Orlando Rada in the 8th and the Royals went down, 1-2-3, in the 9th. M's RF Dan Carroll was 2-3 with his 8th RBI to move to .366, CF Maximo Mendez was 1-2 with 3 RBI (17) and his 7th SB to move to .273 and SP Miguel Marquez got the win with 5 IP of an ER on 3 hits, 4 walks and 3 Ks to move to 2-0 with a 2.86 ERA.

The Royals are 9-12 and 6 games back. They played the 8-13 Rangers today. SS Andres Blanco is supposed to be rehabbing with the AZL team but was recently pulled before even getting an AB in the game, which makes me wonder if he had a setback (again) on his knee. I think he did the same thing last season or in '05.