Royals on the Farm 7/5

AAA -- Omaha: Round Rock 14, O-Royals 11

CF Maier 3-6, 2 RBI (40), 2 RS -- .299
SS Berroa 2-4, 2 BB, HR (2), 2 RBI (24), 2 RS -- .280, had to rub my eyes to make sure I wasn't seeing too many 2s. Two walks -- what a moment for Angel.
2B Aviles 1-5, SF, 3 RBI (43), K -- .308
C Tupman 2-4, BB, RBI (20), K, RS -- .289
1B Brazell 1-5, BB, RBI (47), K, RS -- .319
RF McCarthy 2-5, 2 K -- .263
DH Padilla 2-5, K, 2 RS -- .292
LF Lubanski 1-3, 2 BB, K, 3 RS -- .217
*Omaha stranded 11 and 3B Derek Wathan had 2 errors (3).

Hendrickson 3 IP, 8 R (7 ER), 10 H, BB, E (2) -- 5.89 ERA, not a good night for Ben
Shiell 2 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, K, 2 HRA -- 5.21 ERA
Markray 2 IP, 4 R (3 ER), 3 H, BB, K, HRA -- L, 3-4, 4.47 ERA
S. Thompson IP, H -- 0.00 ERA, Omaha debut

Omaha had a 10-8 lead midway through the game but it didn't last a half-inning as Round Rock pounded out 14 runs on 18 hits off four Royal pitchers. Angel Berroa hit a solo homer in the 1st for his 2nd of the season and Matt Tupman added an RBI single to make it 2-0 Omaha. Three hits, a sac fly and 2 errors, including one by starter Ben Hendrickson, helped the Express to a 3-run 1st as the first of two Omaha leads in the game didn't last long either. Hendrickson got slapped around in the 3rd as well as the Express scored 5 runs on 5 singles, a sac fly and a walk to take an 8-2 lead. Omaha jumped back in the game with a 4-run 4th on a Mitch Maier RBI single, 2-run Express error and RBI force out by Craig Brazell to cut it to 8-6. The O-Royals loaded the bases with no outs in the 5th and got a Maier RBI single, Berroa RBI single that scored 2 runs thanks to another Round Rock error and a Mike Aviles sac fly to take a 10-8 lead. RP Jason Shiell, who had taken over for Omaha in the 4th, coughed up the lead quickly with 2 solo homers allowed in the bottom of the 5th to tie it at 10. Wathan started off the 7th with his 2nd error of the game and Round Rock would score 4 times in the inning off RP Thad Markray, including a 3-run homer by SS Jesse Garcia, to make it 14-10. The Royals stranded 2 in the 8th but loaded the bases with 1 out in the 9th before Aviles drove in a run on a force out and Brazell grounded out to end the game. Express 1B Mark Saccomanno was 3-3 with his 13th homer and 3 RBI (52) along with his 11th error to improve to .284, Garcia was 2-4 with his 5th E, 5th homer and 3 RBI (21) to move to .287 and RP Jose Rodriguez got the win with 3 IP of 4 runs (3 ER) on 6 hits and 2 Ks to move to 2-3 with a 5.18 ERA. RP Travis Driskill picked up his 5th save.

Omaha is 40-48. I'll let you know when they get back within 10 games of first. Game 3 of the 5-gamer was tonight. Probable starters: Omaha RH Billy Buckner (7-3, 4.14) vs. 'Stros top prospect LH Troy Patton (AAA debut).

AA -- Wichita: Corpus Christi 6, Wranglers 5 (7/G1)

RF Valentin 3-4, HR (2), 3 RBI (27), RS -- .299
1B Kaaihue 1-4, HR (2), RBI (8), K, RS -- .265
CF Greenberg 2-4, RS -- .251
C Espino 1-3, RBI (13) -- .264
DH Nettles 1-4, 2B (1), 2 K, RS -- .250, Wichita debut

Hochevar 4 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 6 K, HRA -- 4.69 ERA, another HR allowed (13 on season in 94 IP)
Plummer 2 IP, ER, 4 H, BB, 2 K -- L, 3-4, 3.02 ERA

Wichita came back to grab a lead in the 5th but the Hooks just took it back to take the first game of a twinbill. Luke Hochevar gave up a 2-run homer to DH J.R. Towles in the 1st and the Hooks had an early lead. Jeff Nettles doubled with 2 out in the 4th and scored on a Damaso Espino single to cut the lead in half but Wichita squandered a rally when Espino was thrown out at the plate later in the inning. Hochevar gave up a 2-out, 2-run double to CF Josh Flores in the CC 4th to make it 4-1. The game was tied on one swing of the bat in the 5th as Geraldo Valentin cranked a 3-run homer to left for his 2nd of the season and Kila Kaaihue followed with a solo shot for his 2nd at AA this season and Wichita had a 5-4 lead. The lead lasted 2 batters into the Hooks' half of the inning as Hochever gave up a single and RBI double before getting pulled for Jarod Plummer. Plummer got out of the inning with the tie but allowed a run on 3 hits in the 6th to make it 6-5 CC. With 2 out in the 7th in the doubleheader-shortened game, Valentin singled and Kaaihue struck out only to reach on a wild pitch. Unfortunately Wichita couldn't take advantage of the miscue as Nettles struck out to end the game. Flores was 2-3 for CC with his first 2 doubles and 3 RBI (5) to move to .296, Towles was 2-3 with his 7th homer and 2 RBI (22) to move to .336 and SP Josh Muecke went 6 IP of 5 runs (4 ER) on 9 hits, a walk and 3 Ks to get the win and improve to 2-4 with a 5.08 ERA. RP Kyle Middleton (former Royals farmhand) picked up his 12th save for the Hooks.

Corpus Christi 3, Wranglers 2 (9/G2)

RF Valentin 3-4, RBI (28) -- .308, hard to beat a 6-for-8 day
3B Nettles 2-4, HR (1), RBI (1), RS, E (1) -- .375
LF Joseph 2-4, K, RS -- .220
C Donachie 2-3, K -- .203
1B Kaaihue 0-4, K -- .245
*No Stodolka in either game?

Atencio 7 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 2 H, 3 BB, 5 K, HRA -- 3.57 ERA, solid outing
de la Vara IP, H, BB -- 0.00 ERA
Bausher 2/3 IP, ER, 2 H, BB -- L, 0-1, 10.80 ERA

The game went to "extras" before a clutch 2-out single ended it in the 9th. Wichita broke the ice in the 3rd on a 2-out RBI single by Valentin and Nettles led off the 4th with his first AA homer of the season to make it 2-0 Wranglers. Nettles started the 4th with his 1st error for Wichita and the next batter, Hooks 3B Drew Sutton, smacked a 2-run homer off Greg Atencio to tie the game. Atencio stranded the bases loaded in the 7th and the game went to the pens in the 8th. Tim Bausher came on for the 9th for the Wranglers and, with 2 outs and runners at the corners, SS Edwin Maysonet came through with a walkoff single to end it. Sutton was 1-3 for CC with his 7th homer and 2 RBI (35) to move to .266, Maysonet was 2-4 with his 12th error and 23rd RBI to move to .278 and RP Brian Gordon got the win with 2 IP of a hit and K to improve to 4-0 with a 1.82 ERA. Starter Josh Miller allowed 2 runs (1 ER) on 8 hits and 3 Ks to move his ERA to 4.38.

Wichita is 6-7 and 2 1/2 games back. Another double-dip was tonight between the 2 squads. Probable game 1 starters are Wichita righty Carlos Rosa (3-5, 5.24) and CC lefty Jimmy Barthmaier (2-5, 6.26). No starters are listed for game 2 on the team site.

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: Blue Rocks 4, Kinston 3

C Clark 2-3, BB, HR (2), 3 RBI (10), RS -- .259
2B Jirschele 1-4, SF, RBI (2) -- .261
CF Duarte 1-5, 2B (13), 2 K, RS, SB (22) -- .291
SS McConnell 1-4, 2B (1), K -- .240
3B Lisson 1-4, BB -- .264

Chambliss 5 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, 3 BB, 3 K, WP -- W, 2-0, 5.40 ERA, again not pretty but a win
Green 4 IP, 3 H, K -- SV, 3, 4.68 ERA, becoming master of 4-inning save

A big 5th propelled the Blue Rocks to victory Thursday. Jeremy Jirschele drove home Jose Duarte with a 3rd inning sac fly to make it 1-0 Rocks but the Tribe knocked 3 straight RBI singles off SP Tyler Chambliss in the 4th to take a 3-1 lead. Chambliss left 2 in scoring position for a second time in the game that inning and the Rocks picked him up with 3 in the 5th on a 2-out, 3-run jack by Cody Clark for his 2nd of the season. Chambliss stranded 2 more Indians in the 5th before handing the ball to Patrick Green for the 6th. Green got along well until giving up a leadoff double in the 9th but even then pitched around the jam for his 3rd save. Indians CF Jose Constanza was 4-5 with his 7th double and 16th RBI to move to .249 and SP Frank Herrmann took the loss with 4 2/3 IP of 4 ER on 6 hits, 3 walks and 3 Ks to drop to 6-3 with a 3.80 ERA.

Wilmington is 11-4 and 4 games up on first. A 3-game set at the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (8-7, A-Adv. Braves) started tonight. Probable starters: Rocks right-hander Blake Johnson (5-6, 4.02) vs. Pelicans righty Dustin Evans (1-4, 4.67). The Rocks are 3-7 versus MB.

A -- Burlington: Beloit 8, Bees 4

3B Thompson 2-4, 2B (15), RBI (44), RS, E (12) -- .231
C Morizio 0-4, RBI (20), K -- .219
CF Dickerson 2-5, 2 K, RS -- .295
1B Turner 2-4, 2 K, CS -- .197
DH Howell 1-3, BB, 2 RS -- .272

Cegarra 4 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 5 BB, K -- L, 1-1, 4.03 ERA, a little trouble with the walks
Teaford 4 2/3 IP, 6 R (5 ER), 5 H, BB, 6 K, HRA, WP -- 5.54 ERA, nice K/BB, but yikes for the rest
Cribb 1/3 IP, H -- 6.10 ERA

Beloit starter Cole Devries held the Bees in check and the Snappers earned at least a split of the 4-game set. Beloit scratched out its 1st run on 2 walks and a single off Ed Cegarra in the 3rd and 3 more walks and a hit scored a run in the 4th to make it 2-0 Snappers. Burlington got a hit each inning early on but couldn't put a rally together. Everett Teaford relieved Cegarra for the 5th and gave up 2 runs on a hit batter, double and wild pitch. The Bees picked up an unearned run off Devries in the 6th as an error on a Matt Morizio force out scored Jeff Howell to cut it to 4-1. Teaford gave up a 2-out, 2-run homer in the 7th to put the lead at 5 but the Bees got to RP Jesus Carnevales in the 8th. Mike Thompson hit an RBI double and Howell scored on a wild pitch before Morizio hit an RBI ground out to cut it to 6-4. The rally ended there, though, and the Snappers scored twice in the 9th off RP Josh Cribb thanks in part to a Thompson error. Beloit 3B Garrett Olson was 3-5 with his 4th homer and 3 RBI (29) to move to .236, Devries got the win with 7 IP of an UER on 7 hits, 2 walks and 6 Ks to move to 7-3 with a 2.92 ERA, and RP Robert Delaney picked up his 27th save and dropped his ERA to 0.59.

Burlington is 8-7 and a game back. The series ended tonight. Probable starters: Bees RH Jason Godin (2-1, 1.49) vs. Beloit LH Tyler Robertson (3-2, 2.23).

Rookie -- Idaho Falls: Chukars 2, Casper 0

SS Juan 3-4, RBI (8), K, RS, picked off -- .242
1B Robinson 2-3, BB, K, SB (1) -- .404
CF Ortiz 1-4, K, RS, SB (2) -- .289
DH Seratelli 0-3, BB, K -- .348

Leonard 6 IP, 5 H, 4 K -- W, 1-1, 4.00 ERA
J. Hughes 3 IP, 2 H, 6 K -- SV, 1, 4.80 ERA

Pitchers John Leonard and Joe Hughes combined on a shutout for another IF win. Manni Juan scored on an error in the 6th and singled in a run in the 7th to account for the Chukars' runs. Casper's biggest threat came in the 3rd when the Rockies stranded 2. Casper RF Leonardo Reyes was 2-4 with his 3rd double to move to .313 and starter Juan Nicasio took the loss with 6 IP of an UER on 5 hits, a walk and 7 Ks to drop to 0-1 with a 4.05 ERA.

IF moved to 12-5. The series concluded tonight with another Chukar win.

Rookie -- Burlington: off day

The B-Royals also had today off. Both OF David Lough (hamstring) and 1B Brett Amyx (ribs) are expected to return this weekend.

Rookie -- AZL: Royals 13, Brewers 3

CF Craze 2-6, HR (1), 2 RBI (6), RS, CS -- .269
DH D. Cruz 2-5, 2 RBI (4), 2 RS, CS -- .324
RF Pennell 3-4, BB, 4 RS, 2 SB (8), E (1) -- .342
C McCauley 0-3, 2 BB, RBI (3), 2 RS, PB (1) -- .318
LF Jacobo 0-4, HBP, RBI (1), 2 K -- .167
1B Wood 1-4, BB, 2 RS, E (4) -- .317

Penn IP, ER, H, BB, 2 K -- 4.50 ERA
Lehmann 2 IP, ER, 3 H, 4 BB, K -- 7.50 ERA
Mitchell 2 1/3 IP, ER, H, 3 BB, 3 K -- W, 1-0, 2.16 ERA
Hodgson 2 IP, H, 3 BB, 2 K -- 3.00 ERA
Vasquez 0 IP, 2 BB, WP -- 7.20 ERA
Van Slyke 1 2/3 IP, 3 K -- 1.29 ERA

The Royals cranked out 12 runs starting in the 6th to blow out the Brew Crew. Rehabbing starter Michael Penn gave up a run on a triple and sac fly in the 1st but Vinny Pennell scored on a balk in the 2nd to tie the game at 1. Michael Lehmann gave up a run on a hit batter, walk, passed ball and RBI single to make it 2-1 Brewers. Lehmann stranded the bases full in the 3rd and Matt Mitchell cleaned up a Lehmann mess in the 4th by stranding the bases loaded then. The Royals took the lead with 5 runs in the 6th on a Diego Cruz RBI single, a bases-loaded walk by Sean McCauley, and 2 errors on the same play that scored 3 runs to make it 6-2 Royals. RP Ivor Hodgson gave up an RBI single in the 6th but the Royals got the run back in the 7th on a Diego Cruz RBI single to make it 7-3. Ian Craze hit a 2-run homer in the 8th for his 1st of the season and the Royals piled on 4 more runs in the 9th on 4 Brewers errors that scored all 4 runs on 4 consecutive plays. The Brewers had more errors -- 8 -- than hits -- 6. Brewers C D.J. Neyens was 2-2 with his 1st RBI to move to .667 and RP Adam Arnold took the loss with 2 IP of 6 runs (2 ER) on 4 hits and 2 walks to drop to 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA. The Brewers stranded 19 in the game.

The Royals are 4-8. They had today off.