Royals on the Farm 7/8

AAA -- Omaha: O-Royals 5, Round Rock 4

3B Wathan 3-3, BB, 2 RS -- .250
CF Maier 2-4, HBP, RBI (42), 2 RS, E (2) -- .301, having a good season
SS Berroa 2-4, RBI (25) -- .282
RF McCarthy 2-4, SF, 2B (2), RBI (11) -- .287
PR-3B Brewer 0-1, RBI (6) -- .250
DH Brazell 1-4, BB, 2B (17), RBI (48), K -- .315, on to ASG
2B Aviles 1-4, BB -- .309
LF Lubanski 0-3, BB, K, CS -- .226
*Omaha stranded 10.

Elarton 5 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 5 BB, K, 2 WP -- 6.06 ERA, another ugly start
Hoelscher 2 IP, nothing -- 3.53 ERA
Braun 2 IP, H, BB -- W, 1-2, 1.46 ERA

Omaha polished off a comeback from a 4-0 deficit with a 2-run 9th to enter the all-star break on a good note. Starter Scott Elarton ran into trouble immediately as his 1st inning went walk, single, run-scoring wild pitch, single, RBI single, RBI force out, walk, walk, K, pop out to score 3 runs and leave the bases loaded. Two walks and 2 singles to start the 2nd made it 4-0 Express. Elarton bounced back to retire 12 of 13 and Omaha started the comeback with 2 runs in the 5th on RBI singles by Mitch Maier and Angel Berroa. Omaha chipped more off the lead with a run in the 7th on a 2-out RBI double by Craig Brazell that cut it to 4-3. RP Stephen Randolph came on in the 9th to try and close it out for Round Rock but a Derek Wathan walk, Express error and RBI fielder's choice by Jace Brewer tied the game. The Royals loaded the bases with none out and, with 1 out, Bill McCarthy brought the lead run home with a sac fly. Ryan Braun got the win with 2 scoreless innings pitched. Express RF Jason Lane was 2-4 with 2 RBI (21) to move to .282, DH Tim Raines Jr. was 2-4 to move to .351 and Randolph picked up his 1st blown save and loss with an IP of 2 UER on 2 walks and a K to drop to 6-1 with a 2.37 ERA.

Omaha is 42-49. The AAA all-star break begins today. The game is Wednesday in Albuquerque, N.M. Craig Brazell is the only O-Royal taking part.

AA -- Wichita: San Antonio 5, Wranglers 1

LF Joseph 1-4, RBI (18), K -- .217
SS Falu 3-4, S, 2B (9), 2 E (16) -- .249
DH Espino 2-3, BB, RS -- .265
2B Gaffney 2-4, 2 K -- .287
1B Kaaihue 2-5, 3 K -- .279
RF Valentin 1-4, S, K -- .306
3B Nettles 0-4, K -- .273
*Wichita left 12 on base.

Mattox 7 IP, 2 UER, 2 H, 3 BB, 4 K -- L, 0-2, 4.22 ERA
Cromer 0 IP, 3 ER, 2 H, BB -- 6.10 ERA
de la Vara IP, H, K -- 6.75 ERA

Wichita more than doubled up the Missions in hits Sunday -- 12-5 -- but the scoreboard was a much different story as San Antonio took a 5-1 victory. Wichita had runners thrown out at home in the 1st and 2nd but loaded the bases with 1 out in the 4th. The Missions forced Kila Kaaihue at home but Onil Joseph singled home a run to give Wichita a 1-0 lead. Adam Greenberg grounded out to end the rally. Starter D.J. Mattox faltered in the 5th with a walk, single and 2 errors by Irving Falu on the same play that scored 2 runs to make it 2-1 SA. Wichita stranded 2 in the 7th and Jason Cromer came in to pitch the 8th only to give up a walk, double and single before getting pulled for Gilbert de la Vara. de la Vara gave up an RBI double to score a 3rd run in the inning as the Missions made it 5-1. Wichita stranded another runner in the 9th. Five Missions had 1 hit each led by 3B Chase Headley, who was 1-3 with his 23rd double and 47th RBI to move to .345. Starter Mike Ekstrom got the win with 6 IP of an ER on 9 hits, a walk and 4 Ks to improve to 4-5 with a 4.52 ERA.

Wichita is 6-11 and 6 games back. The series wraps up tonight. No starter has been announced for Wichita, and the team site has been inaccurate on the Missions' starter both games of the series.

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: Blue Rocks 4, Myrtle Beach 3

RF McFall 1-4, HR (5), 2 RBI (29), 2 K, RS -- .236
3B Lisson 1-4, HR (6), RBI (42), RS -- .260
C Thibault 1-4, HR (3), RBI (20), 2 K, RS, E (4) -- .257
DH McCann 2-4, 2 2B (4), 2 K, RS -- .250
CF Duarte 0-3, BB -- .278
2B Maddox 0-4, K -- .264
SS McConnell 0-2, BB, K, CS -- .267

Hardy 8 IP, 3 ER, 7 H -- W, 11-2, 1.98 ERA, Baseball America said his fastest pitch was 82 mph in the game; he must have some wicked movement
Barnes IP, 3 K, WP -- SV, 3, 3.70 ERA

In a night of big blasts for Wilmington, Mario Lisson had the biggest one in the 9th for a Blue Rock win. Starter Rowdy Hardy gave up a run on 2 hits and a sac fly in the 1st to once again give up an early lead. Kiel Thibault led off the 3rd with his 3rd homer to tie the game and Brian McFall hit a 2-run homer in the 4th for his 5th of the season to give the Rocks a 3-1 lead. The 1st repeated itself in the 4th as Hardy gave up 2 runs this time on 2 hits and a sac fly to tie the game at 3. The game went to the 9th and Lisson led off the Rocks' half with his 6th homer to make it 4-3. RP Justin Barnes hit a batter in the bottom of the 9th and had 3 Ks but a wild pitch and Thibault throwing error on the third put runners at second and third with 2 out. Barnes got a pop out to get his 3rd save. Pelicans CF Jordan Schafer was 2-4 with his 17th double to move to .297 and RP Jake Stevens got the loss with 2 IP of an ER on 2 hits, a walk and K to drop to 5-7 with a 5.78 ERA.

Wilmington is 13-5 and 3 games up on first. The Rocks have today and Tuesday off.

A -- Burlington: Clinton 5, Bees 2

DH Everett 2-4, 2B (18), RBI (27), K -- .303
1B Turner 2-3, HR (7), RBI (19), K, RS -- .201
CF Robinson 1-4, K, RS, SB (18) -- .254
SS Bianchi 0-3 -- .219

Mozingo 4 IP, 4 R (2 ER), 7 H -- L, 7-8, 4.42 ERA
Hayes 2 IP, 2 H, 2 K -- 3.86 ERA
Barrera 2 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, K, WP -- 7.52 ERA
Wladyka IP, K -- 8.59 ERA

A 3-run 4th gave Clinton all the juice it needed for a shot at a sweep tonight. Kurt Mertins was thrown out at home in the 2nd as Clinton kept the game scoreless and the LumberKings moved ahead in the 2nd on 2 hits and a sac fly off Bees starter Harold Mozingo. The Bees tied it in the 3rd on a Brady Everett RBI single but 3 hits, a sac fly and error gave the LumberKings a 4-1 lead in the 4th. Marcus Lemon stole home off RP Henry Barrera in the 7th to make it 5-1 and Jase Turner hit a solo homer in the 8th for his 7th of the season before Clinton RP Brennan Garr got the last 5 outs to end it. Lemon was 3-4 for Clinton with 3 SB (11), his 16th double and 23rd RBI to move to .259, 3B Jay Heafner was 2-2 with 2 RBI (14) and his 1st SB to move to .214 and SP Zach Phillips got the win with 7 IP of an ER on 6 hits and 4 Ks to improve to 9-2 with a 2.77 ERA.

Burlington is 9-9 and 2 1/2 games back. The series wraps tonight. Probable starters: Bees RH Matt Kniginyzky (1-0, 1.50) vs. Rangers hot prospect LH Kasey Kiker (3-2, 2.25).

Rookie -- Idaho Falls: Chukars 17, Ogden 9

CF Ortiz 5-6, RBI (6), 4 RS -- .350, hitting questions answered affirmatively so far
DH Robinson 3-6, 2 HR (4), 7 RBI (23), 3 RS -- .403, top '07 draftee thus far
3B Van De Keere 4-5, BB, 3 RBI (13), 3 RS -- .337
1B Seratelli 2-6, 2 RBI (17), RS -- .325
2B Evangelho 2-5, 2 RBI (7), RS -- .353
SS Juan 3-6, RBI (10), 3 RS -- .243
C Balduf 2-5, K, pickoff -- .355
RF Van Stratten 1-6, RBI (8), K, RS -- .272

Peterson 7 IP, 8 ER, 13 H, BB, 3 K, 2 HRA -- W, 2-1, 6.46 ERA, talk about run support
Cassa 2 IP, ER, 3 H, 2 K -- 4.91 ERA

The Chukars only scored in 4 innings but made three of those count big time for a 17-9 win. Devery Van De Keere got Idaho Falls started quietly with an RBI single in the 1st and Todd Balduf picked off a runner at third in the 1st to preserve the lead. Ogden got 2 doubles and a 2-run homer in the 2nd off SP Zach Peterson to take a 3-1 lead. Idaho Falls broke out the singles in the 3rd as the Chukars scored 7 runs on RBI singles by Van De Keere, Anthony Seratelli, Clint Robinson, Nick Van Stratten, Zach Evangelho (2-run single) and Adrian Ortiz (his second base hit of the inning) to make it 8-3 Chukars. The Chukars piled on 5 more runs in the 5th on an RBI fielder's choice by Manni Juan, another Van De Keere RBI single, a Seratelli RBI ground out and a 2-run homer by Robinson for his 3rd of the season. Peterson gave up a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 5th to make it 13-5 and 3 runs off Peterson in the 8th cut the lead to 13-8. Robinson put an exclamation point on the win with a grand slam in the 9th for his 2nd of the game and 4th of the season to make it 17-8. RP Pat Cassa gave up a run on 3 hits in the 9th to make the final 17-9. Ogden C Alex Garabedian was 2-3 with his 1st homer and 3 RBI (5) to move to .250, CF Jovanny Rosario was 2-3 with his 1st homer and 2 RBI (8) to move to .347 and starter Kris Krise took the loss with 2 1/3 IP of 8 ER on 11 hits to drop to 1-1 with an 11.37 ERA.

IF is 14-6 and 3 games up on first. The series ends tonight. No announced starters on the team site.

Rookie -- Burlington: Greeneville 7, B-Royals 4

3B Santos 2-3, HR (2), 2 RBI (5), 2 RS -- .267
CF Norris 2-5, 2B (1), RBI (2) -- .222
SS Martin 1-4, 3 K, SB (1) -- .208
DH Lane 0-4, HBP, 2 K -- .358
1B Amyx 0-2, 2 BB, K -- .257
RF Tucker 1-4, RS, E (2) -- .309

Bernat 5 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 4 K, WP -- 2.12 ERA
Paukovits 3 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 6 H, BB, 3 K, WP -- L, 0-1, 7.30 ERA

The Royals split the set with Greeneville with the loss. Burlington stranded 2 in scoring position in the 1st and the 'Stros moved ahead with a run on 2 hits and a sac fly in the 2nd. Greeneville added another run in the 5th off starter David Bernat but the Royals tied it in the 6th on a 2-run homer by Jose Santos for his 2nd of the season. The Astros churned out 3 runs in the 6th and 2 in the 8th off RP Bryan Paukovits and Burlington only managed 2 more runs in the 9th on an RBI double by Patrick Norris and an error that scored a run. Astros C Reinaldo Pestana was 4-4 with his 2nd double and 2 RBI (5) to move to .432 and RP Fernando Abad got the win with 4 IP of 2 ER on 3 hits and 5 Ks to improve to 2-1 with a 7.13 ERA.

Burlington dropped to 10-7 and a 1/2 game back of first. A 2-game set at the Kingsport Mets (9-9) starts tonight. No announced starters on the team site. The Royals are 1-1 versus the Mets.

Rookie -- AZL: Royals 2, Giants 1

CF Richardson 1-4, BB, RBI (2), RS -- .156
LF Pennell 1-3, RBI (4), K -- .356
LF Huber 0-2, K -- .000, rehabbing
2B Angel 2-3, BB, RS -- .306
C McCauley 1-4 -- .308
3B F. Cruz 0-3, S -- .143
*The Royals stranded 11.

Penn 3 IP, H, 5 K -- 1.80 ERA, rehab looking good
Runion 3 IP, 3 H, BB, 5 K -- W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, first pro win
Biddle 2 2/3 IP, ER, 2 H, K -- 7.94 ERA
Rada 0 IP, H -- 5.00 ERA
Van Slyke 1/3 IP, K -- SV, 1, 1.23 ERA

Both teams had 7 hits but the Royals outscored the Giants to get a narrow win. The Royals left the bases full in the 4th but Hilton Richardson drove home a run with a ground out in the 5th. The Royals left the bases full again in the 6th and Vinny Pennell gave the Royals some insurance with an RBI single in the 9th. George Biddle and Orlando Rada gave up a run with 2 outs in the 9th but Eric Van Slyke got a K to end the game to notch his 1st save and leave the tying run at third. Giants DH Brock Bond was 2-3 to move to .231 and starter Lars Knepper took the loss with 5 IP of an ER on 4 hits and 4 Ks to drop to 0-1 with a 0.75 ERA.

The Royals improved to 6-8. They lost to the Mariners today. As noted, Justin Huber joined the AZL boys for some rehab while 18-year-old RHP Onassis Sirrett also joined the roster.