Royals on the Farm 7/9

AAA -- Omaha: all-star break

Craig Brazell lost the AAA Home Run Derby in a "slugoff" to finish second. The guy who beat him, Robert Stratton, doesn't even belong to a team this season and is an Albuquerque real estate agent. The all-star game is Wednesday night.

AA -- Wichita: San Antonio 13, Wranglers 1

RF Valentin 1-4, 2B (9), RBI (29) -- .305
1B Kaaihue 1-4, K -- .278
3B Nettles 1-4, 2 K -- .269

Bausher 4 IP, 7 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 3 K, HRA, 3 WP -- L, 0-2, 14.29 ERA, ugly line
Cedeno 1 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, BB -- 5.70 ERA
Plummer 1 2/3 IP, BB, 2 K -- 2.92 ERA
Connolly IP, 3 ER, 2 H, K, HRA -- 5.94 ERA

Wichita dropped its seventh straight as the Missions creamed three of four Wrangler pitchers. If there's one thing I know, it's that I'd much rather see the Independent League retreads starting the Wichita games rather than seeing what Rowdy Hardy can do at AA. Just a touch of sarcasm there. Back-to-back doubles by Irving Falu and Geraldo Valentin gave Wichita a 1-0 lead in the 1st but the Missions scored 13 unanswered runs in a total of 6 different innings. Things looked bad from the start as Tim Bausher walked the Missions' leadoff guy in the 1st, then gave up a 2-run homer to 2B Brett Dowdy. The Missions had pushed across 5 more runs off Bausher by the time he exited after the 4th and Juan Cedeno didn't fare any better. Mike Connolly also gave up 3 runs in the 8th in another sterling game for the Wrangler pitching staff. After the 1st, the Wranglers didn't get 2 guys on base in an inning again until the 9th, when it was too late, and they didn't rally anyway. Missions 3B Chase Headley was 3-5 with his 24th double and 3 RBI (50) to move to .350, DH Brett Bonvechio was 2-4 with his 5th homer and 4 RBI (9) to move to .406 and SP Manny Ayala got the win with 5 IP of an ER on 3 hits, a walk and 2 Ks to improve to 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA.

Wichita is 6-12 and 7 games back. Wichita has today off before starting a homestand. Almost a week after getting demoted from Omaha, RP Gabe DeHoyos hasn't appeared in a game for Wichita -- maybe they gave him until after the AAA all-star break to get back like they did with Costa going to Omaha.

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: off day

The Blue Rocks are off again today before swinging back into action for a homestand Wednesday.

A -- Burlington: Bees 9, Clinton 7

DH Everett 3-5, 2B (19), HR (7), 3 RBI (30), 2 RS -- .309
C Howell 1-5, HR (3), 2 RBI (14), K, RS, E (3), PB (5) -- .270
3B Soto 1-4, HR (1), RBI (1), 2 RS -- .189
2B Mertins 1-3, 2 BB, RBI (32), K, RS, picked off -- .263
RF Peralta 1-4, 2B (2), RBI (8), K, RS, SB (1) -- .240
LF Dickerson 1-5, 2B (15), RBI (31), K, E (5) -- .295
CF Robinson 1-2, 2 BB, HBP, K, 2 RS, 2 SB (20) -- .256, nice day for OBP
1B Turner 2-4 -- .206
SS Bianchi 0-4, 2 K -- .215, struggling

Kniginyzky 4 IP, 4 R (2 ER), 7 H, 2 BB, 3 K, E (1) -- 2.70 ERA
Cribb 2 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 3 K -- W, 2-7, 6.20 ERA
Cegarra IP, K -- 3.86 ERA
Hartsock 2 IP, ER, H, 2 BB, HRA -- SV, 3, 2.65 ERA

It wasn't pretty but the Bees avoided the sweep with the win. The Bees made 2 errors as Matt Kniginyzky fell behind with a 2-run Clinton 1st. Brady Everett got the runs back with interest in the Bees 1st with a 3-run homer for his 7th of the season to make it 3-2 Burlington. Clinton got a run on 3 hits off Kniginyzky in the 3rd but the Bees got 3 runs in their half on a Jeff Howell 2-run homer for his 3rd of the season and a Felix Peralta RBI double. Burlington left 2 in scoring position in the inning with a 6-3 lead. Two hits, a walk and sac fly in the 4th helped the LumberKings trim the lead to 2 but Kurt Mertins singled home a run in the 5th to make it 7-4. RP Josh Cribb allowed 2 runs in the 6th on 3 hits to narrow the lead to 7-6 but Jesus Soto clubbed his 1st homer as a Bee in the 7th to once again widen the gap. RP Aaron Hartsock gave up a leadoff homer in the 8th and the Bees got the run back in the bottom of the frame on a Joe Dickerson RBI double. Hartsock stranded 1 in the 9th for his 3rd save. Clinton SS Marcus Lemon wrapped a great series with a 2-2 night with 3 RBI (26) (but also his 21st error) to move to .264, DH John Whittleman returned from participating in the Futures Game to go 2-4 with his 24th double and 51st RBI to improve to .291 and starter Kasey Kiker took the loss with 3 IP of 6 runs (5 ER) on 5 hits, 3 walks and 4 Ks to drop to 3-3 with a 3.06 ERA.

Burlington is 10-9 and 2 games back. They join the rest of the MWL for 3 days off starting today.

Rookie -- Idaho Falls: Chukars 14, Ogden 5

RF Van Stratten 4-5, S, 2B (3), HR (1), 4 RBI (12), 3 RS -- .302
C Billick 2-4, BB, HBP, 2 2B (2), 2 RBI (4), 2 K, RS -- .139, best game yet
2B Bionde 2-4, BB, SF, 2 RBI (4), 2 K, 2 RS -- .211, ditto
CF Ortiz 2-7, RBI (7), SB (3), OF assist at second -- .343
SS Juan 1-4, HBP, SF, 2 RBI (12), SB (2) -- .244
3B Van De Keere 0-3, 2 BB, SF, RBI (14), K, 2 RS -- .326
LF Gonzalez 3-6, 2 K, RS -- .333
1B Robinson 3-6, 2B (6), 3 RS -- .410
DH Seratelli 2-6, K, 2 RS, 3 SB (9) -- .325
*The Chukars stranded 14.

Snipes 5 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, 4 K -- W, 1-1, 6.06 ERA, first pro win
Denton 1 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 2 BB -- 7.59 ERA
Holland 2 1/3 IP, H, BB, 2 K -- 0.00 ERA

Idaho Falls broke double figures for the fifth time this season in rolling past Ogden for a second straight night. With 2 out in the 1st, the Chukars rallied for 3 runs on an error that scored Devery Van De Keere, a Nick Van Stratten RBI single (starting a very nice night for him) and a bases-loaded HBP by Joe Billick. Ogden chipped in another error in the frame as well. Ogden scored 2 runs on 3 hits off starter Clegg Snipes in their half of the 1st but Snipes buckled down and IF gave him 3 more runs of support in the 3rd on RBI singles by Mike Bionde and Adrian Ortiz and a sac fly by Manni Juan to make it 6-2. Ogden notched another run on 3 hits in the 5th, but the Chukars began pouring it on in the 6th. IF scored 2 that inning on another Ogden error and a Bionde sac fly, plus 3 in the 7th on a Van Stratten 3-run homer for his 1st of the season. Ogden scored a couple meaningless runs in the 7th and IF came back with 2 in the 8th on a Juan RBI ground out and Van De Keere sac fly before Billick doubled home a run in the 9th to make the final score 14-5. Ogden SS Jaime Pedroza was 3-5 with his 4th double, 1st triple and 12th RBI to move to .435 and SP Cal Stanke took the loss with 2 2/3 IP of 6 runs (3 ER) on 7 hits, a walk and 2 Ks to drop to 0-2 with a 6.32 ERA.

IF is 15-6 and 3 games up on first. The Chukars have today off to come home for a homestand.

Rookie -- Burlington: B-Royals 18, Kingsport 3

3B Santos 3-6, 2B (3), HR (3), 5 RBI (10), K, 3 RS -- .306
RF Tucker 1-6, HR (5), 4 RBI (16), K, RS, OF assist at second -- .297
LF Severino 3-4, 2 BB, 2B (3), 3 RBI (12), 2 RS, SB (3), OF assist at second -- .321
2B A. Perez 2-4, HBP, S, 2B (3), 2 RBI (8), 2 RS, E (4) -- .226
CF Norris 3-6, RBI (3), 5 RS, 2 SB (10) -- .255
1B Lane 1-2, 2 BB, 2 HBP, RBI (14), 4 RS -- .364, leads team with .500 OBP
SS Martin 1-5, S, 2B (6), RBI (4), K -- .207
C Graterol 1-4, BB, RBI (3), E (2) -- .240

Arias 4 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, BB, K -- 5.30 ERA
Rollins 2 IP, H, 4 K -- W, 1-0, 4.50 ERA
Diaz 2 1/3 IP, H, 2 BB, 3 K -- 9.35 ERA
Woods 2/3 IP, nothing -- 2.38 ERA

The Royals scored in every inning after the 3rd in tallying 18 unanswered runs in the win. Starter Henry Arias gave up 3 runs in the 2nd on 2 hits, 2 HBP and an error and Mets starter Manuel Olivares was perfect through 3 IP. In the 4th, the B-Royals broke his spell with 4 runs on a Wilson Tucker RBI ground out, a 2-run homer by Jose Santos for his 3rd of the season and a Kyle Martin RBI double. Jake Lane singled home a run in the 5th to make it 5-3 and the rallies continued with 4 in the 6th on a bases-loaded walk by Juan Graterol, a Patrick Norris RBI ground out and 2-run double by Alwin Perez. The B-Royals added 2 in the 7th on a 2-run homer by Tucker for his 5th of the season; 3 in the 8th on an error that scored Norris, a Santos RBI fielder's choice and Neder Severino RBI base hit; and 4 in the 9th on a 2-run Santos double and 2-run Severino double. The Mets only had 3 hits after the 2nd. Mets C Cesar Cordido was 1-2 with his 2nd double and 6th RBI to improve to .438 and Olivares took the loss with 5 IP of 5 ER on 6 hits and 3 Ks to drop to 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA.

The B-Royals are 11-7 and tied for first. The series with Kingsport ends tonight. No announced starters on the team site.

Rookie -- AZL: Mariners 5, Royals 4

1B D. Cruz 3-4, 2B (1), 2 RBI (8), RS -- .348
3B F. Cruz 2-4, RBI (4), E (5) -- .179
LF Huber 1-3, RS -- .200
CF Richardson 0-4, 4 K -- .143, golden sombrero
2B Donovan 1-3, HBP, K, 2 RS -- .302

Mitchell 4 2/3 IP, 3 R (1 ER), 4 H, BB, 8 K, balk -- 2.08 ERA
Farinas 4 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, BB, 4 K -- L, 0-2, 3.00 ERA
Sirrett 1/3 IP -- 0.00 ERA

The Mariners scratched out 2 runs in the 9th to edge the Royals. The Royals put on a 2-out rally in the 1st as Diego Cruz and Fernando Cruz singled home runs to make it 2-0. The Mariners scored 3 in the 3rd on 3 hits and 2 errors but the Royals tied it in the 4th on a wild pitch that scored Diego Cruz. The Royals regained the lead in the 6th on a Diego Cruz RBI double and Williams Farinas took the lead into the 9th. With 2 out and 1 on, an RBI double tied the game for the M's and another double gave them a 5-4 lead. The Royals went down in order in the 9th as Jacob Wild picked up his 1st save for the Mariners. 2B Luis Nunez was 2-4 with his 4th double and 7th RBI to improve to .293 and RP Stephen Bills got the win with 2 IP of 3 Ks to move to 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA.

The Royals are 6-9 and 6 games back. They played the Angels today.