Royals on the Farm 8/30 and 8/31

AAA -- Omaha: Nashville 6, O-Royals 2 (Thu.)

RF Huber 1-4, HR (18), RBI (65), K, RS -- .279
CF Maier 1-4, HR (14), RBI (62), K, RS -- .281

Lumsden 6 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 8 H, BB, 4 K, 2 WP -- L, 9-6, 5.88 ERA
Plummer 2 IP, 3 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, HRA -- 13.50 ERA, Omaha debut

I'm cutting these somewhat short since I'm rolling 2 days into 1. Nashville took command in the 4th and Tyler Lumsden didn't get a lot of run support in taking his 6th loss. Mitch Maier led off the game with his 14th homer for his 3rd leadoff homer in the last 7 games. Nashville tied it in the 3rd on a hit, 2 wild pitches and a Paul Phillips error but Justin Huber cracked a 2-out solo shot in the 4th for his 18th of the season to regain the lead for Omaha. Lumsden gave up 2 runs in the bottom of the 4th, however, as the Sounds rapped out 4 hits in the inning. Jarod Plummer made his AAA debut in the 7th after getting the call from Omaha and gave up a single, walk and 3-run homer right off the bat before finishing off 2 innings without further problems. Former Royals farmhand Steve Bray pitched 2 innings to finish it for Nashville. Sounds RF Vinny Rottino was 2-3 with his 17th double, 12th homer and 3 RBI (53) to move to .289 and SP Adam Pettyjohn got the win with 7 IP of 2 ER on 5 hits, a walk and 7 Ks to move to 12-4 with a 3.87 ERA. He left in the 8th with a leg injury.

Iowa 8, O-Royals 0 (Fri.; 2-hitter)

RF Huber 1-3 -- .280
C Phillips 1-2 -- .232

Mildren 3 IP, 8 ER, 9 H, 3 BB, 3 K, HRA -- L, 6-8, 6.28 ERA
Atencio 4 IP, 3 H, BB, 4 K, WP, E (1) -- 4.85 ERA, best AAA outing yet
Lewis IP, K -- 6.00 ERA, don't know why he's been pitching lately

The Royals got drubbed by Iowa in the opener of the final series of the season. Omaha's hits came in the 2nd and 8th with only 2 walks in between. The Cubs scored 2 in both the 1st and 2nd off Paul Mildren and then scored 4 off Mildren and Greg Atencio in the 4th to take an 8-0 lead that stood. Iowa DH Geovany Soto was 3-5 with his 26th homer and 3 RBI (109) to move to .353 and SP Cory Bailey got the win with 6 IP of a hit, walk and K to move to 5-3 with a 2.86 ERA.

Omaha is 70-71 with 3 games left. Game 2 with the I-Cubs (79-62) is Saturday night. Probable starters: Omaha RH Matt Wright (9-5, 4.15) vs. Cubs LH J.R. Mathes (10-7, 5.38). Mike Sweeney was activated from the KC DL.

AA -- Wichita: Springfield 8, Wranglers 0 (Thu.; 2-hitter)

2B Valentin 1-4, E (10) -- .295, trouble defensively lately
DH Arce 1-3, SB (2) -- .220

Connolly 7 IP, 3 UER, 4 H, BB, 5 K, HRA -- L, 4-7, 5.22 ERA
de la Vara IP, 5 ER, 5 H, BB, 2 K, HRA -- 5.74 ERA

Springfield starter Mitch Boggs shut down the Wranglers to knock them officially out of the playoff race. Wichita's hits came in the 3rd and 8th as the Cardinals scored 3 in the 3rd on 3 hits after a Geraldo Valentin error kept the inning alive. The Cardinals held the 3-run lead into the 8th before knocking Gilbert de la Vara around for 5 runs that inning on 5 hits and an intentional pass. Cards SS Jose Martinez was 2-4 with his 10th homer and 2 RBI (45) to move to .307 and Boggs got the win with 8 IP of 2 hits, 3 walks and 5 Ks to improve to 11-7 with a 3.84 ERA.

Wranglers 2, Springfield 0 (Fri.; 4-hitter)

1B Kaaihue 1-2, 2 BB, HR (11), RBI (39), RS -- .248
RF Valentin 1-5, 2B (19), RBI (54), K -- .293
CF Greenberg 2-3, 2 BB, K, RS -- .267
DH Gaffney 2-3, S -- .240
*Wichita stranded 10.

DeHoyos 5 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K -- W, 6-0, 1.64 ERA, maybe thinking Gabe as SP in '08?
Cromer 3 IP, 2 H, 2 K -- 5.19 ERA
Foster IP, 2 BB, 2 K -- SV, 1, 2.89 ERA

Gabe DeHoyos had a solid start as Wichita ended the season series versus the Cards with a 4-hit shutout. Kila Kaaihue led off the 2nd with his 11th homer and Geraldo Valentin doubled in a run in the 8th. DeHoyos got a bases-loaded double play to escape the 5th and John Foster stranded 2 in the 9th for his 1st save for the Wranglers. Cards SP P.J. Walters took the loss with 7 1/3 IP of 2 ER on 4 hits, 4 walks and 6 Ks to fall to 3-4 with a 2.37 ERA.

Wichita is 31-36 and out of the race. The final series of the season -- a 3-gamer at the Tulsa Drillers (31-34, AA Rockies) starts Saturday night. P Jason Shiell got called up to KC.

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: Salem 3, Blue Rocks 2 (Thu.)

SS McConnell 2-4, 2B (9), RBI (20), 2 K, RS -- .241
2B Maddox 0-3, SF, RBI (43) -- .258

Hardy 8 IP, 3 ER, 10 H, BB, K -- L, 15-5, 2.48 ERA, tough way to end great regular season
Green IP, 2 BB, K -- 3.94 ERA

Rowdy Hardy gave up a game-breaking 8th inning run to lose his 5th game of the season. Chris McConnell hit a 2-out RBI double in the 2nd but Salem took the lead with single runs in the 3rd and 4th off Hardy. Marc Maddox tied the game with a 5th inning sac fly but Hardy gave up 2 doubles in the 8th to make it 3-2 and the Rocks stranded 2 in the 8th as Raymar Diaz picked up his 2nd save for the Avalanche. Salem 3B Billy Hart was 3-4 with his 28th double and 19th error to move to .308 and P Chris Salamida got the win with 1 2/3 IP of a hit and 2 Ks to move to 8-8 with a 5.69 ERA.

Blue Rocks 4, Salem 0 (Fri.; 4-hitter)

LF Bigler 2-3, BB, 2B (13), 2 RBI (29), K, RS -- .260
2B Johnson 3-4, RBI (31) -- .258
CF Duarte 3-4, 2B (25), RS, CS -- .293

Pimentel 7 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 2 K -- W, 12-4, 2.65 ERA
Oliveros and Santos 2 hitless IP

Julio Pimentel made his last '07 regular season start a great one by shutting down the Avalanche to clinch a playoff berth for Wilmington. The Rocks threw out a runner at home in the 4th and took the lead in the 6th on a double by Jose Duarte that he scored on after a Salem error. The Rocks finished it off with 3 in the 8th on a 2-out, 2-run double by Brett Bigler and a Josh Johnson RBI single. Salem SP Polin Trinidad took the loss with 6 IP of an UER on 7 hits and 5 Ks to drop to 2-1 with a 2.81 ERA.

The Rocks are 43-23 and have clinched the second-half division title. They finish the regular season with 3 home games versus the Potomac Nationals (39-27) starting Saturday night. Probable starters: Rocks right-hander Blake Johnson (8-6, 3.44) vs. P-Nats lefty Ross Detwiler (2-2, 4.22). The Rocks will play first-half champ Frederick in the first round of the Carolina League playoffs starting Wednesday.

A -- Burlington: Cedar Rapids 10, Bees 3 (Thu.)

RF Peralta 3-4, RBI (11), K -- .265
C Howell 1-3, SF, RBI (20), RS -- .240
SS Mertins 2-4, K, RS, E (22) -- .249
DH Everett 2-4, 2B (30), K, RS -- .272
LF Pennell 1-3, K, SB (1) -- .333, first Burlington start

Godin 3 2/3 IP, 7 R (6 ER), 7 H, 3 BB -- L, 5-6, 3.46 ERA
Wladyka 2 1/3 IP, 3 H, BB, 3 K -- 6.38 ERA
DiPietro 2 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 2 K -- 5.84 ERA

The Kernels racked up the runs to take the opener and rout Jason Godin and the Bees. Cedar Rapids took a 1-0 lead in the 1st but Burlington tied it in the 2nd on a Felix Peralta RBI single. The Kernels regained the lead in the 3rd but the Bees tied it in the 4th on a Jeff Howell sac fly. Godin gave up the lead for good in the bottom of the 4th as Cedar Rapids scored 5 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks off Godin and Jim Wladyka. Kurt Mertins scored on a passed ball in the 8th but the Kernels scored 3 in the 8th off Ryan DiPietro to polish it off. Kernels 1B Mark Trumbo was 3-4 with 4 RBI (75) to move to .275 and SP Trevor Bell got the win with 7 IP of 2 ER on 8 hits and 4 Ks to improve to 8-4 with a 4.14 ERA.

Cedar Rapids 7, Bees 1 (Fri.; 4-hitter)

SS Bianchi 1-4, RBI (33), K -- .240
2B Angel 1-3, 2 K -- .333, first Bees start
RF Craze 1-2, BB, RS, SB (1) -- .500, first Bees start

Santiago IP, UER, H -- 3.74 ERA, took ball off head in 2nd and left game
Hayes 3 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K -- 3.10 ERA
Barrera 2 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 2 K -- L, 2-2, 4.53 ERA
A. Morales 2 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 3 K, 2 HRA -- 2.48 ERA

The Kernels broke a tie for good in the 5th to sweep the 2-game set with the Bees. Mario Santiago took a liner off his head from the bat of Kernels C Hank Conger in the 2nd and had to leave the game as the Kernels took a 1-0 lead that inning. No further reports on his status on the team site yet. Jeff Bianchi singled in the Bees' lone run in the 3rd before P Henry Barrera coughed up the lead in the 5th on 2 2-out hits. Barrera allowed 2 runs in the 6th, P Angelo Morales gave up a solo homer in the 7th and then allowed a 2-run homer in the 8th to make the game a laugher for Cedar Rapids. Kernels 2B Ryan Mount was 2-5 with his 7th homer and 4 RBI (36) to move to .258 and SP David Herndon got the win with 8 IP of an ER on 4 hits, a walk and 4 Ks to improve to 13-8 with a 4.02 ERA.

Burlington is 30-36 and out of the race. The season ends with a 3-game set at the Clinton LumberKings (27-40, A Rangers) starting Saturday night.

Rookie -- Idaho Falls: Casper 4, Chukars 0 (Thu.; 5-hitter)

SS Moustakas 0-3, HBP, K -- .333
3B Van De Keere 2-3, 3B (2) -- .279
RF Tucker 1-4, CS -- .318
1B Seratelli 1-4 -- .331
DH Robinson 1-4, K -- .338
CF Ortiz 0-4 -- .308
LF Norris 0-3, K -- .000, IF debut

Norton 6 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, BB, 7 K, HRA -- L, 1-5, 3.93 ERA
Phillips 3 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, BB, 4 K, WP -- 4.26 ERA

Four Casper pitchers combined to shut out the Chukars in the opener. Starter Ben Norton gave up a triple and 2-run homer in the 1st and Casper scored 2 in the 7th off Justin Phillips on 2 hits and a wild pitch. The Chukars never really threatened. Casper 1B Jeff Cunningham was 1-4 with his 7th homer and 2 RBI (25) to move to .253 and SP Parker Frazier got the win with 6 IP of 4 hits to move to 3-4 with a 9.29 ERA.

Casper 5, Chukars 4 (Fri.)

SS Moustakas 2-4, 2B (2), RBI (4), K, RS, E (1, missed catch) -- .375, four games, 3 2-hit games
1B Robinson 2-4, 2 RBI (61), E (7) -- .341
LF Tucker 2-4, 2 2B (8), RBI (8), RS -- .333
CF Ortiz 2-4, BB, 2B (7), 2 RS, OF assist at third -- .311

Chavez 4 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, BB, 5 K -- 3.22 ERA
Secott 2 1/3 IP, 2 UER, H, 2 BB, 4 K -- L, 4-1, 0.84 ERA
Jensen and Cassa 2 2/3 IP hitless relief

Two errors in the 7th, including the first pro miscue by Mike Moustakas, made the difference as the Rockies got a narrow win. Casper took the lead with 2 hits and a walk in the 1st but IF answered with 2 runs in the 1st on a Moustakas RBI double and Clint Robinson RBI single. Casper tied the game in the 2nd off SP Chris Chavez but the Chukars scored 2 in the 3rd on a Wilson Tucker RBI double and Robinson RBI ground out. Casper tightened the game to 1 run in the 4th with a run on 2 hits and the score stayed 4-3 Chukars into the 7th. A Moustakas error put 2 on with none out with P Dane Secott on the mound and a Robinson error loaded the bases with 1 out. Secott gave up an RBI single and walked in a run to make it 5-4 Casper before Matt Jensen got out of the inning. IF stranded 2 in the 8th and went down in order in the 9th as RP Isaiah Froneberger picked up his 1st save for Casper. Rockies SS Warren Schaeffer was 1-4 with his 3rd double and 2 RBI (11) to move to .217 and P Jonnathan Aristil got the win with 1 1/3 IP of a hit, walk and K to improve to 1-3 with a 5.63 ERA.

IF is 20-11 and 4 games up on first. They finish the set with the Rockies Saturday night.

Rookie -- Burlington: done at 38-30
Rookie -- AZL: done at 28-28

Royals on the Farm 8/29

AAA -- Omaha: O-Royals 3, Nashville 2 (15)

SS Aviles 3-6, BB, HR (16), RBI (75), RS -- .298
CF Maier 2-7, 2B (28), HR (13), RBI (61), 2 K, 2 RS -- .281
DH Sweeney 1-6, SF, 2B, RBI, K -- .176
RF Huber 3-6 -- .280
1B Brazell 1-6, 2 K -- .312
LF Lubanski 0-5, BB, 3 K -- .200, shaking my head
*Omaha stranded 10.

Hochevar 8 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 6 H, 5 K, HRA -- 5.37 ERA, nice start, but I'd like to see him go, oh, one game without giving up a homer
Giron 4 IP, 2 BB, K -- 3.80 ERA, 1.59 ERA in July and August
Markray 3 IP, 2 H, BB, K -- W, 7-7, 4.73 ERA

Luke Hochevar didn't get loads of run support but the Royals got some nice pitching in the game and won it in 15. Omaha stranded 2 in the 5th as Sounds SP Zach Jackson left the game with a hand or wrist injury. Hochevar took a 2-hitter through 5 IP and the Royals took the lead in the 6th on a Mike Sweeney sac fly. Hochevar gave up his seemingly obligatory homer in the 6th to tie the game and the Sounds squeezed home a run in the 7th after Fernando Cortez started the inning with his 9th error. Mitch Maier led off the 8th with his 13th homer to retie the game and Hochevar nailed a runner trying to score on a triple to keep the game tied in the Nashville 8th. The Royals left 2 in scoring position in the 13th but Mike Aviles hit a 2-out solo homer in the 15th for his 16th on the year to give the Royals a 3-2 lead. Thad Markray stranded 1 in the bottom of the inning to get his 7th win. Sounds CF Callix Crabbe was 2-7 with his 9th triple, 8th homer and 37th RBI to move to .291 and P Marino Salas took the loss with 2 IP of an ER on 2 hits to drop to 0-1 with a 5.16 ERA.

Omaha is 70-69 with 5 games left. The series ends tonight. Probable starters: Omaha LH Tyler Lumsden (9-5, 6.04) vs. Sounds LH Adam Pettyjohn (11-4, 3.96).

AA -- Wichita: Wranglers 9, Springfield 5

SS Arce 2-4, HR (1), 3 RBI (3), 2 RS -- .213
3B Nettles 1-4, BB, 2 RBI (41), RS -- .284
LF Gaffney 1-4, BB, RBI (15), 2 K, 2 RS -- .238
2B Falu 0-3, BB, RBI (28), RS -- .249
RF Valentin 0-5, RBI (53), E (9) -- .295
C Donachie 2-5, K, RS -- .207
DH Greenberg 1-5, 3B (11), K -- .266

D. Hughes 6 IP, UER, 2 H, 9 K -- W, 6-2, 3.33 ERA, pitched like Wichita pitcher of the year Wednesday
Bernat 2 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, 2 K, 2 HRA -- 7.20 ERA, rough go at AA thus far
Cromer perfect IP -- 5.38 ERA

Dusty Hughes stymied the Cardinals and the Royals used a 6-run outburst to even the series with Springfield. Wichita broke the game open quickly with 6 runs in the 2nd on RBI singles by Mike Gaffney and Valentino Arce, a bases-loaded walk by Irving Falu, a Geraldo Valentin RBI ground out and a 2-run single by Jeff Nettles that chased Cards SP Adam Daniels. Hughes took a 1-hitter into the 6th and a Valentin error led to a run on a 2-out base hit that inning to get Springfield on the board. Arce had stretched the lead in the top of the inning with a 2-run homer for his 1st AA longball. P David Bernat gave up a homer in the 7th and a 3-run homer in the 8th to cut it to 8-5 but Wichita got some insurance on a run-scoring passed ball in the 9th and Jason Cromer slammed the door. Cards LF Cody Haerther was 1-4 with his 5th homer and 3 RBI (28) to move to .296 and Daniels took the loss with 1 2/3 IP of 6 ER on 4 hits, 2 walks and a K to fall to 4-7 with a 6.58 ERA.

Wichita is 30-35 and 4 1/2 games back with 5 games left. The series goes to game 3 tonight. Probable starters: Wichita righty Jason Shiell (1-0, 2.25) vs. Springfield righty Mitch Boggs (10-7, 4.05).

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: Salem 7, Blue Rocks 3 (14)

LF Cleveland 2-4, 2 BB, HR (2), RBI (14), RS -- .261
RF McFall 1-5, S, RBI (72), 4 K -- .285, Tuesday Mitch Maier, now Brian McFall with golden sombrero
3B Lisson 1-6, RBI (60), CS -- .278
CF Duarte 2-6, BB, RS, SB (34), picked off (10th time CS) -- .290
1B McCann 2-4, 2B (16), 2 K -- .269
SS McConnell 2-6, 2B (8), SB (6) -- .236
*Wilmington stranded 10.

Wood 6 IP, 3 H, BB, 8 K, pickoff -- 0.00 ERA, what a debut, I take back calling him a signability pick, 23 2/3 IP scoreless streak
D'Amico 2 IP, H, 3 K, balk -- 4.79 ERA
Haltiwanger IP, 3 ER, 3 H -- BS, 5, 4.08 ERA
Humen and Santos 4 IP scoreless relief
Chambliss IP, 4 R (2 ER), 4 H, BB, 3 K -- L, 5-3, 4.56 ERA

Salem clinched a "wild card" playoff spot of sorts as Kinston is on the verge of taking both halves of the southern division in the Carolina League. Meanwhile, Wilmington saw its lead shrink a game in efforts to clinch the second-half north title. Blake Wood made a statement in his A-Advanced debut by handing a 3-hit shutout to the pen in the 7th. The Rocks led, 2-0, at that point thanks to a Mario Lisson RBI single in the 1st and Jeremy Cleveland solo homer in the 5th for his 2nd for the Rocks. The 2-0 lead held into the 9th when Russ Haltiwanger (aka the fruits of Ruben Gotay and Jeff Keppinger deals for KC) gave up 3 runs on 3 hits for his 5th blown save. That swung the lead to 3-2 for Salem when Brad McCann led off the Rocks' 9th with a double and pinch runner Brett Bigler scored on a Brian McFall single to tie the game. The Rocks left a runner at third in the 10th and then left the bases loaded in the 11th after loading them with 1 out. Tyler Chambliss came in to pitch the 14th for Wilmington and gave up 4 runs on 4 hits, a walk and a Josh Johnson error at second to break the tie in a big way. Chris McConnell doubled with 2 out in the 14th but that was it. Salem 3B Billy Hart was 5-7 with his 23rd SB, 27th double, 44th RBI and 2 RS to move to .303 and RP Chris Blazek got the win with 2 IP of a hit and 4 Ks to move to 4-2 with a 4.20 ERA.

Wilmington is 42-22 and 5 games up on first with 5 games left. The series continues tonight. Probable starters: Rocks ace southpaw Rowdy Hardy (15-4, 2.43) vs. Salem right-hander Sergio Perez (7-10, 4.05). Hardy was named Carolina League Pitcher of the Year Wednesday as he leads the league in wins and ERA. It'd be nice for them to clinch the division tonight with Hardy on the mound. Lisson, Hardy and Duarte were named year-end all-stars for the league. The last Royals farmhand to be Carolina League pitcher of the year was Zack Greinke in 2003.

A -- Burlington: Bees 1, Quad Cities 0 (10; 4-hitter)

2B Soto 1-4, RBI (13), K -- .245
LF Everett 2-4, 2B (29), K, CS -- .270
CF Robinson 0-3, BB -- .246
1B Castillo 0-3, BB, K -- .258

Teaford 6 IP, 3 H, BB, 4 K, WP -- 4.51 ERA, 0.68 ERA in August
Cribb 2 IP, H, 2 K -- 5.54 ERA
Hartsock 2 IP, K -- W, 7-4, 2.58 ERA

A pitchers' duel went the way of Burlington after a 10th inning walkoff hit. The game was fairly nip-and-tuck through 9 as both teams stranded some baserunners but didn't have many serious scoring chances. Matt Spade came on to pitch the bottom of the 10th for Quad Cities and walked 2 batters before an error loaded the bases with none out for Burlington. Jesus Soto stepped up and singled to right to end it abruptly. Swing SS Oliver Marmol was 2-3 but made his 7th error in the 10th in improving to .188, and Spade took the loss with an ER on a hit and 2 walks to drop to 0-1 with an infinite ERA, as he didn't record an out.

Burlington is 30-34 and out of the playoff race. The Bees hit the road for the rest of their slate, starting with 2 games at the Cedar Rapids Kernels (37-28, A Angels). The Bees are 6-9 versus the Kernels. Probable starters: Bees RH Jason Godin (5-5, 3.01) vs. Kernels RH Trevor Bell (7-4, 4.24). AZL call-ups Ryan Angel and Vinny Pennell made their debuts as pinch runners in Wednesday's game. OF Felix Peralta was also activated from the DL. OF Jamar Walton was placed on the DL and will miss the last 5 games.

Rookie -- Idaho Falls: Chukars 3, Orem 1

DH Moustakas 2-4, RBI (3), K -- .444, 2 games, 2 2-hit games, sounds good
RF Gonzalez 3-4, 2B (12), K, RS -- .299
3B Van De Keere 1-3, BB, 2 RBI (30), K, SB (5) -- .274
CF Ortiz 1-3, BB, RS, CS, OF assist at home -- .313
1B Robinson 1-3, BB, RS -- .339
SS Seratelli 1-4, SB (26) -- .332

Leonard 4 IP, ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 4 K, balk -- 4.50 ERA
J. Hughes 4 IP, H, 5 K -- W, 2-1, 3.66 ERA
Holland IP, K -- SV, 5, 3.19 ERA

Mike Moustakas did just as well in his 2nd pro game as in his first and the Chukars swept Orem. Moustakas hit an RBI single in the 1st but Orem tied the game off SP John Leonard in the 2nd on a walk and 2 hits, although Adrian Ortiz nailed a runner at the plate to keep it tied. O.D. Gonzalez led off the 4th with a double and scored on a Devery Van De Keere force out to give IF a 2-1 lead. Van De Keere singled in another run in the 6th to make it 3-1 and the bullpen tandem of Joe Hughes and Greg Holland allowed only 1 hit from the 5th on to make the lead stand. Orem 2B Hector Estrella was 2-2 with his 30th RBI to move to .312 and SP Mason Tobin took the loss with 4 IP of 2 ER on 5 hits, 3 walks and a K to fall to 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA.

IF is 20-9 and 5 games up on first with 9 games left. The Chukars start the last pre-playoff home set with 3 versus the Casper Rockies (9-19) starting tonight. IF is 11-1 versus Casper. Probable starters: Casper SP Parker Frazier (2-4, 10.85) vs. IF SP Ben Norton (1-4, 4.05).

Rookie -- Burlington: season over at 38-30.

Rookie -- AZL: Mariners 3, Royals 1

SS Jose 2-4, K -- .235
DH Wood 1-4, 2 K -- .318
CF Richardson 0-4, 3 K -- .199, not how he wanted to end the season
3B F. Cruz 0-4, K -- .210, ditto

Lowery 2 IP, H, 4 K -- 2.25 ERA
Duffy 3 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 4 H, BB, 3 K, 2 WP -- L, 2-3, 1.45 ERA
Jorge, Mieles and Lehmann 3 scoreless IP

The Mariners ended the Royals' season on a sour note by taking the finale. Dan Duffy relieved rehabbing Devon Lowery in the 3rd and allowed 2 runs in the inning on 2 hits, a walk and an error by C Yenssi Reyes. He gave up another run in the 5th on 2 hits and 2 wild pitches. Meanwhile, the M's had a 1-hitter through 7 and lost the shutout in the 9th on a run-scoring error. M's C Jonathan Arias was 2-3 with his 3rd double and 6th passed ball to move to .196 and SP Fabian Williamson got the win with 5 IP of a hit, 2 walks and 8 Ks to improve to 6-2 with a 3.43 ERA. RP Julio Santiago notched his 1st save for the Mariners. The M's and Giants will square off for the AZL title.

The Royals finished the season 16-12 in the second half and 28-28 overall. They ended up with the 4th best record in the 9-team AZL.

Royals on the Farm 8/28

AAA -- Omaha: Nashville 7, O-Royals 3

RF Huber 2-3, HR (17), 2 RBI (64), 2 RS -- .275
3B Wathan 1-3, 2B (7), RBI (20) -- .248
CF Maier 0-4, 4 K, OF assists at second and third -- .281, golden sombrero with 4 Ks
2B Cortez 0-4 -- .301
SS Aviles 0-4, K -- .296, 0-17 slide
DH Sweeney 0-3, HBP, RS -- .182
1B Brazell 0-4, 2 K -- .314
LF Lubanski 0-3, K -- .207, 2-22 slide

Hoelscher 3 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, 2 K -- L, 5-3, 5.45 ERA
Musser 2 IP, ER, 2 H, K -- 0.49 ERA
Hendrickson 3 IP, ER, 2 H, 2 BB, K -- 4.31 ERA

A 5-run 2nd was all Nashville really needed to beat the Royals Tuesday. Justin Huber gave Omaha an early lead with a 2-run homer in the 2nd for his 17th of the season but the Sounds got to Omaha starter Nate Hoelscher in a big way in their half. Nashville scored 5 runs on 5 hits and a hit batsman before Hoelscher escaped the inning. Derek Wathan cut into the lead with an RBI double in the 5th but Nashville got the run back off Neal Musser in the bottom of the inning on 2 2-out hits before Mitch Maier nailed a runner at third to end the inning. While 13 of the last 14 Royal batters went back to the dugout as outs, Nashville added an insurance run off Ben Hendrickson in the 8th. Sounds CF Laynce Nix was 4-4 with 2 doubles (18) and his 70th RBI to move to .270 and P Tim Dillard got the win with 4 2/3 IP of a hit, walk and 3 Ks in relief to move to 7-4 with a 4.71 ERA.

Omaha is 69-69 with 6 games left. Game 3 was slated for this afternoon but is being delayed by rain. Starters: Royals RH Luke Hochevar (1-3, 6.14) vs. Sounds LH Zach Jackson (10-10, 4.76). Mike Aviles and Billy Buckner were named the Omaha player and pitcher of the year. Not much argument on either count. Buckner had the best numbers of any Omaha starter and Aviles has hit well fairly consistently until recently. Craig Brazell would have been the only other contender offensively other than maybe Joey Gathright, and neither of them played in near as many games as Aviles. Really, I'd say this award was there for the taking for Mitch Maier this season, and he has a big edge on Aviles defensively, it seems, but he hasn't been consistent enough offensively.

AA -- Wichita: Springfield 5, Wranglers 4

1B Kaaihue 1-3, BB, HR (10), 2 RBI (38), 2 RS -- .249
3B Nettles 1-4, 2B (13), RBI (39), RS -- .284
RF Joseph 1-4, RBI (30) -- .266
DH Valentin 1-3, BB, K, RS -- .299
LF Padilla 0-4, 2 K -- .336

Christensen 6 2/3 IP, 5 ER, 5 H, 4 BB, 3 K, 3 HRA -- L, 3-14, 6.15 ERA, yikes again
Foster 1 1/3 IP, K -- 3.24 ERA

Dan Christensen picked up his 14th loss of the season as the Cardinals fended off a 9th inning Wichita rally. Kila Kaaihue hit a 2-run homer in the 1st for his 10th at AA this season and Wichita had a 2-0 lead but had only 1 more hit before the 9th. Christensen gave up a leadoff homer to CF Colby Rasmus in the 1st and a 3-run homer to 3B Rico Washington in the 3rd before serving up a solo homer in the 4th to make it 5-2 Springfield. Springfield starter Cory Rauschenberger retired 13 of 14 after Kaaihue's homer and then stranded 2 in the 6th before giving the game to the pen in the 7th. The Wranglers rallied in the 9th as Jeff Nettles hit a 1-out RBI double and Onil Joseph singled in a run with 2 out to cut the lead to 5-4 but Mike Gaffney struck out to end the game and give RP Mike Sillman his 2nd save. Washington was 1-4 for the Cardinals with his 2nd homer and 3 RBI (15) to move to .277 and Rauschenberger got the win with 6 IP of 2 ER on 2 hits, 3 walks and 2 Ks to move to 10-8 with a 4.81 ERA.

Wichita is 29-35 and 5 1/2 games back with 6 games left, so a loss tonight would officially knock them out of the race. Probable starters not available at the moment because the team site wouldn't load. As noted yesterday, Mike Stodolka and Dusty Hughes were named Wichita's player and pitcher of the year. No argument with Stodolka, and Hughes was merely the most solid of a group of pitchers who didn't do that great this year in AA.

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: Blue Rocks 5, Salem 2

1B McCann 1-4, HR (6), 3 RBI (30), RS -- .264
RF McFall 2-4, 2 2B (31), 2 RBI (71), K, SB (10) -- .286
CF Duarte 2-3, BB, RS -- .289
3B Lisson 2-4, K, 2 RS -- .280
2B Maddox 1-4, 2B (16), K, RS -- .258

Cortes 7 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 6 K -- W, 7-8, 3.20 ERA, another great start for Dan
Chambliss IP, 2 ER, 2 H -- 4.27 ERA
Green IP, BB, 2 K -- SV, 5, 4.01 ERA

The Brad McCann-Brian McFall tandem proved to be a potent combo again Tuesday as the duo combined for all 5 of the Rocks' RBIs in the win. With 2 on and 1 out in the 1st, McCann stepped up and slammed his 6th homer for Wilmington to give the Rocks a 3-0 lead. McFall followed with a double but was stranded at third. As starter Dan Cortes held Salem to 1 hit over 5 IP, McFall hit a 2-out, 2-run double in the Rocks 5th to make it 5-0. Cortes handed a 2-hit shutout to the pen in the 8th and Tyler Chambliss got touched up for 2 runs on 2 hits and a hit batsman. Patrick Green stranded 1 in the 9th for his 5th save. Salem LF Billy Hart was 2-3 with 2 doubles (26) and his 43rd RBI to move to .295 and SP Sean Walker took the loss with 5 IP of 5 ER on 8 hits, 2 walks and 3 Ks to fall to 3-2 with a 4.25 ERA.

Wilmington is 42-21 and 6 games up on first. They've clinched at least a tie for the second-half division title and need only a win or a Potomac loss to clinch it for themselves. No announced Rocks starter for tonight's game on the team site. I keep forgetting to note that McCann and his more famous younger brother, Brian, were featured in a good article in the most recent ESPN The Magazine. Hopefully the Royals can get something good out of Brad, as he seems to have the potential. Check your local newsstand. Rowdy Hardy and Jose Duarte were named the Wilmington pitcher and player of the year. It's hard to argue about what Hardy's done, as he's been the best story of the Royals minors this season. Duarte also deserves the award, although McFall and Mario Lisson had to have made the decision a little harder.

A -- Burlington: Quad Cities 4, Bees 3 (10)

CF Robinson 2-5, HR (2), 2 RBI (26), K, RS, CS, E (7) -- .247
3B Thompson 2-4, 2B (22), RBI (54) -- .226
DH Castillo 1-5, 2 K -- .265
RF Walton 0-2 -- .278, left after running into wall in 5th
SS Bianchi 1-3, RS -- .240

Gutierrez 7 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 5 H, BB, 2 K, HRA -- 6.04 ERA
Barrera 3 IP, ER, 3 H, 2 K -- L, 2-1, 4.15 ERA

The Bees clawed back from a 3-0 8th inning deficit to force extras but didn't get the win. Starter Dan Gutierrez ran into trouble quickly as the Swing scored a run on 2 hits and a walk in the 1st. The Bees stranded 2 in the 1st and Gutierrez gave up 2 runs in the 5th on a 2-run inside-the-park homer as Jamar Walton ran into the wall pursuing the ball and had to leave the game. Swing SP Shaun Garceau left a 4-hit shutout to the pen in the 7th and Derrick Robinson broke that up with a 2-run homer in the 8th for his 2nd of the season. The deficit was 1 entering the bottom of the 9th when Mike Thompson hit a clutch RBI double to tie the game but the Bees left the bases full against RP Kyle Mura. Bees RP Henry Barrera gave up a run on 2 hits in the 10th and Jeff Bianchi grounded into a double play in the bottom of the inning to end it. Swing 1B Tim Dorn was 3-4 with his 5th double, 2nd homer and 2 RBI (9) to move to .198 and Mura got his 1st blown save but vultured the win with 2 IP of an ER on 2 hits, a walk and K to move to 7-0 with a 1.59 ERA. Garceau went 6 IP of 4 hits, a walk and 2 Ks to drop his ERA to 4.32.

Burlington is 29-34 and out of the playoff race. The series ends tonight. Probable starters: Bees LH Everett Teaford (5-8, 4.73) vs. Quad Cities RH Elvis Hernandez (6-9, 4.22). Burlington's pitcher and player of the year were Mario Santiago and Joe Dickerson. Both were the most worthy recipients, although Jason Godin has pitched well. Mike Thompson was named to the MWL postseason all-star squad despite hitting in the .220s and seeing his power numbers drop somewhat in the second half.

Rookie -- Idaho Falls: Chukars 6, Orem 5 (15)

C Balduf 1-4, BB, HBP, HR (2), 2 RBI (16), 3 RS -- .283
1B Seratelli 2-6, BB, 2B (16), RBI (43), K -- .333
2B Bionde 0-6, RBI (11), K -- .217
DH Robinson 2-5, K, RS -- .339
RF Gonzalez 2-7, K, RS -- .291
SS Martin 2-6, 2B (1) -- .333
RF Tucker 0-6, BB -- .325
PR-DH Ortiz 1-2, SB (17) -- .313
* IF stranded 10.

Snipes 4 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 2 K, WP -- 5.02 ERA
Denton 3 IP, H, BB, 4 K, pickoff -- 3.89 ERA
Jensen IP, 2 ER, 2 H, BB, K, HRA -- 4.01 ERA
Cassa 3 IP, 2 H, 3 K -- 3.70 ERA
Swaggerty 3 IP, 5 K -- 3.38 ERA
Roach IP, H -- W, 3-0, 3.46 ERA

The Chukars broke a 7-inning stalemate with a walkoff double in the 15th to gain another game on the Owlz. Kyle Martin doubled in his first Idaho Falls AB in the 3rd and Mike Bionde drove in a run with a ground out to make it 1-0 Chukars. Starter Clegg Snipes had gotten through the first 3 innings rather easily but allowed 3 runs on 3 hits, 2 walks, a hit batsman and wild pitch in the 4th before getting pulled for Chris Denton in the 5th. The Chukars stranded 2 in the 5th and Denton stranded 2 Owlz in the 7th before IF tied it in the 7th with 2 runs on two run-scoring wild pitches by RP Brian Chambers. RP Matt Jensen gave up a 2-run homer in the 8th but Todd Balduf cracked a 2-run homer for IF in the bottom of the inning for his 2nd for the Chukars. From there, the bullpens were lights out as the game stayed tied at 5 until the 15th. Devery Van De Keere drew a 1-out walk in the 15th, advanced to second on an O.D. Gonzalez single and then Anthony Seratelli hit a 2-out walkoff double to end the game. Orem LF Jeremy Moore was 2-6 with his 12th double, 12th homer and 4 RBI (50) to move to .272 and RP Tremayne Holland took the loss with 2/3 IP of an ER on 2 hits and a walk to drop to 4-2 with a 4.50 ERA.

Idaho Falls is 19-9 and 4 games up on first. The series ends tonight with no announced starters on the team site. Clint Robinson and Greg Holland were named the IF player and pitcher of the year. Robinson's only stiff competition was Seratelli but Robinson earned the award. Holland is a tougher choice to defend as he's blown 5 or 6 saves and hasn't been lockdown down the stretch. I'd have given it to Dane Secott (0.90 ERA in 30 IP compared to 3.30 ERA in same IP for Holland) or Zach Peterson (53 Ks in 50 IP) before Holland, but Holland does lead the team in wins at 6.

Rookie -- Burlington: done at 38-30

Wilson Tucker and Anthony Bradley were named the Burlington player and pitcher of the year. Tucker's main fellow contenders were Jake Lane and Patrick Norris, most likely, and he earned the award over them, although an argument of him vs. Lane can be made. Lane had a higher OPS but Tucker had the edge defensively. Bradley's main competition was Joe Augustine, but he had a better K-rate and ERA than Augustine in more innings.

Rookie -- AZL: Royals 3, Brewers 0 (4-hitter)

2B Angel 1-3, HR (3), RBI (25), RS -- .260
C McCauley 1-3, 2B (10), RBI (13), E (4) -- .286
SS Donovan 1-2, BB, RBI (18), RS, CS -- .252
CF Richardson 0-4, 3 K -- .203
1B Wood 0-3 -- .319
3B F. Cruz 0-3, K -- .215

Mitchell 4 IP, H, 3 BB, 7 K -- 1.80 ERA
Farinas 4 2/3 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 2 K -- W, 2-3, 3.55 ERA
Van Slyke 1/3 IP, K -- SV, 9, 0.83 ERA

A trio of pitchers combined on a 3-hit shutout for the Royals as they looked to finish off a good second half. Ryan Angel homered in the 1st for his 3rd of the season and the Royals scored 2 in the 2nd on a Dennis Donovan RBI single and Sean McCauley RBI double. Starter Matt Mitchell struck out the side with a walk mixed in in the 1st and Williams Farinas stranded 2 in scoring position in the 5th. Eric Van Slyke got the last out in the 9th for his 9th save. Brewers SP Efrain Nieves took the loss with 5 IP of 3 ER on 4 hits, a walk and 4 Ks to fall to 2-3 with a 5.31 ERA.

The Royals are 16-11 and out of the race in the AZL as the Giants won to lock down the second-half title. They finish the season with a game tonight against the 16-11 Mariners. Mitchell and David Wood were the AZL pitcher and player of the year. Wood was a no-contest choice while Mitchell's main competition was Dan Duffy, but Mitchell led the team in IP and had 72 Ks in 55 IP. Duffy had a little better WHIP (not much) and better K/BB ratio and ERA but either would have made a good choice, and Mitchell deserved it.

Rookie -- DSL: The Dominican League Royals finished the season 39-29.

Angel Franco and Giancarlo De La Cruz were the DSL player and pitcher of the year. SS Franco led the team in hitting at .282 and was second in OPS at .718. He was also among the team leaders in SB at 14. His stiffest competition was probably OF Alexis Marte, who hit for an .801 OPS but in 21 less games. Marte also drew 35 walks compared to only 15 Ks and led the team with a .436 OBP. De La Cruz led the team in IP at 56 and posted a 1.13 ERA and 0.80 WHIP with 55 Ks and only 13 BB. He made it a pretty easy choice, plus he's only 17, so hopefully he's higher on the map next season.

Royals on the Farm 8/27

AAA -- Omaha: Nashville 11, O-Royals 4

2B Cortez 3-3, SF, 2B (15), RBI (23), 3 E (8) -- .305, best of games, worst of games for Fernando
1B Brazell 1-4, HR (32), 2 RBI (76), K, RS -- .317, three HR away from tie for 2nd on all-time Omaha season list
RF Huber 1-3, BB, HR (16), RBI (62), K, RS -- .270
CF Maier 0-3, BB, RS -- .283
SS Aviles 0-3, HBP -- .298, may be blowing his call-up
DH Shealy 1-4, K -- .262
LF Lubanski 0-4, K -- .211, looks like hitting surge is over

Wright 3 IP, 7 R (2 ER), 6 H, BB, 3 K -- L, 9-5, 4.15 ERA
Bradley 3 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, K, balk -- 6.00 ERA, rough AAA debut
Lewis 2 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, BB, HRA -- 9.00 ERA, don't quit your day job, infielder

Four Omaha errors helped the Sounds to 5 unearned runs as Nashville clinched the division title. Craig Brazell cranked his 32nd homer for Omaha and 39th of the season (leads the minors) overall to stake the Royals to a 2-0 lead in the 1st. The lead didn't last an inning as the Sounds scored 5 in the 1st on 3 hits, a walk and 3 errors, including two by Fernando Cortez. Two hits and another Cortez error in the 2nd made it 7-2 Sounds. Justin Huber led off the Omaha 4th with his 16th homer and Cortez hit a sac fly in the 5th to cut it to 7-4 but it was all Nashville after that as they tagged Anthony Bradley and IF-turned-spot-reliever Richie Lewis for 4 runs. Sounds CF Laynce Nix was 1-4 with his 16th double and 3 RBI (69) to move to .261 and SP R.A. Dickey got the win with 7 IP of 4 ER on 6 hits, 2 walks and 3 Ks to improve to 12-6 with a 3.80 ERA.

Omaha is 69-68. The series continues tonight. Probable starters: Omaha LH Nate Hoelscher (5-2, 5.05) vs. Sounds RH Carlos Villanueva (0-0, 0.00). No Royals (not even Brazell??) were named to the 2007 All-PCL team.

AA -- Wichita: Tulsa 10, Wranglers 1

2B Valentin 1-4, 2B (18), RBI (52), K -- .298
RF Joseph 2-4, E (2) -- .266
C Donachie 2-4, 2 K -- .203, be nice if he could end season over Mendoza line
1B Kaaihue 1-4, 2B (13) -- .248
LF Padilla 0-3, HBP -- .342
CF Greenberg 0-3, BB, K, SB (22) -- .269

De La Rosa 2 IP, 5 ER, 4 H, BB, 5 K, 2 HRA, 2 WP -- L, 0-1, 11.25 ERA, ay caramba....
Cedeno 5 IP, 5 ER, 9 H, BB, 3 K, HRA -- 6.58 ERA
de la Vara 2 hitless IP -- 4.21 ERA

Tulsa blistered Jorge De La Rosa and Juan Cedeno to cruise to the win and most likely end Wichita's run at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. De La Rosa started his second rehab start with a walk, single and 3-run homer to 3B Christian Colonel that was a sign of things to come for the Tulsa offense. De La Rosa followed with a 2-run homer he served up in the 2nd to make it 5-0 Drillers. Cedeno came in and gave up 2 runs on 3 hits in the 3rd. Geraldo Valentin hit an RBI double in the 3rd but it would be Wichita's only run. Tulsa scored 2 in the 4th on 2 hits and a walk off Cedeno and Cedeno gave up a solo homer in the 7th to cap the scoring. Colonel, who has torched Wichita pitching this season, was 1-4 with his 15th homer and 3 RBI (79) to move to .313, 2B Jeff Dragicevich was 3-5 with his 4th double, 5th homer and 3 RBI (15) to move to .263 and SP Ching Lung Lo pitched a complete game with an ER on 6 hits, 3 walks and 7 Ks to improve to 7-8 with a 5.55 ERA.

Wichita is 29-34 and 4 1/2 games back with 7 left. A 4-game set at the division-leading Springfield Cardinals (33-29) starts tonight. The Wranglers are 13-15 versus the Cardinals. Probable starters: Wichita lefty Dan Christensen (3-13, 6.12) vs. Cards righty Cory Rauschenberger (9-8. 4.90).

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: Blue Rocks 6, Lynchburg 3

1B Vega 2-4, 2B (23), HR (7), 2 RBI (56), 2 K, 2 RS -- .236
LF Cleveland 1-4, 2B (9), 2 RBI (13), K, RS -- .254
C Thibault 1-4, 2B (16), RBI (35), K, RS, SB (9) -- .260
SS Johnson 1-2, BB, RBI (30), CS -- .255
CF Duarte 0-4 -- .287
3B Lisson 0-3, BB -- .278

B. Johnson 3 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 2 K, HRA -- 3.44 ERA
Oliveros 4 IP, 3 H, K -- W, 2-3, 3.56 ERA
Santos 2 IP, H, 3 K -- SV, 9, 3.62 ERA

The Rocks finished up the road part of their schedule in style by sweeping the Hillcats. Lynchburg handed Blake Johnson a rough start as they scored 2 runs in the 1st on 4 singles and then scored again in the 2nd on a solo homer. Wilmington got a 2-out solo homer from Miguel Vega in the 2nd for his 7th of the season and Johnson left after getting through the 3rd. The Rocks took over with 5 runs in the 4th on a 2-run double by Jeremy Cleveland, RBI doubles by Vega and Kiel Thibault and a Josh Johnson RBI single. After that the game came down to the Rocks pen as Rayner Oliveros and Arthur Santos held the Hillcats to 4 hits over the last 6 innings to lock down the victory. Lynchburg C Denny Nino was 2-3 with his 2nd homer and 8th RBI to move to .275, CF Pedro Powell stole 2 bases to push his season total to 66 and SP Kyle Bloom took the loss with 3 1/3 IP of 6 ER on 6 hits, 3 walks and a K to drop to 9-12 with a 5.51 ERA. The Rocks finished 16-3 versus Lynchburg this season, including winning the last 10.

Wilmington is 41-21 and 6 games up on first with 7 games left, so they can clinch tonight when a 4-game home set starts versus the Salem Avalanche (34-29, A-Adv. Astros). The Rocks are 10-5 versus Salem. Probable game 1 starters: Rocks right-hander Dan Cortes (6-8, 3.41) vs. Salem right-hander Sean Walker (3-1, 3.81). Cortes was named Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for Aug. 20-26 after posting a 7-inning shutout start versus Myrtle Beach. He is the fifth Rock this season to win a weekly league award.

A -- Burlington: Wisconsin 6, Bees 4

LF Everett 2-4, 2B (28), HR (10), 2 RBI (45), RS -- .270
CF Robinson 1-3, BB, SF, RBI (24), K, RS, 2 SB (34) -- .246
SS Bianchi 1-4, BB, RBI (32), 2 K, RS -- .239
2B Mertins 2-4 -- .249
DH Castillo 1-4, CS -- .268
RF Walton 1-3, BB, SB (8) -- .281

Cegarra 5 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 4 K -- 5.23 ERA
A. Morales 4 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K, HRA -- L, 4-1, 1.76 ERA

Wisconsin scored 2 in the 9th to split the set with the Bees. The Bees had a runner thrown out at the plate in the 2nd but scored 3 in the 3rd on an RBI single by Jeff Bianchi and a 2-run homer by Brady Everett for his 10th of the season. The Rattlers answered with 2 runs on 2 hits and a sac fly off Ed Cegarra in the 4th and then took the lead with 2 in the 5th on 2 hits and a hit batsman. Jamar Walton was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a would-be wild pitch in the 4th but a Derrick Robinson sac fly in the 7th tied the game. Angelo Morales made 1 wrong pitch and Rattlers C Juan Beltran clubbed it for a 2-run homer in the 9th. The Bees left 2 in scoring position in their half to end the game. Beltran was 3-3 for Wisconsin with his 9th double, 1st homer and 2 RBI (16) to move to .234 and RP Andrew Barb got the win with 2 IP of 3 hits, a walk and 2 Ks to improve to 3-1 with a 1.87 ERA.

Burlington is 29-33 and out of the race. The home part of the schedule wraps with a 2-game set versus the division-leading Swing of the Quad Cities (39-23, A Cardinals) starting tonight. The Bees are 3-10 versus the Swing. Probable starters: Bees RH Daniel Gutierrez (1-2, 7.36) vs. Swing RH Shaun Garceau (8-10, 4.57). As expected, OF Joe Dickerson is out for what's left of the season with his dislocated shoulder.

Rookie -- Idaho Falls: Chukars 8, Orem 1

DH Robinson 2-3, 2 BB, 3 RBI (59), K, RS -- .338
3B Van De Keere 2-5, 2B (15), RBI (28), 2 K, RS -- .276
CF Ortiz 2-4, BB, K, RS, CS, E (5) -- .311
C Billick 1-2, HBP, SF, RBI (10) -- .193
LF Morel 1-4, 2B (7), RBI (15), RS -- .239
1B Seratelli 1-3, 2 BB, RS, CS -- .333
* IF stranded 11.

Baldwin 5 IP, ER, 5 H, 3 K, pickoff -- W, 4-1, 2.59 ERA
Peterson 3 IP, H, BB, 6 K -- 3.06 ERA, 19 Ks over last 9 IP
Roach IP, K -- 3.60 ERA

A 5-run rally gave the Chukars some breathing room, and that's also what they got in the division race with the win. The Chukars scored 2 in the 1st on a 2-out, 2-run single by Clint Robinson and starter Burke Baldwin tap danced out of a jam in the 3rd before allowing a run on 2 hits in the 4th. The Chukars stranded the bases loaded in the 5th but cashed in with 5 runs in the 6th on a Joe Billick sac fly that scored 2 runs thanks to an Orem error, an RBI double by Alvi Morel, Devery Van De Keere RBI double and a bases-loaded walk to Robinson. The Chukars scored their final run in the 8th on a wild pitch and Jason Roach pitched a 1-2-3 9th. Orem 3B Jay Brossman was 2-4 with his 14th double to improve to .364 and SP Michael Davitt took the loss with 4 1/3 IP of 2 ER on 5 hits, 2 walks and 5 Ks to fall to 0-3 with a 6.04 ERA.

IF is 18-9 and 3 games up on first. The series continues tonight with no announced starters on the team site.

Rookie -- Burlington: Bristol 6, B-Royals 4

SS Martin 1-4, HR (10), RBI (35), 2 K, RS -- .242, promoted to Idaho Falls
RF Severino 1-3, HBP, RBI (17), RS, CS, OF assist at second -- .237
C Graterol 1-4, RBI (10), K, PB (6) -- .225
1B Amyx 1-4, 3B (1), RS -- .260

Biddle 3 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, BB, 4 K -- L, 3-2, 4.71 ERA
Arias 2 1/3 IP, 3 R (1 ER), 2 H, BB, 3 K, WP, E (1) -- 6.26 ERA
Hastry and Belanger 3 IP hitless relief

The B-Royals became the first Royals affiliate to end their season as they lost the finale with Bristol Monday. Starter George Biddle gave up a run on a triple, walk and sac fly in the 2nd but the Royals tied it as Brett Amyx led off the 2nd with his 1st career triple and scored on a Juan Graterol single. Bristol moved back ahead with 2 runs in the 4th on 4 hits and a hit batsman by Biddle, who was pulled for Henry Arias. Neder Severino scored on a Sox error in the bottom of the 4th but Bristol scored 3 in the 6th off Arias thanks in part to an error by the pitcher. Severino hit an RBI ground out in the 6th and the Royals scored their final run on a Kyle Martin solo homer in the 8th for his 10th of his career. RP Wilmer Rojas picked up his 11th save for Bristol. Bristol 1B Nick Mahin was 2-4 with 2 doubles (10) and his 33rd RBI to move to .298 and P Po-Yu Lin got the win with 5 IP of 3 runs (1 ER) on 4 hits and 3 Ks to move to 6-5 with a 3.30 ERA.

Burlington finished its inaugural season as a Royals affiliate 38-30.

Rookie -- AZL: Angels 8, Royals 2

DH Wood 3-4, 2 HR (5), 2 RBI (39), 2 RS -- .324
3B F. Cruz 1-4 -- .218
C Reyes 1-3, K -- .375

Runion 4 2/3 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 7 K, HRA -- L, 3-4, 5.82 ERA, 7 K is nice
Hodgson 2 1/3 IP, ER, 3 H, 4 K, WP -- 5.29 ERA
Feickert 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 2 BB, K, WP -- 9.20 ERA
Toribio 1 1/3 IP, 2 H, K -- 5.79 ERA

The Royals scraped out 7 hits but only 2 runs as a promising second-half performance now may go for naught. Starter Sam Runion gave up a run on 2 hits and a walk in the 2nd but the Royals tied it in the bottom of the inning on a David Wood solo homer for his 4th of the season. Sam Runion served up a grand slam to 1B Seth Loman in the 5th and the Angels added runs in the 7th and 8th off RPs Ivor Hodgson and Casey Feickert. The Royals stranded 2 in the 8th and Wood hit his 5th homer of the season in the 9th but it wasn't near enough. Loman was 2-5 for the Angels with his 12th double, 9th homer and 4 RBI (30) to move to .304 and SP Jose Perez got the win with 6 IP of an ER on 3 hits and 10 Ks to move to 1-1 with a 3.90 ERA.

The Royals are 15-11 and 2 games back, so they're on the brink of elimination with 2 games left. They play the 11-14 Brewers tonight.

Royals on the Farm 8/26

AAA -- Omaha: O-Royals 2, Round Rock 1 (13)

CF Maier 3-5, HR (12), RBI (60), 2 K, RS -- .285, did I say he likes the leadoff spot?
3B Lewis 1-3, 2 BB, HR (5), RBI (31), 2 K, RS -- .235, walkoff shot
PH-DH Shealy 1-3 -- .263
SS Aviles 0-5, 3 K -- .300, chose bad time of year to slump
DH Sweeney 0-2, 2 K -- .250
1B Brazell 0-4, BB, 2 K, E (8) -- .318
RF Huber 0-5, K -- .270
LF Lubanski 0-3, BB, S, K, CS -- .217

Duckworth 7 IP, 4 H, 6 K -- 3.60 ERA
Atencio 3 IP, ER, 4 H, BB, K, HRA, WP -- BS, 1, 7.00 ERA
Markray IP, H, 2 K -- 4.90 ERA
Hendrickson 2 IP, H, K -- W, 11-5, 4.34 ERA

Mitch Maier and Richie Lewis bookended the game with longballs for Omaha as Lewis ended the Royals' 2007 home slate with a bang. Maier led off the Omaha 1st with his 12th homer and Brandon Duckworth pitched very well with 7 shutout innings as he scattered 4 hits. After Maier's homer the Royals didn't have another hit until the 7th. Omaha stranded runners at the corners in the 8th and Greg Atencio came on for his second inning of work in the 9th only to give up a 1-out game-tying homer to LF Tim Raines Jr. The Royals threw out a runner at home in the 10th to keep the game tied but Round Rock turned the tables to throw out Matt Tupman at home on a Maier single in the bottom of the 10th as Omaha stranded 2. Lewis led off the Omaha 13th with his 5th homer to end the game. Express C Humberto Quintero was 3-5 with his 12th double to move to .337, Raines was 2-6 with his 10th homer and 45th RBI to move to .336 and RP Chance Douglass took the loss with 5 IP of an ER on 3 hits, 5 walks and 2 Ks to fall to 0-6 with a 5.64 ERA.

Omaha is 69-67 and out of the race. A 4-game set at the Nashville Sounds (83-53, AAA Brewers) starts tonight. The Royals are 6-6 versus the Sounds. Probable starters: Royals RH Matt Wright (9-4, 4.11) vs. Sounds RH R.A. Dickey (11-6, 3.74). Lubanski, Atencio, P Nate Hoelscher, P Dusty Hughes, 1B/DH Kila Kaaihue, IF Marc Maddox, and OF Jose Duarte will play for the Surprise Rafters in the Arizona Fall League this year. P Anthony Bradley was moved up from Rookie Burlington to get some time at Omaha.

AA -- Wichita: Wranglers 11, Tulsa 2 (7/G1)

3B Nettles 2-3, BB, 2 2B (12), 3 RBI (38), K, 3 RS
C Espino 3-4, HR (2), 3 RBI (21), K, RS, picked off runner -- .265
RF Joseph 4-4, 2B (12), RBI (29), RS -- .263
CF Greenberg 2-4, 3B (10), RBI (41), RS -- .272
1B Stodolka 2-4, 2B (26), RBI (58), RS -- .291
LF Padilla 2-4, 2B (13), RBI (49), 2 RS -- .345
DH Kaaihue 2-4, RBI (31), K, RS -- .242
2B Valentin 2-4, RS -- .297

DeHoyos 3 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 4 BB, 2 K -- 1.80 ERA, spot start for Gabe
Cromer 3 2/3 IP, H, 2 BB, 3 K, WP -- W, 3-7, 5.44 ERA

Tulsa scored the first 2 runs of the game but Wichita scored the last 11 to take the first of 2 with the Drillers Sunday. Gabe DeHoyos stranded 2 in the 1st in making a rare starting appearance but then gave up 2 runs on 3 hits, a walk and sac fly in the 2nd. Damaso Espino singled home a run in the Wichita 2nd and the Wranglers tied the game on an Onil Joseph RBI single that same inning. Wichita took the lead with 2 in the 3rd on a Jeff Nettles RBI double and Kila Kaaihue RBI single and then scored 2 in the 4th on an Adam Greenberg RBI triple and Mike Stodolka RBI double. Damaso Espino cracked his 2nd homer of the season in the 5th and the Wranglers finished it off with 4 in the 6th on an RBI single by Jorge Padilla, a 2-run Nettles double and an Espino RBI single. Jason Cromer stranded 1 in the 7th to lock down his 3rd win. Tulsa 2B Corey Wimberly was 1-3 with his 31st RBI to move to .262 and SP Ryan Mattheus took the loss with 5 1/3 IP of 11 ER on 17 hits, a walk and 4 Ks to fall to 9-10 with a 5.39 ERA.

Wranglers 8, Tulsa 1 (7/G2)

1B Kaaihue 2-3, 2 2B (12), 5 RBI (36), RS -- .248
RF Valentin 2-4, K, RS -- .299
DH Stodolka 1-3, BB, 2B (27), RBI (59), K, RS -- .291
C Donachie 1-3, RBI (33) -- .198
CF Greenberg 0-3, BB, RBI (42), RS -- .270
LF Padilla 1-2, HBP, K, RS -- .346

Barnes 4 IP, ER, 4 H, BB, 4 K -- 0.82 ERA
Bernat 3 IP, H, BB, 4 K -- W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, nice AA debut

The situation in game 1 repeated itself in game 2 as Tulsa scored first but it was all Wranglers after that. Justin Barnes allowed a run on 2 hits in the 1st but Wichita took command with a 4-run 3rd on bases-loaded walks by Adam Greenberg and Mike Stodolka and a 2-run double by Kila Kaaihue. Barnes left the bases full in the 4th before handing the ball to David Bernat in the 5th for his Wichita debut. Wichita padded the lead with 4 runs in the 5th on a 3-run double by Kaaihue and an Adam Donachie RBI single. Bernat allowed only 1 hit over his 3 IP to get a win in his first AA outing. Tulsa LF Matt Miller was 2-3 to move to .261 and SP Judd Songster took the loss with 2 2/3 IP of 4 ER on 3 hits, 2 walks and 2 Ks to fall to 5-5 with a 4.50 ERA.

Wichita is 29-33 and 3 1/2 games back. The series concludes tonight. Starters: Rehabbing Wichita lefty Jorge De La Rosa vs. Tulsa righty Jon Asahina (2-4, 4.99).

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: Blue Rocks 6, Lynchburg 2

DH McCann 4-5, 2 2B (15), RBI (27), RS -- .270, hitting well lately
C Clark 3-4, BB, 2B (5), HR (3), 3 RBI (14), RS -- .264
1B Vega 2-5, 2B (22), RBI (54), RS -- .234
LF Cleveland 1-3, BB, SF, RBI (11), RS -- .254
RF McFall 2-5, 2 K, RS -- .284
SS McConnell 2-4, BB, 2B (7) -- .230
3B Lisson 0-5, 2 K -- .280, hitting streak snapped at 20
*The Rocks stranded 12.

Pimentel 6 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 3 K -- W, 11-4, 2.78 ERA
Humen 2 2/3 IP, 2 H, K, WP -- 3.19 ERA

Julio Pimentel got some run support and responded with another solid outing for his 11th win. Brad McCann started a nice day at the plate with a 2-out RBI double in the 1st and the Rocks added 2 in the 2nd on a 2-run homer by Cody Clark for his 3rd of the season. The Rocks finished their scoring with 3 runs in the 5th on RBI doubles by Miguel Vega and Clark sandwiched around a Jeremy Cleveland sac fly. The Hillcats were kept off the board until the 7th when Pimentel left with 2 on and 1 out and David Humen allowed 2 runs to score on a wild pitch, single and sac fly. Wilmington left the bases loaded in the 9th and Humen stranded a runner to finish it. Hillcats 1B Anthony Mansolino was 3-4 to move to .217 and SP Derek Hankins took the loss with 4 2/3 IP of 6 ER on 13 hits and 3 Ks to fall to 8-5 with a 5.20 ERA.

Wilmington is 40-21 and 6 games up on first. The series finishes up tonight. Starters: Rocks right-hander Blake Johnson (8-6, 3.30) vs. Lynchburg southpaw Kyle Bloom (9-11, 5.23). P Blake Wood was promoted to Wilmington after a few good starts at A Burlington. The win gave Wilmington their 13th 40-win half in team history. The last was in the second half of '04, which was the last time the Rocks were a KC affiliate.

A -- Burlington: Wisconsin 7, Bees 0 (4-hitter)

RF Walton 2-3, 2B (12), K -- .280
C Morizio 2-3, 2B (9), CS -- .250
CF Robinson 0-4, K -- .245
SS Bianchi 0-4 -- .239
1B Castillo 0-2, 2 BB, K -- .269

Santiago 4 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, BB, 4 K -- L, 5-10, 3.77 ERA
Hayes 2 1/3 IP, 2 UER, 3 H -- 3.24 ERA
DiPietro IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, K -- 5.66 ERA
Wladyka IP, K -- 7.06 ERA

SP Tony Butler went the distance and shut the Bees down to give the Rattlers a chance at a series split. The Bees left a runner at third in the 2nd and stranded 2 in the 7th as Butler spaced out the Bees' 4 hits. Mario Santiago didn't have his best stuff as he allowed a run in the 2nd and then runs in the 4th and 5th. Chris Hayes allowed 2 runs in the 7th thanks in part to a Jesus Soto error and then Ryan DiPietro allowed 2 runs in the 8th on 3 hits and a walk. Rattlers DH Joe White was 3-5 with his 32nd RBI to move to .305 and Butler allowed 4 hits and 2 walks with 8 Ks to improve to 3-7 with a 4.99 ERA.

Burlington is 29-32 and 9 games out. The series ends tonight. Starters: Bees RH Ed Cegarra (1-5, 5.03) vs. Rattlers RH Tom Ellis ('07 MWL debut).

Rookie -- Idaho Falls: Chukars 9, Ogden 2

DH Gonzalez 3-5, HR (8), 3 RBI (33), K, 2 RS, 2 SB (16), CS (5) -- .295
CF Ortiz 2-5, 3 RBI (23), RS, SB (16) -- .308
LF Morel 2-5, 2B (6), RBI (14), RS -- .239
SS Seratelli 1-4, BB, HR (10), RBI (42), RS, E (13) -- .333
C Eigsti 1-3, BB, HBP, RBI (11), K, 2 RS -- .217
RF Tucker 2-5, 2B (6), RS -- .382

Chavez 5 IP, 2 UER, 4 H, BB, 4 K, WP -- W, 3-2, 2.96 ERA
Secott, Swaggerty and Holland 4 IP scoreless relief

A 2-run error was all the leeway the Chukars gave Ogden as four Idaho Falls combined to keep the Raptors in check. O.D. Gonzalez singled in a run in the 1st and Adrian Ortiz did the same in the 2nd. Anthony Seratelli made a 2-run error with 2 out in the 2nd to tie the game but the Chukars regained the lead in the 3rd with 2 runs on RBI singles by Ryan Eigsti and Alvi Morel. Starter Chris Chavez stranded 2 Raptors in the 4th and IF surged farther ahead with 4 runs in the 6th on a 2-run Ortiz single and 2-run homer by Gonzalez for his 8th longball at Idaho Falls. Seratelli homered in the 9th for his 10th roundtripper of the season and Greg Holland stranded 2 in the 9th to finish the game. Ogden C Alex Garabedian was 2-3 with his 3rd passed ball to move to .257 and SP Kris Krise took the loss with 5 IP of 4 ER on 7 hits, 3 walks and 2 Ks to drop to 1-6 with a 7.58 ERA.

IF is 17-9 and 2 games up on first. A 3-game home set versus the second-place Orem Owlz (15-11, Rookie Angels) starts tonight. The Chukars are 4-4 versus Orem. Burke Baldwin started for the Chukars.

Rookie -- Burlington: B-Royals 3, Bristol 1 (7/G1)

DH Graterol 3-3, 2 RS -- .224
RF A. Perez 0-1, 2 BB, RBI (34), SB (7) -- .286
SS Martin 0-2, SF, RBI (33), K -- .244
CF Norris 1-2, BB, CS -- .292
1B Amyx 0-2, BB, 2 K, E (5) -- .263

Paukovits 5 IP, UER, 2 H, BB, 7 K -- W, 3-4, 4.91 ERA
Rollins 2 IP, 2 H, 3 K, pickoff -- SV, 3, 4.60 ERA

The Royals rode the pitching of Bryan Paukovits and Jimmy Rollins to a win in the first of 2 with Bristol Sunday. Paukovits gave up a run on a hit, Brett Amyx error and sac fly in the 1st but was lockdown for the next 4 innings. Burlington took the lead with 2 in the 3rd on a passed ball that scored Juan Graterol and a Kyle Martin sac fly. Alwin Perez took a bases loaded walk in the 5th and Rollins stranded 1 in the 7th for his 3rd save. Bristol SP Nathan Jones took the loss with 4 2/3 IP of 3 runs (1 ER) on 3 hits, 4 walks and 4 Ks to fall to 0-4 with a 5.13 ERA.

B-Royals 1, Bristol 0 (7/G2; 3-hitter)

2B Martin 0-2, SF, RBI (34) -- .242
CF Norris 1-2, BB, RS, SB (30) -- .294
1B Amyx 0-2 -- .260

J. Diaz 5 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 5 K -- W, 2-1, 4.68 ERA
Lopez 2 IP, H, BB, 3 K -- SV, 2, 3.58 ERA

The Royals generated a run in the 1st and hung on for the win as Jose Diaz and Yensi Lopez combined on a 3-hitter. Patrick Norris led off the Royals 1st with a walk, stole second, advanced to third on a balk and scored on a Kyle Martin sac fly. Diaz stranded the bases loaded in the 5th and Lopez stranded 2 in the 6th before pitching a perfect 7th for his 2nd save. Sox SP Greg Infante took the loss with an ER on 3 hits and a walk over 4 IP to drop to 2-3 with a 4.01 ERA.

Burlington moved to 38-29. They finished the season today with a loss to the Sox. George Biddle took the loss. IF Kyle Martin and OF Patrick Norris will head to Idaho Falls tomorrow. They finished with the third-best record in the league.

Rookie -- AZL: Giants 2, Royals 1

PH-C McCauley 2-3, 2B (9), RBI (12), K -- .284
CF Richardson 0-3, 3 K -- .208
1B Wood 1-4 -- .316
3B F. Cruz 0-3, K -- .218

Lowery 2 IP, ER, 3 H, 5 K -- 4.50 ERA, rehabbing
Sirrett 4 1/3 IP, ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 7 K -- L, 1-2, 8.53 ERA
Santerre 1 2/3 IP, 2 H, BB, 3 K -- 1.96 ERA

A 7th inning rally helped the Giants to the win and sole possession of first place. Starter Devon Lowery made a rehab start and allowed a run on 2 hits in the 2nd. The Royals stranded 2 in the 3rd but tied the game in the 5th on a Sean McCauley RBI double. Josh Santerre came in with 1 on and 1 out in the 7th and gave up a 2-out RBI single to break the tie. With 1 on and 1 out in the Royals 9th, David Wood flew out to right and Ryan Angel was doubled off first to end the game. Giants 2B Ramon Corona was 2-4 with 2 doubles (7) to move to .308 and P Jonathan Pannell got the win with 2 1/3 IP of a hit and 4 Ks to move to 2-1 with a 2.82 ERA. P Dan Runzler got his 4th save.

The Royals are 15-10 and a game back of first. They played the 12-13 Angels tonight.

Royals on the Farm 8/25 -- Moustakas 2-5 in debut

AAA -- Omaha: O-Royals 5, Round Rock 2 (7/G1)

CF Maier 3-4, 3B (5), HR (11), 2 RBI (59), K, RS -- .284, hits better from leadoff spot
1B Shealy 1-3, 2 RBI (23) -- .252
LF Lubanski 1-2, BB, HR (5), RBI (19), K, RS -- .221
3B Aviles 1-3, 2B (26), RS -- .305
DH Sweeney 1-3 -- .333
RF Huber 0-2, BB -- .279

Mildren 5 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 4 K, pickoff -- W, 6-7, 5.82 ERA
Musser 2 IP, H, 3 K -- SV, 8, 0.34 ERA

Paul Mildren picked up his first win in the organization and the Royals opened Saturday's doubleheader with a game 1 win. Mitch Maier got Omaha started right with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first for his 11th of the season. Mildren stranded 2 in the 3rd but lost the lead in the 4th as the Express scored 2 runs on 2 hits and a walk with 2 outs. Omaha put 2 on with none out in the bottom of the 4th and Ryan Shealy hit a 1-out bases-loaded single later in the inning to plate 2 to bring the lead back to the Royals. With 2 out in the Omaha 6th, Chris Lubanski cracked his 5th AAA homer and Mitch Maier hit an RBI triple to make it 5-2. With 1 out and 1 on in the 7th, Neal Musser got a K and C Paul Phillips picked off the runner straying too far from first to end it. Express SS Jesse Garcia was 2-3 with his 12th error, 14th double and 2 RBI (31) to move to .265 and SP Josh Miller took the loss with 6 IP of 5 R (4 ER) on 8 hits, 2 walks and 3 Ks to fall to 1-2 with a 4.05 ERA.

O-Royals 4, Round Rock 3 (10/G2)

C Tupman 2-4, 2B (16), 2 RBI (32) -- .291
2B Cortez 3-4, BB, HR (4), RBI (22), RS -- .302, walkoff shot capped good game
DH Shealy 2-4, 2B (7), RBI (24), K, RS -- .261
1B Brazell 2-4, 2B (31), K, 2 RS -- .321
CF Maier 0-4, S, K, OF assist at third -- .282
SS Aviles 0-4 -- .303
RF Huber 0-4, K -- .275
LF Lubanski 1-4, K, CS -- .222

Hoelscher 4 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, BB, 2 K, 2 HRA -- 5.05 ERA
Giron 4 IP, 2 H, BB, 3 K -- 3.99 ERA, has had decent season in O-Royals pen
Markray 2 IP, 3 H, BB, K -- W, 6-7, 4.96 ERA

Omaha outscored Round Rock 4-0 from the bottom of the 4th on and got a big hit from Fernando Cortez in the 10th to sweep the doubleheader. Starter Nate Hoelscher allowed a solo homer in both the 2nd and 3rd to give the Express a 2-0 lead and then gave up a run on 2 hits and a walk in the 4th to make it 3-0. Craig Brazell led off the Omaha 4th with his 31st double and scored on a Ryan Shealy ground out to get Omaha on the board and Omaha tied it in the 6th on a 2-out, 2-run single by Matt Tupman. Omaha stranded 2 in the 7th as the game went to extras. Thad Markray stranded 2 in the 9th and left the bases full in the 10th. The Express brought in RP Brian Gordon to pitch the 10th and Cortez greeted him with his 4th homer of the season to end it. Express LF Tim Raines Jr. was 2-4 with his 44th RBI to move to .336 and Gordon took the loss with an ER on a hit to drop to 1-1 with a 2.35 ERA.

Omaha is 68-67 and out of the race with 9 games left in the season. The home part of the schedule wraps today versus the Express. Starters: Round Rock RH Chan Ho Park (6-13, 6.36) vs. rehabbing Omaha RH Brandon Duckworth (0-1, 6.75).

AA -- Wichita: Tulsa 10, Wranglers 6

2B Valentin 2-4, 4 RBI (51), K, E (8) -- .295
3B Nettles 1-4, HR (8), 2 RBI (35), RS -- .285, been nice mid-season addition
SS Falu 3-4, RS -- .256
CF Greenberg 1-4, K, 2 RS -- .270
1B Stodolka 0-3, BB, K -- .289
LF Padilla 0-3, BB, 2 K, RS -- .342

Connolly 6 2/3 IP, 9 R (7 ER), 13 H, BB, 5 K, 2 HRA -- L, 4-6, 5.57 ERA
de la Vara 2 1/3 IP, ER, 2 H, 3 K -- 4.56 ERA

Tulsa generated 3 3-run innings to pummel Mike Connolly and win the opener. Jeff Nettles put Wichita on top in the 2nd with a 2-run homer for his 8th for the Wranglers. The lead lasted until Connolly gave up 3 runs on 2 homers in the 4th and the Drillers followed with 3 runs on 4 hits in the 5th to make it 6-2. The Wranglers stayed in the game with a 2-run 5th on a 2-run single by Geraldo Valentin but Tulsa surged farther ahead with 3 runs on 3 hits, a hit batsman and Valentin error in the 7th off Connolly to make it 9-4. Valentin hit another 2-run single in the 7th but the Wranglers went down in order in the 8th and 9th as Tulsa added an insurance run off Gilbert de la Vara in the 9th. Tulsa LF Matt Miller was 2-5 with his 11th homer and 3 RBI (58) to move to .259 and momentary Royal farmhand SP Sean Thompson got the win with 6 1/3 IP of 6 ER on 6 hits, 3 walks and 8 Ks to move to 8-8 with a 3.80 ERA.

Wichita is 27-33 and 4 games back with 10 games left. The two teams match up for a doubleheader today. Wichita hasn't announced its starters yet, but I assume call-up David Bernat from Rookie Burlington is starting one of the games. The Wranglers have already named their player and pitcher of the year and the winners are Mike Stodolka and Dusty Hughes. It couldn't have been easy to pick a pitcher of the year, as nobody has been good enough to set themselves apart. Stodolka's .864 OPS is second only to Jorge Padilla among active Wranglers (in 43 more games) and Hughes is 5-2 with a 3.54 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 94 IP.

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: Blue Rocks 11, Lynchburg 10

RF McFall 2-5, 2B (29), 4 RBI (69), K, RS -- .283
3B Maddox 2-5, BB, 2B (15), 2 RBI (42), 2 RS -- .261
CF Duarte 2-6, 2 RBI (40), K, 2 RS, SB (33), OF assists at home and third -- .289
C Thibault 2-5, RBI (34), K, 2 RS -- .261
2B Jirschele 2-4, S, RBI (3), K -- .333
LF Bigler 1-2, 3 BB, 2 RS, OF assist at third -- .259, .401 OBP

Penn 3 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, HRA -- 4.04 ERA
Green 3 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 3 K -- W, 1-5, 4.08 ERA
Haltiwanger 2 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, BB, 2 WP, 2 HRA -- 3.67 ERA
Santos IP -- SV, 8, 3.91 ERA

Wilmington scored 6 runs over the final 3 innings to get a wild win over the Hillcats. Starter Michael Penn gave up 3 runs in the 1st on 4 hits but the Rocks scored 2 in the 3rd on a 2-out, 2-run single by Brian McFall to cut it to 3-2. Penn gave up a homer in the 3rd to make it 4-2 but Wilmington answered with 3 runs in the 4th on 2-out RBI hits by Jose Duarte (single) and Marc Maddox (2-run double) to make it 5-4 Rocks. Lynchburg wasn't finished as the Hillcats scored 2 in the 4th off Patrick Green on 4 hits as the Rocks got some help from Brett Bigler in nailing a runner at third to end the rally. The score was 6-5 Hillcats entering the 7th when Wilmington broke out for 4 runs on a 2-run double by McFall and RBI singles from Kiel Thibault and Jeremy Jirschele to make it 9-6 Rocks. Russ Haltiwanger had a rough 7th as he gave up 2 runs on 2 hits, a walk and 2 wild pitches. Duarte scored on a passed ball in the 8th and, after Haltiwanger got some handy assistance from a lineout double play in the 8th, Duarte hit an RBI ground out in the 9th to make it 11-8 Blue Rocks. Haltiwanger gave up back-to-back homers to start the Lynchburg 9th before getting pulled for Arthur Santos, who sat the next three batters down for his 8th save. Hillcats LF Jamie Romak was 4-5 with his 7th error, 21st double, 2 HR (15), 3 RBI (44) and 3 RS to move to .259 and RP Kyle Pearson took the loss with 3 1/3 IP of 4 ER on 7 hits and a K to fall to 0-3 with a 3.96 ERA.

Wilmington is 39-21 and 6 1/2 games up on first with 9 games left. The series continues tonight. No announced starters on the team site.

A -- Burlington: Bees 4, Wisconsin 1 (2-hitter)

3B Thompson 1-4, HR (19), 2 RBI (53), RS -- .225
SS Mertins 1-1, 2 BB, S, RBI (38), SB (28), picked off -- .249
LF Everett 0-4, RBI (43), K -- .271
1B Castillo 2-4, 2B (9), RS -- .274
RF Walton 2-4, K, CS -- .273
CF Robinson 1-3, BB, RS -- .247

Godin 5 IP, ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K -- W, 5-5, 3.01 ERA
Cribb 3 IP, BB, 2 K -- 5.66 ERA
Hartsock IP, 2 K -- SV, 6, 2.65 ERA

Wisconsin didn't have a hit after the 2nd as three Bees pitchers stymied the Rattlers. Brady Everett hit an RBI ground out in the 1st but the Rattlers tied it on a walk and single in the 2nd off Jason Godin. Kurt Mertins hit an RBI single in the 3rd and the Bees scored 2 in the 4th on a 2-run homer by Michael Thompson for his 19th of the season. Godin, Josh Cribb and Aaron Hartsock stranded a few runners but got in no serious trouble from the 3rd on. Wisconsin SP Kyle Parker took the loss with 4 IP of 4 runs (3 ER) on 7 hits and 3 Ks to fall to 4-10 with a 3.41 ERA.

Burlington is 29-31 and 8 games back with 9 games left. The series goes to game 3 this afternoon. Starters: Bees RH Mario Santiago (5-9, 3.69) vs. Rattlers LH Tony Butler (2-7, 5.63).

Rookie -- Idaho Falls: Chukars 8, Ogden 4

DH Moustakas 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K -- .400, hit out of 3-hole in lineup; first hit, first AB was 2-run double
LF Tucker 1-5, 2B (5), 3 RBI (7), K, RS -- .379
RF Gonzalez 1-5, HR (7), RBI (30), K, RS -- .288
3B Van De Keere 1-5, RBI (27), K, RS -- .274
C Balduf 1-4, RBI (14), RS -- .284
CF Ortiz 3-4, BB, 2B (6), 2 RS, E (4) -- .306
SS Seratelli 2-4, BB, 2B (15), RS -- .335
1B Robinson 0-1 -- .333, left game in first, no word on why

Norton 3 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 4 K, E (2) -- 4.05 ERA
Phillips 3 1/3 IP, ER, 3 H, 3 K, HRA -- W, 3-1, 4.14 ERA
Jensen IP, ER, 2 H, BB, K -- 3.42 ERA
Cassa IP, BB, K -- 4.22 ERA

Mike Moustakas' debut was a success as the #2 overall pick started his career with a 2-run double and the Royals got a 5-run 6th en route to the win. A single and error put 2 on for Moustakas in the 1st as he hit a line-drive double to left for 2 runs and his first hit and RBIs combined. Starter Ben Norton got out to a rough start as he gave up 3 straight singles to start the Ogden 1st and Clint Robinson left the game for undisclosed reasons. Norton recovered to strand the bases loaded and maintain the 2-1 advantage. Norton left the bases full again in the 2nd and O.D. Gonzalez homered in the 3rd for his 7th at IF to make it 3-1. Moustakas struck out that inning. Ogden got a run back off Norton and Justin Phillips in the 4th on a walk and 2 hits but IF broke away in the 6th with 5 runs on a Devery Van De Keere RBI single, a run-scoring Ogden error and a bases-loaded double by Wilson Tucker that brought all the runners home to make it 8-2. Moustakas singled in the 5th but grounded out in the 6th inning rally. Phillips allowed a solo homer in the 6th and Matt Jensen gave up a run in the 8th before Pat Cassa stranded 1 in the 9th to end it. Moustakas struck out in his final AB to end the 8th. Ogden SS Jaime Pedroza was 4-4 with his 17th error, 8th homer and 2 RBI (39) to move to .372 and SP Michael Gardner took the loss with 5 IP of 6 runs (5 ER) on 9 hits, a walk and 2 Ks to fall to 5-5 with a 4.10 ERA.

IF is 16-9 and a game up on first with 13 games left. The series concludes late this afternoon with no announced starters on the team site.

Rookie -- Burlington: B-Royals 9, Johnson City 4

LF Santos 4-5, 3 2B (11), 2 RS, SB (3), CS (1) -- .296
RF A. Perez 3-5, HR (6), 4 RBI (33), K, RS, OF assist at second -- .288
2B Martin 2-4, BB, 2B (17), HR (9), RBI (32), 2 RS, SB (3) -- .246
DH Graterol 3-5, 2 RBI (9), K, SB (1) -- .200
C Doscher 1-4, HBP, 2 RBI (18), 2 SB (4), E (4) -- .210
CF Norris 0-3, 2 BB, K, RS, E (3) -- .290
1B Amyx 1-5, 2 K, RS -- .266
*Burlington stranded 12.

Paulino 4 IP, 4 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 2 K, HRA, WP -- 4.86 ERA
Gjeldum 5 IP, 4 H, 5 K -- W, 4-1, 3.63 ERA, nice outing out of pen

Ted Gjeldum shut out the Cardinals over the last 5 innings as the Royals swept Johnson City. Juan Graterol singled in a run in the 2nd to make it 1-0 Royals but they stranded 2. Starter Eduardo Paulino gave up 2 runs in the 3rd on 2 hits, 2 walks and a Patrick Norris error but the Royals nabbed a runner trying to steal home to cut the rally short. Kyle Martin and Alwin Perez led off the Royals 3rd with back-to-back homers for their 9th and 6th of the season, respectively, and Graterol singled in another run to make it 4-2 Burlington. Paulino served up a 2-out, 2-run homer in the 4th to tie it but the Royals got a Perez RBI single to regain the lead in the bottom of the inning. Nick Doscher hit an RBI fielder's choice in the 5th but the Royals left the bases full. The Royals added 2 runs in the 7th on a 2-run Perez single and then got a Doscher RBI ground out in the 8th to cap the scoring. Cards P Steven Hill got the loss with 1 2/3 IP of an ER on 2 hits and a walk to drop to 0-2 with a 7.04 ERA.

Burlington is 36-29 and out of the race. The Royals start their final series of the season today against the Bristol Sox (White, 24-39). The Royals are 4-1 versus the Sox. The teams play a doubleheader today with no starters announced on the team site.

Rookie -- AZL: off day

The Royals take on the 15-9 Giants for sole possession of first place tonight. Four games remain on their slate.

Royals on the Farm 8/24

AAA -- Omaha: Round Rock 6, O-Royals 0 (7/G1)

2B Cortez 2-3 -- .295
C Phillips 2-3 -- .239
CF Maier 1-3, 2B (27) -- .280
DH Sweeney 1-3 -- .333, rehab game 1
3B Aviles 0-3 -- .303
RF Huber 0-2, BB, K, E (3) -- .277
1B Shealy 0-2, BB, K -- .245
LF Lubanski 0-3 -- .217

Hochevar 5 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 6 K, HRA -- L, 1-3, 6.14 ERA, another unremarkable start, but not horrible
Atencio 2 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 3 K, WP -- 9.00 ERA

Luke Hochevar got no run support and the Royals were blanked in the first of 2 with Round Rock Friday. Omaha's best chance came in the 6th when they got runners to second and third with no outs but they could make nothing of the opportunity. The Royals also stranded 2 in the 7th. Meanwhile, Hochevar left the bases loaded in the 2nd but gave up a 2-run homer in the 3rd. The Express manufactured a run in the 4th and then polished it off with 3 runs on 4 hits and a wild pitch off Greg Atencio in the 6th. Express C Humberto Quintero was 3-3 with his 11th double to move to .327 and SP Brandon Backe got the win with 6 IP of 5 hits, a walk and 3 Ks to move to 2-2 with a 4.26 ERA.

O-Royals 8, Round Rock 0 (7/G2; 4-hitter)

1B Brazell 3-4, HR (31), 3 RBI (74), 2 RS -- .319
DH Shealy 1-2, BB, HR (7), 3 RBI (21), RS -- .250
LF Huber 2-3, BB, 2 RBI (61), RS -- .282
CF Maier 1-3, BB, 2 RS -- .280
C Tupman 2-3 -- .288

Lumsden 6 IP, 2 H, BB, 5 K -- W, 9-5, 6.04 ERA, wish we'd seen more of this this season
Musser IP, 2 H, 2 K -- 0.35 ERA

Tyler Lumsden turned the tables on the Express in the nightcap as he shut Round Rock down to split the twinbill. Lumsden took a no-hitter into the 4th and the Express didn't have 2 baserunners in any inning until the 7th as Neal Musser stranded both. Omaha tallied its runs on a Craig Brazell RBI single in the 1st; RBI singles by Brazell and Justin Huber in the 3rd followed by a 3-run homer by Ryan Shealy for his 7th at AAA this season; a Huber RBI single in the 4th; and a solo homer by Brazell in the 6th for his 31st at Omaha and 38th overall. The homer gave him sole possession of fourth on Omaha's all-time season HR list. Express SP Philip Barzilla took the loss with 4 IP of 7 ER on 11 hits, 3 walks and 2 Ks to fall to 8-7 with a 4.56 ERA.

Omaha is 66-67 and out of the playoff race. The teams will make up Thursday's rainout tonight with another doubleheader. Probable starters for game 1: Express RH Josh Miller (1-1, 3.62) vs. Omaha LH Paul Mildren (5-7, 5.92). Game 2: RR RH Jared Gothreaux (5-8, 5.09) vs. Royals LH Nate Hoelscher (5-2, 4.96). P Billy Buckner got the call to KC with Mark Teahen hitting the DL and P John Thomson's rehab assignment has been canceled as wrist problems have reportedly surfaced.

AA -- Wichita: Wranglers 8, Arkansas 1

LF Padilla 2-4, 2B (12), GS (10), 4 RBI (48), 2 RS -- .346
SS Falu 3-4, RBI (27), RS -- .252
2B Valentin 1-3, BB, RBI (47), RS -- .293
RF Joseph 1-2, BB, SF, RBI (28), K, 2 RS -- .256
1B Stodolka 0-3, BB, RBI (57), RS -- .291
DH Kaaihue 0-2, 2 BB, RS -- .242

Shiell 5 IP, ER, 3 H, 3 K, HRA -- W, 1-0, 2.25 ERA
Foster and Plummer 4 IP scoreless relief

A 5-run 7th gave Wichita some breathing room as they stayed alive in the division race. Starter Jason Shiell gave up a leadoff homer in the 2nd but Wichita matched the run in the bottom of the inning on an Onil Joseph sac fly. The Wranglers stranded 2 but took the lead in the 5th on a Geraldo Valentin RBI single before stranding 2 in that inning as well. In the 7th, the Wranglers loaded the bases with 2 outs and Mike Stodolka forced in a run with a walk before Jorge Padilla clubbed a grand slam to left for his 10th AA homer of the season. Irving Falu padded the lead with an 8th inning RBI single as Jarod Plummer pitched 2 perfect innings to wrap it up. Travs SS Sean Rodriguez was 2-4 with his 31st double, 14th HR and 65th RBI to move to .250 and SP Nick Green took the loss with 6 1/3 IP of 3 ER on 4 hits, 3 walks and a K to drop to 10-7 with a 3.68 ERA.

Wichita is 27-32 and 3 1/2 games back, but still in last place in the TL North. The Wranglers begin their last series in Wichita tonight with the first of a 3-day, 4-game set with the Tulsa Drillers (27-30, AA Rockies). No announced starters on the team site. The Wranglers are 6-15 versus the Drillers.

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: Blue Rocks 12, Lynchburg 1 (completion of 8/19 game)

3B Lisson 2-5, HR (8), 3 RBI (59), 2 RS, E (14) -- .277
SS Johnson 1-4, 2B (11), 2 RBI (26), 2 RS -- .249
2B Maddox 2-4, BB, 2B (14), RBI (40), 2 RS -- .259
LF Cleveland 2-5, RBI (10), K, RS -- .250
CF Duarte 1-4, BB, RBI (38) -- .293
1B Vega 1-5, RBI (45), K, CS -- .227
C Clark 2-4, 2B (4), 2 RS -- .257
RF Bigler 2-4, RS -- .256
DH Jirschele 2-3, HBP, 2B (3), 2 RS -- .324

Hardy CG, UER, 4 H, BB, 6 K -- W, 15-4, 2.43 ERA, set Rocks record for wins in a season

Rowdy Hardy finished what he started Aug. 19 and didn't quite get his no-hitter but pitched well enough with ample run support for an easy win. The game resumed at 0-0 in the bottom of the 3rd with P Jose Diaz taking the mound for Lynchburg. The Rocks were ready from the get-go as they scored 4 runs in the inning on a Marc Maddox RBI double, RBI singles by Jeremy Cleveland and Miguel Vega and a wild pitch that scored Cleveland to make it 4-0. The Hillcats contributed 2 errors in the inning. Hardy allowed a run in the 4th on a Mario Lisson error and a double but retired the next 10 batters to get back in rhythm. The Rocks added 5 runs in the 6th on a 2-run Hillcats error and a 3-run homer by Lisson for his 8th of the season. Wilmington cushioned the lead with 3 runs in the 7th on a 2-run bases-loaded double by Josh Johnson and a Jose Duarte RBI single. Hardy stranded 1 in the 7th and 8th and 2 in the 9th to get the complete-game win. Hillcats DH Brad Corley was 1-4 with his 35th double and 82nd RBI to move to .283 and Diaz took the loss with 4 1/3 IP of 12 runs (4 ER) on 10 hits, a walk and K to drop to 3-2 with a 6.47 ERA.

Blue Rocks 5, Lynchburg 1 (7/regular Friday game; 2-hitter)

2B Johnson 2-4, 2 RBI (29), K, CS -- .253
SS McConnell 2-3, 2B (6), RBI (19), K, RS -- .223
C Thibault 1-2, 2 BB, RBI (33), RS -- .258
CF Duarte 2-4, 2B (24), K, RS, SB (32) -- .289
1B McCann 2-3, BB, 2B (13), RS, SB (1) -- .257
3B Lisson 1-4, SB (21) -- .283, Rocks record 20-game hit streak going
RF McFall 1-4, K -- .281

Chambliss 4 IP, BB, 3 K -- 3.97 ERA
D'Amico 2 IP, BB -- W, 5-2, 5.00 ERA
Oliveros IP, ER, 2 H, 2 K -- 3.78 ERA

The Blue Rocks took a no-hitter through 6 1/3 innings before Rayner Oliveros lost the no-no and the shutout but salvaged the victory. Josh Johnson hit an RBI single in the 1st and the Rocks scored 3 in the 2nd on a Kiel Thibault RBI single, Chris McConnell RBI double and Johnson RBI single to take a 4-0 lead. Wilmington left the bases loaded in the 3rd but added a run in the 5th on a wild pitch that scored Brad McCann before again leaving the bases full. Oliveros kept the no-hitter intact with a K to start the 7th but then allowed a single, double and sac fly before getting a game-ending K. Lynchburg SP Derek Antelo took the loss with 4 IP of 4 ER on 10 hits, a walk and 4 Ks to fall to 1-2 with a 4.32 ERA.

Wilmington is 38-21 and 6 games up on first. The series continues tonight. Probable starters: Rocks right-hander Michael Penn (3-2, 3.64) vs. Hillcats righty Jean Garavito (5-5, 4.05).

A -- Burlington: Bees 4, Wisconsin 3

DH Castillo 1-3, BB, 2 RBI (15), K, picked off -- .265
SS Bianchi 2-4, RBI (31), K, RS, SB (12), E (13) -- .242
2B Soto 2-2, S, HR (3), RBI (12), RS -- .246
CF Robinson 0-4, E (6) -- .247
RF Walton 0-3, BB, OF assist at second -- .268

Wood 5 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 4 K -- W, 2-1, 3.03 ERA, 17-inning scoreless streak going, '06 3rd rounder starting to pay dividends
Barrera 2 IP, UER, H, 3 K -- 4.23 ERA
Hayes IP, H -- 3.36 ERA
A. Morales IP, 2 ER, 4 H -- SV, 3, 1.35 ERA

The Bees fended off a 9th inning Rattler rally to take the opener. Starter Blake Wood stranded 2 in the 3rd and the Bees gave him some support with 3 runs in the 3rd on a Jeff Bianchi RBI single and 2-run single by Luis Castillo that ended the inning when he was thrown out trying to get to second on the play. Wood made it through 5 scoreless before handing the ball to Henry Barrera in the 6th. Barrera allowed a run that inning on a hit, 2 passed balls and a Bianchi error. Jesus Soto got the run back for Burlington with a solo homer in the 7th for his 3rd homer of the season. Angelo Morales came on for the 9th and allowed 2 doubles and a single for a run before getting the second out. Another single brought another run home and put the tying run at second when Morales got a fly out to end it. Rattlers RF Calvin Beamon was 3-5 to move to .250 and SP Ricky Orta took the loss with 6 IP of 3 ER on 5 hits, 3 walks and 4 Ks to drop to 4-6 with a 4.78 ERA.

Burlington is 28-31 and 9 games back. The series continues tonight. Probable starters: Bees RH Jason Godin (4-5, 3.08) vs. Rattlers RH Kyle Parker (4-9, 3.28).

Rookie -- Idaho Falls: Chukars 6, Ogden 3

CF Ortiz 2-5, 2 RBI (20), 2 K, CS -- .298
C Billick 1-4, RBI (9), K, RS -- .186
SS Evangelho 0-2, 2 HBP, RBI (14), K -- .290
1B Seratelli 0-3, SF, RBI (41), RS -- .332
RF Gonzalez 2-3, BB, 2 RS, 2 SB (14) -- .290
LF Tucker 1-5, 2 K -- .417
DH Robinson 1-4, 2B (16), K, RS -- .335

Leonard 4 IP, ER, 4 H, BB, 5 K -- 4.66 ERA
J. Hughes 3 IP, ER, 3 H, BB, 3 K, pickoff -- W, 1-1, 4.08 ERA
Swaggerty IP, BB, K, WP -- 3.86 ERA
Holland IP, ER, H, HRA -- 3.41 ERA

The Chukars pulled out a 6-3 win in the opener with the Raptors. Ogden got a run on 2 hits and a walk in the 1st but Idaho Falls matched it in the 2nd on a wild pitch that scored O.D. Gonzalez. IF scored 2 in the 5th on an Adrian Ortiz 2-run single and P Joe Hughes allowed a run in the 5th on 3 hits. The Chukars scored 2 more in the 6th on an Anthony Seratelli sac fly and a Joe Billick RBI ground out. Another insurance run in the 8th came on a Zach Evangelho RBI ground out. Greg Holland allowed a solo homer in the 9th before closing the door. Ogden SS Jaime Pedroza was 2-4 with his 18th double and 2 RBI (37) to move to .359 and SP Robert Blevins got the L with 5 IP of 3 ER on 7 hits and 6 Ks to fall to 3-3 with a 3.55 ERA.

IF is 15-9 and still a game up on first. The series continues tonight with no announced starters on the team site. Still no Moustakas, but I wonder if he might make his debut Monday when the Chukars start their next home series.

Rookie -- Burlington: B-Royals 5, Johnson City 1

2B Martin 1-4, HR (8), 2 RBI (31), K, RS -- .241
RF A. Perez 1-3, BB, HR (5), RBI (29), 2 K, 2 RS -- .280
3B Santos 2-4, 2B (8), RBI (19), 2 K -- .275
C Graterol 1-3, RBI (7), RS -- .178
1B Amyx 2-4, 2B (13), K -- .268
CF Norris 0-4, K -- .294

Gausman 5 IP, 5 H, 4 K -- W, 3-2, 2.68 ERA
Caldera 4 IP, ER, 4 H, 2 K, HRA -- SV, 2, 3.40 ERA

The Royals got a good start from Brian Gausman to help them to a 5-1 win with the season winding down. Alwin Perez hit his 5th homer in the 1st to stake Burlington to a 1-0 lead and Gausman stranded 2 in both the 2nd and 5th. The Royals scored 3 in the 5th on a Juan Graterol RBI single and 2-run homer by Kyle Martin for his 8th pro shot. Alex Caldera gave up a solo homer in the 6th and sidestepped further trouble to lock down the win. Jose Santos accounted for the Royals' other run with an RBI single in the 8th. Cards CF Adron Chambers was 2-5 with 2 doubles (6) to move to .292 and SP Nick Additon took the loss with 4 1/3 IP of 3 ER on 5 hits and 6 Ks to fall to 2-1 with a 3.76 ERA.

The B-Royals are 35-29 and out of the race, but has guaranteed a winning record in their first season as a Royals affiliate. The series finishes up tonight. No announced starters on the team site. B-Royals P David Bernat is getting a trip to Wichita this weekend for a spot start for the Wranglers.

Rookie -- AZL: Royals 10, Padres 4

LF Pennell 2-3, BB, 2 RBI (20), 2 RS -- .293
DH D. Cruz 2-4, 2 RBI (32), K, RS -- .285
2B Angel 1-5, 3B (1), 2 RBI (24), 2 K, RS -- .266
SS Jose 3-5, RBI (18), 2 RS, E (21) -- .234
1B Wood 1-5, 3B (3), RBI (37), K, RS -- .317
3B F. Cruz 2-4, K, RS, E (13) -- .222
CF Richardson 1-3, BB, HBP, K, RS, SB (12) -- .211
C McCauley 1-4, 2B (8), 2 K, RS, PB (3) -- .269

Duffy 4 IP, H, 2 BB, 5 K -- 1.05 ERA, great performances continue
Lehmann 4 IP, 3 UER, 4 H, BB, 3 K -- W, 5-1, 2.70 ERA
Van Slyke IP, ER, 2 H, K, WP -- 0.84 ERA

The Royals cranked out 9 early runs en route to the 10-4 win. They started the scoring with 2 in the 2nd on a 2-out, 2-run single by Vinny Pennell then scored 3 in the 3rd on a 2-run triple by Ryan Angel and a Diego Cruz RBI single. The Royals added 4 runs in the 4th on a 2-run Padres error, a David Wood RBI triple and Cruz RBI single. Dan Duffy and Mike Lehmann kept the Padres quiet through 7 innings but they scored 3 in the 8th off Lehmann on 3 hits, a passed ball and Fernando Cruz error. Lifete Jose finished the Royals' scoring with an RBI single in the 8th and Eric Van Slyke allowed a run in the 9th but finished the Padres off. Pads 3B Edgar Garzon was 2-4 with his 11th double to move to .313 and SP Simon Castro took the loss with 3 1/3 IP of 8 runs (3 ER) on 9 hits, a walk and 4 Ks to fall to 2-5 with a 5.98 ERA.

The Royals are 15-9 and still tied for first. They have today off before taking on the Giants for sole possession of first place Sunday.

Royals on the Farm 8/23

AAA -- Omaha: rainout

The Royals v. Round Rock was rained out again and no make-up date has been set. The teams are slated for a doubleheader today if Mother Nature allows. Really, there's no point in a make-up game as both teams are in last place in their divisions, and while the Royals are mathematically eliminated from the postseason, Round Rock is on the cusp of being as such. Mr. DL Mike Sweeney starts a rehab assignment in Omaha tonight. Probable starters tonight are, once again, Express RH Brandon Backe (1-2, 6.23) vs. Royals RH Luke Hochevar (1-2, 6.23) in game 1 and Express RH Jared Gothreaux (5-8, 5.18) vs. Omaha LH Tyler Lumsden (8-5, 6.37) in game 2.

AA -- Wichita: Arkansas 12, Wranglers 4 (7/G1)

DH Kaaihue 2-3, HR (9), 2 RBI (30), RS -- .243
SS Falu 2-3, RBI (25) -- .244
1B Stodolka 1-3, RBI (56) -- .294
RF Joseph 2-3, 3B (4), RS -- .255
3B Nettles 2-3, 2B (10), RS -- .293
2B Valentin 1-2, 2B (16), RS, E (7) -- .293
LF Padilla 0-2, BB, K -- .345

Christensen 3 1/3 IP, 9 ER, 10 H, 3 BB, 3 K, 4 HRA -- L, 3-13, 6.12 ERA, nightmare season
Cromer 2 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 2 K -- 5.70 ERA
Barnes 1 1/3 IP, 2 H, 2 K -- 0.00 ERA

Dan Christensen got lit up again and the Wranglers dropped the opener of a twinbill with the Travelers. Christensen allowed a run on a walk and double in the 1st but Wichita tied it in the bottom of the frame on a Mike Stodolka RBI single. Christensen gave up a solo homer in the 2nd, 2 homers for 3 runs in the 3rd and a 2-run homer in the 4th along with an RBI single before getting pulled with the bases loaded and 1 out. Jason Cromer allowed a sac fly but stopped the bleeding for the moment at 9-1. Kila Kaaihue hit a 2-run homer in the 4th for his 9th at Wichita to cut it to 9-3 but Cromer and Justin Barnes got tagged for 3 runs in the 6th on 4 hits. Irving Falu hit an RBI single in the 7th but a miracle rally wasn't in the cards. Travs 3B Freddy Sandoval was 3-5 with 2 doubles (32), his 11th homer and 2 RBI (67) to move to .310 and SP Fernando Rodriguez went the distance for the win and allowed 4 ER on 10 hits, a walk and 2 Ks to improve to 7-3 with a 4.10 ERA.

Wranglers 7, Arkansas 2 (7/G2)

RF Valentin 1-4, 2B (17), 3 RBI (46) -- .292
C Donachie 2-3, 2 2B (12), RBI (32), K, RS -- .202
SS Falu 2-3, RBI (26), RS -- .247
2B Gaffney 1-3, RBI (14), 2 RS -- .243
CF Greenberg 2-3, BB, RS, OF assist at third -- .274, improvement continues
DH Stodolka 0-1, 3 BB -- .293, OBP is healthy at .410
LF Padilla 1-4 -- .344, speaking of which, his OBP is .431 (in 43 less games than the 'Dolka)
1B Kaaihue 1-3, BB, 2B (10), K, 2 RS -- .244

D. Hughes 5 IP, ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 4 K -- W, 5-2, 3.54 ERA
Plummer 2 IP, ER, 4 H, 2 K -- 3.16 ERA

Two Wichita pitchers limited the damage from Arkansas and the Wrangler bats responded to earn a split of the double dip. Starter Dusty Hughes stranded the bases full in the 2nd but allowed a run in the 3rd on 3 hits and a walk. The Wranglers took the lead with 3 runs in the 3rd on a bases-loaded double by Geraldo Valentin that cleared the bases. A 2-run Travs error and an Irving Falu RBI single in the 4th made it 6-1 Wichita with Adam Donachie hitting an RBI double in the 7th to make it 7-1. Jarod Plummer allowed a run on 3 hits in the 6th but stranded 1 in the 7th to end it. Sandoval was 2-4 for Arkansas with his 68th RBI and 21st SB to move to .312 and SP Chris Hunter took the loss with 2 1/3 IP of 3 ER on 4 hits, 3 walks and 2 Ks to fall to 3-4 with a 7.57 ERA.

Wichita is 26-32 and 4 games back. The series wraps tonight. Probable starters: Wichita lefty Mike Connolly (4-5, 5.31) vs. Travs righty Nick Adenhart (9-7, 3.74).

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: Blue Rocks 8, Myrtle Beach 0 (5-hitter)

1B Vega 1-4, HR (6), 3 RBI (52), 2 K, RS -- .232
LF Cleveland 3-4, 2B (7), RS -- .252
RF McFall 1-4, RBI (65), K, RS -- .282
SS McConnell 1-4, RBI (18) -- .215
2B Maddox 2-4, 3B (6), K, 2 RS -- .257
3B Lisson 1-3, BB, 2 RS -- .282

Cortes 7 IP, 4 H, 8 K, 2 WP -- W, 6-8, 3.41 ERA, right now, MacDougal deal is looking good without factoring in Lumsden
Humen 2 IP, H, 2 K -- 3.34 ERA

Dan Cortes had another outstanding start as he and David Humen blanked the Pelicans to take the series finale. The Pelicans had 2 baserunners in only 1 inning, the 6th, and didn't really threaten. The Blue Rocks took the lead with 2 runs in the 4th on a Myrtle Beach error and a wild pitch that both scored runs. The big inning was the 6th when the Rocks scored 5 runs on a 2-out rally of a run-scoring error, a Brian McFall RBI single and a 3-run homer by Miguel Vega for his 6th of the season. Chris McConnell finished the scoring in the 7th with an RBI single. Pelicans SP Dustin Evans took the loss with 5 2/3 IP of 6 runs (1 ER) on 4 hits, 2 walks and 3 Ks to fall to 2-9 with a 4.55 ERA.

Wilmington is 36-21 and 5 1/2 games up with 12 games left on their slate. A 4-day, 5-game set at the Lynchburg Hillcats (25-33, A-Adv. Pirates) starts tonight with the completion of Sunday's suspended game before the regular game. The Rocks are 11-3 versus the Hillcats. Rocks southpaw Rowdy Hardy (14-4, 2.58) and Hillcats righty Jean Garavito (5-5, 4.05) will square off in the completion of the suspended game and Wilmington right-hander Tyler Chambliss (5-2, 4.35) will go versus Lynchburg righty Jose Diaz (3-1, 6.18) in the 7-inning regular game.

A -- Burlington: Cedar Rapids 7, Bees 1 (7/G1)

DH Turner 1-3, 2B (9), RBI (27), K -- .217
RF Walton 1-3, 2B (11) -- .273
CF Robinson 0-3, K -- .249
SS Bianchi 0-3, K -- .239
1B Castillo 0-3, K -- .253

Gutierrez 3 IP, 6 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, K, WP -- L, 1-2, 7.36 ERA
DiPietro 2 IP, ER, 3 H, BB, K, HRA, WP -- 5.52 ERA
Wladyka IP, K -- 7.40 ERA

Dan Gutierrez had trouble from the first batter he faced as the Kernels took the first of 2 with Burlington Thursday. Gutierrez gave up a leadoff triple and sac fly in the 1st to put Cedar Rapids up, 1-0, and then gave up 3 runs in the 2nd on 4 hits, a walk and wild pitch. Two hits and a walk scored 2 more Kernel runs in the 3rd and then Ryan DiPietro gave up a solo homer in the 4th to make it 7-0. Jamar Walton broke up a perfect game with a 2-out double in the 4th and the Bees scored their only run in the 5th on a 2-out RBI double by Jase Turner. The Bees stranded 2 in the 7th. Kernels CF Peter Bourjos was 1-3 with his 4th homer and 2 RBI (26) to move to .268 and SP Tommy Mendoza got the win with 6 IP of an ER on 3 hits with 4 Ks to improve to 2-4 with a 4.30 ERA.

Cedar Rapids 2, Bees 1 (8/G2)

DH Castillo 2-4, RBI (13), K -- .263
LF Everett 2-4, E (10) -- .277
CF Robinson 1-4 -- .249
RF Walton 1-4, 2 K, SB (7), E (2) -- .273

Teaford 5 IP, UER, H, 3 BB, 3 K, WP -- 4.73 ERA
Hartsock 2 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, K, HRA, 2 WP -- L, 6-4, 2.69 ERA

The Kernels got a walkoff homer in the 8th to break a 1-1 stalemate and sweep the 4-game set from the Bees. Luis Castillo hit a 2-out RBI single in the 1st to give Burlington a 1-0 lead but SP Everett Teaford was touched up for an unearned run on a walk and error by Jamar Walton in the bottom of the inning to tie the game. Teaford allowed only 1 hit over his 5 innings but got no more run support from the offense. Both teams stranded 2 in the 6th and the Bees did the same in the 8th before Kernels LF Stantrel Smith ended the game with a walkoff leadoff homer in the bottom of the 8th off Aaron Hartsock. Smith was 2-3 for Cedar Rapids with his 7th homer and 28th RBI to move to .226 and RP Felipe Arredondo got the win with 2 1/3 IP of 2 hits and 3 Ks to improve to 1-1 with a 3.52 ERA.

Burlington is 27-31 and 10 games out with 11 games left. The Bees start their final home stand tonight with the first of 4 against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (24-34, A Mariners). The Bees are 3-1 versus Wisconsin. Probable starters in tonight's opener: Wisconsin SP Ricky Orta (4-5, 4.80) vs. Bees SP Blake Wood (1-1, 3.52).

Rookie -- Idaho Falls: off day

The Chukars start a 3-game set at the Ogden Raptors (9-14, Rookie Dodgers) tonight. No announced starters on the team site and we'll see if it marks Mike Moustakas' first pro game. The Chukars are 8-4 versus the Raptors.

Rookie -- Burlington: B-Royals 4, Elizabethton 3

1B Amyx 2-4, 2B (12), 2 RBI (26), K -- .263
RF A. Perez 2-3, SF, 3B (1), RBI (28), 2 RS, OF assist at third -- .279
CF Norris 2-4, K, 2 RS, SB (29) -- .300
SS Martin 1-3, SF, RBI (29), K -- .241

Bradley 5 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K, HRA -- 2.09 ERA
Augustine 4 IP, ER, 3 H, 2 K -- BS, 2, W, 4-1, 2.36 ERA

The Royals got the go-ahead run in the 8th and held on to split with the Twins. The Royals scored 2 in the 1st on a Kyle Martin sac fly and Brett Amyx RBI double but starter Anthony Bradley gave up a solo homer in the 3rd to cut the lead in half. Alwin Perez hit a 2-out triple in the Royals 3rd and scored on an Amyx single to make it 3-1. Bradley gave up a run on a walk and Antonio Jimenez throwing error to cut it to 3-2 and P Joe Augustine gave up a run on 2 hits and a sac fly in the 6th to tie it. The Twins retired 12 Royals in a row after Amyx's 3rd-inning single but the Royals finally broke through in the 8th as Perez hit a sac fly. Augustine pitched a perfect 9th for his 4th win. Twins LF Ozzie Lewis was 2-4 to move to .332 and RP Spencer Steedley took the loss with an IP of an ER on 2 hits and a K to fall to 2-3 with a 3.00 ERA.

The B-Royals are 34-29 and out of the race. A 2-game home set versus the Johnson City Cardinals (27-35) starts tonight. No announced starters on the team site. The Royals are 4-2 versus the Cards.

Rookie -- AZL: A's 3, Royals 1

2B Angel 2-4, 2 2B (9), RS -- .269
1B Wood 1-4, K, SB (1) -- .320
3B F. Cruz 1-4, 2B (5), K -- .215
CF Richardson 0-4 -- .209

Farinas 4 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 2 K -- L, 1-3, 3.91 ERA
Mitchell 4 IP, 2 BB, 6 K, pickoff -- 1.94 ERA, another stellar outing from '07 draftee

The A's did all their damage in the 1st to cost the Royals sole possession of the league lead. The A's scored 3 runs on 4 hits off Williams Farinas in the 1st and the Royals didn't get more than 1 baserunner in any inning until the 6th, when they left Hilton Richardson at third. Matt Mitchell had a great outing in relief but the Royals didn't generate any runs until a throwing error in the 9th scored Ryan Angel to blow the shutout. RP Edgar Tejeda notched his 2nd save for the Athletics. A's SS Leonardo Gil was 2-3 with his 20th RBI to move to .267 and SP Jason Glushon got the win with 6 IP of 3 hits and 3 Ks to move to 4-3 with a 3.75 ERA.

The Royals are 14-9 and tied with the Giants for first with 5 games left in the season. They play the 8-14 Padres tonight.