Royals on the Farm 8/15

MOUSTAKAS SIGNS: Of course, the biggest development in the Royals' organization Wednesday was the signing of 1st round pick Mike Moustakas. I assume he'll pass his physical, play a few games in the AZL and maybe play in the Arizona Fall League or Hawaiian Winter League. Here's hoping he's worth the wait.

AAA -- Omaha: Iowa 6, O-Royals 3

DH Brazell 1-4, HR (28), 2 RBI (68), K, RS -- .312
SS Berroa 1-3, HBP, HR (7), RBI (35), RS -- .300, no Es in last 41 games
2B Aviles 2-4, RS, E (19) -- .308
RF Costa 1-4, 2B (18) -- .340
LF Huber 0-3, HBP, 2 K -- .274
CF Maier 0-3, BB -- .280
1B Shealy 0-4, K -- .237, scratch what I said a while back about him at least hitting in AAA

Duckworth 2 IP, 5 ER, 5 H, BB, 3 K, HRA, WP -- L, 0-1, 22.50 ERA, needs more rehab, safe to say
Hendrickson 6 IP, UER, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K -- 4.55 ERA, kept Royals in game, 2 ER in last 34 IP
Shiell IP -- 4.66 ERA

The I-Cubs rocked Brandon Duckworth and held on for the win to even the series at a game each. Duckworth got the first out in the 1st but then gave up 2 singles, a wild pitch, a walk, a 2-run single and a 3-run homer and then another single before escaping the inning down, 5-0. Ben Hendrickson came in for the 3rd and gave up a run on a Derek Wathan error, 2 singles and a walk in the 4th. Angel Berroa led off the Omaha 4th with his 7th homer and Craig Brazell added a 2-run homer in the 6th for his 28th at Omaha and 34th overall to cut the lead to 6-3. The O-Royals stranded 2 in the 8th and Iowa RP Rocky Cherry pitched a perfect 9th for his 5th save. Iowa 1B John Nelson was 2-4 with his 11th homer and 3 RBI (37) to improve to .219 and SP Kevin Hart got the win with 6 IP of 3 ER on 7 hits, a walk and 3 Ks to improve to 3-1 with a 3.68 ERA.

Omaha is 63-62. Game 3 of the set is tonight. Probable starters: Iowa RH Sean Gallagher (3-1, 2.16) vs. Omaha RH Luke Hochevar (1-2, 6.82).

AA -- Wichita: Wranglers 3, Midland 2

3B Nettles 1-3, HR (6), RBI (27), K, RS -- .259
RF Valentin 1-3, BB, RBI (43), picked off -- .296
CF Greenberg 2-3, BB, 2B (27), RS, SB (18) -- .262
DH Padilla 0-3, SF, RBI (42), 2 K -- .342
LF Stodolka 0-3, K -- .293

Rosa 5 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 2 K -- W, 6-6, 4.39 ERA
Foster 2 IP, 2 K -- 0.00 ERA
DeHoyos 2 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, 2 K, HRA -- SV, 3, 1.50 ERA, not Gabe's usual smooth outing but got the save

The Wranglers held off a Midland rally in the 9th to take the opener of their final homestand. Wichita started the bottom of the 1st with 2 singles and a Jorge Padilla sac fly to take a 1-0 lead. Jeff Nettles led off the 2nd with his 6th homer for the Wranglers to make it 2-0 and Carlos Rosa stranded a runner here and there before handing a 3-hit shutout to the bullpen in the 6th. John Foster pitched 2 perfect innings and, after Gabe DeHoyos stranded 2 in the top of the 8th, the Wranglers added an insurance run in the 8th on a bases-loaded walk by Geraldo Valentin. DeHoyos gave up a double and 2-run homer to start the 9th but sat down the next three batters to shut the door. Midland LF Myron Leslie was 1-3 with his 5th homer and 2 RBI (38) to move to .272 and SP Dan Borrell took the loss with 5 IP of 2 ER on 4 hits, a walk and 3 Ks to fall to 3-1 with a 2.32 ERA.

Wichita is 20-30 and 6 games back. The set continues tonight. Probable starters: rehabbing Wichita righty John Thomson versus Midland lefty Bobby Cramer (3-0, 0.96, 0.89 WHIP in 28 IP). Lefty Dan Christensen will piggyback Thomson in the game.

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: Blue Rocks 8, Potomac 1

DH Vega 2-2, HBP, SF, 3 RBI (43) -- .227
RF McFall 3-4, BB, 3 2B (28), RBI (61), RS -- .275
1B McCann 3-5, RBI (20), 3 RS -- .224
SS McConnell 1-4, HR (3), 2 RBI (17), 2 K, RS -- .229
LF Cleveland 0-4, BB, RBI (6), 2 K, RS -- .229
CF Duarte 1-3, BB, RS -- .288
3B Lisson 1-5, 2 K, RS -- .276

Penn 6 2/3 IP, 4 H, 4 K -- W, 3-2, 3.64 ERA, great start
Humen 2 1/3 IP, ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K, HRA -- 3.02 ERA

The Blue Rocks roughed up Nationals 1st rounder Ross Detwiler to get a needed win. Wilmington got it started with a 3-run 1st on a Brad McCann RBI single, Miguel Vega RBI single and a bases-loaded walk by Jeremy Cleveland before stranding the bases loaded. Josh Johnson was also thrown out at the plate in the inning. The Rocks added 4 runs in the 3rd on a Brian McFall RBI double, Vega sac fly and a 2-run homer by Chris McConnell for his 3rd of the season at Wilmington. The longball chased Detwiler and P Craig Stammen held the Rocks in check. Rocks starter Michael Penn retired 17 of 20 from the 2nd until exiting in the 7th and the Rocks got an RBI single from Vega in the 7th to make it 8-0. RP David Humen gave up a solo homer in the 8th but that was all Potomac could do. Nats CF Justin Maxwell was 2-4 with his 8th homer and 28th RBI to move to .243 and Detwiler took the loss with 2 2/3 IP of 7 runs (5 ER) on 8 hits, 2 walks and 3 Ks to drop to 0-2 with an 8.59 ERA.

Wilmington is 31-20 and 4 games up on the Nats. The series finishes tonight. Probable starters: Rocks right-hander Julio Pimentel (9-4, 2.65) vs. Nats southpaw Justin Jones (6-7, 3.74). IF Jeremy Jirschele was activated from the DL after missing a month with a pulled hammy.

A -- Burlington: off day

The Bees start a 2-game set at the Beloit Snappers (27-23, A Twins) tonight. Tonight's starter for Burlington is RH Mario Santiago (5-7, 3.09). The Bees are 2-6 versus the Snappers. RP Jim Wladyka was activated from the DL as OF Felix Peralta went on the shelf.

Rookie -- Idaho Falls: Chukars 4, Great Falls 3 (11)

C Balduf 1-3, 2 BB, 2 RBI (12), E (2) -- .280
SS Juan 0-2, SF, RBI (20), 2 K -- .189, ejected in 6th
1B Seratelli 3-5, 2 RS, SB (24), CS (4) -- .330, I'll take an 85% stolen base rate
3B Van De Keere 2-4, BB -- .289
CF Ortiz 1-2, RS, SB (15) -- .317
RF Morel 2-5, RS, SB (6) -- .241

Chavez 5 IP, ER, 2 H, 2 K -- 2.80 ERA
Secott 2 IP, ER, 3 H, K -- 1.05 ERA
Cassa 1 1/3 IP, ER, H, BB, K -- 4.66 ERA
Holland 2 2/3 IP, 2 BB, K -- BS, 5, W, 5-1, 2.42 ERA

The Chukars blew the lead in the 9th but rallied in the 11th to get 1 of 3 in Great Falls. The White Sox scored first in the 2nd with a run on 2 hits and a Todd Balduf error. IF tied it in the 3rd on a sac fly by Manni Juan but Juan was ejected after striking out in the 6th. Great Falls took the lead with a run on 3 hits off Dane Secott in the 6th but Balduf hit an RBI single in the 7th to retie the game. Adrian Ortiz scored on a wild pitch in the 8th to give IF the lead but the Chukars stranded 2. Greg Holland was brought in with a runner on second and 1 out in the 9th and gave up an RBI fielder's choice to tie the game. Holland loaded the bases but got a force out at home and a ground out to escape the jam. Balduf came through again in the 11th with an RBI ground out and Holland pitched a perfect 11th for his 5th win. Great Falls LF Jim Gallagher was 2-5 with his 35th RBI and 4th SB to move to .339 and RP Henry Mabee took the loss with 1 2/3 IP of an ER on 2 hits to drop to 2-1 with a 0.61 ERA.

IF is 10-6 and 2 games up on first. The series shifts to Idaho Falls for 4 games starting tonight. Probable starters: Great Falls' John Ely (4-0, 5.25) vs. IF's Burke Baldwin (2-1, 3.03).

Rookie -- Burlington: Danville 7, B-Royals 0

CF Norris 2-4 -- .283
SS Martin 2-3, BB, 2B (15) -- .243
RF Tucker 1-3, BB, 2B (15), K -- .299
1B Lane 0-4, K -- .298
DH Amyx 0-3, 3 K -- .259

Paulino 3 1/3 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 4 H, BB, 6 K -- L, 3-2, 4.17 ERA
Lopez 3 1/3 IP, UER, H, 4 K, WP, balk -- 3.41 ERA
Gjeldum 1/3 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 2 H -- 4.85 ERA
Woods 2 IP, UER, 2 H, 3 K -- 2.25 ERA

Two Braves pitchers combined to shut down the Royals to drop Burlington double digits back in the division race. The Braves spaced out rallies in 4 innings for 7 runs as Royal miscues combined for 4 unearned runs. On the opposite side, the Royals had 2 base runners in only the 8th and stranded both. Braves 1B Josh Morris was 1-4 with 2 RBI (25) to move to .268 and SP Chad Rodgers got the win with 6 1/3 IP of 3 hits, a walk and 5 Ks to improve to 3-1 with a 4.19 ERA.

The B-Royals are 29-25 and 10 games back. A 2-day, 3-game set at the Princeton Rays (23-29) starts tonight with a doubleheader. The Royals are 5-0 versus the Rays. Probable starters: Royals' Bryan Paukovits (0-4, 5.94) vs. Rays' Tyree Hayes (3-5, 4.85). Wednesday's outing marked Ryan Woods' final appearance this season as he has graduate school obligations.

Rookie -- AZL: off day

The 12-4 Royals play the second-place 9-7 Angels tonight. Twelve games remain on the AZL schedule, so Moustakas better get ready to play soon.