Royals on the Farm 8/16

AAA -- Omaha: O-Royals 6, Iowa 4 (11)

1B Brazell 3-4, HR (29), RBI (69), RS -- .317, finding power stroke again
LF Lubanski 2-4, S, HR (3), 3 RBI (16), K, RS -- .235, biggest day yet as an O-Royal
RF Huber 2-4, BB, RBI (55), K, RS -- .278
SS Berroa 2-5, 2B (15) -- .302
3B Aviles 1-5, 2B (24), RBI (73), K, RS, E (20) -- .306
CF Costa 0-4, BB, K -- .333
DH Shealy 0-2, BB -- .232

Hochevar 6 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, BB, 6 K, HRA, pickoff -- 6.23 ERA, decent outing other than longball
Giron 2 IP, H, BB, 2 K, balk -- 3.88 ERA
Musser 2 IP, ER, H, K -- 0.36 ERA, ERA's really fallen apart this last week; 2 ER (haha)
Hoelscher IP, ER, 2 H, K -- W, 5-2, 4.76 ERA

A good game got dramatic in the 9th before Chris Lubanski came through in the 11th with his biggest hit as an O-Royal thus far. Starter Luke Hochevar stranded 2 in the 2nd and used a pickoff to work out of a jam in the 3rd before Craig Brazell started the scoring in the 5th with his 29th homer for Omaha. Unfortunately, Hochevar, who had been solid after the 3rd, gave up a single and 2-run homer to start the 6th and give Iowa a 2-1 lead. Roberto Giron stranded 2 in the 8th and Derek Wathan was nailed at home in the Omaha 8th as the 2-1 lead held into the bottom of the 9th. Mike Aviles hit a 1-out double in the 9th and scored on a Justin Huber single but Omaha stranded 2 as the game went to extra innings. Neal Musser gave up a triple (thanks to an ill-advised diving attempt from Huber) and sac fly in the 10th to once again put Omaha's backs against the wall but the Royals loaded the bases with 1 out and Fernando Cortez scored on an Aviles ground out to keep the game alive. The Royals stranded 2 again and Nate Hoelscher gave up 2 2-out hits for another run as Iowa took a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the 11th. Cubs RP Neal Cotts came in with 1 on and 0 out and gave up a 1-out walk before Lubanski cranked a 3-run walkoff homer to right for his 3rd at Omaha. Three Cubs pitchers blew saves in the game. Iowa LF Sam Fuld was 1-5 with his 1st homer and first 2 AAA RBI of the season to move to .265 and Cotts took the loss with 1/3 IP of 2 ER on a hit and walk to drop to 0-2 with a 6.16 ERA.

Omaha is 64-62. The series concludes tonight. Probable starters: Iowa LH J.R. Mathes (10-6, 5.00) vs. Omaha LH Tyler Lumsden (7-5, 6.33). P Jason Shiell will be demoted to shore up the Wichita bullpen.

AA -- Wichita: Midland 6, Wranglers 1

3B Nettles 2-3, BB, 2B (8), K, E (8) -- .267
RF Joseph 2-3, S -- .253
2B Valentin 1-4 -- .296
LF Padilla 1-4, 2B (11), K -- .340
1B Stodolka 1-4, 2 K -- .293

Thomson 3 IP, 3 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K, HRA -- L, 0-2, 14.40 ERA
Christensen 6 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 4 BB, 6 K -- 5.63 ERA

Midland starter Bobby Cramer limited Wichita to an unearned run over his 6 IP and the RockHound pen took it from there to even the series at a game each. Rehabbing Royals pitcher John Thomson gave up a solo homer in the 1st and 2 runs in the 2nd on 2 walks, a hit, a sac fly and a Jeff Nettles error. A Midland error scored Irving Falu with 2 out in the 3rd as Wichita cut it to 3-1 but Midland scored twice off Dan Christensen in the 5th on 2 doubles and a sac fly. The Wranglers stranded 2 in the 6th and Christensen allowed another run in the 7th to make it 6-1. Onil Joseph was thrown out at home to end the Wichita 7th and the Wranglers stranded 1 in both the 8th and 9th to end it. Midland 3B Jeff Baisley was 2-2 with his 13th error, 20th double and 2 RBI (43) to move to .271 and Cramer got the win with 6 IP of an UER on 4 hits, 2 walks and 7 Ks to improve to 4-0 with a 0.79 ERA.

Wichita is 20-31 and 6 1/2 games back. The series concludes tonight. Probable starters: Wichita lefty Dusty Hughes (4-2, 3.64) vs. Midland righty Ben Fritz (10-10, 5.70).

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: Blue Rocks 8, Potomac 6

CF Duarte 4-5, 2 RBI (37), 2 RS, SB (31), picked off -- .294
DH McCann 2-5, 2B (10), RBI (21) -- .229
1B Vega 2-5, RBI (44) -- .229
LF Bigler 2-3, BB, HBP, RBI (27), K, 2 RS, 2 E (5) -- .256
RF McFall 2-4, BB, K, 2 RS -- .278
3B Lisson 1-5, RBI (56), K -- .275
C Thibault 1-5, 2B (15), RBI (30), K -- .257

Pimentel 5 1/3 IP, 4 R (2 ER), 7 H, BB, K, HRA, WP -- W, 10-4, 2.68 ERA
Haltiwanger 1 2/3 IP, H, 3 K, WP -- 3.27 ERA
Santos IP, ER, 3 H, K -- 4.03 ERA
Chambliss IP, ER, H, BB, K -- SV, 1, 4.58 ERA

Wilmington scored every inning from the 3rd through the 7th en route to the 8-6 win and a big split of the 4-game set. Starter Julio Pimentel allowed a run in the 2nd to give Potomac a 1-0 lead but the Rocks scored 3 runs in the 3rd on RBI singles by Jose Duarte and Mario Lisson and a wild pitch that scored Marc Maddox to make it 3-1. Duarte added an RBI single in the 4th but Pimentel got hit for 3 runs in the bottom of the inning on a Brett Bigler error that scored a run, a solo homer and 2-hit string that tied the game. Brad McCann was thrown out at home in the 5th but Kiel Thibault came through with a 2-out RBI double to give the lead back to Wilmington. The Rocks left the bases loaded but scored again in the 6th on a 2-out McCann RBI single. Bigler had the next big 2-out hit with an RBI single in the 7th that made it 7-4. Russ Haltiwanger left 2 Nats in scoring position in the 7th and Arthur Santos gave up a run in the 8th before stranding 2 in that inning. Miguel Vega gave Wilmington some insurance with an RBI single in the 9th and Tyler Chambliss gave up a 2-out RBI triple in the bottom of the 9th before stranding the runner for his 1st save. Nats DH Marvin Lowrance was 2-4 with his 1st triple, 13th homer and 3 RBI (43) to move to .253, SS Ian Desmond was 4-5 with his 26th double, 22nd SB and 40th RBI to move to .257 and SP Justin Jones took the loss with 4 2/3 IP of 5 ER on 11 hits, 2 walks and 2 Ks to drop to 6-8 with a 4.08 ERA.

Wilmington is 32-20 and 5 games up on first. A 3-game home set versus the Lynchburg Hillcats (, A-Adv. Pirates) starts tonight. The Rocks are 9-3 versus the Hillcats. Probable starters: Blue Rocks right-hander Blake Johnson (6-6, 3.66) vs. Lynchburg southpaw Kyle Bloom (9-9, 5.15).

A -- Burlington: Beloit 9, Bees 0 (3-hitter)

SS Bianchi 1-4, E (11) -- .237
CF Dickerson 1-4, K -- .292
LF Everett 1-3, 2B (25) -- .278
DH Castillo 0-3, K -- .273
RF Walton 0-3, 2 K -- .278

Santiago 4 1/3 IP, 7 ER, 9 H, 2 K, HRA -- L, 5-8, 3.50 ERA
Barrera 1 2/3 IP, 2 H, 5 K, 2 WP -- 4.76 ERA
Cribb 2 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 4 K -- 5.85 ERA, struggles continue

Two Snapper pitchers combined on a 3-hitter as Beloit trounced the Bees. Starter Mario Santiago wasn't missing bats as the Snappers scored 3 runs in the 2nd on 4 hits and then got a triple and sac fly in the 3rd to make it 4-0. As the Bees spaced out their 3 hits, the Snappers scored 3 in the 5th on a 3-run homer by RF Chris Parmelee and added 2 in the 8th off Josh Cribb. Parmelee was 2-4 for Beloit with his 14th homer and 4 RBI (64) to move to .239 and SP Alex Burnett got the win with 6 IP of 2 hits and 5 Ks to improve to 7-7 with a 2.89 ERA.

Burlington is 26-25 and 7 games back. The finale of the short set is tonight. Probable starters: Bees RH Ed Cegarra (1-4, 4.37) vs. Beloit LH Tyler Robertson (7-3, 2.30).

Rookie -- Idaho Falls: Chukars 1, Great Falls 0

RF Gonzalez 2-4, RBI (28), K, CS -- .297
DH Seratelli 2-4, K, SB (25) -- .333, stole third on a walk in the 7th
CF Ortiz 1-4, RS -- .316
1B Robinson 1-3, BB, K -- .319

Baldwin 5 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K -- W, 3-1, 2.66 ERA
Peterson 4 IP, 4 H, 5 K -- SV, 1, 3.73 ERA

Pitchers Burke Baldwin and Zach Peterson combined on a 7-hit shutout and the Chukar offense did enough to get the win. Baldwin stranded a runner at third in the 1st and then runners at the corners in the 2nd. The lone run of the game came in the 4th when O.D. Gonzalez hit a 2-out RBI single. C Ryan Eigsti threw out 2 of 3 on steal attempts and then nailed a runner off second in the 8th to impede a Sox rally. Peterson pitched a perfect 9th to wrap his 1st save. GF RF Salvador Sanchez was 2-4 with his 12th double to move to .344 and SP John Ely took the loss with 5 IP of an UER on 4 hits and 8 Ks to fall to 4-1 with a 4.61 ERA.

IF is 11-6 and 2 games up on first. The set continues tonight as Sox SP Juan Moreno (4-4, 2.85) takes on IF's Clegg Snipes (2-3, 4.17). Thursday's shutout marked IF's 5th of the season.

Rookie -- Burlington: B-Royals 6, Princeton 3 (7/G1)

DH Lane 2-3, BB, 2B (14), HR (6), RBI (38), RS -- .305
RF Tucker 1-4, 2 RBI (41), K, RS -- .298
CF Norris 2-4, K, RS, SB (25) -- .288
3B Jimenez 2-4, E (12) -- .202
SS Martin 2-3, 2B (16), 2 RS -- .250
2B A. Perez 1-4, RBI (21), K, E (11) -- .286
1B Amyx 0-4, 3 K, E (4) -- .252

Paukovits 5 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 6 H, BB, 5 K, WP -- W, 1-4, 5.44 ERA
Hastry 2 IP, ER, 2 H -- SV, 1, 4.29 ERA

A 4-run 5th earned the Royals a win in the first of two versus the Rays Thursday. A 1-out wild pitch scored Kyle Martin in the 3rd to give the Royals a 1-0 lead. SP Bryan Paukovits gave the run back in the 3rd, however, as the Rays scored on a walk and 3 hits before leaving 2 in scoring position. The Royals cashed in in the 5th with 4 runs on a Patrick Norris single that scored a run after a Rays error, a 2-run single by Tucker also aided by a Rays error and an Alwin Perez RBI single. A Brett Amyx error in the 5th allowed the Rays to score and Bobby Hastry gave up a run on 2 hits in the 6th to cut it to 5-3. Jake Lane led off the 7th with his 6th pro homer and Hastry pitched a perfect 7th for his 1st save. Rays CF Dustin Biell was 2-2 with his 6th SB, 3rd error and 15th RBI to move to .205 and SP Tyree Hayes took the loss with 5 IP of 5 runs (3 ER) on 8 hits, a walk and 4 Ks to fall to 3-6 with a 4.89 ERA.

Princeton 5, B-Royals 1 (7/G2)

2B Martin 0-4, RBI (25), K -- .244
LF Norris 1-4, 2 K -- .287
CF Lough 1-3, K, SB (4) -- .324
1B Lane 0-3, 3 K -- .299

Bernat 5 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, K -- L, 4-3, 4.76 ERA
Belanger IP, BB -- 2.08 ERA

The Royals were shut down on 3 hits in game 2 as the Rays split the twinbill. The Royals left 2 in scoring position in the 2nd and scored their only run in the 3rd on a Kyle Martin RBI force out. The Royals left the bases full that inning and the Rays took the lead with 2 runs in the 4th on 3 hits off David Bernat. Bernat gave up 3 more runs in the 5th on 3 hits, a walk, a sac fly and a HBP to make it 5-1. The Rays ended it by sitting down 10 of the last 11 Royals. Biell was 2-2 for the Rays with his 16th RBI to move to .216 and P Joseph Cruz got the win with 2 1/3 IP of a walk and 3 Ks to improve to 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA.

The Royals are 30-26 and 10 games back. The series ends tonight. Probable starters: Royals SP George Biddle (3-0, 2.61) vs. Princeton's Jeremy Hall (3-1, 1.46). 12 games remain on the B-Royals' slate, so they're close to elimination, not that their chances aren't as slim as possible right now.

Rookie -- AZL: Angels 12, Royals 4

1B Wood 3-4, 2B (16), 4 RBI (32), E (7) -- .328
RF Pennell 2-3, BB, 2B (5), 3B (3), 2 RS -- .309
CF Richardson 1-4, BB, RS, CS -- .222
DH D. Cruz 0-4, K -- .304
3B F. Cruz 1-4, 2 K -- .205
C Y. Reyes 1-2 -- .353
C McCauley 0-2, K, E (3) -- .290

Hodge 3 IP, 4 R (2 ER), 1 H, 6 BB, 2 K -- L, 1-5, 4.58 ERA
Sirrett 1 1/3 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 4 H, 3 BB -- 7.11 ERA
Toribio 2 1/3 IP, 2 ER, H, 2 BB, 3 K, HRA, balk -- 8.10 ERA
Jorge 1 1/3 IP, ER, 3 H, 3 BB -- 16.88 ERA
Mieles IP, H -- 5.68 ERA

The Angels started scoring in the 3rd and didn't let up in steamrolling the Royals. The Royals helped out with 5 errors, including 1 in a 2-run Angel 3rd off SP Mitch Hodge, who also doled out 4 walks in the inning. He was pulled after walking the first 2 batters in the 4th and, along with Onassis Sirrett, allowed 4 runs in the inning to make it 6-0. The Royals stranded 2 in the 4th and Sirrett and Aneidy Toribio gave up 3 runs in the 5th to make it 9-0. Vinny Pennell tripled and scored on a David Wood single in the 6th but Toribio and Victor Jorge allowed 2 runs in the 7th and Jorge gave up another run in the 8th to make it 12-1. With the bases loaded and 1 out in the 8th, Wood hit a bases-clearing triple to cut it to 12-4 but 5 of the next 6 Royals were retired to end the game. Angels CF Clayton Fuller was 2-4 with his 8th double, 4th homer and 4 RBI (25) to move to .301 and SP Michael Anton got the win with 6 IP of an ER on 6 hits and 8 Ks to improve to 5-2 with a 3.51 ERA.

The Royals are 12-5 and 2 games up on first. They play the 9-8 Giants tonight.