Royals on the Farm 8/19

AAA -- Omaha: Albuquerque 11, O-Royals 8

RF Costa 2-4, BB, 2 HR (5), 2 RBI (13), K, 2 RS -- .335
CF Maier 2-4, 2B (26), HR (10), 2 RBI (57), RS -- .282
1B Huber 1-4, HR (15), 2 RBI (58), 2 K, RS -- .278
LF Lubanski 1-4, HR (4), 2 RBI (18), K, RS -- .228
SS Aviles 2-4, 2B (25), RS, E (22) -- .308
DH Brazell 1-4, RS -- .315

Mildren 5 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 4 K, HRA, E (1), WP -- 5.92 ERA, Omaha debut
Giron 3 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 4 K, 2 HRA -- BS, 2, L, 1-5, 4.20 ERA
Hoelscher IP, 3 R (2 ER), 2 H, K, 2 HRA -- 4.96 ERA

Three 9th inning runs proved to be Omaha's undoing as the Isotopes scored 11 runs for the second straight game versus the Royals. The home run was the key for both teams as they combined for 10 in the game. The Isotopes got a 2-run double off SP Paul Mildren in the 2nd to take a 2-0 lead on their former teammate. Omaha cut the lead in half as Mitch Maier hit his 10th homer of the season in the bottom of the 2nd. Mildren gave up a 2-run homer in the 3rd but Justin Huber clubbed a 2-run homer in the 4th for his 15th of the season, Chris Lubanski hit his 4th AAA shot for a 2-run jack in the 5th and, later that inning, Shane Costa went solo for his 4th at Omaha to make it 6-4 Royals and chase Isotopes SP Ricky Nolasco. Roberto Giron gave up a homer to the first batter he faced to lead off the 6th and then gave up a 3-run homer in the 7th to make it 8-6 'Topes. Giron stranded 2 in the 8th and Omaha pulled a run closer on a 2-out RBI double by Maier. Nate Hoelscher came in to pitch the 9th and gave up back-to-back homers for 3 runs and an 11-7 Albuquerque lead. Costa hit a 2-out solo homer in the 9th for his 5th at AAA this season but that was it. Isotopes RF Joe Borchard was 2-5 with 2 HR (4) and 5 RBI (10) to move to .391, 1B Val Pascucci was 4-5 with 2 HR (32) and 2 RBI (93) as well as his 5th error to improve to .291 and RP Jimmy Serrano got the win with 3 IP of an ER on 3 hits, a walk and K to improve to 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA.

Omaha is 65-64 and nearing mathematical elimination at 13 1/2 games out with 15 left. Game 3 of the set is tonight. Probable starters: Isotopes RH Kenny Baugh (6-7, 7.08) vs. rehabbing Omaha RH Brandon Duckworth (0-1, 22.50). Omaha hadn't combined with an opponent for 10 HR in a game since 2001. John Thomson has moved his rehab to Omaha.

AA -- Wichita: Wranglers 5, Frisco 1

RF Joseph 1-3, 3B (3), 2 RBI (26), RS -- .250
3B Nettles 3-4, RS -- .284
CF Greenberg 2-3, BB, 3B (9), RS, picked off -- .270, hitting .342 since mid-July
SS Falu 1-4, RBI (24), K, RS -- .246
2B Valentin 1-3, BB, CS, E (6) -- .293
1B Stodolka 0-3, BB, K -- .293
LF Padilla 1-4, 3 K -- .344

Shiell 3 IP, ER, 2 H, 3 K, HRA -- 3.00 ERA
Barnes 3 2/3 IP, BB, 3 K -- W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA
Cromer 2 1/3 IP, 2 K -- 5.52 ERA

Three Wichita pitchers held the RoughRiders to 2 hits as the Wranglers gave themselves a shot at a sweep. Starter Jason Shiell gave up a leadoff homer in the 2nd but Frisco didn't have a hit after the 3rd and the last 15 Riders went down consecutively. Wichita rallied for 4 runs in the 2nd on an Irving Falu RBI single, 2-run triple by Onil Joseph and a Frisco error that scored Joseph. Adam Greenberg tripled and scored on a wild pitch in the 5th to account for Wichita's other run. Justin Barnes and Jason Cromer did the job out of the pen in relief of Shiell. Frisco 3B Chris Davis was 1-4 with his 8th homer and 19th RBI to move to .356 and SP Kendy Batista took the loss with 5 IP of 5 runs (4 ER) on 5 hits, 3 walks and 5 Ks to fall to 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA.

Wichita is 23-31 and 5 games back. The finale of the set is tonight. Probable starters: Wichita righty Carlos Rosa (6-6, 4.39) vs. Frisco righty Doug Mathis (9-6, 3.97). P Jorge De La Rosa will start a rehab assignment in Wichita Wednesday.

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: suspended by rain at 0-0 in 3rd

The game will be completed as part of a Friday doubleheader in Lynchburg. The Rocks have today off.

A -- Burlington: Quad Cities 2, Bees 1 (1-hitter....for the Bees)

LF Everett 2-4, 2 2B (27), RS -- .277
3B Howell 2-3, RBI (19) -- .244
CF Robinson 1-4 -- .251
RF Walton 0-4, K, CS -- .271
1B Castillo 0-4, K, E (2) -- .273

Wood 8 IP, 0 H, 2 BB, 5 K -- 3.52 ERA, hard to top that start, pulled for pitch count (kinda unbelievable)
DiPietro 0 IP, 2 R (1 ER), H, BB -- BS, 1, L, 5-9, 5.55 ERA
Hayes IP, BB, K -- 3.41 ERA

Blake Wood handed the bullpen a no-hitter in the 9th and watched as it vanished and the Swing got the comeback win. Wood was perfect through 3 1/3 IP with only 2 walks and an error spoiling his bid for a perfect game. The Bees stranded 2 in the 5th and had 2 runners thrown out on the basepaths in the 6th. Jeff Howell hit an RBI single in the 7th but the Bees left 2 in scoring position. Ryan DiPietro came in for the 9th to try and tie down Wood's no-hitter but gave up a walk, steal and RBI single to tie the game. Chris Hayes was brought in and a Luis Castillo error helped lead to a squeeze bunt for the go-ahead run. The Bees went down in order in the 9th as Kenneth Maiques notched his 29th save for the Swing. Swing RF Daryl Jones was 1-3 with his 30th RBI and 21st SB to move to .231 and RP Kyle Mura got the win with 1 2/3 perfect IP to move to 5-0 with a 1.63 ERA.

The Bees are 27-27 and 8 games back. A 4-game set at the Cedar Rapids Kernels (29-26, A Halos) starts tonight. Bees RH Jason Godin (4-4, 3.16) will get the start. The Bees are 6-5 versus Cedar Rapids.

Rookie -- Idaho Falls: Great Falls 12, Chukars 3

DH Robinson 2-4, 2 RBI (48) -- .328
CF Ortiz 1-4, RBI (18), 2 K, RS -- .305
LF Tucker 1-4, BB, 3B (1), K, RS -- .250, IF debut after move from Burlington (R)
1B Seratelli 1-3, BB, E (12) -- .337
*IF stranded 10.

Norton 2 1/3 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 6 H, 2 K -- L, 1-4, 3.98 ERA
Phillips 2 2/3 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, BB, 2 K, WP -- 4.26 ERA
Swaggerty IP, H, K, E (1) -- 4.00 ERA
Jensen 2 IP, 2 R (1 ER), H, 2 K, HRA -- 3.18 ERA
Cassa IP, H, BB, 2 K -- 4.43 ERA

It was all Great Falls after the 2nd as the Sox ran away for the win to take 4 of 7 from Idaho Falls over the past week. The Sox got off to a good start as they scored 3 runs off Ben Norton in the 1st on 3 hits, an Anthony Seratelli error and a sac fly. Wilson Tucker tripled in his 1st Idaho Falls AB and scored on a Clint Robinson single to cut the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the 1st and, after Norton stranded 2 in the 2nd, the Chukars tied it with 2 runs in the 2nd on an Adrian Ortiz RBI force out and Robinson RBI single. Norton was pulled after giving up 2 triples in the 3rd as Great Falls took the lead with 2 runs in the inning. The White Sox added 3 in the 4th and 2 in the 5th off Justin Phillips and polished it off with 2 in the 8th off Matt Jensen. The Chukars stranded 2 in the 6th and didn't threaten thereafter. Sox RF Salvador Sanchez was 3-5 with his 14th double, 8th triple and 4 RBI (43) to move to .359 and SP Johnnie Lowe got the win with 5 IP of 3 ER on 6 hits, a walk and 4 Ks to improve to 4-1 with a 4.12 ERA.

Idaho Falls is 12-8 and a game back. A 3-game home set versus the Billings Mustangs (10-10, Rookie Reds) starts tonight. Probable starters: Billings SP Luis Montano (7-3, 2.69) vs. IF SP Chris Chavez (2-2, 2.80). The Chukars are 2-2 versus the 'Stangs. As noted, Wilson Tucker was moved "up" (I guess) to the Pioneer League.

Rookie -- Burlington: Bluefield 3, B-Royals 1

RF Norris 3-4, 3B (2), RS, OF assist at home -- .289
CF Lough 2-3, 2B (6), RBI (12) -- .337, left game in 6th with leg injury
1B Lane 2-2, BB, HBP, CS -- .311

Caldera 4 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 5 K, WP -- L, 1-2, 3.52 ERA
Gausman 4 IP, ER, 4 H, BB, 3 K, WP -- 2.96 ERA

Burlington led for a period of 3 batters in the 1st and then it was all Orioles as Bluefield swept the Royals. Patrick Norris led off the game with a triple and scored on a David Lough single to make it 1-0 in the 1st but SP Alex Caldera hit the leadoff batter, gave up a single and then threw a wild pitch to score the runner and tie the game in the O's 1st. Norris was stranded at third in the 3rd and Bluefield added the lead run off Caldera in the 4th. The Royals stranded 2 in the 5th and then, after Lough left the game with a leg injury in the 6th, Burlington had a runner thrown out at home to stymie a rally. The O's added an insurance run on 2 triples off Brian Gausman in the 6th as Norris nailed a runner at home to keep it at 3-1. Brian Parker pitched the 9th for his 6th save for Bluefield. O's LF Richard D Oleo was 3-4 with his 4th double to move to .259 and SP Brandon Cooney got the win with 7 IP of an ER on 8 hits and 4 Ks to move to 4-2 with a 4.58 ERA.

Burlington is 31-28 and eliminated from the playoff race. A 2-game set at the Greeneville Astros (16-42) starts tonight. The Royals are 4-2 versus the 'Stros. No announced starters on the team site.

Rookie -- AZL: Angels 7, Royals 3

SS Jose 1-4, 2 RBI (17) -- .232
C Reyes 0-1, RBI (2) -- .333
LF Craze 2-4, 2 K, CS -- .271
2B Angel 2-4, RS, E (5) -- .268
C S. Perez 2-3, RS -- .241
CF Richardson 0-4, BB, 2 K -- .219
RF Pennell 0-4, 2 K, E (6), OF assist at home -- .299
1B Wood 0-4, 2 K, E (8) -- .308
3B F. Cruz 1-4, K, RS, E (12) -- .205

Duffy 3 IP, 5 R (2 ER), 3 H, 7 K -- L, 2-2, 1.19 ERA
Lehmann 4 IP, UER, 2 H, BB, 4 K, E (2) -- 2.97 ERA
Feickert IP, ER, H, 2 K, HRA -- 8.36 ERA

The Royals committed 5 errors that led to 4 unearned runs as the Angels inched closer in the AZL race. Errors by Fernando Cruz and Vinny Pennell led to 2 Angel runs in the 2nd but Duffy rebounded to strike out the side. The Royals tied the game in the 3rd with 2 runs on a Lifete Jose single. Duffy struck out the side again in the 3rd to make it 6 straight Ks but ran into trouble in the 4th as he was pulled after giving up a double, HBP and an error that scored a run. Mike Lehmann came in and gave up 3 more runs thanks in part to 2 more Royal errors as the Angels scored a total of 4 in the inning to make it 6-2. The Royals stranded 2 in the 7th and Casey Feickert gave up a solo homer in the 8th. Yenssi Reyes hit an RBI ground out in the 9th but there would be no rally. Angels 3B Mike Wing was 2-4 with his 1st homer and 2 RBI (18) to move to .291 and SP Trevor Reckling got the win with 6 2/3 IP of 2 ER on 6 hits, a walk and 9 Ks to improve to 3-1 with a 3.25 ERA.

The Royals are 13-7 and 1/2 a game up on first. They have tonight off.