Royals on the Farm 8/21 -- excellence in Idaho Falls

AAA -- Omaha: Albuquerque 5, O-Royals 1 (8/G1)

DH Brazell 1-3, 2B (30) -- .315
1B Huber 1-3, HBP, 2B (12), K -- .278
RF Costa 0-3, BB, K -- .330
3B Aviles 0-3, BB -- .306
SS Berroa 1-3, BB -- .303
CF Maier 0-2, S -- .281
LF Lubanski 0-3, 2 K -- .222

Duckworth 6 IP, ER, 3 H, 6 K, HRA, WP -- 6.75 ERA, guess he wasn't the one that was rocked yesterday (as reported), must have been looking at the game 2 linescore
Buckner IP, 2 K -- 3.78 ERA, back in pen only momentarily
Markray IP, 4 ER, 3 H, BB, HRA -- L, 5-7, 5.08 ERA

An error kept Omaha's hopes alive in the bottom of the 7th but Thad Markray crumbled in the 8th to give the Isotopes the win in the first of 2 Tuesday. Rehabbing Brandon Duckworth gave up a solo homer to DH Val Pascucci in the 2nd as he continued to terrorize Omaha and the game moved along quickly as neither team put up much fight. Craig Brazell led off the 7th with a double and a 2-out error scored pinch runner Derek Wathan to tie the game. The Royals stranded 2 and Markray came on to pitch the 8th. Two singles and a stolen base brought 1 run home and Markray served up a 3-run homer to SS Robert Andino to make it 5-1 'Topes. Omaha got 2 on in the bottom of the 8th but Justin Huber hit into a DP to end it. Andino was 1-4 with his 12th homer and 3 RBI (45) to move to .268 for Albuquerque, Pascucci was 2-3 with his 33rd homer and 94th RBI to improve to .294 and RP Roy Corcoran got the win with 2 1/3 IP of an UER on 2 hits, 2 walks and a K to improve to 4-4 with a 3.65 ERA.

Albuquerque 8, O-Royals 6 (7/G2)

SS Berroa 2-3, BB, 2B (17), HR (8), 3 RBI (40), K, RS -- .306, what's gotten into Angel???
LF Huber 1-3, HBP, RBI (59) -- .279
1B Brazell 1-4, HR (30), RBI (71), RS -- .314, tied Aaron Guiel for 4th on Omaha all-time season list
RF Costa 0-3, BB, RBI (14), RS -- .326
DH Shealy 0-2, 2 BB, K -- .250
CF Maier 0-2, BB, RS -- .280

Thomson 3 1/3 IP, 8 ER, 9 H, 2 K, HRA -- L, 0-1, 21.60 ERA, oh, THAT'S who got rocked, OK....
Hendrickson 3 2/3 IP, H, 2 BB, K -- 4.41 ERA, ever-shrinking ERA for Ben lately

John Thomson was pitching BP for Omaha as the Isotopes staved off a comeback to sweep both the doubleheader and the 4-game series. Thomson loaded the bases and gave up a 1-out grand slam to 3B Scott Seabol in the 1st to put Omaha behind the 8-ball early. Thomson left 2 in scoring position and Omaha got 2 runs back in the bottom of the 1st on solo homers by Angel Berroa (his 8th) and Craig Brazell (his 30th for Omaha/37th overall). Thomson allowed 3 straight singles for a run to start the 2nd and another run came home on a double play ball to make it 6-2. Three hits and a walk off Thomson and Ben Hendrickson in the 4th helped the Isotopes to 2 more runs to make it 8-2. Manager Mike Jirschele was ejected in the 4th after Justin Huber was hit by a pitch and the Royals loaded the bases to start the 5th off Albuquerque SP Wes Obermueller. Shane Costa worked a walk to bring in a run and RP Mauro Zarate came in and gave up a 2-run double to Berroa to cut it to 8-5. A Huber ground out scored Costa to cut the lead to 2 but Omaha left runners at the corners. The Royals loaded the bases with 2 out in the 7th when RP Erasmo Ramirez got pinch-hitter Mike Aviles to fly out to end the game for his 3rd save. Seabol was 1-3 for the Isotopes with his 30th homer and 4 RBI (100) to move to .303 and Zarate got the win with 2 IP of a hit and walk to improve to 2-0 with a 1.03 ERA.

Omaha is 65-66 and out of the race. A 5-game home set (the final home set of the season) with the Round Rock Express (55-74, AAA Astros) starts tonight. The Royals are 5-8 versus the Express. Probable game 1 starters: Express RH Brandon Backe (1-2, 6.23) vs. Omaha RH Luke Hochevar (1-2, 6.23). Shane Costa was recalled to KC for another shot as Odalis Perez was put on the DL with a sore knee. Mike Sweeney is set to start a rehab assignment in Omaha Thursday.

AA -- Wichita: off day

The Wranglers start a 3-day, 4-game home set versus the division-leading Arkansas Travelers (29-26, AA Halos) tonight. Probable starters: rehabbing Wichita lefty Jorge De La Rosa (no AA stats) vs. Travs righty Miguel Gonzalez (7-3, 2.94). Lefty Dan Christensen will follow De La Rosa in the game.

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: Myrtle Beach 10, Blue Rocks 8

DH Vega 2-5, 2B (19), 4 RBI (48), K, RS -- .229
1B McCann 4-4, BB, 2 RBI (26), RS -- .249
RF McFall 1-4, BB, RBI (62), RS, SB (8) -- .279
C Thibault 1-3, BB, HBP, RBI (32) -- .260
3B Lisson 3-5, BB, 2B (25), 3 RS, E (14) -- .280
CF Duarte 0-5, BB, K -- .290
2B Maddox 0-3, 3 BB, K, 2 RS -- .254
*The Rocks stranded 13.

Pimentel 5 IP, 7 R (3 ER), 7 H, 2 BB, 2 K, WP -- 2.78 ERA, rough outing
Oliveros IP, 3 ER, 4 H, K -- L, 1-3, 3.69 ERA
Haltiwanger 2 IP, 2 H, BB, 2 K, pickoff -- 3.15 ERA
Chambliss IP -- 4.35 ERA

The Rocks fought back from a 5-run deficit but couldn't overcome the Pelicans. Wilmington loaded the bases with 1 out in the 1st and Miguel Vega hit a 2-out, 2-run single to give the Rocks a 2-0 lead. Julio Pimentel ran into trouble fairly quickly, however, as his 2nd inning line was walk, fly out, double, 2-run single, Mario Lisson error, RBI double, HBP, run-scoring walk, RBI ground out, 2-run single, pop out, for 7 runs and a 7-2 Pelican lead. Vega cracked a 2-run double in the 3rd and was singled home by Kiel Thibault to cut the lead to 7-5, and the Rocks tied it in the 4th on RBI singles by Brad McCann and Brian McFall before leaving both in scoring position. Rayner Oliveros took over pitching duties in the 6th and allowed 4 straight 2-out singles for 3 runs and a 10-7 Myrtle Beach lead. The Blue Rocks left the bases full in the 6th but McCann singled in a run in the 8th before the Rocks stranded 2 more. RP Sung Ki Jung pitched 1 1/3 innings for his 22nd save for Myrtle Beach. Pelicans 1B Ivan Terrazas was 2-4 with his first 4 RBI for MB to set a .500 BA and RP Bryan Dumesnil got the win with 2 2/3 IP of 4 hits, a walk and 2 Ks to improve to 1-1 with a 2.61 ERA.

Wilmington is 34-21 and 5 games up on first. The series continues tonight. Probable starters: Wilmington right-hander Blake Johnson (7-6, 3.46) vs. rehabbing Major Leaguer Ryan Drese (0-0, 4.50).

A -- Burlington: Cedar Rapids 6, Bees 1

RF Walton 1-3, RBI (18) -- .272
CF Robinson 1-4 -- .251
SS Bianchi 1-4 -- .241
LF Dickerson 1-3, 2B (23) -- .289, left with separated shoulder in 6th

Santiago 5 2/3 IP, 5 ER, 9 H, 2 K, HRA -- L, 5-9, 3.69 ERA
Cribb 1 1/3 IP, ER, 3 H, K -- 5.86 ERA
A. Morales IP, H, K -- 0.70 ERA

Burlington managed only 4 hits off Kernels SP Sean O'Sullivan as Cedar Rapids took another game. Four hits and a Bees error scored 3 runs for Cedar Rapids off Mario Santiago in the 1st and Jamar Walton singled home the Bees' only run in the 2nd to cut it to 3-1. The Bees squandered a leadoff double by Joe Dickerson in the 4th and, with 2 on and 1 out in the 6th, Dickerson injured his shoulder diving back into first on a pickoff attempt and left the game. More tests were slated for today. The Bees squandered the scoring chance and the Kernels padded the lead with 2 runs in the inning off Santiago and Josh Cribb. Cribb allowed another run in the 7th to make it 6-1 and the last 10 Bees went down consecutively. Kernels 3B Wilberto Ortiz was 2-3 with his 20th double and 2 RBI (34) to move to .279 and O'Sullivan moved to 10-6 with 8 IP of 4 hits, 6 Ks and an UER to drop his ERA to 2.18.

Burlington is 27-29 and 8 games back. The series goes to game 3 tonight. Probable starters: Bees LH Everett Teaford (5-8, 5.10) vs. Kernels RH David Herndon (10-8, 4.52). Blake Wood was named MWL Pitcher of the Week for Aug. 13-19 after an 8-inning no-hit start on Sunday.

Rookie -- Idaho Falls: Chukars 9, Billings 1

RF Tucker 5-5, 2 2B (3), 2 RBI (4), 3 RS -- .571, think he likes hitting in Pioneer League
3B Van De Keere 2-5, 3B (1), 3 RBI (26), RS -- .276
DH Robinson 1-2, BB, SF, HR (14), 2 RBI (55), K, RS -- .333
2B Bionde 1-3, BB, RBI (10), K, RS -- .225
CF Gonzalez 0-4, SF, RBI (29), K, SB (11), CS (4) -- .281
1B Seratelli 0-1, 2 BB, K -- .333

Peterson 6 IP, H, 13 Ks -- W, 5-3, 3.26 ERA, tied PL record with 11 straight Ks (!!!!)
Baldwin 3 IP, ER, 5 H, BB, 3 K -- SV, 2, 2.68 ERA

Zach Peterson rewrote part of the team record book with 11 consecutive Ks as he dominated the Mustangs and Idaho Falls cruised to the win. The Chukars took a 2-0 lead in the 1st on a Devery Van De Keere RBI single and Clint Robinson sac fly. Peterson struck out the final 2 batters in the 2nd, then struck out the side in the 3rd, 4th and 5th for 11 straight Ks to smash the previous team ecord of 8 straight. The streak was snapped with a fly out to lead off the 6th before Peterson K'd the next 2 and was pulled to start the 7th. Meanwhile, the Chukars added 2 runs in the 3rd on a Van De Keere RBI triple and O.D. Gonzalez sac fly; got a 2-run double from Wilson Tucker in the 4th that was part of his 5-5 night; saw Robinson hit his 14th homer of the season in the 5th and got an RBI single from Mike Bionde that inning; and got a Van De Keere RBI ground out in the 6th to make it 9-0. RP Burke Baldwin gave up a run in the 9th but left the bases full for his 2nd save. Billings 3B Brandon Waring was 2-4 with his 40th RBI to move to .287 and SP Andrew Bowman took the loss with 3 2/3 IP of 6 ER on 4 hits, 5 walks and 3 Ks to fall to 0-4 with a 7.01 ERA.

IF is 14-8 and 2 games up on first. The Chukars go for the sweep tonight. Probable starters: Billings SP Enerio Del Rosario (4-3, 3.70) vs. IF SP Clegg Snipes (2-4, 4.20).

Rookie -- Burlington: B-Royals 7, Greeneville 6

DH Hill 2-4, HBP, 2B (4), 2 RBI (6), K, 2 RS -- .186
2B Martin 1-4, SF, 2 RBI (28), K -- .245
SS Molina 2-4, RBI (10), E (5) -- .218
3B Jimenez 3-5, 2B (9), 2 RS, CS -- .220
LF Severino 2-5, 3B (2), RS -- .237
CF Norris 1-4, BB, 2B (6), K, RS, SB (28) -- .296
1B Amyx 1-4, BB, 2 K, SB (1) -- .257
*The Royals stranded 10.

Paukovits 5 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, BB, 2 K, HRA -- W, 2-4, 5.44 ERA
Bernat 3 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, BB, 4 K, HRA, WP -- 4.98 ERA
Gjeldum 0 IP, BB -- 4.25 ERA
Belanger 1/3 IP -- SV, 1, 3.18 ERA

Burlington crammed all 7 of its runs into the first 3 innings and then held on to sweep the set with the Astros. Kyle Martin gave the Royals the lead with an RBI ground out in the 1st but Bryan Paukovits gave up a solo homer in the Astros 1st to tie the game. The Royals added 2 runs in the 2nd on a Tom Hill RBI double and Yeldrys Molina RBI single, then scored 4 in the 3rd on a run-scoring Astros error, a Hill RBI single, another run-scoring error and a Martin sac fly to make it 7-1. Paukovits allowed a run on 2 hits in the 3rd and another run on 2 hits and a walk in the 5th. RP David Bernat took the 7-3 lead into the 9th but allowed a 3-run homer to DH Drew Anderson to cut the lead to 1. Ryan Belanger came in with 2 on and 2 out and induced a game-ending ground out for his 1st save. Anderson was 1-4 with his 3rd homer and 3 RBI (14) to move to .242 and SP Kyle Greenwalt took the loss with 2 1/3 IP of 6 runs (5 ER) on 9 hits and 3 Ks to drop to 0-6 with a 7.04 ERA.

The Royals are 33-28 and out of the race. They finish up the season with 7 games at home starting with a 2-game set versus the Elizabethton Twins (44-16). They are 2-4 versus the Twinkies. Game 1 is tonight with no announced starters on the team site.

Rookie -- AZL: Rangers 10, Royals 4

C Reyes 2-3, S, 2B (2), 3 RBI (5), 3 PB (3) -- .381
3B Donovan 0-3, BB, RBI (17), RS -- .260
DH Wood 1-4, 2B (17), K -- .307
2B Angel 1-3, BB, RS -- .270
CF Richardson 0-4, BB, 2 K -- .214

Hodge 3 IP, 2 UER, 3 H, 2 BB, 5 K -- L, 1-6, 4.24 ERA, left with arm injury (no details), off to rough start as pro
Sirrett 2 IP, 7 ER, 7 H, BB, 2 K, HRA -- 10.43 ERA
Jorge 2 IP, UER, H, 2 K, balk -- 12.27 ERA
Mieles IP, H, 2 BB -- 5.27 ERA

The Royals were down, 9-0, before they could manage a run and it was too late as the Rangers got the win. The Rangers scored 2 off Mitch Hodge in the 3rd on a walk, 2 hits, a passed ball and Diego Cruz error but Hodge finished the inning before leaving with an undisclosed arm injury. Onassis Sirrett came in for the 4th and got rocked to the tune of 7 ER over 2 innings on 7 hits and a walk, including 2 triples and a homer. The Royals' runs came in the 6th on a bases-loaded walk by Dennis Donovan and a 3-run double by Yenssi Reyes. He would be the Royals' last baserunner. Rangers LF Miguel Alfonzo was 3-5 with 2 RBI (15) to move to .345 and P Juan Peralta got the win with 3 IP of hitless relief with 1 K to move to 1-1 with a 6.31 ERA.

The Royals are 13-8 and a game up on first. They play the 10-11 Cubs tonight.