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.