Royals on the Farm 8/25 -- Moustakas 2-5 in debut

AAA -- Omaha: O-Royals 5, Round Rock 2 (7/G1)

CF Maier 3-4, 3B (5), HR (11), 2 RBI (59), K, RS -- .284, hits better from leadoff spot
1B Shealy 1-3, 2 RBI (23) -- .252
LF Lubanski 1-2, BB, HR (5), RBI (19), K, RS -- .221
3B Aviles 1-3, 2B (26), RS -- .305
DH Sweeney 1-3 -- .333
RF Huber 0-2, BB -- .279

Mildren 5 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 4 K, pickoff -- W, 6-7, 5.82 ERA
Musser 2 IP, H, 3 K -- SV, 8, 0.34 ERA

Paul Mildren picked up his first win in the organization and the Royals opened Saturday's doubleheader with a game 1 win. Mitch Maier got Omaha started right with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first for his 11th of the season. Mildren stranded 2 in the 3rd but lost the lead in the 4th as the Express scored 2 runs on 2 hits and a walk with 2 outs. Omaha put 2 on with none out in the bottom of the 4th and Ryan Shealy hit a 1-out bases-loaded single later in the inning to plate 2 to bring the lead back to the Royals. With 2 out in the Omaha 6th, Chris Lubanski cracked his 5th AAA homer and Mitch Maier hit an RBI triple to make it 5-2. With 1 out and 1 on in the 7th, Neal Musser got a K and C Paul Phillips picked off the runner straying too far from first to end it. Express SS Jesse Garcia was 2-3 with his 12th error, 14th double and 2 RBI (31) to move to .265 and SP Josh Miller took the loss with 6 IP of 5 R (4 ER) on 8 hits, 2 walks and 3 Ks to fall to 1-2 with a 4.05 ERA.

O-Royals 4, Round Rock 3 (10/G2)

C Tupman 2-4, 2B (16), 2 RBI (32) -- .291
2B Cortez 3-4, BB, HR (4), RBI (22), RS -- .302, walkoff shot capped good game
DH Shealy 2-4, 2B (7), RBI (24), K, RS -- .261
1B Brazell 2-4, 2B (31), K, 2 RS -- .321
CF Maier 0-4, S, K, OF assist at third -- .282
SS Aviles 0-4 -- .303
RF Huber 0-4, K -- .275
LF Lubanski 1-4, K, CS -- .222

Hoelscher 4 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, BB, 2 K, 2 HRA -- 5.05 ERA
Giron 4 IP, 2 H, BB, 3 K -- 3.99 ERA, has had decent season in O-Royals pen
Markray 2 IP, 3 H, BB, K -- W, 6-7, 4.96 ERA

Omaha outscored Round Rock 4-0 from the bottom of the 4th on and got a big hit from Fernando Cortez in the 10th to sweep the doubleheader. Starter Nate Hoelscher allowed a solo homer in both the 2nd and 3rd to give the Express a 2-0 lead and then gave up a run on 2 hits and a walk in the 4th to make it 3-0. Craig Brazell led off the Omaha 4th with his 31st double and scored on a Ryan Shealy ground out to get Omaha on the board and Omaha tied it in the 6th on a 2-out, 2-run single by Matt Tupman. Omaha stranded 2 in the 7th as the game went to extras. Thad Markray stranded 2 in the 9th and left the bases full in the 10th. The Express brought in RP Brian Gordon to pitch the 10th and Cortez greeted him with his 4th homer of the season to end it. Express LF Tim Raines Jr. was 2-4 with his 44th RBI to move to .336 and Gordon took the loss with an ER on a hit to drop to 1-1 with a 2.35 ERA.

Omaha is 68-67 and out of the race with 9 games left in the season. The home part of the schedule wraps today versus the Express. Starters: Round Rock RH Chan Ho Park (6-13, 6.36) vs. rehabbing Omaha RH Brandon Duckworth (0-1, 6.75).

AA -- Wichita: Tulsa 10, Wranglers 6

2B Valentin 2-4, 4 RBI (51), K, E (8) -- .295
3B Nettles 1-4, HR (8), 2 RBI (35), RS -- .285, been nice mid-season addition
SS Falu 3-4, RS -- .256
CF Greenberg 1-4, K, 2 RS -- .270
1B Stodolka 0-3, BB, K -- .289
LF Padilla 0-3, BB, 2 K, RS -- .342

Connolly 6 2/3 IP, 9 R (7 ER), 13 H, BB, 5 K, 2 HRA -- L, 4-6, 5.57 ERA
de la Vara 2 1/3 IP, ER, 2 H, 3 K -- 4.56 ERA

Tulsa generated 3 3-run innings to pummel Mike Connolly and win the opener. Jeff Nettles put Wichita on top in the 2nd with a 2-run homer for his 8th for the Wranglers. The lead lasted until Connolly gave up 3 runs on 2 homers in the 4th and the Drillers followed with 3 runs on 4 hits in the 5th to make it 6-2. The Wranglers stayed in the game with a 2-run 5th on a 2-run single by Geraldo Valentin but Tulsa surged farther ahead with 3 runs on 3 hits, a hit batsman and Valentin error in the 7th off Connolly to make it 9-4. Valentin hit another 2-run single in the 7th but the Wranglers went down in order in the 8th and 9th as Tulsa added an insurance run off Gilbert de la Vara in the 9th. Tulsa LF Matt Miller was 2-5 with his 11th homer and 3 RBI (58) to move to .259 and momentary Royal farmhand SP Sean Thompson got the win with 6 1/3 IP of 6 ER on 6 hits, 3 walks and 8 Ks to move to 8-8 with a 3.80 ERA.

Wichita is 27-33 and 4 games back with 10 games left. The two teams match up for a doubleheader today. Wichita hasn't announced its starters yet, but I assume call-up David Bernat from Rookie Burlington is starting one of the games. The Wranglers have already named their player and pitcher of the year and the winners are Mike Stodolka and Dusty Hughes. It couldn't have been easy to pick a pitcher of the year, as nobody has been good enough to set themselves apart. Stodolka's .864 OPS is second only to Jorge Padilla among active Wranglers (in 43 more games) and Hughes is 5-2 with a 3.54 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 94 IP.

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: Blue Rocks 11, Lynchburg 10

RF McFall 2-5, 2B (29), 4 RBI (69), K, RS -- .283
3B Maddox 2-5, BB, 2B (15), 2 RBI (42), 2 RS -- .261
CF Duarte 2-6, 2 RBI (40), K, 2 RS, SB (33), OF assists at home and third -- .289
C Thibault 2-5, RBI (34), K, 2 RS -- .261
2B Jirschele 2-4, S, RBI (3), K -- .333
LF Bigler 1-2, 3 BB, 2 RS, OF assist at third -- .259, .401 OBP

Penn 3 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, HRA -- 4.04 ERA
Green 3 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 3 K -- W, 1-5, 4.08 ERA
Haltiwanger 2 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, BB, 2 WP, 2 HRA -- 3.67 ERA
Santos IP -- SV, 8, 3.91 ERA

Wilmington scored 6 runs over the final 3 innings to get a wild win over the Hillcats. Starter Michael Penn gave up 3 runs in the 1st on 4 hits but the Rocks scored 2 in the 3rd on a 2-out, 2-run single by Brian McFall to cut it to 3-2. Penn gave up a homer in the 3rd to make it 4-2 but Wilmington answered with 3 runs in the 4th on 2-out RBI hits by Jose Duarte (single) and Marc Maddox (2-run double) to make it 5-4 Rocks. Lynchburg wasn't finished as the Hillcats scored 2 in the 4th off Patrick Green on 4 hits as the Rocks got some help from Brett Bigler in nailing a runner at third to end the rally. The score was 6-5 Hillcats entering the 7th when Wilmington broke out for 4 runs on a 2-run double by McFall and RBI singles from Kiel Thibault and Jeremy Jirschele to make it 9-6 Rocks. Russ Haltiwanger had a rough 7th as he gave up 2 runs on 2 hits, a walk and 2 wild pitches. Duarte scored on a passed ball in the 8th and, after Haltiwanger got some handy assistance from a lineout double play in the 8th, Duarte hit an RBI ground out in the 9th to make it 11-8 Blue Rocks. Haltiwanger gave up back-to-back homers to start the Lynchburg 9th before getting pulled for Arthur Santos, who sat the next three batters down for his 8th save. Hillcats LF Jamie Romak was 4-5 with his 7th error, 21st double, 2 HR (15), 3 RBI (44) and 3 RS to move to .259 and RP Kyle Pearson took the loss with 3 1/3 IP of 4 ER on 7 hits and a K to fall to 0-3 with a 3.96 ERA.

Wilmington is 39-21 and 6 1/2 games up on first with 9 games left. The series continues tonight. No announced starters on the team site.

A -- Burlington: Bees 4, Wisconsin 1 (2-hitter)

3B Thompson 1-4, HR (19), 2 RBI (53), RS -- .225
SS Mertins 1-1, 2 BB, S, RBI (38), SB (28), picked off -- .249
LF Everett 0-4, RBI (43), K -- .271
1B Castillo 2-4, 2B (9), RS -- .274
RF Walton 2-4, K, CS -- .273
CF Robinson 1-3, BB, RS -- .247

Godin 5 IP, ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K -- W, 5-5, 3.01 ERA
Cribb 3 IP, BB, 2 K -- 5.66 ERA
Hartsock IP, 2 K -- SV, 6, 2.65 ERA

Wisconsin didn't have a hit after the 2nd as three Bees pitchers stymied the Rattlers. Brady Everett hit an RBI ground out in the 1st but the Rattlers tied it on a walk and single in the 2nd off Jason Godin. Kurt Mertins hit an RBI single in the 3rd and the Bees scored 2 in the 4th on a 2-run homer by Michael Thompson for his 19th of the season. Godin, Josh Cribb and Aaron Hartsock stranded a few runners but got in no serious trouble from the 3rd on. Wisconsin SP Kyle Parker took the loss with 4 IP of 4 runs (3 ER) on 7 hits and 3 Ks to fall to 4-10 with a 3.41 ERA.

Burlington is 29-31 and 8 games back with 9 games left. The series goes to game 3 this afternoon. Starters: Bees RH Mario Santiago (5-9, 3.69) vs. Rattlers LH Tony Butler (2-7, 5.63).

Rookie -- Idaho Falls: Chukars 8, Ogden 4

DH Moustakas 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K -- .400, hit out of 3-hole in lineup; first hit, first AB was 2-run double
LF Tucker 1-5, 2B (5), 3 RBI (7), K, RS -- .379
RF Gonzalez 1-5, HR (7), RBI (30), K, RS -- .288
3B Van De Keere 1-5, RBI (27), K, RS -- .274
C Balduf 1-4, RBI (14), RS -- .284
CF Ortiz 3-4, BB, 2B (6), 2 RS, E (4) -- .306
SS Seratelli 2-4, BB, 2B (15), RS -- .335
1B Robinson 0-1 -- .333, left game in first, no word on why

Norton 3 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 4 K, E (2) -- 4.05 ERA
Phillips 3 1/3 IP, ER, 3 H, 3 K, HRA -- W, 3-1, 4.14 ERA
Jensen IP, ER, 2 H, BB, K -- 3.42 ERA
Cassa IP, BB, K -- 4.22 ERA

Mike Moustakas' debut was a success as the #2 overall pick started his career with a 2-run double and the Royals got a 5-run 6th en route to the win. A single and error put 2 on for Moustakas in the 1st as he hit a line-drive double to left for 2 runs and his first hit and RBIs combined. Starter Ben Norton got out to a rough start as he gave up 3 straight singles to start the Ogden 1st and Clint Robinson left the game for undisclosed reasons. Norton recovered to strand the bases loaded and maintain the 2-1 advantage. Norton left the bases full again in the 2nd and O.D. Gonzalez homered in the 3rd for his 7th at IF to make it 3-1. Moustakas struck out that inning. Ogden got a run back off Norton and Justin Phillips in the 4th on a walk and 2 hits but IF broke away in the 6th with 5 runs on a Devery Van De Keere RBI single, a run-scoring Ogden error and a bases-loaded double by Wilson Tucker that brought all the runners home to make it 8-2. Moustakas singled in the 5th but grounded out in the 6th inning rally. Phillips allowed a solo homer in the 6th and Matt Jensen gave up a run in the 8th before Pat Cassa stranded 1 in the 9th to end it. Moustakas struck out in his final AB to end the 8th. Ogden SS Jaime Pedroza was 4-4 with his 17th error, 8th homer and 2 RBI (39) to move to .372 and SP Michael Gardner took the loss with 5 IP of 6 runs (5 ER) on 9 hits, a walk and 2 Ks to fall to 5-5 with a 4.10 ERA.

IF is 16-9 and a game up on first with 13 games left. The series concludes late this afternoon with no announced starters on the team site.

Rookie -- Burlington: B-Royals 9, Johnson City 4

LF Santos 4-5, 3 2B (11), 2 RS, SB (3), CS (1) -- .296
RF A. Perez 3-5, HR (6), 4 RBI (33), K, RS, OF assist at second -- .288
2B Martin 2-4, BB, 2B (17), HR (9), RBI (32), 2 RS, SB (3) -- .246
DH Graterol 3-5, 2 RBI (9), K, SB (1) -- .200
C Doscher 1-4, HBP, 2 RBI (18), 2 SB (4), E (4) -- .210
CF Norris 0-3, 2 BB, K, RS, E (3) -- .290
1B Amyx 1-5, 2 K, RS -- .266
*Burlington stranded 12.

Paulino 4 IP, 4 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 2 K, HRA, WP -- 4.86 ERA
Gjeldum 5 IP, 4 H, 5 K -- W, 4-1, 3.63 ERA, nice outing out of pen

Ted Gjeldum shut out the Cardinals over the last 5 innings as the Royals swept Johnson City. Juan Graterol singled in a run in the 2nd to make it 1-0 Royals but they stranded 2. Starter Eduardo Paulino gave up 2 runs in the 3rd on 2 hits, 2 walks and a Patrick Norris error but the Royals nabbed a runner trying to steal home to cut the rally short. Kyle Martin and Alwin Perez led off the Royals 3rd with back-to-back homers for their 9th and 6th of the season, respectively, and Graterol singled in another run to make it 4-2 Burlington. Paulino served up a 2-out, 2-run homer in the 4th to tie it but the Royals got a Perez RBI single to regain the lead in the bottom of the inning. Nick Doscher hit an RBI fielder's choice in the 5th but the Royals left the bases full. The Royals added 2 runs in the 7th on a 2-run Perez single and then got a Doscher RBI ground out in the 8th to cap the scoring. Cards P Steven Hill got the loss with 1 2/3 IP of an ER on 2 hits and a walk to drop to 0-2 with a 7.04 ERA.

Burlington is 36-29 and out of the race. The Royals start their final series of the season today against the Bristol Sox (White, 24-39). The Royals are 4-1 versus the Sox. The teams play a doubleheader today with no starters announced on the team site.

Rookie -- AZL: off day

The Royals take on the 15-9 Giants for sole possession of first place tonight. Four games remain on their slate.