Royals on the Farm 4/3 -- opening day!

Kind of a half-opening day, as two didn't play, but the other two were winners, so the whole organization is off to a winning start thus far. Gotta love to see that. I'm gonna try to get these out a little earlier than normal this season but, thanks to that pesky thing called a job, I may not be able to.

AAA - Omaha: rainout

*** The O-Royals' opener vs. Albuquerque was postponed because of cold and rain. It will be made up as part of a Saturday double dip. They'll instead open the season tonight with, I assume, Luke Hochevar taking the mound as was planned yesterday. Former Omaha farmhand Bob Keppel was slated to start the opener for the Isotopes, which may speak volumes about their pitching.

AA - Northwest Arkansas: Naturals 6, San Antonio 4

1B Kaaihue 1-5, 3 RBI, K, E -- .200
RF McFall 2-4, 3B, HR, 2 RBI, RS -- .500, offensive stud of the day in organization
CF Duarte 3-3, 2 BB, 2 SB, RS -- 1.000, just what you want out of leadoff spot, very nice AA debut
DH Richardson 2-5, RBI, RS -- .400
2B Maddox 2-5, RS -- .400
SS Sanchez 1-5, 2 K, RS, E -- .200, at least he's back in action
3B Lisson 1-5, 2B, 2 K, RS -- .200

Rosa 4 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 6 H, 5 K -- ND, 4.50 ERA
D. Hughes 2 2/3 IP, H, BB -- W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA
Lowery 2/3 IP, 2 BB, K
M. Peterson 1 2/3 IP, ER, H, 2 K, HRA -- SV, 1, 5.40 ERA

*** The Naturals' first official game as a franchise was a victorious one as a 2-run 5th gave them a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Starter Carlos Rosa worked around two 2-out singles in the 1st and got some run support with 3 NWA runs in the 3rd on a 2-out Juan Richardson RBI single and 2-run Kila Kaaihue single. The Naturals left the bases loaded in the 4th and the Missions scored 3 in their half of the frame on an Angel Sanchez error followed by 4 hits to start the inning. Rosa settled down to keep the game tied at 3 and Brian McFall brought the lead back to the Naturals with a 2-out, 2-run homer in the 5th. Dusty Hughes came in to pitch the 5th and got into the 7th before being pulled with 2 on and 2 out. Devon Lowery walked his first batter to load the bases but got out of the jam. Matt Peterson came in and stranded 2 Missions (missionaries?) in the 8th and Kaaihue gave NW Arkansas some insurance with an RBI groundout in the 9th. Peterson gave up a leadoff homer in the bottom of the 9th but experienced no further trouble in getting his 1st save. Missions starter Mike Ekstrom took the loss with 5 R (4 ER) on 10 hits, a walk and 5 Ks over 5 IP.

NW Arkansas is 1-0. The series continues tonight in San Antonio with righty Julio Pimentel taking the mound for the Naturals versus Missions lefty Will Inman. The Nats already made some roster moves, but mainly just shuffled some guys to the DL, including C Cody Clark, righty Pat Green, righty Kyle Crist, rule 5 pickup Ray Liotta (recovering from arm surgery still) and lefty Tim Hamulack (minor league FA pickup). Righty Jeff Fulchino, who played for the Marlins' AAA squad last year, was added to the roster. That put the Naturals down to the Texas League roster limit of 24.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: The Rocks start tonight with the first of 4 at home vs. Myrtle Beach. Righty Blake Wood gets the opening start for Wilmington versus Pelicans righty Tommy Hanson.

A - Burlington: Bees 2, Peoria 0 (2-hitter)

SS Moustakas 1-4, K -- .250
1B C. Robinson 2-2, BB, 2 2B -- 1.000
CF Ortiz 2-4, K, RS -- .500
DH Jimenez 1-3, RBI, K -- .333
3B Taylor 0-4, K, RS, SB -- .000

Gutierrez 5 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 8 K -- ND, nice start for Dan
A. Bradley 4 IP, BB, 2 K, E -- W, 1-0, hitless relief stint

*** The Chiefs didn't get a hit after the 2nd as Dan Gutierrez and Anthony Bradley shut Peoria's bats down. Unfortunately, the Burlington offense wasn't exactly in top form as they hadn't gotten a runner past second and were being shut out as well entering the 7th. With 2 on and 2 out in the 7th, Antonio Jimenez came through with an RBI single. Adrian Ortiz added the second run in the 8th in scoring on a throwing error on a pickoff play. The Chiefs left the bases full in the 2nd and never really threatened thereafter. A nifty strike-em-out, throw-em-out double play ended the Peoria 7th as C Ryan Eigsti nailed a runner trying to steal third. Chiefs reliever Jordan Latham took the loss with 2 R (1 ER) on 3 hits and 2 walks with a K in 1 1/3 IP.

The Bees are 1-0. The series continues tonight as Ed Cegarra toes the rubber for Burlington vs. Dae-Eun Rhee of Peoria.