Royals on the Farm 5/29

NOTE: The timing for my vacation, which starts tomorrow and goes until June 7, is unfortunate. Not only do I have to delay the month-end wrapup for a week or so, I miss the most important thing of all probably this year for the organization -- the draft. I'll try to catch up when I get back, but for a week the blog will be dormant. Hopefully by the time I return the Royals have righted the ship.

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 4, Oklahoma 3 (completion of Wed. game)

CF Maier 1-4, HR (5), 2 RBI (22), RS -- .336
LF Hollins 2-3, RBI (17), K, RS -- .176, first good game in a while
1B-3B Smith 2-4, 2B (8), K, RS -- .257
3B-2B Matranga 1-3, 3B (2), RBI (9), K, RS -- .254
SS Aviles 0-1, BB, E (7) -- .336, pulled for call to KC
1B Stodolka 0-2, K -- .233
RF Costa 1-4 -- .303

Wright 4 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K, HRA -- 4.99 ERA
Colon 3 2/3 IP, ER, 3 H, K, HRA -- W, 1-0, 4.60 ERA
Salmon 1 1/3 IP, 2 H, BB, 2 K -- SV, 1, 5.40 ERA

*** A big 7th inning helped Omaha overcome the acid-delayed 1-run deficit and take game 2 from the RedHawks. Starter Matt Wright served up a 2-out solo homer in the 1st but Damon Hollins singled home Jason Smith, who had doubled, in the 2nd to tie the game. An Aviles error was followed by an RBI single in the 4th off Wright to make it 2-1 RedHawks and the game was suspended after the 4th Wednesday because of the hydrochloric acid spill at a nearby rail yard. Play resumed yesterday and Roman Colon stranded 2 in the 6th for Omaha. The Royals stranded 2 in their half but broke through in the 7th with 3 runs on a 1-out RBI triple by Dave Matranga and 2-run homer by Mitch Maier for his 5th of the season to greet new reliever Bill White. Colon gave up a solo homer in the 8th and Brad Salmon stranded 2 in the 9th for his 1st save. RP Wes Littleton took the loss with 2 1/3 IP of 2 ER on 2 hits, 2 walks and 4 Ks to fall to 2-1 with a 4.91 ERA. Starter A.J. Murray went 4 IP and allowed an ER on 4 hits, 2 walks and a K to move his ERA to 4.00. 2B Ryan Roberts was 2-4 with his 22nd RBI to move to .306 and RF Nelson Cruz was 1-4 with his 15th homer and 41st RBI to move to .335.

Omaha is 26-25 and in a 3-way tie for first. Thursday's regularly scheduled game was delayed to be part of a doubleheader today. Game 1 starters: O-Royals lefty Tyler Lumsden (2-5, 6.41) and Oklahoma right-hander Dustin Nippert (2-1, 5.27). Game 2 pits Omaha righty Brandon Duckworth (2-3, 4.79) vs. RedHawks right-hander Kameron Loe (2-3, 5.14). A few moves have been made, most notably IF Mike Aviles finally getting the call....for Billy Butler. I can kinda see it, because Billy wasn't hitting like Billy for the Royals. He's only 22 and hopefully Jirschele is directed to play him at first every day and Billy can iron out his batting stroke. Neal Musser also got called up to KC's pen as Leo Nunez hit the DL with an oblique strain. Kyle Davies has also reportedly been called up as Brett Tomko hits the bullpen, finally. Hopefully Davies earns a toehold in the majors and actually pitches well. I haven't seen any accompanying move reported there, tho. Maybe Musser is getting sent back to make room for Davies.

AA - NW Arkansas: Midland 7, Naturals 6

2B Maddox 3-3, BB, RBI (8), RS, SB (10) -- .247
1B Kaaihue 2-3, 2 BB, 2B (3), RBI (35), K, RS, CS -- .285
3B Lisson 2-4, RBI (16), K, RS, SB (14), picked off, E (6) -- .232
C Thibault 2-4, RBI (4) -- .167
RF McFall 2-4, HBP, 2 2B (8), 2 RS -- .257
DH Richardson 1-5, RBI (29), RS -- .309
CF Duarte 1-5, CS (4) -- .264
* LF Ovandy Suero had an OF assist at second.

B. Wood 4 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 6 K, HRA -- 6.23 ERA, mediocre AA debut, 91 pitches
Plummer 1 1/3 IP, ER, 3 H, BB, K -- 5.00 ERA
Mildren 1 1/3 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 3 H, BB, 2 K -- BS, 1, L, 2-4, 6.16 ERA
Crist IP, K -- 5.64 ERA

*** Blake Wood had a shaky NWA debut but the Naturals were in position for a win until the bullpen faltered in the 7th. Wood walked 2 in the 1st but stranded them to get out of the jam. The RockHounds scored a run off of him in the 3rd on 3 hits but Wood stranded 2. Kila Kaaihue hit a 1-out RBI double in the 4th to tie the game and scored on an error before Marc Maddox singled home another run to give Wood a 3-1 lead. Wood served up a leadoff homer in the Midland 4th to cut the lead to 1 and was pulled with 1 on and 1out in the 5th. Jarod Plummer gave up an RBI double to the first batter he faced to tie the game then stranded 2 more Midland baserunners. The Naturals responded in the 6th with 2 runs on a Juan Richardson RBI single after Brian McFall led off the inning with a double, and a Mario Lisson RBI single. Lisson was picked off at second later in the inning and likely would have scored as two singles after the play only ended up stranding 2 Nats. Paul Mildren came in with 2 on and 2 out in the 6th and ended the threat but the Nats stranded 2 in the 7th and Mildren wasn't as lucky in the 7th. A 1-out Lisson error was followed by a 2-run triple by C Anthony Recker and Recker scored on a single to make it 7-5 Midland. Kiel Thibault hit a 2-out RBI single in the 8th to cut the lead to 1 but Ovandy Suero was caught stealing in the 9th and the Naturals stranded 1 as Midland's Andrew Carignan notched his 5th save. RP Justin Dowdy got the win with 1 IP of an ER on 2 walks to move to 1-1 with a 7.43 ERA. Starter Vince Mazzaro went 6 2/3 IP and allowed 5 runs (3 ER) on 13 hits, a walk and 2 Ks to shift his ERA to 2.44. Five RockHounds had 2-hit games, led by Recker going 2-4 with his 3rd triple, 4th homer and 3 RBI (33) with 2 RS to move to .288.

NWA is 28-24 and a game up on first. The series concludes tonight. Starters: NWA's Rowdy Hardy (1-4, 5.24) vs. Midland's Andrew Bailey (1-4, 6.19). C Cody Clark was put on the 7-day DL to make room for Wood.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 10, Salem 9

C Howell 2-3, 2 BB, HR (2), 3 RBI (19), RS -- .290
CF D. Robinson 3-6, 2 RS, 2 SB (28) -- .277
SS McConnell 3-5, HBP, 2B (15), RS, SB (15), E (9) -- .259
RF Dickerson 1-5, BB, HR (5), 3 RBI (25), 2 K, RS, SB (23) -- .294
3B J. Johnson 2-4, 2 BB, 2B (7), RBI (16), K, 2 RS, SB (6) -- .333
1B Seratelli 2-5, 2B (5), HR (4), RBI (18), RS -- .168
DH Mertins 1-5, BB, RBI (21), K, RS -- .270
2B Bianchi 1-6, 2B (9), 2 K, RS -- .202
* The Rocks stranded 14.

Santiago 4 2/3 IP, 5 ER, 9 H, 2 K, HRA, WP -- 4.70 ERA
Hartsock 2 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, BB, 2 K -- W, 4-2, 2.20 ERA
de la Vara 2 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 2 K -- SV, 2, 4.31 ERA

*** A 7-run 6th was instrumental in the Rocks win to finish the set with the Avalanche with a 2-2 split. Derrick Robinson got Wilmington on the board early by singling and scoring on a double play in the 1st. Starter Mario Santiago stranded a couple in the 2nd and the Rocks stranded 2 in the 3rd but scored again in the 4th on a Jeff Howell RBI single before leaving the bases full. Santiago gave up a 2-run homer and another run in the 4th to make it 3-2 Salem and was pulled after giving up 2 runs on 3 hits in the 5th. Aaron Hartsock stranded 2 and the Rocks went off in the 6th. Josh Johnson doubled to lead off the inning before Howell clubbed a 2-run homer to left for his 2nd of the season, Anthony Seratelli followed with his 4th homer of the season (off his face on the video screen beyond the fence), and with 2 out and 2 on, Joe Dickerson slammed a 3-run homer to right center for his 5th of the season to make it 8-5 Blue Rocks. Jeff Bianchi continued the rally with a double and scored on a Johnson single before the Rocks left 'em loaded again. Hartsock gave up 2 runs in the 6th on a walk and 3 hits to close the game to 9-7 Rocks but a Kurt Mertins RBI groundout provided a little insurance in the 7th. The Rocks left the bases full for a third time that inning and Gilbert de la Vara gave up a run on 2 hits in the 8th. A triple and RBI single off de la Vara in the 9th closed the gap to 1 with no outs but he retired the next 3 batters for his 2nd save. RP Raymar Diaz took the loss with 1 2/3 IP of 4 ER on 4 hits and 2 Ks to fall to 2-3 with a 4.00 ERA. Starter Erick Abreu went 4 IP and allowed 2 ER on 5 hits and 3 walks with 2 Ks to move his ERA to 2.21. RF Jordan Parraz and C Koby Clemens both had 4-hit games for Salem (Clemens is hitting .304 but had 2 PB to make it 13 on the season) and 1B James Van Ostrand was 3-5 with his 13th double, 4th homer and 4 RBI (36) to move to .301. Two other Avalanche batters had multi-hit games.

Wilmington is 26-26 and 6 games out. A 3-gamer at the Lynchburg Hillcats (20-33, A-Adv. Bucs) starts tonight. Probable starters: Wilmington southpaw Everett Teaford (3-1, 2.54) vs. Pirates hot prospect lefty Daniel Moskos (3-3, 5.60). The Rocks are 4-2 versus Lynchburg coming off a 3-game sweep last weekend.

A - Burlington: Quad Cities 6, Bees 0

SS Moustakas 0-4, 2 K, E (12, fielding) -- .249, did I say I hope backup plans are being made for Moose?
LF Ortiz 1-4, K, CS (6), OF assist at home -- .303
CF Lough 1-4, 2 K -- .256
DH S. Hayes 1-3, 2 K -- .184, team only had 3 hits
1B C. Robinson 0-4, K -- .231
3B Martin 0-3, BB, 2 E (4) -- .278
* RF Jamar Walton had an OF assist at first.

Runion 4 IP, 6 R (3 ER), 8 H, BB, HRA, WP -- L, 0-3, 4.60 ERA
Z. Peterson 3 IP, 3 H, BB, 3 K -- 4.30 ERA
Baldwin IP, K -- 0.00 ERA, Bees debut for Burke

*** The Bees got little to no offense Thursday as the Bandits used 2 3-run innings to get the win. The Bees stranded 2 in the 1st and a Kyle Martin error in the 2nd was costly as Sam Runion served up a 3-run homer to get the Bandits on the board. Adrian Ortiz saved a run in the 3rd by cutting down a runner at the plate from left but Bandits pitchers faced only 6 over the minimum as a couple caught stealings cost the Bees. Another Martin error in the 5th helped fuel a Quad Cities rally as Runion was pulled with a run in, 2 in scoring position and 0 out. Zach Peterson gave up 2 more runs in the inning as Mike Moustakas' 12th error of the season cost a run and the Bandits had a 6-0 lead. The Bees didn't have a hit after the 5th. QC starter Mark Diapoules went 5 IP and allowed 3 hits and a walk with 5 Ks to improve to 4-0 with a 1.78 ERA and RP Nick Additon picked up a 4-inning save with 2 walks and 4 Ks for his 1st save of the season. RF Charles Kingrey was 3-4 with his 15th double and 30th RBI to improve to .310 and three other Bandits had 2-hit games. 2B Mike Folli had the 3-run homer for his 2nd of the season.

Burlington is 21-32. The series continues tonight as Dan Duffy (0-2, 9.39) takes the hill for the Bees versus QC starter Chuckie Fick (0-2, 2.70). Lefty Burke Baldwin took Ed Cegarra's roster spot and, to clear room for Clint Robinson, IF Zach Evangelho hit the DL.

Royals on the Farm 5/28 -- our first acid-out

AAA - Omaha: Acid-out

*** This is a new one, and no, it's not the LSD kind of acid. Ha ha. A hydrochloric acid spill in the area forced suspension of Wednesday's game versus Oklahoma with the RedHawks leading, 2-1, after 4 innings. The ballpark and surrounding area were evacuated. The game was supposed to resume at 4:30 p.m. today but the team site shows today's game as suspended too, so we'll see. The plans are to play out the rest of the 9-inning game from last night and then throw in a 7-inning game for the regular Thursday game. Probable starters for that one are RedHawks RH Robinson Tejeda (1-1, 2.18) vs. Omaha LH Tyler Lumsden (2-5, 6.41). LH John Foster has joined the Royals from extended ST.

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 11, Midland 6

DH Richardson 3-4, HBP, 2 RBI (28), K, RS, picked off -- .313
CF Duarte 3-6, 2 RBI (23), 3 K, 2 RS -- .266
1B Kaaihue 2-4, BB, 2 RBI (34), RS -- .275
SS Sanchez 2-3, 3 BB, RBI (16), RS -- .242
LF Suero 2-5, 2B (2), 3B (3), 2 RS -- .304
C Donachie 2-4, RBI (10), 2 K, RS -- .233
RF McFall 1-6, RBI (32), K, RS, OF assist at second -- .250
2B Maddox 0-3, BB, SF, RBI (7), K -- .231
* The Nats still stranded 10.

Pimentel 5 IP, 6 ER, 10 H, BB, K, HRA -- 5.76 ERA, something not right lately
D. Hughes 3 IP, 2 H, BB, 3 K -- W, 5-2, 2.80 ERA
Atencio IP, H, 3 K -- 4.64 ERA

*** The Naturals were down, 6-1, but came back in a big way to take down the RockHounds. Juan Richardson hit a 2-out RBI single in the 1st and NWA led, 1-0, but stranded 2 in the inning. Julio Pimentel came on to start for the Naturals and got roughed up, as Midland scored 2 runs in the 1st on 4 hits but stranded 2. Pimentel served up a 3-run homer in the 2nd and it was 5-1 Midland. Two more hits off Pimentel in the 4th pushed in another run to make it 6-1. The NWA offense awoke in the 5th as Ovandy Suero led off with a double and scored on an Adam Donachie single, Angel Sanchez hit an RBI groundout and Kila Kaaihue singled in a run off Midland RP Pat Currin after starter Henry Rodriguez let loose of 7 total wild pitches in his 4 1/3 IP outing. The Naturals surged ahead with 3 runs in the 7th on a Brian McFall RBI single to chase Currin, a Kaaihue RBI groundout and a Richardson RBI single that made it 7-6 Naturals. NWA put it away in the 9th with a 4-run rally as the Nats loaded the bases with 0 outs and Marc Maddox hit a sac fly, a Midland throwing error scored a run, and Jose Duarte hit a 2-run single to make it 11-6. Greg Atencio stranded 1 in the 9th. Currin took the loss with 1 2/3 IP of 3 ER on 5 hits with 2 Ks to fall to 4-1 with a 5.40 ERA. Rodriguez went 4 1/3 IP and allowed 4 ER on 5 hits, 2 walks and 4 Ks to move his ERA to 8.80. LF Danny Putnam was 3-5 with his 1st homer and 3 RBI (5) along with 2 RS to move to .308. Four other 'Hounds had 2-hit games.

NWA is 28-23 and still 2 games up on first. The series continues tonight. Probable starters: Blake Wood makes his AA debut versus Midland ace Vincent Mazzaro (6-2, 2.26). An accompanying roster move for Wood's promotion has yet to be announced.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 8, Salem 4

2B Bianchi 1-5, HR (2), 3 RBI (15), K, RS -- .204
LF Bigler 3-4, 3B, RBI (5), 2 RS -- .198
CF D. Robinson 2-3, BB, SF, 3B (2), 2 RBI (14), 2 RS -- .270
3B J. Johnson 1-5, 2 RBI (15), 2 K, SB (5) -- .327
DH Dickerson 2-4, BB, RS -- .297
SS McConnell 0-3, 2 BB -- .249

Cegarra 6 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, BB, K, HRA -- W, 1-0, 4.50 ERA, got a W in his first A-Adv. start
Nicoll 1 2/3 IP, ER, H, 2 BB, 2 K -- 3.16 ERA
Chambliss 1 1/3 IP, 3 H, 2 K, WP -- SV, 8, 1.07 ERA, may be another closer in making....

*** The Rocks gave Ed Cegarra some run support for his 1st level win in his 1st level outing Wednesday. Jeff Bianchi came up with 2 on and 2 out in the 1st and cranked a 3-run homer to center for his 2nd of the season and Cegarra had a 3-0 lead before he took the mound. The Rocks stranded 2 in the 2nd and Cegarra gave up a leadoff homer in the 2nd to cut his lead to 3-1. He had his first rough inning in the 3rd when Salem scored 2 runs on 2 doubles, a walk and single but stranded 2. Derrick Robinson gave Cegarra back the lead with a sac fly in the 4th and the Rocks built on it in the 6th with an RBI triple by Brett Bigler and a Robinson RBI groundout to make it 6-3. Tyler Chambliss came on with 1 on and 2 out in the 8th and gave up 2 singles to score a run before stranding 2. The Rocks got some insurance with 2 runs in the 9th on a Josh Johnson 2-run single to make it 8-4. Chambliss stranded 1 in the 9th for his 8th save. Salem SP Joel Santo took the loss with 3 1/3 IP of 4 ER on 7 hits and 2 walks with a K to fall to 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA. Four Avalanche batters had 2-hit games, including LF James Van Ostrand, who was 2-3 with a walk, his 3rd homer and 2 RBI (32) along with 2 RS to move to .293.

Wilmington is 25-26 and 7 games out. The series wraps tonight. Probable starters: Rocks right-hander Mario Santiago (3-3, 4.14) vs. Salem right-hander Erick Abreu (3-1, 1.93).

A - Burlington: Bees 4, Quad Cities 1 (11)

SS Moustakas 2-5, HR (7), RBI (24), RS, CS (2), E (11) -- .254, hopefully backup plans are being formulated on D
2B Martin 2-4 -- .303
LF Lough 1-5, HR (4), 2 RBI (18), RS -- .256
1B C. Robinson 1-5, HR (6), RBI (11), K, RS -- .241, back from DL, nice to see
CF Ortiz 1-5, K, RS, E -- .304
3B Taylor 0-4, S, K, E (11) -- .215

Caldera 7 1/3 IP, UER, 2 H, BB, 8 K -- 2.52 ERA, great start with no run support
Chavez 2 2/3 IP, 2 K, WP -- W, 4-0, 2.11 ERA
Bradley IP, BB, K -- SV, 2, 1.52 ERA

*** The Bees' pitchers did a masterful job versus the Bandits and a power surge in the 11th got Burlington the opener. Clint Robinson announced his return from the DL with a 1-out solo homer in the 2nd for his 6th of the season and the Bees were up. Starter Alex Caldera took a no-hitter through 4 2/3 innings and neither team threatened again until the 8th. With 1 on and 0 outs in the Bandits 8th, C Ryan Eigsti made a throwing error that, combined with Adrian Ortiz's 1st error of the season on missing the ball on the throw while backing up second, allowed the tying run to score. A Jason Taylor error and walk brought Chris Chavez in with 1 out and the bases full but he wriggled out of the jam to preserve the tie. He left another runner at third in the 10th and, in the 11th, David Lough smoked a 2-run homer to right for his 4th of the season and Mike Moustakas made it back-to-back jacks with his 7th career longball to put the Bees up, 4-1. Tony Bradley stranded 1 in the 11th for his 2nd save. QC RP Dylan Gonzalez took the loss with 2 IP of 3 ER on 4 hits and a K to fall to 0-2 with a 10.80 ERA. Starter Brian Broderick went 4 IP and allowed an ER on a hit to move his ERA to 3.75. The Bandits only had 2 hits in the loss but 4 Burlington errors helped.

Burlington is 21-31. The series continues tonight. Starters are set as the Bees' Sam Runion (0-2, 3.86) and QC's Mark Diapoules (3-0, 2.08).

Royals on the Farm 5/27

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 5, Oklahoma 2

2B Aviles 2-4, 2 HR (10), 2 RBI (42), 2 RS -- .338
SS Berroa 1-3, HBP, HR (9), 2 RBI (23), RS -- .302
DH Buchanan 1-4, HR (4), RBI (15), RS -- .275
CF Maier 1-4 -- .338
RF Costa 1-3, BB, 2B (15), K -- .304
LF Lubanski 0-3, BB, 3 K -- .252
1B Stodolka 1-4, K -- .237

Rosa 5 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 7 K, WP -- W, 2-1, 6.00 ERA, 91 pitches, showing promise
Musser 3 IP, H, BB, 4 K -- 3.07 ERA
Lowery IP, BB, K -- SV, 2, 1.06 ERA

*** The O-Royals dug the longball Tuesday as 4 homers led them to a 5-2 win in the opener with Oklahoma. A RedHawks error kept the inning alive in the 2nd and Angel Berroa slammed his 9th homer of the season for a 2-run shot to make it 2-0 Omaha. The Royals stranded 2 in the 4th and starter Carlos Rosa ran into trouble in the 5th as Oklahoma tied the game on 3 hits and 2 walks as Rosa walked in the tying run but left the bases full in the frame. Mike Aviles hammered his 9th homer of the year for a solo shot in the 5th to give Omaha a 3-2 lead and both teams stranded 2 in the 6th. Aviles led off the 7th with another homer off newly into the game RP Kazuo Fukumori for his 10th of the season and, 2 batters later, Brian Buchanan went yard for his 4th of the season to make it 5-2. Devon Lowery stranded 1 in the 9th for his 2nd save. RedHawks SP Eric Hurley took the loss with 6 IP of 3 runs (1 ER) on 7 hits, 2 walks and 4 Ks to fall to 2-4 with a 5.49 ERA. LF John Mayberry Jr. was 2-4 to move to .317 and KU product 3B Travis Metcalf was 2-4 with his 8th RBI to move to .238.

Omaha is 25-25 and 1/2 a game back of Iowa and Memphis. Game 2 of the set is tonight. Probable starters: RedHawks LH A.J. Murray (2-2, 4.17) vs. Royals RH Matt Wright (1-2, 5.24).

AA - NW Arkansas: off day

*** The Naturals are 27-23 and 2 games up on first. A 3-game set at the Midland RockHounds (26-24, AA A's) starts tonight. Probable starters: NWA's Julio Pimentel (2-5, 5.30) vs. Midland's Henry Rodriguez (1-5, 8.89). The Naturals clubbed Rodriguez around last week and are 2-1 versus the 'Hounds.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Salem 6, Blue Rocks 1

SS McConnell 2-3, BB, 2B (14), K, RS, CS (9) -- .253
3B Mertins 1-4, 2B (13), RBI (20) -- .273
DH D. Robinson 0-4 -- .263
RF Dickerson 0-4 -- .292
2B Bianchi 0-3, BB, K -- .204

Godin 5 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, K, HRA -- L, 2-5, 5.16 ERA
de la Vara 1 1/3 IP, H, K, pickoff -- 3.99 ERA
Swaggerty 1/3 IP, ER, BB -- 3.86 ERA
Barrera 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, K, 2 WP, E (2) -- 3.43 ERA

*** The Rocks offense staggered with only 4 hits as Salem earned at least a split of the 4-game set. Jason Godin gave up a 2-run homer in the 1st to put the Rocks down early. With 2 out in the Wilmington 3rd, Chris McConnell and Kurt Mertins hit back-to-back doubles to cut the lead to 2-1. Godin stranded 2 in the 4th and gave up a 2-out RBI single in the 6th before getting pulled for Gilbert de la Vara, who stranded 2 in the inning. Henry Barrera came in with 1 on and 1 out in the 8th and made a throwing error plus gave up an RBI single, RBI triple and run-scoring wild pitch to make it 6-1. The Rocks strung out some hits and walks but couldn't piece together a rally as a 1-2-3 9th ended it and Raymar Diaz got his 1st save for Salem. Starter Corey Bass got the win with 7 IP of an ER on 3 hits, 2 walks and 3 Ks to improve to 2-4 with a 4.50 ERA. Avalanche RF Jordan Parraz was 3-4 with his 12th double and a run scored to move to .256 and 2 other Salem batters had 2-hit games.

Wilmington is 24-26 and 8 games out. Game 3 of the set is tonight. Probable starters: newest Blue Rock SP Ed Cegarra makes his Advanced-A debut versus Salem righty Joel Santo (0-1, 3.48).

A - Burlington: off day

*** The Bees are 20-31. A 4-game set at the Quad Cities River Bandits (26-23, A Cardinals) starts tonight. Probable starters have yet to be announced on the team site. The Bees are 2-5 versus the Bandits.

Royals on the Farm 5/25 and 5/26

NOTE: Good ol' Memorial Day migraine led to the first need for a double-day post this season. Good times.

AAA - Omaha: Round Rock 4, O-Royals 2 (Sun.)

2B Aviles 2-4, RS -- .337
RF Costa 2-4, SB (6) -- .304
3B Smith 1-3, BB, HR (12), RBI (32), K, RS, E (10) -- .257
SS Berroa 0-3, SF, RBI (21), K -- .307
CF Maier 0-4, K -- .344
LF Lubanski 0-3, BB -- .256
1B Stodolka 0-3, K -- .236

Duckworth 5 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 4 BB, 4 K, HRA, WP -- L, 2-3, 4.79 ERA
Salmon 2 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 HRA -- 5.64 ERA
Musser IP, nothing -- 3.42 ERA

*** Former Royal malcontent Runelvys Hernandez held the Omaha bats in check and the Express took game 3. O-Royals starter Brandon Duckworth gave up a double and 2-run homer to start the 2nd and the Express had a 2-0 lead. Jason Smith led off the Omaha 4th with his 12th homer to cut it to 2-1 and Duckworth stranded 2 runners in the 4th. He left the bases loaded in the 5th and handed the ball to Brad Salmon in the 6th. Salmon gave up a solo homer in the 6th to make it 3-1 and another homer in the 7th to stretch it to 4-1. Runelvys retired 11 in a row after Smith's homer and was pulled after 7 strong innings. The Royals loaded the bases with no outs in the 9th and Angel Berroa hit a sac fly to close the gap to 2. Chris Lubanski hit a flyout and pinch-hitter Matt Tupman did the same to end the threat and the game as Nick Regilio picked up his 4th save. Runelvys allowed an ER on 3 hits and 2 walks with 4 Ks over 7 IP to improve to 4-2 with a 4.26 ERA. SS Edwin Maysonet and 3B Mark Saccomanno had 2-hit games for the Express.

O-Royals 4, Round Rock 1 (Mon.)

2B Aviles 1-4, BB, 2B (21), 2 RBI (40), RS -- .335
RF Costa 1-4, RBI (32), K, OF assist at third -- .303
CF Maier 1-4, BB, RBI (20), K -- .341
LF Lubanski 1-3, BB, RS -- .258

Davies 7 IP, ER, 5 H, 5 K, WP -- W, 6-2, 2.06 ERA, 4 straight quality starts, leads PCL in ERA
Fulchino 2 IP, H, BB, K -- SV, 3, 3.93 ERA

*** Kyle Davies had another good start as Omaha took the series with Round Rock. Omaha stranded 2 in the 3rd and Davies was perfect through 3 2/3 IP. With 2 on and 2 out in the 5th after an Express error, Mike Aviles doubled home 2 runs and Shane Costa singled home another run to make it 3-0 Omaha. Omaha stranded 2 again and Davies finally got nicked for a run in the 6th on 2 hits. Mitch Maier added an insurance run with an RBI single in the 9th and the Royals stranded 2 again but Jeff Fulchino stranded 1 in the 9th for his 3rd save. Express SP Josh Muecke took the loss with 5 IP of 3 unearned runs on 4 hits and 3 walks with 6 Ks to fall to 3-4 with a 2.95 ERA. 2B David Newhan was 2-4 to move to .239.

Omaha is 24-25 and 1.5 games back. A 4-game home set versus the Oklahoma RedHawks (28-23, AAA Rangers) starts tonight. Probable starters: RedHawks RH Eric Hurley (2-3, 5.93, one of Rangers' top prospects, high school teammate of Billy Butler) vs. Omaha RH Carlos Rosa (1-1, 7.20). Oklahoma's roster features Texas prospects Hurley, OF John Mayberry Jr. (.899 OPS in 26 games), C Taylor Teagarden (.942 OPS, .459 OBP in 18 games) and 1B Chris Davis (.800 OPS in only 2 games). Omaha pitchers have given up 65 homers, which is good for most in the PCL.

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 6, Frisco 5 (Sun.)

RF McFall 1-3, BB, HR (9), 3 RBI (31), 2 K, RS -- .254
DH Richardson 2-4, 2B (12), HR (5), RBI (26), K, 2 RS -- .304
C Donachie 1-4, RBI (9), K, RS, PB -- .220
LF Valentin 0-3, BB, RBI (13) -- .282
3B Lucas 2-4 -- .257
CF Duarte 0-4, BB -- .253
1B Kaaihue 1-3, BB, RS -- .267

B. Johnson 5 IP, 4 R (3 ER), 4 H, 3 BB, 8 K, HRA, 2 WP -- W, 5-2, 3.54 ERA
Hartsock 4 IP, ER, H, 5 K, HRA -- SV, 1, 2.25 ERA, NWA debut

*** A 5-run inning got the Naturals a cushion and NWA held on to beat the RoughRiders. Blake Johnson stranded 2 in scoring position in the 2nd and Brian McFall got NWA on the board with a 3-run homer in the 2nd for his 9th of the season. Adam Donachie singled home a run later in the inning and Geraldo Valentin hit an RBI forceout to make it 5-0 before the Naturals stranded 2. Johnson gave up a triple and 2-run homer to start the 4th and the Riders cut it to 5-2. Frisco pushed across 2 more runs in 5th on only 1 hit thanks to a wild pitch and passed ball along with a walk and some stolen bases. Juan Richardson hit a solo homer in the 5th for his 5th of the season to make it 6-4 Naturals and Aaron Hartsock got a rough introduction to AA with a solo homer by the first batter he faced to cut the lead back to 1 in the 6th. The Naturals stranded 2 in the 7th and 8th and Hartsock retired 12 straight after the homer to finish it. Frisco SP Tommy Hunter took the loss with 5 IP of 6 ER on 6 hits, 4 walks and 2 Ks to fall to 1-1 with a 5.25 ERA. DH Ben Harrison was 2-4 with 2 HR (9) and 3 RBI (35) to move to .351 and SS Elvis Andrus was 1-4 with his 5th double, 19th SB and 17th error and a RS to move to .268. C Max Ramirez dropped to .388 with an 0-3 night but did have his 37th RBI.

Naturals 5, Frisco 2 (Mon.)

LF Suero 3-3, S, 2 RS, 2 SB (22) -- .300
CF Duarte 2-4, BB, 2 RBI (21), K -- .258
SS Sanchez 2-3, BB, RBI (15) -- .235
2B Maddox 2-4, 2B (7), 2 RS -- .236
C Thibault 1-2, 2 BB, RBI (3), RS, SB (3) -- .125

Cortes 6 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 7 K -- W, 2-1, 2.17 ERA
Atencio 2 IP, H, BB, 4 K -- 4.87 ERA
C. Hayes IP, H, 2 K -- SV, 3, 1.76 ERA

*** Dan Cortes had a good start and picked up his 2nd win of the season as NW Arkansas took the series with Frisco. Cortes got touched up in the 3rd for an RBI triple and RBI single as Frisco took a 2-0 lead. Ovandy Suero led off the NWA 3rd with a single and stole second before scoring from third on a passed ball to cut the lead to 2-1. The Naturals stranded 2, tho, before picking up where they left off in the 4th as Kiel Thibault, Jose Duarte and Angel Sanchez hit consecutive 2-out RBI singles to make it 4-2 Naturals. The Naturals left 2 on in that frame as well and Cortes stranded 2 in the 6th before giving way to Greg Atencio in the 7th. Duarte singled home another run in the NWA 6th to make it 5-2. Atencio pitched well and submariner Chris Hayes stranded 1 in the 9th for his 3rd save. Frisco SP Michael Ballard took the loss with 5 IP of 4 ER on 9 hits, 3 walks and 2 Ks to fall to 3-3 with a 5.91 ERA. C Max Ramirez was 0-4 to fall to .379.

NWA is 27-23 and 2 games up on first. The Naturals have today off before starting a set at Midland Wednesday. C Cody Clark has rejoined NWA and Hartsock was sent back down to Wilmington. SP Blake Wood has also been called up to AA.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 12, Lynchburg 2 (Sun.)

3B J. Johnson 3-4, BB, 2 2B (6), 2 RBI (13) -- .333
SS McConnell 3-4, BB, 2B (13), 3B, RBI (13), 3 RS, SB (14) -- .253
DH Mertins 2-4, HBP, 2B (12), 3B (3), 2 RBI (19), 2 K, 3 RS -- .272
2B Bianchi 1-3, 2 BB, 3 RBI (12), K, 2 RS -- .210
C Howell 1-4, 2 RBI (15) -- .277
RF Dickerson 0-3, BB, RBI (22), K, RS -- .297
1B Vega 2-4, 2B (3), K, RS -- .226
CF D. Robinson 0-3, BB, 2 RS, 2 SB (26) -- .266

Teaford 5 2/3 IP, UER, 5 H, 2 BB, 3 K, E -- W, 3-1, 2.54 ERA
Holland 3 1/3 IP, ER, 3 H, 2 BB, K -- SV, 3, 3.98 ERA

*** Two 5-run rallies helped the Rocks roll to a sweep of the Hillcats. The game was scoreless going into the Wilmington 3rd when the Rocks loaded the bases with 2 outs and Joe Dickerson, Jeff Bianchi and Josh Johnson took consecutive run-scoring walks and Jeff Howell singled home 2 runs to make it 5-0 Rocks, although Johnson was nailed at third on the play. Everett Teaford committed an error in the 4th to help the Hillcats to a run on 2 hits but he stranded 2. The Rocks piled on more runs in the bottom of the 4th as Miguel Vega led off with a double and scored on a wild pitch. Chris McConnell followed 2 batters later with an RBI triple, Kurt Mertins ripped an RBI double, Bianchi hit an RBI single and Johnson hit an RBI double to make it 10-1 Rocks. McConnell walked and scored on a Mertins triple in the 6th and Bianchi drove in Mertins with a groundout to make it 12-1. Greg Holland allowed a run in the 7th but otherwise was solid to pick up his 3rd save. Lynchburg SP Daniel Moskos took the loss with 2 2/3 IP of 5 ER on 3 hits, 2 walks and 3 Ks to fall to 3-3 with a 5.60 ERA. DH Jamie Romak was 3-4 with his 6th double to move to .247.

Salem 4, Blue Rocks 3 (Mon.)

CF D. Robinson 2-5, 2 K -- .269
C Howell 1-3, BB, 2B (9), RBI (16) -- .279
1B Seratelli 0-3, SF, RBI (17) -- .163
SS McConnell 0-5, picked off -- .245
2B Mertins 1-3, BB, 3B (4), RS, SB (10) -- .273
RF Dickerson 1-2, BB, HBP, SB (22) -- .299
3B J. Johnson 1-3, BB, RS -- .333
* LF Jarrod Dyson had an OF assist at third.

Kniginyzky 6 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 2 K -- L, 1-5, 4.02 ERA
Nicoll IP, 2 K -- 3.03 ERA
Chambliss IP, H -- 1.13 ERA

*** A pair of 2-run innings overcame the Rocks in the series opener with the Avalanche. The Rocks stranded 2 in the 2nd but took the lead in the 3rd on a Chris McConnell double play ball that scored Jarrod Dyson. The Rocks stranded 2 that inning, too, and Matt Kniginyzky gave up 2 runs in the bottom of the inning on 2 hits and a walk, although Dyson nailed a runner at third to end the rally. Jeff Howell hit an RBI single in the 4th to tie the game and Anthony Seratelli lifted a sac fly in the 5th to make it 3-2 before the Rocks stranded 2 more. Kniginyzky stranded 2 in the 5th but gave up 2 more runs in the 6th on 3 hits to give Salem a 4-3 lead. The last 10 Rocks went down in order to end it. Bryan Hallberg notched his 1st save for Salem and RP Chad Wagler got the win with 3 1/3 IP of a hit to move to 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA. Starter Doug Arguello went 4 2/3 IP and allowed 3 ER on 6 hits and 5 walks with a K to move his ERA to 3.38 ERA. CF Travis Sweet was 2-3 to move to .250 and C Justin Tellam had 2 RBI (4) and 2 passed balls (5).

The Blue Rocks are 24-25 and 7 games out. Game 2 versus Salem is tonight. Starters: Rocks right-hander Jason Godin (2-4, 5.21) vs. Salem righty Corey Bass (1-4, 4.96). The Rocks are 4-3 versus the Avalanche.

A - Burlington: Beloit 4, Bees 3 (11/Sun.)

LF Lough 2-5, 3B (4), RBI (16) -- .262
SS Moustakas 1-4, BB, HR (5), RBI (19), RS -- .251, over .250 mark
CF Ortiz 2-5, 2 K, RS, SB (18) -- .294
C Eigsti 1-4, HR (2), RBI (12), RS -- .222
3B Taylor 1-4, BB, 2B (3), 2 K, SB (16), 2 E (10) -- .219

Paulino 8 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 5 K, 2 HRA -- 4.62 ERA
Bradley 2 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, K -- BS, 2, L, 1-3, 1.59 ERA

*** Anthony Bradley blew a save in the 9th and the Bees succumbed in 11 to continue their subservience to the Snappers. Starter Eduardo Paulino gave up solo homers in the 2nd and 3rd to spot Beloit a 2-0 lead. Ryan Eigsti hit a 2-out solo homer in the 5th for his 2nd of the season and, after an Adrian Ortiz single, David Lough hit an RBI triple to tie the game. Mike Moustakas put the Bees in front with his 5th homer in the 8th -- a solo shot to make it 3-2 Bees. Wilson Tucker led off the 9th with his 3rd triple but was caught trying to steal home to squander the chance at an insurance run. It ended up making a difference as Bradley came in and allowed a 2-out RBI single in the 9th to tie the game. The Bees stranded 2 in the 10th and Bradley gave up a walk and a 1-out RBI single in the 11th to end it. RP Charles Nolte got the win with 2 IP of a hit, walk and 5 Ks to move to 2-1 with a 2.21 ERA. Starter Daniel Berlind worked 7 good innings of 2 ER on 5 hits, 2 walks and 6 Ks to move his ERA to 3.77. LF Ozzie Lewis and CF Joe Benson had 2-hit games and Benson had his 3rd homer and 2 RBI (17) to move to .257.

Bees 12, Beloit 8 (Mon.)

CF Ortiz 4-5, 2B (5), HR (2), 3 RBI (13), 3 RS -- .306
SS Moustakas 1-5, GS (6), 4 RBI (23), K, 2 RS, E (10) -- .250, power reports look to be on nose
DH Martin 2-3, 2 BB, HR, RBI (3), 3 RS, SB -- .276
2B A. Perez 1-5, RBI (10), K, SB (9) -- .204
RF Walton 1-5, RBI (15) -- .208
3B Taylor 1-4, HBP, SB (17) -- .220

Mitchell 5 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 2 K -- W, 2-4, 4.17 ERA
Augustine 4 IP, 5 R (3 ER), 8 H, 2 BB, K -- SV, 3, 2.25 ERA

*** The Bees took a 10-1 lead and held on to salvage the series finale with Beloit. Two doubles scored a Snappers run off Matt Mitchell in the 1st but the Bees tied it in the 2nd on a 2-out RBI single by Alwin Perez. The Bees stranded 2 that inning but moved ahead with 2 runs in the 3rd as Adrian Ortiz led off with a double and scored on a passed ball and Jamar Walton singled home a run to make it 3-1. Mike Moustakas had the big blast in the 4th with a 1-out grand slam to right for his 6th homer of the season and his 1st career grand slam. Ortiz slammed a 3-run homer with 2 out in the 5th for his 2nd of the season and it was 10-1 Bees. Mitchell allowed 2 runs on 3 hits in the 5th and Joe Augustine gave up 3 runs in the 6th on 3 hits, a walk and Moustakas' 10th error to cut the lead to 10-6. Augustine allowed another run on a walk and double in the 7th but the Bees got it back in the 8th as Todd Balduf scored on a wild pitch by 7-foot-tall RP Loek Van Mil to make it 11-7. Augustine was hit for yet another run in the 8th on 2 hits to cut it to 11-8 but the Bees scored in the 9th on Kyle Martin's 1st homer of the season to pad the lead back to 4. Augustine stranded 2 in the 9th for the extended save. Beloit SP Brian Kirwan took the loss with 4 IP of 7 runs (6 ER) on 8 hits and 3 walks to fall to 3-3 with a 5.13 ERA. C Jair Fernandez and 2B Ramon Santana had 3-hit games and 3 other Snappers had 2-hit games.

Burlington is 20-31. The Bees have today off before starting a road series at Quad Cities Wednesday.

Royals on the Farm 5/24

NOTE: Seems like forever since I posted anything other than the daily reports on here. I'm sure I'll get around to weighing in on a Royals season that looks to be on the downward spiral soon, but I'm not sure if it'll be before I go on vacation for a week starting next Saturday. I'm also moving over the summer at some point, so that might also cause a couple delays in reports, but we press on.....

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 8, Round Rock 3

CF Maier 3-5, 2B (10), 2 RBI (19), 2 RS -- .355
2B Aviles 2-5, HR (8), 3 RBI (38), RS -- .333
LF Lubanski 3-4, 2B (7), 2 RBI (20), K, 2 RS -- .262
RF Costa 1-4, SF, RBI (31) -- .300
1B Stodolka 2-4, 2B (7), K, RS -- .243
SS Berroa 2-4, BB, RS -- .313, always notable when An-hell takes a walk
C Tupman 2-5, RS, 2 PB (7) -- .267

Lumsden 6 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 4 BB, 2 K, WP -- W, 2-5, 6.41 ERA, good start despite almost 2-pt. WHIP
Lowery 1 2/3 IP, BB, K -- 1.13 ERA
Giron IP, H, BB -- 6.41 ERA

*** Tyler Lumsden only had 1 inning where he faltered and Omaha earned at least a split of the 4-gamer with the Express. Mitch Maier led off the game with a double and scored on a Shane Costa sac fly and Omaha had a 1-0 lead quickly. Lumsden walked 2 in the 1st but got a double play to escape the threat and Omaha continued to get to Round Rock SP Josh Miller in the 2nd. With 2 out and 2 on, Chris Lubanski and Maier hit RBI singles and Mike Aviles clubbed a 3-run homer to left for his 8th of the season to make it 6-0 Omaha. Lumsden stranded 2 in the 4th but hit trouble in the 5th when, with a run in and 2 on and 2 out, he allowed 2 RBI singles and a walk to cut the lead to 6-3. He finally stranded 2, tho, and was pulled with 1 on and 1 out in the 7th for Devon Lowery. Omaha pounced again in the 8th as Lubanski hit a 2-out RBI double and Maier hit an RBI single to make it 8-3. Roberto Giron stranded 2 in the 9th to end it. Miller took the loss with 5 IP of 6 ER on 10 hits and a K to fall to 3-2 with a 6.47 ERA. C J.R. House was 2-3 with 2 walks, his 17th RBI and a run scored to move to .324.

Omaha is 23-24 and 1.5 games back of Memphis. Game 3 of the set is today. Starters: Omaha RH Brandon Duckworth (2-2, 4.93) vs. proud former Royal (cough*fatty*cough) Round Rock RH Runelvys Hernandez (3-2, 4.74).

AA - NW Arkansas: Frisco 4, Naturals 2

CF Duarte 2-4, BB, 2B (6), HR (3), RBI (19), K, RS -- .258
RF McFall 2-4, 2B (6), RBI (28), K -- .252
1B Kaaihue 1-4 -- .265, would say those 3 are top candidates for first position move to Omaha
SS Sanchez 1-3, BB, 2 K, SB (3), E (9) -- .226
* 3B Mario Lisson stole his 13th base and was caught stealing for the 2nd time.

Hardy 7 2/3 IP, 4 R (2 ER), 6 H, 5 K, pickoff -- L, 1-4, 5.24 ERA, among his best couple starts of season
C. Hayes 1 1/3 IP, 2 H, K -- 1.88 ERA

*** Rowdy Hardy perhaps was in one inning too long as a Frisco rally in the 8th cost NWA the game. Brian McFall doubled home a run in the 2nd and Jose Duarte hit a leadoff homer in the 3rd for his 3rd of the season to make it 2-0 Naturals. The Naturals had runners at the corners and no outs in the 6th when a Mario Lisson grounder to third turned into a bad double play with Kila Kaaihue eliminated at the plate and Juan Richardson thrown out at third to throw cold water on the rally. I say Hardy was left in an inning too long, but you can't really blame Nats manager Brian Poldberg, as Rowdy had a 3-hit shutout through 7 innings. He fell apart in the 8th, tho, as his inning went double, RBI double (maybe shoulda pulled him then?), RBI single, sac bunt, K, Angel Sanchez run-scoring throwing error, pulled for Chris Hayes. Hayes gave up an RBI single before ending the rally with the Naturals down, 4-2. The last 10 NWA batters were set down in a row as Brian Gordon went 2 innings for his 2nd save. RP Brandon Puffer went 1 1/3 IP and allowed a hit and 2 Ks to improve to 3-0 with a 4.08 ERA. Starter Matt Harrison went 5 2/3 IP and allowed 2 ER on 7 hits and 2 walks with 3 Ks to move his ERA to 3.15. CF Craig Gentry was 2-4 with his 12th double and 17th RBI besides getting picked off as he improved to .277 and LF Ben Harrison also had 2 hits to improve to .345.

NWA is 25-23 and 2 games up on first. Game 2 is late this afternoon. Starters: NWA's Blake Johnson (4-2, 3.35) vs. Frisco's Tommy Hunter (1-0, 1.29).

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 6, Lynchburg 1

DH Seratelli 2-3, SF, 2B (4), HR (3), 3 RBI (16), RS -- .167
3B Mertins 1-4, 3B (2), 2 RBI (17), K, RS -- .266
RF Dickerson 1-4, RBI (21), RS, SB (21) -- .303
1B Vega 2-4 -- .207
LF Bigler 2-4, K, SB (5) -- .167
2B Bianchi 1-4, 3B (2), K, RS -- .206
CF D. Robinson 1-4, K, RS, SB (24) -- .270
SS J. Johnson 1-4, K, RS -- .317

Santiago 7 IP, ER, 7 H, K -- W, 3-3, 4.14 ERA, solid start....where are the Ks, tho?
Barrera 2 IP, 2 H, 4 K -- 2.66 ERA

*** The Rocks set the tone with a 4-run 1st as Mario Santiago pitched well and Wilmington got in position for a sweep. Kurt Mertins drilled a 2-run triple after a Hillcat error in the 1st and Joe Dickerson hit an RBI single before Anthony Seratelli hit an RBI double to make it 4-0 Rocks. Seratelli came back up in the 3rd and hit his 3rd homer to make it 5-0. Santiago was perfect through 3 but gave up a run on 3 hits in the 4th. The Rocks left the bases full in the 4th but Jeff Bianchi led off the 5th with a triple and scored on a Seratelli sac fly to make the lead 6-1 Rocks. Henry Barrera stranded 2 in the 9th to finish it. Lynchburg SP Mike Crotta took the loss with 4 2/3 IP of 6 runs (5 ER) on 11 hits with 3 Ks to fall to 3-4 with a 5.10 ERA. 3B Jim Negrych went 2-4 with his 13th double to move to .378 and 1B Kent Sakamoto was 2-4 with his 25th RBI and 6th error to move to .257.

Wilmington is 23-24 and 6 games back. The series ends tonight. Probable starters: Rocks piggybackers lefty Everett Teaford (2-1, 2.90) and righty Greg Holland (3-3, 4.10) vs. Hillcats (and Bucs' hot prospect) Daniel Moskos (3-2, 4.89). Moskos already beat the Rocks once this season.

A - Burlington: Beloit 8, Bees 0 (7/G1)

SS Moustakas 0-3, K -- .250
3B Taylor 0-2 -- .219
CF Lough 0-3, K -- .263
* The Rocks only had 3 hits.

Duffy 4 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, BB, 7 K, WP -- L, 0-2, 9.39 ERA
C. Chavez 2 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 2 K -- 2.41 ERA

*** The Bees were shut down by Snappers starter Mike Tarsi in the loss in the first of two with Beloit Saturday. Tarsi struck out the side in the 1st and Bees starter Dan Duffy gave up an RBI single in the bottom of the 1st to spot Beloit an early lead. The Bees got hits from Alwin Perez and Antonio Jimenez in the 3rd but Perez got picked off and Jimenez was caught stealing to wipe them away. Beloit added a run in the 3rd on only one hit -- a double -- but blitzed Duffy for 3 runs in the 4th on 4 hits to make it 5-0. Chris Chavez gave up 3 more runs on 3 hits and a hit batsman in the 5th to make it 8-0. Wilson Tucker had the Bees' only other hit in the 7th but was stranded. Tarsi got the win with 6 IP of 2 hits with 8 Ks to improve to 2-6 with a 6.09 ERA. Beloit CF Ben Revere was 3-4 with his 6th double and 3 RBI (15) with a K and 2 RS to move to .422 and 2 other Snappers had 2-hit games.

Snappers 3, Bees 1 (7/G2)

SS Moustakas 1-3, RBI (18) -- .251
LF Ortiz 0-2, BB, RS -- .291
CF Lough 0-3, 2 K -- .258
3B Martin 1-3, 2B (3), K -- .231
* The Rocks only had 4 hits.

Abreu 2 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 5 BB, 3 K -- L, 1-3, 5.06 ERA
Arias 3 2/3 IP, H, 3 BB, 4 K -- 3.81 ERA

*** The Bees' offense was beyond sluggish again in game 2 as Beloit swept the twinbill. It must be the effect the Twins and their minor affiliates have on all the Royals' teams. Juan Abreu gave up a run in the 1st on 2 hits, a hit batsman and walk. He left 2 in scoring position in the 2nd and walked the bases full to start the 3rd as Beloit scored 2 runs and chased him for Henry Arias. Beloit starter Mike McCardell was perfect through 3 but gave up a walk and single to start the 4th and a Mike Moustakas RBI groundout cut it to 3-1 and chased McCardell from the game. Arias stranded 2 in the 4th and again in the 6th. Moustakas led off the 7th with a single but was thrown out trying to stretch it to a double. It cost the Bees as Kyle Martin followed with a double but that was it for Burlington. RP Steven Hirschfeld went 3 1/3 IP with 3 hits and 2 Ks to get the win and move to 4-0 with a 0.90 ERA. Revere was 2-4 with his 4th triple and K and 2 SB (14) and a RS to move to .425.

Burlington is 19-30 and tied for last place. The series continues today. Starters: Bees' Eduardo Paulino (2-2, 5.06) vs. Beloit's Daniel Berlind (3-4, 3.99).

Royals on the Farm 5/23

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 5, Round Rock 2

CF Maier 3-5, 2B (9), 2 RBI (17), K, RS -- .345
RF Costa 2-4, BB, RBI (30), SB (5) -- .301
LF Lubanski 2-4, 3B (2), HR (5), RBI (18), K, RS -- .246
SS Berroa 2-4, RS -- .308
3B Smith 2-4, RS -- .258
2B Aviles 0-5, 2 K -- .332
1B Stodolka 0-3, S, RS -- .233

Wright 6 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, BB, 3 K, 2 HRA -- W, 1-2, 5.24 ERA, decent start
Fulchino 3 IP, 2 H, K -- SV, 2, 4.18 ERA

*** A 2-inning outburst helped earn the Royals the win in the opener vs. Round Rock. Starter Matt Wright allowed a 2-out solo homer in the 1st and Omaha was shut out on 2 hits through 5 by Express SP Chad Reineke. Wright gave up another solo homer in the 5th to make it 2-0 Round Rock. Chris Lubanski broke Omaha out of its offensive funk with a leadoff homer in the 6th for his 5th of the season and Mitch Maier followed with a double and scored on a Shane Costa single to tie the game. With 2 on and 0 out in the 7th, Mike Stodolka laid down a sac bunt that scored a run after a Reineke throwing error. Maier hit a 2-run single to make it 5-2 Omaha as the O-Royals stranded 2 in the frame. Lubanski led off the 9th with a triple but three Royals struck out in the inning to squander the chance. Jeff Fulchino pitched a 1-2-3 9th to finish it for his 2nd save. Reineke took the loss with 6 1/3 IP of 5 runs (4 ER) on 8 hits with 5 Ks to fall to 2-6 with a 6.55 ERA. C Humberto Quintero was 2-3 with his 2nd double to move to .232.

Omaha is 22-24 and 2.5 games back. Game 2 is tonight. Probable starters: Omaha LH Tyler Lumsden (1-5, 6.75) vs. Express RH Josh Miller (3-1, 5.86).

AA - NW Arkansas: Midland 13, Naturals 4

DH Kaaihue 2-4, RBI (32), K -- .266
RF McFall 1-4, RBI (27), K -- .244
LF Valentin 0-3, SF, RBI (12), K -- .288
3B Lisson 2-3, HBP, 2B (9), 3B (2), RS -- .231
SS Sanchez 0-2, HBP, RS -- .224

Pimentel 2/3 IP, 7 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 2 K -- L, 2-5, 5.30 ERA, not a good start
D. Hughes 3 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 3 K -- 3.00 ERA
Atencio 3 IP, H, 4 K -- 5.40 ERA
Crist 2 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, BB, 3 K -- 5.91 ERA

*** Julio Pimentel didn't make it through the 1st as Midland ran away with the series finale. Here's Pimentel's 1st: walk, single, RBI single, K, RBI ground-rule double, K, 2-run double, RBI single, walk, pulled for Dusty Hughes. Hughes walked a batter and gave up an RBI single before getting out of the inning with 2 left on. Midland added a run in the 3rd on 2 hits and a Kiel Thibault passed ball. The Naturals loaded the bases in the 3rd and Geraldo Valentin put NWA on the board with a sac fly. Kila Kaaihue hit an RBI single and Angel Sanchez scored on a wild pitch to cut the lead to 8-3. Hughes gave up a 2-run double in the 4th to make it 10-3 Midland but Greg Atencio pitched 3 solid innings starting in the 5th. Kyle Crist came on in the 8th and gave up 3 runs on a walk and 3 hits to further put the game away. Mario Lisson doubled and scored on a Brian McFall single in the 9th but that was all the Naturals could do. Midland SP Vincent Mazzaro went 7 IP and allowed 3 ER on 5 hits, a walk and 5 Ks to move to 6-2 with a 2.26 ERA. 3B Jesus Guzman was 4-5 with 2 doubles (12) and 2 RBI (47) with 3 RS and his 4th SB to move to .355; C Anthony Recker was 3-5 with 2 doubles (13) and 4 RBI (28), 2 K and 2 RS to move to .294; and CF Nick Blasi was 3-5 with 2 RBI (9), a K and 2 RS to move to .300. Two other RockHounds had 2-hit games.

NWA is 25-22 and 2 games up on first. A 3-game home set versus the Frisco RoughRiders (32-15, AA Rangers) starts tonight. Starters: Frisco's Matt Harrison (3-1, 3.15) vs. NWA's Rowdy Hardy (1-3, 5.69). Frisco's roster features Texas prospects SS Elvis Andrus (.649 OPS, 16 E, 17/21 SB in 43 games), 1B Chris Davis (1.005 OPS, 13 HR, 14 2B in 45 games), lefty Matt Harrison (3-1, 3.15, 1.28 WHIP in 7 starts), and C Max Ramirez (1.201 OPS, 12 2B, 12 HR in 44 games), among others. Hank Blalock is also rehabbing in Frisco. RP Julio De La Cruz was put on the DL with a sore right shoulder and RP Aaron Hartsock was called up from A-Advanced Wilmington to fill his spot.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 8, Lynchburg 0 (4-hitter)

3B-SS J. Johnson 2-2, 2 BB, 2 RBI (11) -- .320, OBP: .507 through 37 games played
RF Dickerson 3-4, BB, RBI (20), 2 RS, 3 SB (20) -- .304
DH Mertins 2-5, 2 2B (11), RBI (15), K, RS -- .266
1B Seratelli 1-4, RBI (13) -- .156
CF D. Robinson 1-5, 2B (9), RBI (12), K, RS -- .271
SS McConnell 0-2, BB, HBP, RS -- .240
2B Bianchi 1-5, 3B, 2K, RS -- .204
LF Dyson 1-2, 2 BB, 2 RS, 2 SB (16) -- .230

B. Wood 6 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 6 K -- W, 3-2, 2.67 ERA, another great outing
de la Vara 3 IP, H, 4 K -- SV, 1, 4.18 ERA

*** Blake Wood shut the Hillcats down and the offense propelled the Rocks to an easy win in the opener with Lynchburg. Joe Dickerson led off the Rocks 2nd with a single, stole second and scored on a Josh Johnson single to put the Rocks out front. Jarrod Dyson walked in the 3rd, stole second and scored on a Derrick Robinson double before Kurt Mertins doubled home Robinson, Chris McConnell scored on a wild pitch and Dickerson singled in a run to make it 5-0 Rocks. The Rocks stranded 2 but Johnson singled in a run in the 5th to make it 6-0. Wood's biggest challenge was stranding 2 in the 6th and Dyson scored on a wild pitch in the 6th. Jeff Bianchi tripled and scored on an Anthony Seratelli single in the 7th and Gilbert de la Vara pitched 3 pretty easy innings to pick up his 1st save. Lynchburg SP Jared Hughes went 4 IP and allowed 5 ER on 6 hits, 2 walks and a K to fall to 1-7 with a 5.59 ERA. CF Alex Presley was 2-3 with a walk to move to .231.

Wilmington is 22-24 and 7 games back. The series continues tonight. Starters: Rocks righty Mario Santiago (2-3, 4.72) and Lynchburg's Michael Crotta (3-3, 4.60).

A - Burlington: Beloit 7, Bees 4

SS Moustakas 3-5, 2 2B (8), 3B (2), 2 RS, E (9) -- .254, XBH drought is long gone
CF Lough 1-4, HBP, HR (3), RBI (15), 2 K, 2 RS, OF assist at third -- .268
RF Tucker 1-3, SF, RBI (12), K -- .181
DH Walton 0-2, BB, SF, RBI (14), 2 K -- .214
3B Taylor 0-4, RBI (22), K -- .221
LF Ortiz 1-5, K -- .294

Runion 5 2/3 IP, 6 R (4 ER), 7 H, BB, 2 K, HRA -- L, 0-2, 3.86 ERA
Z. Peterson 2 1/3 IP, ER, 3 H, BB, K, HRA -- 4.67 ERA

*** The Snappers stayed undefeated versus the Bees as a 4-run 1st helped Beloit to the win. David Lough hit a 1-out solo homer in the 1st for his 3rd of the season and Mike Moustakas followed with a double but was stranded. Beloit torched Sam Runion off the bat in the 1st as a 1-out Antonio Jimenez error was followed by 4 hits and a walk to make it 4-1 Snappers. The Bees stranded 2 in the 2nd and Runion gave up an RBI double in the 2nd to make it a 4-run lead. Jason Taylor drove in a run with a groundout after a Moustakas double in the 3rd and a Jamar Walton sac fly cut it to 5-3 Beloit. The Bees left 2 on in the 6th and Runion gave up a 2-out solo homer in the 6th and was pulled for Zach Peterson. Peterson gave up a solo homer in the 7th but stranded 2. Moustakas continued his good game with a leadoff triple in the 8th and scored on a Wilson Tucker sac fly to cut it to 7-4 but the Bees stranded 2 in the 9th as Spencer Steedley notched his 4th save. Starter David Bromberg went 5 2/3 IP and allowed 3 ER on 6 hits with 5 Ks to improve to 3-2 with a 4.70 ERA. Three Snappers had 2 hits including top prospect CF Ben Revere, who was 2-4 with his 1st homer, 12th RBI and 2 RS to move to .408.

Burlington is 19-29. The series continues with a doubleheader today. The Bees lost game 1 in a shutout as Dan Duffy took the loss. Juan Abreu is pitching game 2.

Royals on the Farm 5/22

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 8, Iowa 3

1B Smith 1-4, 3B (5), 2 RBI (31), K, RS -- .252
2B Berroa 1-3, HBP, RBI (20), 2 RS -- .303
SS Aviles 1-4, BB, RBI (35), RS -- .340
CF Maier 1-3, 2 BB, RBI (15), RS -- .333
DH Buchanan 1-3, BB, RBI (14), K, RS -- .311
3B Matranga 1-2, S, BB, 2 RBI (8) -- .245
RF Costa 0-5, 3 K -- .297, wonder if Royals have worn down his mental game, he's not raking AAA pitching like last couple years
LF Hollins 0-4, 2 K -- .167, days have to be numbered

Rosa 7 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 2 K, HRA -- W, 1-1, 7.20 ERA, first AAA win and quality start, to boot
Colon 2 IP, H, K -- SV, 1, 5.25 ERA

*** Carlos Rosa notched a career milestone with his 1st AAA victory and the Royals salvaged a series split with the Cubs. Rosa got nice run support with a 4-run Omaha 1st as Brian Buchanan hit an RBI single and Jason Smith ripped a 2-run triple before Angel Berroa brought home a run with a fielder's choice to make it 4-0. Iowa got a run back off Rosa in the 2nd but Omaha stretched the lead back to 4 with a Dave Matranga RBI single in the 4th as Cubs SP Sean Marshall left the game with a hamstring injury. Rosa gave up a solo homer in the 5th and a run on 2 hits in the 6th but pitched well overall through 7. The Royals put it away with 3 runs in the 8th on bases-loaded walks to Matranga, Mitch Maier and Mike Aviles off RP Jim Henderson. Roman Colon pitched a perfect 9th for his 1st save. Marshall took the loss with 3 2/3 IP of 5 ER on 6 hits with 3 Ks to fall to 0-1 with a 4.02 ERA. Three Cubs had 2-hit games.

Omaha is 21-24 and 2.5 games back. A 4-game set at the Round Rock Express (19-27, AAA 'Stros) starts tonight. Probable starters: Omaha RH Matt Wright (0-2, 5.59) vs. Express RH Chad Reineke (2-5, 6.69). Omaha is 3-0 versus Round Rock this season.

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 10, Midland 7

SS Sanchez 2-4, BB, 2B (5), 3 RBI (14), K, RS -- .227
DH Kaaihue 2-4, 2B (2), 2 RBI (31) -- .257, back from injury
CF Duarte 2-5, 2B (5), RBI (18), K, 2 RS -- .253
3B Lisson 2-3, BB, 3B, K, RS, CS -- .223
LF Suero 2-4, RS, 2 SB (20), picked off -- .282
RF McFall 1-3, BB, RBI (26), 2 K, 2 RS -- .244
C Donachie 1-2, 2 BB, 2B (3), RBI (8) -- .227
2B Maddox 0-3, BB, K, RS, SB (8) -- .237

Mildren 5 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, BB, 3 K -- W, 2-3, 5.60 ERA
Plummer 2 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 4 K, 2 HRA -- 4.86 ERA
C. Hayes 1 1/3 IP, ER, 2 H, K -- SV, 2, 2.08 ERA

*** A 5-run 2nd helped give the Naturals enough steam to hold on to win another one from the RockHounds. With 2 out in the NWA 1st, Brian McFall walked and Kila Kaaihue singled as the play brought McFall home after a Midland throwing error. Starter Paul Mildren gave up 2 runs in the 2nd on 2 doubles and 2 singles before stranding 2. Mario Lisson led off the Naturals 2nd with a triple to kickstart the 5-run rally as he came home on a wild pitch, Adam Donachie hit a 1-out RBI double, McFall hit a 2-out RBI single and Kaaihue doubled home 2 runs but was thrown out at third on the play to end the inning. The Naturals added 2 runs in the 4th on a 2-run single by Angel Sanchez that was preceded by a double by Jose Duarte. Jarod Plummer came in to pitch the 6th and had a rough outing as 3 hits brought home a run in the 6th, he served up a 2-run homer in the 7th and then gave up a solo homer in the 8th. Sanchez hit an RBI double in the 6th and the game went to the bottom of the 8th at 9-6 NWA. Duarte hit an RBI forceout for a run in the 8th and Chris Hayes allowed a run in the 9th but got a handy double play and K to end the game for his 2nd save. Midland SP Henry Rodriguez took the loss with 4 IP of 8 runs (7 ER) on 8 hits and 5 walks with 4 Ks to fall to 1-5 with an 8.89 ERA. 1B Tommy Everidge was 3-4 with his 9th homer and 2 RBI (31) to move to .235 and C Anthony Recker was also 3-4 with his 11th double to move to .284. Two other Hounds had 2-hit games.

NWA is 25-21 and 2 games up on first. The Naturals go for the sweep in tonight's finale. Probable starters: NWA's Julio Pimentel (2-4, 4.19) vs. Midland's Vincent Mazzaro (5-2, 2.05).

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Potomac 10, Blue Rocks 3

DH Bianchi 1-4, 2B (8), 3 RBI (9) -- .205
CF D. Robinson 2-2, 2 SB (23) -- .273, pulled in 6th
1B Seratelli 2-4 -- .153
SS McConnell 0-2, K -- .243, pinch-hit for in 6th
RF Dickerson 1-3, BB, K, RS -- .292
3B-SS J. Johnson 0-3, BB, 3 K, picked off -- .305

Godin 3 IP, 6 ER, 7 H, BB, 2 K -- L, 2-4, 5.21 ERA
Nicoll 2 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, BB, 4 K, 2 HRA -- 3.14 ERA
Swaggerty 2 IP, 2 BB, 2 K -- 0.00 ERA, Wilmington debut
Barrera IP, BB -- 2.95 ERA
Chambliss IP, ER, 2 H, K, HRA -- 1.17 ERA

*** Jason Godin got shelled and Potomac took the rubber game of the series. The Nationals pounced for 4 runs in the 1st on 4 hits and a hit batsman and then added 2 runs in the 2nd on 3 hits and a sac fly to make it 6-0. Chris Nicoll came in for the 4th and gave up a solo homer in that inning and a 2-run shot in the 5th to make it 9-0. The Rocks stranded 2 in the 1st but didn't challenge again until the 6th when they scored 3 runs on a 1-out bases-loaded double by Jeff Bianchi that scored all 3 baserunners. Ben Swaggerty stranded 2 Nats in the 7th and Tyler Chambliss gave up a homer in the 9th to make it 10-3. Nats SP Adrian Alaniz got the win with 5 1/3 IP of 3 ER on 3 hits and 4 walks with 4 Ks to move to 6-0 with a 2.85 ERA. DH Marvin Lowrance was 2-5 with his 9th double and 3 RBI (18) to move to .254, RF Edgardo Baez was 3-4 with a walk, his 11th double and 26th RBI, and 2 other Nationals had 2-hit games.

Wilmington is 21-24 and 7.5 games out. The Rocks start a 3-game home set versus the Lynchburg Hillcats (18-28, A-Adv. Buccos) tonight. Probable starters: Rocks ace Blake Wood (2-2, 2.98) vs. Hillcats righty Jared Hughes (1-6, 5.06). The Rocks are 1-2 versus Lynchburg.

A - Burlington: Kane County 4, Bees 2

DH Taylor 2-3, BB, picked off twice -- .228
SS Moustakas 1-4, RBI (17), K -- .244, BA inching upward
LF Walton 1-3, BB, HR (3), RBI (13), K, RS, SB (4) -- .217
CF Ortiz 1-4, RS, SB (17) -- .297

Caldera 5 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 3 BB, 2 K, WP -- L, 3-3, 2.87 ERA
Arias 2 IP, 2 H, 2 K -- 4.38 ERA
C. Chavez IP, BB -- 1.08 ERA
Bradley IP, ER, 2 H -- 0.89 ERA

*** The Bees fell in the series finale with Kane County to end a homestand. Starter Alex Caldera gave up a 2-out, 2-run double in the 1st and that set the tone for the game. The Bees had 2 on with 0 out in the 2nd but Jason Taylor got picked off second and the inning proved fruitless. Caldera stranded 2 in the 4th and gave up a run in the 5th on 2 hits and a sac fly. Henry Arias stranded 2 in the 6th and the Bees got on the board with a 2-out RBI single by Mike Moustakas to cut it to 3-1. The Bees stranded 2, tho, and a Jamar Walton leadoff homer in the 7th for his 3rd of the season cut it to 3-2 Cougars. The Bees stranded 2 in the 8th and RP Tony Bradley allowed a run on 2 hits in the 9th to give Kane County some insurance. A double play ended it in the 9th as RP Nick Walters picked up his 2nd save. SP Scott Hodsdon got the win with 7 IP of 2 ER on 6 hits and a walk with 6 Ks to improve to 2-4 with a 3.80 ERA. LF Michael Lissman was 3-4 with 2 doubles (5) and a RS to move to .238 and C Jon Johnston was 2-4 with a walk, 3/4 SB (10) and 2 RS to move to .239. 2B Larry Cobb had 3 RBI.

Burlington is 19-27. A 4-day, 5-game set at the Beloit Snappers (24-22, A Twins) starts tonight. Probable starters: Bees SP Sam Runion (0-1, 1.50) vs. Beloit's David Bromberg (2-2, 4.69). The Bees are 0-3 versus the Snappers.

Royals on the Farm 5/21

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 4, Iowa 3 (12)

SS Aviles 3-6, 2 2B (20), RS -- .342, looks like he's back on track
3B Smith 1-5, HR (11), 2 RBI (29), 4 K, RS -- .252, game-saving homer and a golden sombrero
DH Buchanan 0-5, HBP, RBI (13), K -- .310
CF Maier 1-6, K, RS -- .333
RF Costa 1-4, 2 BB -- .305
1B Stodolka 1-5, 2B (6), K -- .240
LF Lubanski 0-4, BB, 2 K -- .237
*Omaha stranded 10.

Davies 6 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 8 H, 2 BB, 4 K, WP -- 2.17 ERA
Musser 2 1/3 IP, 2 H, balk -- 3.55 ERA, ejected in 10th
Salmon 3 IP, ER, H, BB, 2 K, WP -- W, 3-1, 5.40 ERA

*** An exciting 12th capped the game as three Royals were ejected in the extra-inning win. Starter Kyle Davies left the bases full in the 1st and Omaha stranded 2 in their half. A double play ball scored Iowa's first run in the 2nd and a 2-out RBI single made it 2-0 in the 3rd for the I-Cubs. Twelve Royals in a row were set down into the 5th and Omaha left a runner at third in the 7th. After a 1-out single in the Iowa 9th, catcher Matt Tupman and manager Mike Jirschele were ejected after a disputed call where the home plate ump ruled a Neal Musser pitch had gotten stuck in Tupman's chest protector and a runner at first was awarded second base. Iowa took the 2-0 lead into the bottom of the 9th and, with 1 out, Tupman's replacement, Damaso Espino, walked and Jason Smith hit a big 2-run game tying homer for his 11th of the season to tie the game. Musser himself was ejected in the 10th after giving up a single and a balk. With 1 out, the Cubs tried to score the lead run but Mike Aviles nailed 2B Eric Patterson at the plate to keep the game tied. Omaha left 2 in scoring position in the 10th and Iowa finally broke the tie with a 1-out RBI double by Patterson. Patterson was stranded at third and, with 1 out in the Omaha 12th, Mitch Maier and Aviles singled off Hector Carrasco. a wild pitch advanced them to second and third and, after an intentional pass loaded the bases, Brian Buchanan appeared to ground into a double play but a throw by ol' Royals buddy Andres Blanco on the turn hit the dirt and 2 runs scored (Aviles hustled on the play) to end the game. Carrasco took the loss with 2/3 IP of 2 runs (1 ER) on 2 hits and a walk to blow his 1st save and fall to 1-1 with an 8.22 ERA. Starter Justin Berg went 4 IP and allowed a hit with 3 Ks to drop his ERA to 8.59. Patterson was 4-6 with his 8th double and 10th RBI along with his 4th SB to move to .297. RF Josh Kroeger and 3B Casey McGehee had 2-hit games. The error was Blanco's 11th. I guess Aviles had another good defensive play in the 1st, so he had a good night all-around.

Omaha is 20-24 and 2.5 games out. The series ends tonight. Probable starters: Iowa LH Sean Marshall (0-0, 1.50) vs. O-Royals RH Carlos Rosa (0-1, 15.00). Surely Aviles is starting to force the Royals' hands in making some kind of move to bring him up. German or Grudzielanek have got to have trade value.....I guess Dayton Moore is in Omaha and saw the game Wednesday and will see Rosa pitch tonight. Aviles chose the right game to have a good all-around game. The Royals also signed lefty Horacio Ramirez to a minor-league deal, so we'll see if he turns up in Omaha.

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 13, Midland 5

CF Duarte 2-6, 2B (4), 5 RBI (17), K, OF assist at home -- .249, wish he could have 2-hit, multi-RBI, OF assist nights more consistently
1B Richardson 4-4, BB, 3B, HR (4), 4 RBI (25), 3 RS -- .301, needed double for cycle
LF Suero 2-3, 2 BB, 3 RS, 3 SB (18) -- .273
C Donachie 1-3, 2 BB, HR, 2 RBI (7), K, RS, E (3) -- .219
3B Lisson 1-4, S, RBI (15), K, RS -- .215
2B Maddox 1-5, RBI (6), RS -- .242
SS Sanchez 1-6, K, RS -- .220
RF Valentin 1-5, K, RS -- .294
* The Nats stranded 10.

Cortes 5 IP, ER, 3 H, 4 BB, 5 K -- W, 1-1, 1.96 ERA, some control problems but kept Midland off scoreboard
Crist IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB -- 5.12 ERA
De La Cruz 2 IP, ER, BB, K -- 4.28 ERA, left with back injury
Atencio IP, ER, H, BB, 2 K, 3 WP -- 6.46 ERA

*** Jose Duarte and Juan Richardson had excellent run-generating nights as Dan Cortes got all the run support he could hope for and the Naturals took the opener versus the RockHounds. Richardson hit an RBI single in the 1st and Adam Donachie hit his 1st homer of the campaign in the 2nd to make it 2-0 NWA. Cortes stranded 2 in the 3rd and gave up an RBI single off his glove in the 4th although Duarte saved a run with an OF assist at the plate. Cortes stranded 2 and, in the bottom of the 4th, Ovandy Suero hit a 1-out single, stole second and third and scored on a Donachie groundout to make it 3-1 Naturals. Richardson cranked a 2-run homer in the 5th for his 4th of the season to make it 5-1 but Kyle Crist came in for the 6th and loaded the bases before giving up a 2-run single to cut the lead back to 2. He stranded 2 and the Naturals left the bases loaded in their half. NWA broke it open with a 3-run 7th on a Marc Maddox RBI groundout and a 2-run single by Duarte to make it 8-3. The Naturals stranded 2 in scoring position but cashed in for a big rally with a 5-run 8th. Richardson hit an RBI triple, scored on a Mario Lisson single, and Duarte hit a bases-loaded 3-run double to put the game away at 13-3. Julio De La Cruz walked the leadoff man in the 9th and left with an injured back. Greg Atencio gave up a 2-out RBI double and wild pitched another run home before finishing Midland off. Midland SP Ryan Webb took the loss with 5 IP of 5 ER on 6 hits, 2 walks and 2 Ks to fall to 2-3 with a 5.21 ERA. C Anthony Recker was 2-2 with 2 walks and 3 RBI (24) to move to .271 and RF Jon Zeringue also had 2 hits.

NWA is 24-21 and 2 games up on first. Game 2 is tonight as NWA's Paul Mildren (1-3, 6.39) vies against Midland's Henry Rodriguez (1-4, 7.66).

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 2, Potomac 1

RF Dickerson 2-4, HR (4), RBI (19), K, RS -- .291, second walkoff homer of season
3B Mertins 0-4, RBI (14), K -- .267
CF D. Robinson 1-3, BB, K, SB (21) -- .264, leads league in SB
SS McConnell 1-2, 2 BB -- .247
2B Bianchi 0-3 -- .202
DH J. Johnson 0-2, BB, K -- .315
* LF Brett Bigler had an OF assist at second.

Kniginyzky 6 IP, ER, 4 H, BB, 5 K -- 3.73 ERA, good start
de la Vara 1 2/3 IP, BB -- 4.68 ERA
Hartsock 1 1/3 IP, H, BB, 2 K -- W, 3-2, 1.78 ERA

*** Joe Dickerson ended the game with a walkoff homer in the 9th as the Rocks evened the series with Potomac. The first two Rocks batters reached but a Dickerson double play ball cut the rally short in the 1st. The game was a pitcher's duel into the 5th when Kurt Mertins hit an inning-ending double play ball but a run scored on the play before Derrick Robinson was caught on the basepaths to end the rally. A similar situation happened in the Potomac 6th as a run scored on a 2-out single and Brett Bigler caught a runner at second to end the rally. Aaron Hartsock stranded 2 in the 8th and Dickerson led off the 9th with his 4th homer on a 2-2 pitch to end it. RP Yunior Novoa took the loss with 2 IP of an ER on a hit and 3 Ks to drop to 2-1 with a 1.44 ERA. Starter Craig Stammen went 4 1/3 IP of an UER on 3 hits, 4 walks and 2 Ks to move his ERA to 1.98. 1B Chris Marrero was 3-4 to move to .250. The Nationals only had 5 hits.

The Rocks moved to 21-23. The series finished with a matinee today and Potomac smoked Jason Godin to win, 10-3. Two steals moved the Rocks' season total to 100 Wednesday.

A - Burlington: Bees 4, Kane County 0 (2-hitter)

LF Walton 2-4, HR (2), 2 RBI (12), RS -- .214
SS Moustakas 1-4, RS -- .244
3B Taylor 1-2, BB, SF, 3B (3), RBI (21), K, SB (15) -- .218
CF Ortiz 1-4, HR, RBI (10), K, RS -- .298

Mitchell 6 IP, H, BB, 3 K -- W, 1-4, 4.00 ERA, that's the way to get the 1st W of the season
Augustine 3 IP, H, K -- SV, 2, 1.80 ERA

*** Matt Mitchell and Joe Augustine shut down the Cougars for a 2-hit shutout as the Bees earned a series win. Adrian Ortiz led off the Bees 1st with his 1st homer of the season and Burlington had a 1-0 lead. The Bees stranded 2 in the 2nd but Jason Taylor hit a sac fly in the 3rd and Jamar Walton cracked a 2-run homer for his 2nd of the season to make it 4-0. Mitchell and Augustine retired 14 Cougars in a row at one point and, after an 8th inning leadoff double, Augustine retired the next 6 to end it. Cougars SP Scott Moore took the loss with 5 IP of 4 ER on 7 hits, a walk and 4 Ks to fall to 1-3 with a 4.62 ERA.

The Bees improved to 19-26. The series ended with a matinee today as the Cougars salvaged the final game and Alex Caldera took the loss.

Royals on the Farm 5/20

AAA - Omaha: Iowa 8, O-Royals 2

RF Costa 2-4, RBI (29) -- .307
CF Maier 2-4, 2B (8), K -- .343
1B Stodolka 1-4, HR (2), RBI (10), K, RS -- .242
SS Aviles 1-3, BB, RS -- .337
C Tupman 1-3, BB, PB (4) -- .280
LF Lubanski 0-4, K -- .245

Duckworth 6 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 3 K, 3 HRA, WP -- L, 2-2, 4.93 ERA
Lowery 2 IP, 5 R (1 ER), 3 H, 3 BB, K, E -- 1.26 ERA, worst AAA outing to date
Giron IP, K -- 6.66 ERA, that's a mopup ERA

*** Both teams had 9 hits but a 5-run 7th helped Iowa put the game away. Felix Pie hit a solo homer off Brandon Duckworth in the 1st to make it 1-0 I-Cubs. Both teams stranded 2 in the 1st and Duckworth gave up a 2-out solo homer in the 2nd. Shane Costa singled home a run in the 3rd to cut it to 2-1 but Duckworth gave up a 3rd solo homer in the 6th to make it 3-1. Devon Lowery came on for the 7th and his inning went double, RBI single, sac bunt with no out because of Lowery error, SB, groundout, IBB, sac fly, SB, IBB, 3-run double, popout. The damage was done at 8-1. Mike Stodolka hit his 2nd homer of the season for a solo shot in the bottom of the 7th and the Royals managed a couple more doubles but no more runs to fall, 8-2. Iowa SP Randy Wells improved to 3-1 with a 3.08 ERA after going 5 IP of an ER on 5 hits and 2 walks with 5 Ks. Three Cubs had 2-hit games, including 3B Casey McGehee, who was 2-4 with his 9th double, 5th homer and 4 RBI (25) to improve to .241.

Omaha is 19-24 and 2 1/2 games out. Game 3 is tonight. Probable starters: Iowa RH Justin Berg (0-2, 11.81) vs. Omaha RH Kyle Davies (5-2, 2.09). With Tupman back in the fold, C Cody Clark was sent back to AA.

AA - NW Arkansas: off day

*** The Naturals start a 3-game home set with the Midland RockHounds (23-21, AA Athletics) tonight. Probable starters: NWA's Dan Cortes (0-1, 2.00) vs. Midland's Ryan Webb (2-2, 4.78). Midland's roster features A's prospects righties James Simmons (2-2, 2.93, 1.13 WHIP in 8 starts, currently on DL) and Henry Rodriguez (1-4, 7.66, 2.42 WHIP in 6 starts (yikes)), OF Aaron Cunningham (.833 OPS in 17 games) and SS Cliff Pennington (.684 OPS, 8 E, 18/19 SB in 43 games), among others.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Potomac 5, Blue Rocks 2

DH Mertins 1-4, HR, RBI (13), 2 K, 2 RS -- .276
CF D. Robinson 0-3, BB, K, 2 SB (20) -- .263
SS McConnell 0-2, 2 BB, SB (13) -- .243
2B Bianchi 1-4, 2B (7), 3 K -- .210
3B J. Johnson 1-3, BB, 2 K -- .322

Holland 7 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 5 K, HRA, WP -- L, 3-3, 4.10 ERA
Teaford 2 IP, ER, 2 H, 3 K, HRA -- 2.90 ERA

*** Missouri State product SP Ross Detwiler combined with 4 other Nationals pitchers to hold the Rocks to 4 hits in the first of a 3-game series. The first 2 Rocks batters walked and Derrick Robinson and Chris McConnell pulled a double steal to put 2 in scoring position with 1 out but Wilmington blew the scoring chance. Greg Holland got touched up in the 3rd for 3 runs on 2 doubles, a hit batsman, a wild pitch and walk as Potomac surged ahead. A solo homer off Holland in the 5th made it 4-0 Nats. Kurt Mertins finally got the Rocks on the board with his 1st homer of the season in the 6th but Everett Teaford took over for Holland in the 8th and served up a solo homer of his own to put the lead back at 4. Mertins struck out for the third out in the 8th but made it to first on a wild pitch, advanced to third on a Jeff Bianchi double and scored on a passed ball to cut it to 5-2. The Rocks threatened no more therafter as RP Adam Carr notched his 4th save for Potomac. Detwiler allowed a hit and 4 walks with 9 Ks over 4 IP to drop his ERA to 4.12. RP Jack Spradlin pitched a scoreless inning to get the win and move to 3-0 with a 3.79 ERA. Nats top prospect 1B Chris Marrero was 2-3 with a walk, his 6th homer and 19th RBI with 2 RS to move to .236 and LF Marvin Lowrance had 2 RBI.

Wilmington is 20-23 and 7 1/2 games out. Game 2 of the set is tonight. Probable starters: Rocks right-hander Matt Kniginyzky (1-4, 4.11) vs. Potomac's Craig Stammen (0-1, 2.25). The Rocks only have 11 total HR this season, which is worst in the Carolina League. That does include, however, a homer in each of the last 3 games.

A - Burlington: Bees 4, Kane County 2 (7/G1)

SS Moustakas 2-3, 2B (6), RBI (15) -- .247
RF Tucker 1-3, 3B (2), RBI (9), RS -- .150, signs of life lately
1B Jimenez 0-2, RBI (9) -- .159
CF Lough 1-3, 3B (3), RBI (14), K, RS -- .268
LF Ortiz 1-3, RS -- .300
3B Taylor 0-3, 2 K -- .212
2B Martin 0-3, 2 K -- .250

Paulino 6 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 7 K, HRA -- W, 2-2, 5.06 ERA, solid start
Bradley IP, H -- SV, 1, 0.47 ERA

*** Eduardo Paulino kept the Cougars in check and the Bees offense did enough to take the first of two with Kane County Tuesday. Alwin Perez led off the Bees 2nd with a double and scored on a Wilson Tucker triple and an Antonio Jimenez fielder's choice brought Tucker home to make it 2-0 Bees. Three singles off Paulino in the 3rd scored a run to cut the lead in half but he stranded 2 that inning. He served up a solo homer in the 4th to tie the game but the Bees regained the lead in the 5th on a 2-out Adrian Ortiz single, a David Lough RBI triple and Mike Moustakas RBI double to make it 4-2. Anthony Bradley pitched the 7th for his 1st save for the Bees in the shortened game. Cougars SP Jamie Richmond went the distance but took the loss with 6 IP of 4 ER on 6 hits and 5 Ks to drop to 4-3 with a 3.42 ERA. 2B Larry Cobb and SS Matt Ray had 2-hit games for the Cougars.

Bees 5, Kane County 3 (7/G2)

RF Tucker 3-3, 2B (6), HR (2), 2 RBI (11), SB (2), 2 RS -- .172, nice day all in all
3B Taylor 1-3, HR (6), 2 RBI (20), RS, E (8) -- .214
DH Moustakas 0-2, SF, RBI (16), 2 K -- .244
CF Ortiz 1-4, 2 RS, SB (16), OF assist at home -- .299
SS Martin 1-2, BB -- .286

Cegarra 6 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, BB, 4 K, HRA -- W, 2-4, 2.67 ERA
C. Chavez IP, H -- SV, 2, 1.15 ERA

*** The Bees picked up where they left off in game 1 and got a 3-run 1st to propel them to sweep the twinbill from Kane County. Mike Moustakas started the scoring with a sac fly in the 1st and Jason Taylor followed with a 2-run homer for his 6th of the season to make it 3-0 Bees. The Bees stranded 2 and SP Ed Cegarra served up a 2-run homer in the 2nd to cut the lead to 1. Wilson Tucker doubled home a run in the bottom of the inning to make it 4-2. CF Adrian Ortiz cut down a runner at the plate in the 5th but Cegarra did allow 1 run in the inning but stranded 2 to keep the lead. Tucker got the run back with a solo homer (his 2nd) to lead off the bottom of the 5th and keep the lead at 2. The Bees stranded 2 in the 6th but Chris Chavez pitched a solid 7th for his 2nd save. Cougars SP Brent Lysander took the loss with 2 IP of 4 runs (3 ER) on 5 hits, a walk and 3 Ks to fall to 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA. 3B Carlos Arrieche was 2-3 to move to .258 and LF Mike Lissman was 2-3 with his 2nd homer and 2 RBI (12) to move to .221.

Burlington is 18-26. The series continues tonight as Bees SP Matt Mitchell (0-4, 4.80) is set to take on Cougars SP Scott Moore (1-2, 3.98).

Royals on the Farm 5/19

AAA - Omaha: Iowa 5, O-Royals 4

2B Berroa 2-4, HR (8), 2 RBI (19), K, 2 RS, CS (2) -- .303
LF Lubanski 1-3, RBI (17), K -- .255
CF Maier 0-4 -- .337
SS Aviles 0-4, K, E (6) -- .337, in 3-23 slump
RF Costa 1-4, 2B (14), K -- .302
1B Stodolka 1-4, K -- .242

Lumsden 7 IP, 5 ER, 9 H, 2 BB, 2 K, 2 HRA, E, pickoff -- L, 1-5, 6.75 ERA
Giron 2 IP, BB, K -- 6.93 ERA

*** Tyler Lumsden had yet another hard night and the O-Royals couldn't get back even in the opener versus the I-Cubs. Lumsden gave up a leadoff triple in the 1st and a groundout made it 1-0 Iowa. With 2 on and 0 out in the Omaha 2nd, Angel Berroa and Chris Lubanski singled home runs and a missed catch on a pickoff attempt scored Berroa to make it 3-1 Omaha. The first 2 batters singled in the Iowa 3rd before Lumsden teed up a 3-run homer to make it 4-3 Cubs. Lumsden then loaded the bases before escaping the inning with a double play. Iowa stranded 2 in the 4th and Lumsden gave up another solo homer in the 5th to make it 5-3. Berroa led off the 7th with his 8th homer of the season to cut the lead to 1 but Omaha got no more hits as Neal Cotts closed it out for his 1st save. Starter Kevin Hart went 5 IP and allowed 3 runs (2 ER) on 5 hits and 2 walks with 6 Ks to improve to 1-0 with a 2.87 ERA. Three Cubs had 2-hit games, including RF Andres Torres, who was 2-5 with his 2nd triple, 4th homer and 3 RBI (15) with 2 RS to move to .328, and LF Matt Murton, who was 2-3 with a walk, his 1st homer and 8th RBI, although he was the victim of a Lumsden pickoff, to move to .368.

Omaha dropped to 19-23. Game 2 was tonight and Iowa took another game from Omaha as Brandon Duckworth took the loss. Matt Tupman is back with Omaha after filling in for John Buck for a couple games and also picking up his first MLB hit.

AA - NW Arkansas: Arkansas 2, Naturals 1 (13)

3B Lisson 3-5, RBI (14), 2 SB (12), E (5) -- .214
CF-LF Suero 2-6, CS (6) -- .260
2B Maddox 2-5, SB (7) -- .244
SS Sanchez 0-5, K -- .222
LF-1B Valentin 0-5, K -- .297

B. Johnson 7 IP, ER, 4 H, 4 K, HRA, WP -- 3.35 ERA, good start
Plummer 3 IP, 2 K -- 3.21 ERA
C. Hayes 2 2/3 IP, ER, 2 H, 3 BB, K -- L, 1-1, 1.54 ERA

*** A 2-out rally in the 9th kept the Naturals alive but that was all NWA could muster as the Travelers salvaged the series finale. Nobody had reached base until Blake Johnson served up a solo homer in the Arkansas 2nd. The Naturals finally got a runner in the 4th but made nothing of it. Johnson stranded 2 in the 5th and the Naturals did the same in the 6th. NWA left 2 more on in the 7th and the Travs took a 1-0 lead into the 9th. RP Stephen Marek gave up a 2-out double to Juan Richardson and Mario Lisson came through with an RBI single to tie the game. He advanced to third on a steal and defensive indifference but Brian McFall struck out to end the rally. Marc Maddox singled and stole second in the 10th and tried to score on an Ovandy Suero single but was nailed at the plate. Chris Hayes gave up 2 singles to start the bottom of the 13th and a sac fly ended it. RP Kevin Jepsen earned the win with 3 IP of a walk and K to move to 2-1 with a 1.85 ERA. Starter Robert (I called him Brett yesterday for some reason) Mosebach went 8 IP and allowed 4 hits, a walk and 6 Ks to move his ERA to 3.70. 2B Nate Sutton was 2-5 with 1 RS to move to .275.

NW Arkansas is 23-21 and 2 games up on first. The Naturals had today off before starting a series versus the Midland Rockhounds.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: off day

*** Wilmington started a 3-game home set versus the Potomac Nationals (27-15, A-Adv. Nats) today and Potomac took game 1 as Greg Holland took the loss. The Rocks are 1-2 versus Potomac thus far.

A - Burlington: Kane County 7, Bees 3 (rain/9)

DH Martin 2-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI -- .333
CF Lough 2-4, BB, 2B (6), RBI (13), SB (4) -- .267
SS Moustakas 1-5, K -- .238
LF Ortiz 2-5, 2 K, picked off -- .299
3B Taylor 1-3, BB, 2 K -- .216
RF Walton 1-4, 2B (5), 2 K, 2 RS -- .200
* The Bees stranded 12.

Duffy 3 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, BB, 4 K -- L, 0-1, 7.36 ERA
Abreu 3 1/3 IP, 4 R (1 ER), 3 H, 3 BB, 6 K, E -- 4.55 ERA
Arias 1 1/3 IP, H, 2 BB, 2 K -- 4.76 ERA

*** The Cougars ran up the score in the middle innings and the game was ended by rain with the Bees in more trouble in the 9th. Starter Dan Duffy made his Midwest League debut and stranded 2 Kane County baserunners in the 1st. Adrian Ortiz was picked off to help thwart a could-be rally in the Bees 1st and Kyle Martin got his first A-ball RBI with a double in the 2nd. The Bees stranded 2 in both the 2nd and 3rd and Duffy finally hit trouble with 1 out in the 4th as a walk and 3 hits brought in 2 runs and knocked Duffy out of the game. Juan Abreu walked in a run to make it 3-1 Cougs before he left the bases full. The Bees left 2 in scoring position in the 4th and Abreu gave up 2 runs in the bottom of the inning on a double augmented by an error by C Nick Doscher. The Cougars scored 2 more in the 6th on an Abreu error and Doscher passed ball to make it 7-1 KC. Martin hit another RBI double in the 7th to cut it to 7-2 and David Lough hit a 2-out RBI double in the 8th to cut the lead to 4. RP Henry Arias had the bases loaded with Cougars and 1 out in the 9th when the rain ended it. Starter Craig Italiano got the win with 5 IP of an UER on 5 hits, 5 walks and 5 Ks to improve to 6-0 with a 0.80 ERA. C Jon Johnston was 3-4 with his 7th passed ball and a RS to move to .245 and RF Todd Johnson was 2-4 with a walk, his 8th double and 2 RBI (22) with 2 RS to move to .267. 1B Greg Dowling also had 2 hits.

Burlington moved to 16-26. The series with the Cougars continued with a doubleheader today and the Bees swept the twinbill. More on that tomorrow. Anyway, RP Yensi Lopez was released to make room on the roster for one of Sam Runion or Dan Duffy and RP Ben Swaggerty was promoted to Wilmington.

Royals on the Farm 5/18

AAA - Omaha: Albuquerque 11, O-Royals 2 (7/G1)

2B Berroa 2-3, HR (7), RBI (17), RS -- .299
C Clark 2-3, 3B, HR, RBI, RS -- .667, making best of his short shot
LF Lubanski 1-3 -- .252
SS Aviles 1-3, K -- .341
CF Maier 0-2, BB -- .352, hit streak snapped
RF Costa 0-3 -- .305
1B Stodolka 0-3 -- .241

Wright 4 IP, 7 ER, 11 H, BB, 2 K, HRA -- L, 0-2, 5.59 ERA, something's not right with Wright this season
Salmon 2 IP, 4 R (2 ER), 4 H, 4 BB, HRA -- 5.68 ERA

*** Seven runs in the 5th and 6th got the Isotopes the opener of a Sunday twinbill. Angel Berroa cranked his 7th homer in the 2nd to make it 1-0 O-Royals. A single, double and 3-run homer off Matt Wright started the Albuquerque 2nd but Cody Clark cut the lead back to 1 with a solo homer for his 1st of the season in his 1st AB in Omaha. Albuquerque scored a run off Wright in the 4th on 3 hits. Clark tripled with 1 out in the 5th but was caught too far off base on a comebacker to Albuquerque SP Bob Keppel and was nailed. The Isotopes put it away with 5 runs in the 5th on 2 hits and a walk off Wright and a grand slam served up by Brad Salmon to CF George Lombard, who had a big game. Jason Smith's 9th error of the season and 4 walks by Salmon helped lead to 2 Isotopes runs in the 6th to make it 11-2 but Salmon left the bases full. Omaha stranded 1 in the 7th in the shortened doubleheader game. Keppel went 5 IP and allowed 2 ER on 5 hits, a walk and 2 Ks to improve to 6-2 with a 6.15 ERA. Lombard was 4-4 with the GS (2) and 6 RBI (10) to beat the O-Royals single-handedly and improve to .237 and C Paul Hoover was 3-4 with his 3rd double, 4th HR and 3 RBI (13) with 4 RS to move to .329. Three other 'Topes had 2-hit games.

O-Royals 10, Albuquerque 4 (7/G2)

1B Smith 3-4, 2 3B (4), HR (10), 4 RBI (27), RS -- .259
SS Aviles 2-4, GS (7), 4 RBI (34), 2 K, RS -- .345
DH Buchanan 3-4, 2B (3), HR (3), RBI (12), K, 3 RS -- .362
RF Costa 1-4, HR (9), RBI (28), 2 K, 2 RS -- .303
CF Maier 1-3, BB, RS -- .351

Fulchino 5 IP, 4 ER, 8 H, 9 K, HRA, 2 WP, balk -- W, 2-1, 4.60 ERA
Musser 2 IP, 2 H, BB, 3 K -- 3.91 ERA

*** The shoe was on the other foot in game 2 as the O-Royals got a grand slam from Mike Aviles en route to an easy win. Jason Smith hit a 2-out, 2-run triple in the 1st to get Omaha started but starter Jeff Fulchino served up a solo homer in the bottom of the 1st to cut the early lead in half. Omaha loaded the bases with 1 out in the 2nd and Aviles stepped up and slammed a longball to left for his 7th of the season to make it 6-1. Two batters later, Brian Buchanan went deep for his 3rd homer to make it 7-1. Smith followed with a triple to chase Isotopes SP Dallas Trahern. Shane Costa hit his 9th homer with 2 out and 0 on in the 4th and, after Buchanan doubled, Smith continued his big game with a 2-run homer for his 10th of the season. Fulchino balked a run home in the 4th and gave up another run on a single and double. Three more hits off Fulchino in the 5th brought home another run to make it 10-4. Neal Musser left the bases loaded in the 7th to finish it. Trahern took the loss with 1 2/3 IP of 7 ER on 7 hits, a walk and K to drop to 0-4 with a 12.00 ERA. DH Jason Wood was 3-4 with a RS to move to .347 and 1B John Gall was 2-4 with his 6th homer, 2 RBI (33) and his 5th SB to improve to .338. SS Chris Barnwell also had 2 hits for Albuquerque.

Omaha moved to 19-22 with the split. A 4-game home set vs. the Iowa Cubs (20-22, AAA you know who) starts tonight. Starters for game 1 were I-Cubs RH Kevin Hart (0-0, 2.53) and Omaha LH Tyler Lumsden (1-4, 6.82). Iowa's roster features Cubs prospects CF Felix Pie (.143 OPS in 12 ABs), 2B Eric Patterson (.723 OPS in 25 games), and former Royal SS Andres Blanco (.704 OPS, 9 E in 36 games).

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 3, Arkansas 2 (10)

3B Lucas 3-4, RS, SB (5), CS (3) -- .273
DH Valentin 2-5, 3B -- .308
LF Suero 1-5, RBI (9) -- .256
RF McFall 0-2, BB, SF, RBI (25), K -- .242
C Thibault 0-4, RBI (2), K, SB -- .136
CF Duarte 1-5 -- .247
2B Maddox 0-4 -- .237

Hardy 6 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 3 K, pickoff -- 5.69 ERA, decent start
D. Hughes 4 IP, 3 H, 7 K -- W, 4-2, 2.56 ERA

*** The Naturals blew 1 lead but made a second one stand in the 10th to finally beat the Travelers on the road. Starter Rowdy Hardy hit 2 batters but stranded them in the 1st and hit a third in the 2nd in allowing a run. Hardy stranded 2 in the 3rd and a Geraldo Valentin triple went for nothing in the 4th as Arkansas held its lead. Ed Lucas led off the 5th with a single, stole second, advanced on a bunt and scored on a Kiel Thibault fielder's choice to tie the game. A Brian McFall sac fly in the 6th gave NWA a 2-1 lead but Hardy allowed a 2-out RBI single to tie it in the bottom of the inning. The game went to the 10th and NWA put 2 on with 2 outs before Ovandy Suero hit an infield single off the pitcher's glove to bring home Irving Falu and make it 3-2 Nats. The Nats stranded 2 but it didn't matter as Dusty Hughes pitched a perfect 10th for the win. RP Kevin Jepsen took the loss with an IP of an ER on 4 hits and a K to fall to 1-1 with a 2.11 ERA. Starter Anthony Ortega went 9 IP and allowed 2 runs (1 ER) on 5 hits, a walk and 3 Ks to move his ERA to 3.81. Three Travs had 2-hit games, including former Royal farmhand CF Adam Greenberg, who was 2-5 with his 4th double to move to .343.

NWA is 23-20 and 3 games up on first. The series is concluding tonight. Starters were Blake Johnson and Arkansas' Brett Mosebach, but the game is in extras.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 8, Myrtle Beach 6

2B Bianchi 3-5, 2 2B (6), 2 RBI (6), K, RS -- .208, over Mendoza line is big step
CF D. Robinson 2-5, 2B (8), RBI (11), 3 K, RS -- .268
LF Bigler 1-3, BB, 2B (2), RBI (4), K, 2 RS, SB (3) -- .159
DH W. Perez 1-4, HR, RBI (5), K, 2 RS -- .196
RF-LF Dyson 1-4, RBI (8) -- .239
1B Seratelli 0-3, SF, RBI (12), K -- .137
SS McConnell 0-4, BB, K, RS, E (8) -- .247
3B J. Johnson 1-3, 2 BB, RS -- .322, OBP watch now at awesome .504

Santiago 4 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 4 H, 2 BB, 6 K -- 4.72 ERA
Nicoll 2 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 2 K, 2 HRA -- W, 1-1, 2.36 ERA
de la Vara IP, ER, 2 H, K -- 5.01 ERA
Chambliss 2 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, WP -- SV, 7, 0.82 ERA

*** The Rocks torched Pelicans ace Deunte Heath to take 2 of 3 from Myrtle Beach. Starter Mario Santiago stranded 2 in the 1st and, after Heath had hurled 2 perfect innings, the Rocks got to him in the 3rd with 2 runs on back-to-back RBI doubles by Brett Bigler and Derrick Robinson. Jarrod Dyson hit a 2-out RBI single in the 4th but was thrown out trying to stretch it to a double. Santiago finally gave up 3 runs to tie it in the 4th on 3 hits and a Chris McConnell error. Wilver Perez put Wilmington back on top with his 1st homer to lead off the 5th and the Rocks added 4 more runs in the inning on a run-scoring wild pitch, a 2-run Jeff Bianchi ground-rule double off RP Ferdin Tejeda, and an Anthony Seratelli sac fly. Chris Nicoll came in with a 8-3 lead to start the bottom of the 5th and gave up 2 solo homers in the inning. Wilmington stranded 2 in the 7th and Gilbert de la Vara came in to pitch the bottom of the frame and allowed a run on 2 hits to cut it to 8-6. Tyler Chambliss tiptoed around danger in the 8th by leaving the bases full and, after the Rocks stranded 2 in the 9th, Chambliss got a double play to leave a runner at third in the 9th for his 7th save. Heath took the loss with 4 IP of 8 runs (7 ER) on 6 hits, 3 walks and 4 Ks to fall to 5-2 with a 2.89 ERA. Two Pelicans had 2-hit games, including SS Brandon Hicks, who was 2-3 with 2 walks, 2 doubles (11), his 4th SB and a run scored to move to .255.

Wilmington is 20-22 and 6 1/2 games out after taking the series from the Pelicans. They have today off before starting a 3-game home set vs. Potomac Tuesday.

A - Burlington: Quad Cities 3, Bees 1

1B S. Hayes 2-3, BB, RBI (6) -- .216
SS Moustakas 0-3, BB, K -- .240
CF Ortiz 0-4, K, CS (5) -- .297
DH Taylor 1-4, K -- .214
3B Martin 0-4, E -- .200

Runion 6 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 4 H, BB -- L, 0-1, 1.50 ERA
Swaggerty IP, K -- 3.93 ERA
Z. Peterson 2 IP, ER, 3 H, BB, 3 K, HRA -- 4.73 ERA

*** The Bees offense sputtered as the Bandits took the rubber match with Burlington. Sam Runion had a decent Burlington debut as he held the Bandits hitless through 3. In the 5th, Quad Cities got to him as a bases-loaded double drove in 2 runs to make it 2-0. The Bees stranded 2 in the 7th and Zach Peterson gave up a leadoff homer in the 8th to make it 3-0. He stranded 2 but the Bees couldn't put a rally together until the 9th. Shawn Hayes hit a 1-out RBI single and the Bees had 2 on but that was all they could get as RP Cardoza Tucker notched his 4th save. Starter Eduardo Sanchez went 5 IP of 2 hits, a walk and 2 Ks to improve to 4-1 with a 4.22 ERA. CF Tommy Pham was 2-4 with his 1st double, 5th homer and 3 RBI (10) to move to .333. He also made a running catch on a deep fly by Kyle Martin to end it in the 9th.

Burlington is 16-25. A 4-day, 5-game home set versus the Kane County Cougars (26-14, A A's) started tonight. Starters were Cougars ace Craig Italiano and Bees SP Dan Duffy. The Bees are 0-3 versus the Cougs this season.

Royals on the Farm 5/17

AAA - Omaha: Albuquerque 11, O-Royals 4

3B Smith 3-4, HR (9), 2 RBI (23), K, RS, E (8) -- .250
DH Buchanan 3-4, 2 RS -- .353
1B Stodolka 1-4, RBI (9), K -- .250
RF Costa 1-4, HR (8), RBI (27), RS -- .311
CF Maier 1-4, 2 K -- .360, 19-game hit streak
2B Aviles 0-4 -- .341, 3rd straight 0-fer

Rosa 3 IP, 5 ER, 8 H, 4 K -- L, 0-1, 15.00 ERA, rough 1st, 70 pitches overall
Colon 3 IP, 6 ER, 9 H, BB -- 6.30 ERA, poured gas on fire
Lowery 2 IP, 3 H, 3 K -- 0.73 ERA

*** Carlos Rosa got a baptism by fire into AAA pitching as 5 1st inning runs fueled an Isotopes rout. With 1 out in the 1st, Rosa gave up an RBI double, RBI single, double, 2-run double and RBI single before striking his way out of the inning. Mike Stodolka got an RBI groundout in the 2nd and Rosa stranded 2 in the 3rd. He was pulled for Roman Colon in the 4th and an RBI single made it 6-1 Albuquerque. The Isotopes put it in the bag with a 5-run 6th on 5 hits (inc. 2 doubles), a hit batsman and 2 sac flies off Colon. Omaha stranded 2 in the 7th as they just couldn't get to Isotopes SP Chris Seddon. In the 9th, Shane Costa led off with his 8th homer and Jason Smith hit a 2-run homer for his 9th of the season but it was much too little, too late. Seddon got the win with 7 IP of an ER on 5 hits and 4 Ks to improve to 3-2 with a 4.00 ERA. SS Chris Barnwell was 4-5 with 2 RS to move to .308, C Paul Hoover was 4-5 with his 2nd double and 2 RBI (10) to improve to .304, LF John Gall was 3-5 with 2 doubles (11) and 3 RBI (31) along with his 4th SB and 2 RS to move to .326, and 4 other Isotopes had 2-hit games.

Omaha is 18-21 and 1 game back. The series wraps with a double dip today. Probable starters - game 1: O-Royals RH Matt Wright (0-1, 4.41) vs. former Royal and now Isotopes RH Bobby Keppel (5-2, 6.42). Game 2: Omaha RH Jeff Fulchino (1-1, 4.07) vs. Isotopes RH Dallas Trahern (0-3, 9.37).

AA - NW Arkansas: Arkansas 6, Naturals 0

SS Sanchez 2-4, K, CS (3) -- .230
LF Valentin 1-4 -- .305
CF Duarte 0-4 -- .248
2B Maddox 1-3 -- .246

Pimentel 7 2/3 IP, 6 ER, 9 H, BB, 4 K, 2 HRA -- L, 2-4, 4.19 ERA, tough day, but only a couple pitches really hurt
C. Hayes 1/3 IP, nothing -- 1.00 ERA

*** The Naturals were shut out on 5 hits. A triple and RBI single off Julio Pimentel in the 2nd got Arkansas on the board. Pimentel gave up a 2-run homer in the 5th and the Nats were being shut out on 2 hits through 6. The Nats had 2 hits in the 7th but Angel Sanchez was caught stealing at third to help stymie the rally. A 3-run 8th put it away for the Travelers as Pimentel gave up a 3-run homer and was chased after a 2-out double. Northwest Arkansas didn't challenge again. Arkansas starter Fernando Rodriguez went the distance with 5 hits, a walk and 8 Ks to move to 3-4 with a 5.68 ERA. RF Jordan Czarniecki was 3-4 with his 8th double and 1st triple and a RS to move to .301. DH Ben Johnson had his 9th homer and 3 RBI (35).

NWA is 22-20 and 2 games up on first. Game 3 is this afternoon. Probable starters: NWA's Rowdy Hardy (1-3, 6.07) vs. Arkansas' Anthony Ortega (4-2, 4.40).

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 5, Myrtle Beach 0

3B J. Johnson 2-3, BB, 2B (4), HR, 2 RBI (9), RS, E (4) -- .321
CF D. Robinson 3-5, K, 2 RS, 2 SB (17) -- .263
SS McConnell 1-5, RBI (12), CS (7) -- .254
2B Bianchi 2-3, BB, 2B (4), 2 RS -- .181, slowly heating up
RF Dickerson 0-3, BB, SB (17), CS (8), OF assist at third -- .285
C Howell 1-3, BB, 2B (7), K, picked off, E (2) -- .302
* LF Jarrod Dyson stole his 14th base.

B. Wood 6 IP, H, 2 BB, 10 K -- W, 2-2, 2.98 ERA, dominated
Hartsock 2 IP, 3 H -- 1.86 ERA
Barrera IP, 2 K -- 3.12 ERA

*** Blake Wood pretty much owned the Pelicans Saturday night and the Rocks got only their 2nd win of the season versus Myrtle Beach. An error on a Kurt Mertins forceout scored Derrick Robinson for the Rocks' first run in the 1st. The Rocks gave the Pelicans 2 outs, however, on the basepaths with 2 CS in the inning to cut the rally short. Jeff Bianchi hit a 1-out double in the 2nd, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball to make it 2-0 Rocks. Jeff Howell doubled but was picked off at third in the 4th and Josh Johnson doubled home a run to make it 3-0. Wood allowed his only hit in the 2nd. The Rocks stranded 2 in the 5th and did it again in the 6th. Wood was removed on the heels of retiring 11 straight Pelicans as Aaron Hartsock took over to start the 7th. Johnson hit a solo homer for his 1st longball of the season in the 8th and Hartsock stranded 2 that inning. Robinson hit a 1-out single in the 9th, stole second and third, and scored on a Chris McConnell single to make it 5-0. Henry Barrera finished it in the 9th. Pelicans SP Kelvin Villa took the loss with 4 IP of 3 runs (1 ER) on 5 hits, 2 walks and 2 Ks to fall to 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA. Four Pelicans had a hit each.

Wilmington is 19-22 and 7 games out. The series ends tonight. Probable starters: Rocks' Mario Santiago (2-3, 4.75) vs. Myrtle Beach’s Deunte Heath (5-1, 1.84).

A - Burlington: Bees 3, Quad Cities 1

C Eigsti 3-3, CS, PB (6) -- .219
1B S. Hayes 0-2, 2 BB, RBI (5), RS -- .176
SS Moustakas 1-3 -- .245, pinch-hit for in 7th
LF Lough 2-4, RS, CS (2) -- .261
CF Ortiz 1-3, S, CS (4) -- .304
2B A. Perez 1-3, RBI (9) -- .218
PH-DH Martin 1-1 -- 1.000, season debut
3B Taylor 0-3, BB -- .213

Caldera 6 IP, ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 8 K, HRA, WP -- W, 3-2, 2.61 ERA
C. Chavez 3 IP, H, 2 K -- SV, 1, 1.23 ERA

*** Alex Caldera bounced back from a leadoff homer in the 1st to shut the River Bandits down and the Bees evened the series. The homer came off the bat of QC CF Thomas Pham and only 1 other batter got to third off Caldera. Caldera stranded 2 in the 2nd and the Bees took the lead in the bottom of the inning with 2 runs on RBI singles by Alwin Perez and Ryan Eigsti, although 2 were stranded in scoring position. Shawn Hayes took a bases-loaded walk in the 3rd but the Bees left the bases full. Caldera stranded runners at the corners in the 4th and Chris Chavez took over in the 7th. He left a runner at third that inning and got a double play to end it in the 9th. Quad Cities starter Blake King took the loss with 2 IP of 3 runs (2 ER) on 6 hits, 3 walks and a K to fall to 1-3 with a 4.99 ERA. 3 Bandits had 2-hit games.

Burlington is 16-24. The series ends today. Probable starters: Bees SP Sam Runion makes his '08 debut vs. QC's Eduardo Sanchez (3-1, 5.51). Runion and fellow '07 draftee Dan Duffy have joined what will now be a 6-man Burlington rotation. C Todd Balduf was put on the shelf with a strained oblique to open up the roster spot for IF Kyle Martin. No accompanying moves for the Runion/Duffy call-ups have been announced yet. It's nice to see some more '07 draftees getting some PT at A-ball.