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.