Royals on the Farm 5/9

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 9, Portland 5

DH Buchanan 2-5, 2B, 3 RBI (9), K, 2 RS -- .323
SS Aviles 3-5, 2B (17), K, 2 RS -- .364
2B Berroa 2-5, 2 2B (9), 2 RBI (13), K, 2 RS, SB (3) -- .307
1B Smith 2-2, 2 BB, RBI (20) -- .248
LF Hollins 2-2, BB, HBP, RBI (16), OF assist at home -- .191
RF Costa 0-4, BB, RBI (24), K, RS -- .313
CF Maier 1-5, K, RS -- .258, 13-game hit streak

Davies 6 IP, 4 R (1 ER), 5 H, 3 BB, 2 K, HRA, E -- W, 4-2, 2.43 ERA
Lowery 3 IP, ER, 2 H, 4 BB, K, HRA -- SV, 1, 0.96 ERA

*** Omaha cranked out 8 early runs and it was enough to get a win in the series finale. Kyle Davies put the first 2 batters on in the 1st and only a Damon Hollins OF assist at the plate helped keep the game scoreless. With 2 out and Mike Aviles at second after a double in the bottom of the 1st, Brian Buchanan hit an RBI single and, after a Matt Tupman single, Angel Berroa hit a 2-run double to make it 3-0. Berroa stole third and scored on a throwing error on the play to make it 4-0. The Royals left the bases loaded and Davies served up a solo homer in the 2nd to cut into the lead. Omaha went to work again on Beavers SP Cesar Ramos as Buchanan ripped a 2-run double and Damon Hollins hit an RBI single to knock Ramos out of the game. Shane Costa hit an RBI forceout in the 3rd and Omaha had an 8-1 lead. Omaha stranded 2 in the 4th and Portland got back in the game with 3 runs in the 5th on a 2-out Davies error that loaded the bases and a key 3-run double by 1B Brian Myrow that cut it to 8-4. Jason Smith drove in a run in the 6th to make it 9-4 and Devon Lowery worked around 2 walks in the 7th before giving up a solo homer in the 8th. He got a DP in the 9th to end it and notch his 1st AAA save. Ramos took the loss with 1 2/3 IP of 7 ER on 8 hits, 4 walks and a K to fall to 3-3 with a 7.36 ERA. Myrow was 2-5 with his 8th double and 3 RBI (26) to move to .322.

Omaha is 17-16 and 1.5 games up on first. A 4-game home set vs. the Tacoma Rainiers (17-17, AAA Mariners) starts tonight and game 1 has been rained out. Probable starters were Rainiers LH Ryan Feierabend (3-1, 1.70) vs. O-Royals LH Tyler Lumsden (1-3, 7.39). Instead it'll be made up as a Sunday doubleheader. Tacoma's roster features M's prospects 3B Matt Tuiasosopo (.685 OPS, 11 XBH, 10 E in 31 games), lefty Robert Rohrbaugh (3-2, 6.44, 1.74 WHIP in 6 starts), and 2B Yung Chi Chen (.652 OPS in 29 games). Ryan Shealy was put on the DL with yet another hamstring injury. C Ken Huckaby was released as Damaso Espino came back from the DL and P Anthony Bradley was promoted to Omaha from Burlington. Apparently this is a spot appearance deal and he'll be back down soon.

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 2, Springfield 0

CF Duarte 2-4, HR (2), RBI (10), RS -- .252
LF Suero 2-3, 3B (2), RBI (8) -- .262
RF Valentin 2-4, 2B (5), RS -- .313

B. Johnson 7 IP, 6 H, BB, 4 K -- W, 3-2, 3.55 ERA
Atencio 2 IP, 3 H -- SV, 1, 5.19 ERA

*** Blake Johnson and Greg Atencio didn't exactly baffle the Cardinals but they did enough to get a combined shutout Friday. The Naturals stranded 2 in both the 2nd and 3rd and Jose Duarte finally ended the stalemate with a solo homer to leadoff the 5th for his 2nd of the season. Johnson put runners at second and third to start the 6th but a K, a fielder's choice at home by 3B Mario Lisson and a groundout helped Johnson dance around the threat. Ovandy Suero hit a 2-out RBI triple in the bottom of the inning to make it 2-0. Atencio gave up 2 singles to start the 9th but stranded both runners for his 1st save. Springfield SP Tyler Herron took the loss with 6 IP of 2 ER on 9 hits, a walk and 3 Ks to fall to 0-1 with a 4.66 ERA. LF Shane Robinson and 3B Allen Craig had 2-hit games for Springfield.

NWA is 18-17 and a game up on first now. The series concludes tonight. Probable starters: NWA's Carlos Rosa (3-2, 1.38) vs. Cards SP Adam Ottavino (0-3, 6.98).

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Myrtle Beach 6, Blue Rocks 1

SS McConnell 2-4, 2 E (6) -- .276
C Howell 2-3, BB, CS (2) -- .333
CF D. Robinson 0-4, K -- .273
DH Mertins 1-4, 2 K, SB (9) -- .303
RF Dickerson 0-3, HBP, 2 K -- .315
2B Bianchi 0-4, K -- .118
3B J. Johnson 0-4, K -- .266

Holland 2 1/3 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 5 K, HRA, WP -- L, 2-2, 4.56 ERA
Teaford 4 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, BB, 5 K -- 2.38 ERA
Hartsock IP, BB, K -- 2.28 ERA
Chambliss IP, H -- 0.96 ERA

*** Three 2-run innings did the trick for the Pelicans as the Rocks managed only 6 hits. Starter Greg Holland ran into trouble in the 2nd as a 2-run 1-out triple got Myrtle Beach started. Holland gave up a 2-run homer in the 3rd to make it 4-0 Pelicans and Holland was pulled shortly after. Jarrod Dyson led off the Rocks 3rd with a double and scored on a wild pitch to account for Wilmington's only run. Two doubles and a single off Everett Teaford in the 5th made it 6-1 and the Rocks stranded 2 in two separate innings but couldn't scratch out another run. Reliever Ferdin Tejeda went 3 IP and allowed 2 hits, a walk and K to get the win and improve to 1-0 with a 2.60 ERA. SP Ryne Reynoso allowed an unearned run on 2 hits, a walk and 4 Ks over 4 IP to move his ERA to 3.44. 3B Brandon Powell and LF Willie Cabrera had 3-hit games for the Pelicans.

Wilmington is 15-18 and 6 games out. Game 2 is tonight. Probable starters: Rocks' Matt Kniginyzky (0-3, 4.74) against Pelicans' Gonzalo Lopez (1-2, 5.86).

A - Burlington: Beloit 3, Bees 0

3B Taylor 1-2, BB, SB (11) -- .236
2B A. Perez 1-2, BB, SB (6) -- .194
CF Ortiz 0-4, 2 K -- .324
SS Moustakas 0-4, 3 K -- .214

Cegarra 8 IP, ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 5 K, pickoff -- L, 1-3, 1.93 ERA, makes K/BB 42-3 in 42 IP
Swaggerty 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB -- 4.41 ERA
Lopez 1/3 IP, nothing -- 4.50 ERA

*** Burlington starter Ed Cegarra had another great start but the Bees were 2-hit by 2 Beloit pitchers. It was a pitcher's duel through 7 as Cegarra and Beloit starter Daniel Berlind took turns stranding runners. Cegarra stranded 2 in the 6th and the Bees stranded 2 in the 7th. With 2 out in the Beloit 8th, the Snappers put together two singles to left for a run to make it 1-0. Ben Swaggerty allowed 2 runs in the 9th on 3 hits and a walk and the Bees struck out in order in the 9th to finish it. Berlind got the win with 7 IP of 2 hits, 2 walks and 5 Ks to improve to 3-2 with a 3.54 ERA and RP Spencer Steedley went 2 IP with 4 Ks to pick up his 2nd save. LF Ben Petsch was 2-4 with his 5th RBI to move to .200.

The Bees are 14-19 and 10.5 games out. Game 3 is tonight. Starters: Bees SP Matt Mitchell and Beloit's Brian Kirwan. Adrian Ortiz was voted by Bees fans as the team player of the month for April. 1B Clint Robinson will miss some time after reaggravating a wrist injury.