Royals on the Farm 6/22

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 3, New Orleans 0

SS Smith 2-4, 2 RS -- .270
3B Dawkins 1-3, SF, 2 RBI (8) -- .255
RF Costa 1-4, RBI (37), K, SB (8) -- .301
DH Butler 0-4 -- .366
CF Maier 0-4 -- .296
1B Stodolka 1-3, K, RS -- .230

D. Hughes 6 IP, 2 H, BB, 2 K -- W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, what a first AAA start....
Lowery 3 IP, 3 H, BB, 2 K -- SV, 3, 1.73 ERA

*** Dusty Hughes pitched lights out in his first AAA start and Omaha scraped together 3 runs for the win. Neither team had a hit until New Orleans got a leadoff double in the 5th. Mike Stodolka broke Omaha's hitless string in the 6th with a single and a 2-out Zephyrs error was followed by a Shane Costa RBI single to make it 1-0 Omaha. Omaha left 2 in scoring position in the 6th but a New Orleans error helped load the bases in the 7th and a Gookie Dawkins sac fly made it 2-0 before Omaha stranded 2. Devon Lowery relieved Hughes in the 7th and left the bases loaded. Dawkins singled in another run in the 9th but was thrown out at second to end the rally and Lowery pitched a perfect 9th for his 3rd save. Zephyrs SP Nelson Figueroa went 7 IP but allowed 2 runs (1 ER) on 4 hits with 4 Ks to fall to 3-2 with a 2.89 ERA. Five different Zephyrs had a hit each.

Omaha moved to 37-38. The series continued tonight with yet another O-Royals win as they finally got back to .500. Neal Musser got the win. Horacio Ramirez got called up to KC as Carlos Rosa was sent back down to Omaha.

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 2, Arkansas 1 (11)

3B Lisson 2-4, RS -- .211
2B Maddox 1-5, RBI (13), 2 K -- .282
C Donachie 0-4, RBI (15), 2 K -- .213
CF Duarte 1-4, BB, SB (16), OF assist at second -- .247
SS Sanchez 1-3, BB, S -- .261
DH Kaaihue 1-3, 2 BB, 2B (4), SB (2), CS (2) -- .272
* The Nats turned 4 double plays and Ovandy Suero stole 2 bases to get to 32 on the season. NWA stranded 10.

B. Johnson 5 IP, ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 2 K, E (2) -- 4.14 ERA
Atencio 3 IP, 4 K -- 4.72 ERA
Crist 3 IP, 3 H, BB, 2 K -- W, 3-0, 4.19 ERA

*** The Naturals got their first elusive win in a while as Blake Johnson had a decent start and the bullpen pitched well for the win. NWA stranded 2 in scoring position in the 1st and an Adam Donachie groundout in the 2nd pushed in the 1st run to make it 1-0 Nats. Johnson somehow sidestepped 2 doubles in the 4th as Jose Duarte doubled a man off second to kill the rally. Arkansas tied it in the 5th on 3 hits although the Naturals threw out a runner at the plate in the inning. The game went into the bottom of the 11th tied at 1 as Angel Sanchez led off with a single and pinch runner Ovandy Suero stole 2 bases before Marc Maddox hit a walkoff single to end it. Travs RP Stephen Marek took the loss with 2 IP of an ER on 2 hits and 2 Ks to fall to 2-5 with a 3.00 ERA. Starter Fernando Rodriguez went 6 IP and allowed an ER on 5 hits and 3 walks with 4 Ks to drop his ERA to 5.15. Three Travs had 2-hit games as 1B Brian Stavisky was 2-4 with a walk, his 9th double and 6th SB to move to .367.

NWA moved to 1-4 after finally snapping the skid. The Nats won again in easier fashion tonight as Chris Nicoll picked up the win. Pitcher Paul Mildren is getting demoted to Wilmington with lefty Gilbert de la Vara getting moved up to AA.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Winston-Salem 4, Blue Rocks 3

SS McConnell 3-5, 2B (22), RBI (19), picked off -- .284
RF Dickerson 2-5, RBI (43) -- .316
2B Mertins 2-2, HBP, BB, SB (14), E (10) -- .289
LF Dyson 2-3, BB, 2B (5), 2 RS, SB (27), CS (8), OF assist at second -- .251
CF D. Robinson 0-5, K -- .251
DH Bianchi 0-4, 2 K -- .242
3B J. Johnson 0-3, BB, RBI (21) -- .267

de la Vara 3 IP, ER, 3 H, 2 K -- 3.65 ERA
Holland IP, UER, H, WP -- 3.80 ERA
Hartsock 3 IP, H, BB, 4 K -- 4.30 ERA
Barrera IP, 2 R (1 ER), H, BB, K, WP -- BS, 1, L, 0-2, 2.78 ERA

*** Wilmington took the lead in the 8th but just as quickly lost it in the bottom of the inning to go into the all-star break on a sustained down note. The Rocks stranded 2 in the 2nd but Joe Dickerson hit a 2-out RBI single in the 3rd to make it 1-0 Rocks. The Warthogs evened it with a run on 3 hits in the bottom of the inning but the Rocks nailed a runner at third to end the rally. Winston-Salem took the lead in the 4th but Jarrod Dyson threw out a runner at second to again end a Warthog rally. He led off the Rocks 5th with a double and scored on a Chris McConnell single to tie the game at 2. The Rocks stranded 2 in the 6th and Josh Johnson hit an RBI groundout in the 8th to make it 3-2 Rocks. Henry Barrera came in to pitch the 8th and gave up a leadoff double, hit batsman, and a Jeff Howell error to load the bases with no outs. A wild pitch brought the tying run in and a sac fly gave the Warthogs a 4-3 lead. Dyson walked to lead off the 9th but was caught stealing and a 2-out Chris McConnell double went for naught as Kanekoa Texeira notched his 15th save. RP Jake Rasner got the win with 3 IP of an ER on 3 hits, a walk and 2 Ks to move to 3-3 with a 3.06 ERA. Starter Matt Long went 5 IP and allowed 2 ER on 7 hits, a walk and 4 Ks to move his ERA to 5.18. DH C.J. Lang was 2-3 with his 10th double and a run scored to move to .246.

Wilmington is 1-5 and 4 games back. The all-star break began today.

A - Burlington: Wisconsin 4, Bees 3 (10)

1B-3B Taylor 2-3, 2 BB, RS, SB (26) -- .225
CF Ortiz 2-5, SB (24) -- .298
LF Lough 1-4, 3B (7), RBI (29), RS -- .263
3B-SS Moustakas 1-5, E (16) -- .242
PH C. Robinson 1-1, HR (8), RBI (25), RS -- .257
2B Evangelho 1-3, RBI (8), K -- .221
DH Giavotella 1-5, K -- .214
SS-2B J. Rivera 0-4, E (3) -- .239, batting average heading south quickly

Paulino 5 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 6 H, 4 K -- 3.84 ERA
Bradley 2 IP, H, 5 K -- 1.23 ERA
Chavez 2 2/3 IP, UER, 4 H, 5 K, WP -- L, 6-1, 2.53 ERA, tough loss

*** The Bees finally dropped a game in the second half as the Rattlers salvaged the series finale. Adrian Ortiz was thrown out at home in the 1st and the Bees stranded 2. The Bees also nailed a Rattler at home in the 1st and Wisconsin also stranded 2. Mike Moustakas made his 16th error in the 3rd and it led to a sac fly as Wisconsin took a 1-0 lead. David Lough tied it with an RBI triple in the 4th and Zach Evangelho cracked a 2-out RBI single to make it 2-1 Bees. Starter Eduardo Paulino got nicked again in the 5th with 2 runs on 3 hits and a hit batsman to give the Rattlers a 3-2 lead. Burlington stranded 2 in the 8th but Clint Robinson kept the Bees alive with a pinch-hit homer in the 9th to tie it. Chris Chavez gave up a leadoff triple in the bottom of the 9th but got out of the jam. A single and catcher interference call on Ryan Eigsti were followed by a walkoff single in the 10th to end it with a Rattlers victory. RP Justin Souza got the win with 1 1/3 IP of a hit and K to move to 3-2 with a 4.06 ERA. Starter Juan Ramirez went 8 2/3 IP of 3 ER on 8 hits and 2 walks with 4 Ks to move his ERA to 3.91. 2B Edilio Colina was 3-5 with his 27th RBI and run scored to move to .301. Two other Rattlers had 2-hit games, including a 2-4 day from SS Juan Diaz, who had 2 RBI (26) in moving to .243.

The Bees moved to 3-1. They got back on the winning track today in the first of 4 home games versus the Peoria Chiefs (0-4, A Cubs). Dan Duffy got the W. The Bees came in 3-3 versus the Chiefs.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Chukars 5, Casper 2

RF Francis 2-4, 3B (2), HR (2), 2 RBI (7), K, 2 RS -- .346
CF Norris 1-1, RBI (2), RS -- .261
2B F. Garcia 1-4, HR, RBI, K, RS -- .250
C Billick 0-3, SF, RBI -- .000
CF-LF Griffin 0-3, BB, K, RS -- .190
1B Espinosa 0-3, 2 K -- .222
* SS Yeldrys Molina had 2 errors.

Casey 6 IP, ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 2 K, HRA -- W, 1-0, 0.90 ERA
Morgan 2 1/3 IP, UER, 2 H, BB, 2 K -- 1.69 ERA
Rada 2/3 IP, H, K -- SV, 1, 4.91 ERA

*** The Chukars finally snagged another victory as they scored 2 in the 1st and didn't look back. Shawn Griffin drew a 2-out walk in the 1st and Nick Francis followed with a 2-run homer for his 2nd of the season. The score stayed 2-0 into the 6th when Fernando Garcia cranked a leadoff homer for his 1st of the season to make it 3-0 Chukars. Bryan Casey cruised into the 6th but served up a solo homer to lose the shutout. Francis tripled and scored on a Patrick Norris single in the 9th and Joe Billick added a sac fly to make it 5-1. Orlando Rada came in with 2 on and 1 out in the 9th and gave up a 2-out RBI double before closing the door on his 1st save. Casper starter Jeff Fischer took the loss with 6 IP of 3 ER on 3 hits and 2 walks with 8 Ks to fall to 0-1 with a 3.29 ERA. CF James Sims was 2-5 with his 2nd double and 5th RBI to move to .448.

Idaho Falls moved to 2-4. The Chukars kept the winning going tonight in the opener with the Ogden Raptors (0-6, Rookie Dodgers). Justin Garcia got the win. LA's top pick at Ogden is 3rd round pick OF Kyle Russell. 5th rounder righty Jon Michael Redding is also at Ogden and took the loss Monday.

Rookie - Burlington: rainout

*** The finale with Bristol was postponed indefinitely. The B-Royals started a 3-game home set versus the Pulaski Mariners (4-2) tonight and got their first win of the season. Kelvin Herrera got the win.

Rookie - AZL: Rangers 3, Royals 2

LF D. Rodriguez 1-1, RBI, RS -- 1.000
CF Llanos 1-3, BB, K -- .333
DH Kuebler 0-3 -- .000
C J. Bonilla 1-3, K, RS, PB -- .333

D. De La Cruz 5 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, BB, 6 K, WP -- 3.60 ERA
Hamulack 1 2/3 IP, ER, H, 2 K, WP -- L, 0-1, 5.40 ERA, rehabbing
Hodge 1 1/3 IP, 2 BB, WP -- 0.00 ERA

*** The Royals took a 2-0 lead but watched the Rangers whittle away for a win in the season opener. The lead came on 2 runs in the 3rd on a Derek Rodriguez RBI single and a throwing error on a pickoff attempt that allowed Rodriguez to score. Starter Deybi De La Cruz gave up an RBI triple in the bottom of the 3rd and another run on 2 hits in the 5th to tie the game. Tim Hamulack came in for the 6th and gave up a hit, wild pitch and sac fly in the 7th to give the Rangers the 3-2 lead. Alex Llanos led off the 9th with a single but was thrown out trying to stretch it to a double and that was it for the Royals. Rangers reliever Joe Ortiz got his 1st save and RP Kyle O'Campo got the win with 3 IP of 3 Ks to move to 1-0. Starter Ben Henry allowed 2 unearned runs on 3 hits and 2 walks with 5 Ks to keep a 0.00 ERA. Five different Rangers had a hit each and the Rangers made 4 errors. C Leonel De Los Santos was 1-3 with a walk, triple and RBI to set a .333 BA.

The Royals got off to an 0-1 start but got a win today versus the Cubs. 34th rounder righty Brett Richardson got the win.