Royals on the Farm 6/27 and 6/28

NOTE: Yesterday was "big move" day so I'm combining the last 2 days into 1 and condensing it somewhat. Reports will hopefully continue as usual Monday or Tuesday.

AAA - Omaha: Friday's game was postponed by a power outage and is being made up as part of a twinbill today.

O-Royals 6, Oklahoma 1 (7/G1 Sat.)

DH Shealy 2-3, HR (11), 3 RBI (28) -- .260, gradually getting back in form
CF Maier 2-3, 2B (15), K, 2 RS -- .306
2B Smith 1-3, HR (18), RBI (49), K, RS -- .271
1B Stodolka 2-3, K, CS -- .239
SS Sanchez 0-2, BB -- .000, '08 AAA debut

Rosa 5 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, 8 K -- W, 3-1, 3.60 ERA, back in form at Omaha
Yabuta 2 IP, 2 BB, K -- 0.00 ERA, AAA debut

Oklahoma 9, O-Royals 4 (7/G2 Sat.)

C B. Pena 3-4, 2B (3), RBI (4) -- .319
1B Shealy 0-1, 3 BB -- .259
CF Maier 0-2, 2 BB, K, 2 RS -- .304
SS Sanchez 1-3, RBI -- .200

Lumsden 2/3 IP, 7 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 2 K, HRA -- L, 3-8, 7.33 ERA, 47 pitches! BUST
Lowery 3 1/3 IP, ER, 6 H, BB, 3 K, WP -- 1.84 ERA
Musser 3 IP, ER, 3 H, 3 K, HRA -- 3.45 ERA

*** The teams split the twinbill as it was a tale of two games for Omaha. Carlos Rosa pretty much held the RedHawks in check in game 1 and got 3 RBI from Ryan Shealy as all the support he needed. In game 2, Tyler Lumsden got steamrolled by a grand slam by John Mayberry Jr. in the 1st and didn't survive the inning as a 7-0 lead was more than enough for Oklahoma starter Matt Harrison. Brayan Pena did have a 3-hit game for Omaha as one of the O-Royals' few offensive highlights in game 2.

Omaha is 40-39 and 5.5 games back. The teams match up for another double dip today. Brandon Duckworth pitches game 1 for Omaha and, I assume, Dusty Hughes will pitch game 2. RP Roberto Giron was released by KC and 1B Billy Butler has been recalled to the big leagues.

AA - NW Arkansas: San Antonio 7, Naturals 0 (Fri.)

2B Maddox 2-3, E (3) -- .283
CF Duarte 1-4, 2B (11), 3 K -- .247
1B Kaaihue 0-3, BB, K -- .279

Pimentel 1 2/3 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 6 H, 2 BB, 2 K, WP -- L, 3-9, 5.72 ERA, getting torched at AA
Atencio 2 2/3 IP, ER, 3 H, BB, 5 K -- 4.62 ERA
Hayes 2 2/3 IP, H -- 2.23 ERA
de la Vara IP, ER, H, WP -- 20.25 ERA

San Antonio 10, Naturals 1 (Sat.)

SS Lisson 1-4, HR (7), RBI (30), K, RS -- .221
CF Duarte 1-3, BB, 2B (12), K -- .248
1B Kaaihue 0-2, 2 BB, E (6) -- .276

R. Hardy 3 IP, 8 ER, 10 H, 2 BB, 2 K -- L, 3-7, 5.38 ERA, AA has been a hard dose of reality for soft-tosser Rowdy
Nicoll 2 IP, H, 2 BB, 3 K -- 3.52 ERA
Plummer 3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 3 K, HRA -- 4.62 ERA

*** Simply put: P-U, the Naturals stink. Two dismal pitching performances from Julio Pimentel and Rowdy Hardy meant 2 losses for the Nats. Meanwhile, the offense was stagnant, so there's not even a bright side there.

The Nats are 2-7 but only 2.5 games back. A 3-game set at the Corpus Christi Hooks (4-5, AA 'Stros) starts tonight. Blake Johnson starts the opener for NWA. The Nats are 2-4 versus the Hooks.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 8, Salem 3 (Fri.)

2B Bianchi 2-4, BB, 2B (13), 2 RBI (35), K, RS -- .244
1B Seratelli 1-3, BB, 2B (8), 2 RBI (35), SB (13), E (2) -- .205
DH J. Johnson 1-4, RBI (22), 2 K, RS -- .268
CF D. Robinson 1-3, 2 BB, 2 RS, 4 SB! (36) -- .249
RF Dickerson 0-4, BB, 2 RS -- .314
SS McConnell 1-2, 3 BB, RS, SB (19) -- .286
* LF Jarrod Dyson also stole his 28th base.

Santiago 5 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, BB, 4 K -- W, 6-4, 4.01 ERA
Holland and Hartsock 3 scoreless IP
Bradley IP, ER, 2 BB, 2 K, WP -- 9.00 ERA, high-A debut

Blue Rocks 8, Salem 4 (Sat.)

2B Mertins 3-4, 2B (18), HR (2), 3 RBI (31), 3 RS -- .298
CF D. Robinson 3-5, 3B (4), 2 RS -- .255
SS McConnell 2-4, BB, 2B (23), RBI (20), 2 K, RS, E (18) -- .289
C Morizio 2-4, 2B (4), RBI (12) -- .180
RF Dickerson 1-4, BB, 2B (10), RBI (45), 2 K, RS -- .313
3B J. Johnson 1-3, BB, RBI (23) -- .269

Kniginyzky 5 IP, ER, 6 H, 6 K -- W, 3-7, 3.92 ERA
Hartsock 1 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, K -- 4.44 ERA
Swaggerty 1 1/3 IP, 2 H, BB, 3 K -- 2.95 ERA
Chambliss IP, ER, 2 H, 2 K, WP -- 3.60 ERA

*** Two 8-run outputs gave the Rocks 2 of 3 from Salem in the series. The Rocks ran all over the Avalanche in Friday's win as Derrick Robinson stole 4 bases and the Rocks scored 6 runs in the 1st in the win. The Rocks scored 4 in the 7th yesterday to help cement that win for starter Matt Kniginyzky. While it was more a team effort Friday offensively, Kurt Mertins was Saturday's offensive highlight with a 3-hit, 3-RBI game.

The Rocks are 3-6 and 4 games back heading into a 3-game home set with the Lynchburg Hillcats (4-5, A-Adv. Pirates). Wilmington is 6-3 versus Lynchburg this season. Probable starters today are Rocks lefty Everett Teaford (4-1, 3.22) and Lynchburg southpaw Tony Watson (5-8, 4.15).

A - Burlington: Bees 8, Wisconsin 4 (Fri.)

CF Ortiz 3-5, 2B (8), K -- .304
3B Moustakas 1-3, 2 BB, HR (11), RBI (39), 2 RS -- .241
1B C. Robinson 1-3, 2 BB, HR (9), RBI (27), RS, E (3) -- .260
C Billick 2-4, 2B (2), RBI (2), K, 2 RS -- .500
LF Lough 1-4, BB, 2 RBI (31), K -- .267
2B Giavotella 1-4, BB, K, E (3) -- .234

Paulino 6 IP, 4 R (3 ER), 4 H, BB, 5 K -- W, 4-3, 3.89 ERA
Z. Peterson 3 IP, 2 H, BB, 5 K -- SV, 3, 3.60 ERA

Bees 5, Wisconsin 3 (Sat.)

2B Giavotella 2-3, BB, 2 RBI (4), CS (2) -- .260
RF Walton 2-4, 2B (7), 2 RBI (23), RS -- .207
CF Ortiz 3-4, 2B (9), RS, picked off -- .309
3B Moustakas 1-4 -- .241
DH Martin 2-4, 2B (8), K, RS -- .333

Duffy 5 IP, ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 7 K, WP -- W, 4-3, 3.43 ERA
Abreu 4 IP, 2 ER, H, 5 BB, 7 K, HRA -- SV, 4, 4.21 ERA, a little trouble finding strike zone at times

*** The Bees got back on the winning track by taking 2 more from Wisconsin thus far this weekend. Mike Moustakas and Clint Robinson had homers in Friday's win in support of Eduardo Paulino and Adrian Ortiz went a combined 6-9 in the 2 wins. '08 2nd rounder Johnny Giavotella has also hiked his batting average up to .260 with a 2-hit game Saturday. Danny Duffy had another good start Saturday to continue to prove the Royals spent a draft pick wisely on him in 2007.

The Bees are 6-4 and a game back of first. Alex Caldera is starting game 3 of the set today for Burlington.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Casper 3, Chukars 2 (Fri.)

SS Alfaro 1-4, 2B (3), RBI (7), 2 K -- .333
RF Francis 1-4, 3B (3), 3 K, RS, OF assist at home -- .311
CF Norris 1-4, 2 K -- .302
DH Griffin 0-4, 3 K -- .243
1B Espinosa 0-3, 2 K -- .182
2B F. Garcia 1-3, RS, 2 SB (5) -- .313

Casey 3 2/3 IP, ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 3 K -- 1.32 ERA
Morgan 3 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 3 K, HRA -- L, 0-1, 3.12 ERA
J. Garcia 2 IP, H, 3 K -- 1.13 ERA

Ogden 8, Chukars 7 (Sat.)

SS Alfaro 3-5, 2B (4), 3B, 2 RBI (9), 2 RS -- .379
LF Griffin 3-5, 2 RBI (6), K -- .286
3B Van De Keere 2-4, RBI, 3 E (5) -- .222
RF Francis 1-3, 2 BB, RBI (13) -- .313
CF Norris 0-5, 2 K, 2 RS, OF assist at home -- .271
1B Espinosa 1-3, BB, 2B, RS -- .194

Cota 3 IP, 4 R (3 ER), 3 H, 3 BB, 2 K, E -- L, 0-1, 6.35 ERA
Miller IP, 3 ER, H, 3 BB, 2 K -- 8.31 ERA
Carver 2 IP, ER, H, BB, 2 K -- 10.80 ERA
Gilgenbach and Foster 3 scoreless IP

*** In Friday's loss to Casper, the pitching staff kept Idaho Falls in the game but the offense couldn't get enough runs. Saturday the offense got enough runs but 3 of the 5 Chukar pitchers gave up runs in the opener with Ogden to lose that game, too. J.D. Alfaro was the offensive stud of both games for IF as he went a combined 4-9 with 3 RBI.

IF is 4-8 and 6 games back. The series with Ogden continues this afternoon as Ivor Hodgson starts for the Chukars. The Chukars are 2-2 versus the Raptors.

Rookie - Burlington: Princeton 5, B-Royals 3 (Fri.)

C S. Perez 2-4, RBI (5) -- .308
CF H. Richardson 0-4, 2 K -- .231
1B Morales 1-3, BB, RS, E (2) -- .280
3B F. Cruz 0-4, 2 E (4) -- .219
RF Caldwell 0-3, K, RS -- .167

Jorge 3 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 4 H, BB, 3 K, HRA, E -- 3.38 ERA
O.D. Gonzalez 2 2/3 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 3 H -- L, 0-1, 13.50 ERA, can't say the conversion to P is going well
Farinas and Bowden 2 1/3 IP scoreless relief

Princeton 8, B-Royals 7 (11/Sat.)

LF Aparicio 3-5, 2B (4), RBI (5), 2 K, RS -- .233
CF H. Richardson 2-4, BB, 2 K, 2 RS -- .256
3B F. Cruz 0-4, 2 K -- .194
RF Caldwell 1-4, BB, RS -- .175
3B-1B Morales 0-4, BB, 3 K, RS -- .241
C Moctezuma 2-4, RBI (2) -- .286
DH Vittek 1-5, 2 RBI, 2 K, RS -- .200, pro debut
SS J. Gutierrez 2-5, RBI (3), K, CS -- .235

Herrera 5 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, BB, 3 K, WP -- 1.69 ERA
Halliman 1 1/3 IP, 4 ER, 3 H, BB, K -- 12.60 ERA, surprise, guy with bad college ERA getting lit up in pros
Mieles 1 1/3 IP, ER, H, 2 BB, 2 K, WP -- 4.15 ERA
Roq. Colon 2 1/3 IP, H, 2 BB, 2 K -- 4.26 ERA
M. Baez 1/3 IP, ER, 2 H, K -- L, 0-2, 6.75 ERA

*** The rookie Royals' woes continued as Princeton got 2 wins for the sweep. The B-Royals had 4 errors and only 3 hits in Friday's loss as converted outfielder O.D. Gonzalez got stuck with the loss on the mound. Saturday, the Royals had to push across 6 runs in the 8th to force extras and then lost in 11 as 4 of the 5 Royals pitchers used gave up runs.

The B-Royals are 1-10 and easily have the worst record in the Appalachian League. A 3-game set versus the Elizabethton Twins (9-3) starts tonight, so the road gets no easier. No announced starters on the team site.

Rookie - AZL: Mariners 3, Royals 2 (10/Fri.)

RF Del Rosario 2-4 -- .438
DH Matos 2-4, 2B, CS -- .500, '08 draftee's pro debut
CF Llanos 0-5, RBI (3), 4 K -- .158, golden sombrero
LF D. Rodriguez 0-1, 3 BB, K, RS, SB (2) -- .286
C J. Bonilla 1-4, RBI (3), K -- .467
3B Kuebler 0-4 -- .056

Culver 2 IP, H -- 0.00 ERA, scoreless pro debut
Hamulack IP, ER, 3 H, BB -- 6.75 ERA
D. De La Cruz 4 IP, UER, 3 H, 3 K -- 2.00 ERA
A. Bonilla 2 2/3 IP, ER, 4 H, 2 K -- L, 0-1, 3.18 ERA

Royals 3, Rangers 1 (Sat.)

2B D. Batista 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 K, 2 RS -- .357
C J. Bonilla 2-4, 2B (3), 3B -- .474
DH Fowler 2-3, K, RS, SB -- .667, season debut
RF Del Rosario 1-4, K, picked off -- .400

Montgomery 2 IP, BB, 2 K -- 0.00 ERA, so far, so good
L. Perez 5 IP, H, BB, 5 K -- W, 1-0, 1.00 ERA
Sirrett 2 IP, ER, 3 H, BB, 2 K -- SV, 1, 3.18 ERA

*** The Royals stayed somewhat competitive in the AZL as a Jose Bonilla RBI single in the 9th forced extras Friday in an eventual loss to the Mariners and Mike Montgomery and Leondy Perez combined to 1-hit the Rangers over 7 IP Saturday in a Royals win. Bonilla continues to produce at the plate as he had a 2-hit game Saturday to improve to .474. As you can see above, a few Royals made their season debuts, including '08 draftees Mauricio Matos and Malcolm Culver.

The Royals weren't competitive today as the Cubs absolutely crushed them. More on that in the next report. The Royals were 3-3 going into today.