Royals on the Farm 7/18 and 7/19

AAA - Omaha: Round Rock 8, O-Royals 6 (Fri.)

3B Dawkins 4-4, 2 2B (7), HR (5), 2 RBI (17), 3 RS -- .281
RF Stodolka 2-4, RBI (14), RS -- .247
CF Maier 2-5, RBI (37), RS, SB (11) -- .316
1B Shealy 1-4, SF, RBI (38), K -- .292
LF Lubanski 1-4, 2B (14), RBI (34), 2 K -- .232
C B. Pena 0-4, BB -- .304
SS Sanchez 0-4, K -- .186

Duckworth 5 IP, 7 ER, 7 H, BB, 5 K, 3 HRA -- L, 3-10, 4.75 ERA
Fulchino 2 IP, 2 H, 3 K -- 4.34 ERA
Newman 2 IP, UER, H, 4 K, E (2) -- 2.25 ERA, organizational debut

*** Gonna keep 'em short since I'm catching up. The Express scored 5 runs in the 3rd off Brandon Duckworth but RR SP Runelvys Hernandez lasted only 2 innings in the win. It wasn't as close as it looks as the Express ran to a 7-1 lead and held on from there. A 3-run Omaha 8th made the final score close. Gookie Dawkins had his best game of the season for Omaha by going 4-4 with 3 XBH, including his 5th homer. RP Jack Cassel got the win for the Express with 5 IP of 2 ER to move to 6-1. LF Nick Gorneault was 3-5 with 2 HR and 5 RBI.

O-Royals 9, Round Rock 2 (Sat.)

1B Shealy 2-5, 2B (14), 2 RBI (40), 2 K, RS -- .294
2B Matranga 2-5, RBI (29), K, RS -- .266
RF Stodolka 2-4, RBI (15) -- .253
3B Dawkins 2-3, BB, 2B (8), RBI (18), K, 2 RS -- .293
C Tupman 2-4, 2B (4), RBI (20), K, RS -- .215
DH Buchanan 1-4, RBI (31), RS -- .263
SS Sanchez 1-4, RBI (6) -- .190
CF Maier 1-5, RS -- .314
LF Lubanski 0-3, BB, 2 RS -- .229

D. Hughes 7 IP, ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 4 K -- W, 2-0, 4.03 ERA, not great, but very nice
Salmon IP, H, K -- 4.50 ERA
Lowery IP, ER, H, K, HRA -- 2.21 ERA

*** Omaha dealt out the rout Saturday as a 3-run 1st and 4-run 4th put the game on ice. No one guy stood out for the Royals as both big rallies were a team effort. Dusty Hughes stood out on the mound by pitching well for his 2nd AAA win. Express SP Josh Miller allowed 8 runs (7 ER) over 6 IP to drop to 5-6. Three guys had 2-hit games for the Express.

Omaha is 46-53. The teams are matching up for a twinbill today. John Bale and Matt Wright were starting for Omaha.

AA - NW Arkansas: Springfield 6, Naturals 0 (Fri.)

CF Duarte 2-4, 2B (16), OF assist at home -- .261
2B Maddox 0-4, K -- .292
1B J. Richardson 0-4 -- .295
3B Lucas 1-3, BB, K -- .304

Cortes 2 IP, 5 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 2 K, HRA -- L, 4-4, 4.33 ERA
Plummer 2 1/3 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, 4 K, HRA -- 4.72 ERA
de la Vara 2 2/3 IP, H, 2 BB, 2 K -- 4.05 ERA
C. Hayes IP, K -- 1.85 ERA

*** Cards ace Jess Todd gave a 6-hit shutout to the pen in the 7th and the Naturals' win streak ended abruptly. Jose Duarte had 2 hits and an OF assist. Todd only struck out 1 in moving to 3-3. Three guys had 2-hit games for the Cardinals and 1B Andy Brown had a 3-run homer in the 1st.

Springfield 13, Naturals 2 (Sat.)

2B Maddox 3-4, 2B (22), RBI (23) -- .298
CF Duarte 2-4, 2B (17), RS, SB (24) -- .264
DH Kaaihue 1-3, BB, HR (24), RBI (67), K, RS -- .304, leads league in HR
1B J. Richardson 0-3, BB, K -- .292
3B Lucas 0-4 -- .296

B. Wood 3 1/3 IP, 5 ER, 3 H, 6 BB, K, WP -- L, 3-4, 5.55 ERA, Mr. Hyde returns with some control probs
Nicoll 2 2/3 IP, ER, 3 H, 4 K -- 2.91 ERA
Crist 2 IP, 7 ER, 5 H, 4 BB, 2 K, HRA -- 4.70 ERA, not a good day for the ERA

*** All three Naturals pitchers got beat around to some extent -- some less than others -- as the Cards rolled NWA to move into a first-place tie. The Cards took a 6-1 lead then scored 7 runs in the 7th and 8th off Kyle Crist to put it away. Cards SP Adam Ottavino got only his 2nd win with an ER allowed over 5 IP to move to 2-5. 3B Allen Craig was 4-5 with a double, RBI and 2 RS. DH Isa Garcia hit his 3rd homer and had 4 RBI.

NWA is 16-12 and tied with Springfield for first. That makes game 3 pivotal as Rowdy Hardy (4-8, 5.63) gets the start for the Nats.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Salem 5, Blue Rocks 3 (Fri.)

CF D. Robinson 2-5, 2 2B (15), K, RS, SB (44), CS (11) -- .247
DH J. Johnson 2-4, K, RS, picked off -- .275
1B Correll 2-4, K -- .333
2B Bianchi 1-4, 3B (5), RBI (42), RS -- .238
SS McConnell 1-4, BB -- .276
RF Strait 0-2, 2 BB -- .298
3B Mertins 1-4, K, SB (20), E (12) -- .304
LF Dyson 0-3, BB, K, SB (32), OF assist at second -- .230

Mildren 5 2/3 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 9 H, BB, 2 K, WP -- L, 0-3, 5.64 ERA, not earning his roster spot
Hartsock IP, H, K -- 4.00 ERA
Swaggerty 1 1/3 IP, H, K -- 2.05 ERA

*** A 4-run Salem 6th was the key as there were only 3 half-innings of scoring in the game. The Rocks took a 3-0 lead in the 2nd but Paul Mildren couldn't hold it. A bases-loaded double by converted P-now-OF Brian Bogusevic was the key hit. Salem SP Doug Arguello allowed 3 ER over 6 IP to move to 7-3. Chris Salamida got his 8th save. Four guys had 2-hit games for the Avalanche.

Blue Rocks 3, Salem 2 (Sat.)

SS Bianchi 2-5, 2B (20), RBI (43), K, RS -- .241
RF Strait 2-4, RBI (9), OF assist at home -- .314
CF D. Robinson 1-4, BB -- .247
DH Correll 1-3, BB, 2B (6), K, RS -- .333
2B Mertins 0-4 -- .300
3B J. Johnson 1-4 -- .274

Santiago 4 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, BB, K -- 3.96 ERA
Haltiwanger 2 2/3 IP, H, BB -- W, 3-1, 3.18 ERA
Chavez 1 1/3 IP, nothing -- 0.00 ERA, Wilmington debut
Chambliss IP, H, BB -- SV, 16, 3.02 ERA

*** The Rocks fell behind, 2-0, but tied it in the 4th and took the lead in the 7th. The bullpen was key with only 2 hits allowed over 5 IP. Jeff Bianchi had the go-ahead RBI double in the 7th. RP Josh Appell took the loss with an ER over 2/3 IP to drop to 1-2. Three Salem batters had 2-hit games and CF Jordan Parraz had 2 RBI.

Wilmington is 13-15 and 3 games back. A 4-game set at the Lynchburg Hillcats (15-14, A-Adv. Pirates) starts tonight. The Rocks are 9-7 versus the 'Cats. Probable starters: Rocks right-hander Matt Kniginyzky (5-7, 3.78) vs. Lynchburg righty Jared Hughes (3-7, 4.42).

A - Burlington: Bees 8, Quad Cities 3 (Fri.)

3B Moustakas 3-4, BB, 2 RS -- .247
RF-LF Walton 3-3, HBP, 2 2B (14), HR (5), 2 RBI (31), 2 RS -- .236
2B Giavotella 1-4, BB, HR, RBI (10), 3 RS -- .322, first pro longball
DH C. Robinson 1-3, SF, 2B (12), RBI (36), RS -- .237
SS J. Rivera 1-4, RBI (16), K -- .219
C Eigsti 0-3, SF, RBI (20), 2 K -- .211
CF Ortiz 1-5, K -- .308
1B Taylor 0-5, K -- .206
RF Van Stratten 1-1 -- .356

Gutierrez 6 1/3 IP, ER, 5 H, BB, 7 K -- W, 2-1, 2.05 ERA
Raglione 2 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 2 K, HRA -- 7.20 ERA

*** Three straight 2-run innings late put the game away for the Bees. Mike Moustakas had a 3-hit game, Johnny Giavotella smoked his 1st pro homer and Jamar Walton had perhaps the biggest day of all with 3 hits, all for extra bases. QC starter Josh Wilson took the loss with 6 IP of 4 runs (3 ER) to fall to 1-4. Three players had 2-hit games for the Bandits as LF Aaron Luna had a double, HR and 2 RBI.

West Michigan 10, Bees 4 (Sat.)

DH C. Robinson 3-5, 2 2B (14), RS -- .244
RF Van Stratten 2-4, 2B (6) -- .365
3B Moustakas 1-5, 2B (14), RBI (43), K, RS -- .246
LF Walton 1-3, BB, HR (6), 2 RBI (33), K, RS -- .237
2B Giavotella 1-4, BB, 2B (9), 2 K, RS, E (6) -- .320
1B Taylor 1-4, BB, 2B (7), RBI (35), K -- .207
CF Ortiz 0-4, S -- .305
* The Bees stranded 10.

Cota 4 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 2 K, WP, balk, E -- L, 0-1, 6.75 ERA, '08 Bees debut
M. Peterson 1/3 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 4 H, BB -- 108.00 ERA, rehab continues....poorly
Huber 2 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, BB, 2 K -- 6.75 ERA, Burlington debut
Baldwin and Evangelho scoreless IP each

*** The Whitecaps built a 10-1 lead and held on as Luis Cota took the loss in the first game of his comeback's continuance in A-ball. A 5-run 5th was the key for West Michigan. Three Whitecaps had 3-hit games. WM starter Alfredo Figaro went 5 1/3 IP and allowed 2 ER to improve to 12-2.

Burlington is 16-14 and 4 games back after evening the series with a shutout win today. Dan Duffy 1-hit the 'Caps over 5 IP to get the win. The Bees are 2-3 versus the Whitecaps (14-16, A Tigers).

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Helena 3, Chukars 1 (Fri.)

CF Norris 2-4, RS, 2 SB (13) -- .245
SS Alfaro 2-3, BB, 3 SB (4) -- .291
LF A. Perez 2-3, BB, 2B (7), SB (4), CS (5) -- .240, team was 6/7 in SB Friday
3B Van De Keere 2-3, BB, 2B (5) -- .278, DVDK is on a hot streak
DH Griffin 1-4, 2B (5), 2 K -- .221
RF Francis 0-4, 4 K -- .304, whiffa
C McCauley 0-4, K -- .261
1B Espinosa 0-4, K -- .169
2B F. Garcia 0-4, 2 K -- .306

Toribio 3 1/3 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 4 K -- 4.63 ERA
S. Miller 1 2/3 IP, ER, 3 H, BB, 3 K, WP -- 8.49 ERA
Saito 2 IP, ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K, HRA -- L, 0-3, 3.48 ERA
Thompson 2 IP, ER, 3 H, BB, 2 K -- 2.08 ERA

*** The Chukars took a 1-0 lead into the 5th but the offense stopped there and Helena scored 3 unanswered runs to win. A homer in the 7th made the difference. Four guys had 2-hit games for the Chukars and they ran all over Helena SP Trey Watten, but the output didn't turn into runs. Cody Adams pitched a scoreless inning of relief for Helena to get the win and move to 3-2. Robert Wooten got his 2nd save. C Corey Kemp had no such luck in stopping Chukar basestealers but was 3-5 at the plate with an RBI and K. Three others had 2 hits for the Brew Crew.

Chukars 8, Missoula 2 (Sat.)

1B Van De Keere 2-4, 2B (6), GS (4), 4 RBI (14), K, 2 RS, E (8) -- .289
LF Griffin 2-4, 2 2B (7), K, RS, OF assist at second -- .232
3B Jimenez 2-4, 2B (3), K, 2 RS, SB (8) -- .311
2B F. Garcia 2-4, SB (8) -- .318
CF Norris 0-3, BB, SF, RBI (6), K, CS -- .239
SS Alfaro 0-5, 2 K -- .275
RF Francis 1-3, BB, 2B (8), RS, SB (4) -- .305
C McCauley 0-3, BB, RS -- .253
DH Testa 0-3, BB, 3 K, RS -- .200

Casey 5 IP, ER, 3 H, BB, 4 K, WP -- W, 2-1, 1.93 ERA, not a bad outing yet
Carver 2 1/3 IP, ER, 4 H, BB, K -- 8.71 ERA
J. Garcia 1 2/3 IP, H -- 2.00 ERA

*** A 6-run 1st was keyed by a DVDK grand slam and the Chukars cruised from there. Four Chukars had 2-hit games. Missoula starter Brett Reynolds took the loss with an IP of 6 unearned runs to fall to 0-3. LF Isaias Asencio was 2-4 with a double, K and RS.

Idaho Falls is 12-19. The series with the Osprey continues this afternoon as Brandon Sisk is making his 1st pro start. The Chukars are 2-2 versus the Osprey.

Rookie - Burlington: B-Royals 4, Kingsport 3 (10/Fri.)

3B F. Cruz 2-4, 2 K, RS -- .241
C Vittek 1-4, BB, GW HR (2), 2 RBI (6), 2 K, RS -- .212, hitting has been better since started catching
CF H. Richardson 0-3, S, SF, RBI (9) -- .257
RF Caldwell 1-5, 2B (6), RBI (9) -- .198

Lehmann 5 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, K -- 4.56 ERA
Flanagan 3 IP, 2 K -- 0.92 ERA, seems to have the stuff
Bowden 2 IP, UER, 2 H, BB, K, E -- W, 2-0, 0.69 ERA

*** The Royals tied the game in the 8th to send it to extras and Barry Bowden allowed a run in the 10th thanks in part to his own error, but Josh Vittek came up with 1 on and 2 out and ended it with a walkoff blast for his 2nd pro homer. Fernando Cruz had 2-hits for the Royals as his bat seems to be coming around a little bit. RP Manuel Alvarez took the loss with 2 ER over 1 1/3 IP to fall to 0-2 as SP Collin McHugh allowed an UER over 5 IP. Two Mets had 2-hit games as CF Rafael Fernandez had a walk, triple, RBI and 2 RS.

Kingsport 10, B-Royals 3 (Sat.)

CF H. Richardson 1-5, 3B (3), RBI (10), RS -- .254
SS Molina 1-4, RBI (2), K, RS -- .167
RF Caldwell 1-3, BB -- .202
DH Vittek 0-4, K -- .189, must have to play C to hit
3B F. Cruz 1-4, K -- .241

Bryant 4 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, BB, 4 K, 3 HRA -- 7.11 ERA
O.D. Gonzalez 2 1/3 IP, 5 ER, 5 H, BB, 2 K, HRA, WP -- L, 0-3, 12.46 ERA, time to pull the plug
Mieles 1 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, K, HRA, WP -- 5.73 ERA
Jorge IP, BB, 2 K, 2 WP -- 6.00 ERA

*** The Mets went on a tear with 10 runs from the 4th to the 8th and the B-Royals 3-game win streak was no more. The game was momentarily tied after a 3-run Burlington 5th as Hilton Richardson hit an RBI triple and scored on an error in the rally. The tie lasted 4 batters until a 3-run Kingsport homer off O.D. Gonzalez broke it for good. Mets starter John Holdzkom got the win with 5 IP of 3 runs (2 ER) to improve to 3-1. C Dock Doyle and SS Imbewer Alvarez both had 4-hit nights for the Mets and 1B Doug McNulty had the 3-run homer and 5 RBI as part of a 2-hit night. The Mets cranked 5 homers.

The B-Royals are 9-22 and start a 3-game set at the Bluefield Orioles (12-19) today. Kelvin Herrera got the start for the Royals. The top O's '08 draft pick on the team is 12th round OF Jason Rook. C Salvador Perez is rehabbing at Arizona. OF Matt Olson, who was just signed out of the U of Georgia by the Royals, has already retired.

Rookie - AZL: Rangers 6, Royals 3 (Fri.)

C J. Bonilla 2-3, 2B (4), RBI (13), RS -- .375
3B Henriquez 2-4 -- .200
1B A. Marte 0-4, RBI (4) -- .171
SS Jose 0-3, RBI (7), K -- .216
CF Llanos 1-4, BB, 2 K, picked off -- .192
RF Del Rosario 0-2, BB, K, RS, SB (5), OF assist at third -- .314
LF Mariano 0-3, BB, 3 K -- .000, season debut

J. De La Cruz IP, ER, 2 H -- 9.00 ERA, rehabbing
Liotta 3 IP, 2 H, 2 K -- 1.50 ERA, rehabbing, looking good
Sample 2 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 3 K -- L, 0-2, 9.00 ERA
Sirrett 2 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, K -- 4.30 ERA

*** The game was tied at 1 into the 7th but the Rangers broke out for 5 runs in the 7th to get the win. RP Robert Wilkins got the win with 2 IP of an ER to improve to 1-0. Starter Kyle O'Campo worked 5 IP with an ER allowed. LF Jim McGraw was 3-4 with a RS and three other Rangers had 2-hit games. 3B Erik Morrison drove in 3 runs.

Cubs 12, Royals 2 (Sat.)

LF Del Rosario 2-4, 2B (4), K -- .324
C J. Bonilla 0-2, HBP, RBI (14) -- .364
CF Llanos 1-3, 2B (4), RS -- .198
2B-SS D. Batista 1-4, 2B (6) -- .324
DH Matos 0-3, HBP, K -- .174
3B Kuebler 0-3, E (7) -- .200

Fortuna 2 IP, 7 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 2 HRA, WP -- L, 2-1, 6.27 ERA
A. Bonilla 3 IP, 3 R (1 ER), 6 H, balk -- 5.87 ERA
A. Martinez 2 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, HRA -- 10.13 ERA
Feickert IP, H, BB, K -- 9.95 ERA

*** Carlos Fortuna got shelled and the Cubs cruised past the Royals. The Royals scored both of their runs in the 1st but it was all Cubs from there as they scored 4 in the 1st, 3 in the 2nd, and the rout was on. RP Cedric Redmond pitched 2 scoreless for the win to move to 1-0. Starter Larry Suarez pitched the 1st and allowed 2 unearned runs. 1B Sean Hoorelbeke was 4-4 with a walk, double, 2 HR, 4 RBI and 2 RS. Four other guys had multi-hit games for the Cubbies and LF Jericho Jones had a homer and 3 RBI.

The Royals bounced back by routing the Brewers today to move to 13-11 and 3.5 games back. Deybi De La Cruz got the win. Four games remain in the first half so the Royals are nearing mathematical elimination.