Royals on the Farm 7/21

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 1, Round Rock 0

RF Stodolka 1-4, GW HR (4), RBI (16), RS -- .254
CF Maier 1-4, 2B (24), 2 K -- .317
C B. Pena 1-4, 2B (9) -- .310
1B Shealy 1-2, 2 BB, K -- .295, 11-game hit streak
SS Sanchez 0-2, BB -- .179
LF Lubanski 1-3, 3B (4), K -- .228

Bale IP, 2 H -- 0.00 ERA
Capellan 8 IP, 3 H, BB, 7 K -- W, 3-0, 2.57 ERA, very nice

*** Colorado's loss was definitely Omaha's gain Monday as Jose Capellan held the Express to 3 hits over 8 innings of work and Mike Stodolka hit a walkoff homer in the 9th to give Omaha the 1-0 win. The Express got only 1 of their 5 hits after the 2nd inning as Capellan retired 21 of the last 23 Round Rock batters. Express starter Chad Reineke was equal to the task as he shut out the Royals on 5 hits over 8 innings. Fernando Nieve came in for the 9th and Stodolka blasted a 1-out solo homer to end it. It was his 4th of the season. Nieve took the loss to fall to 1-5. C J.R. House was 2-4 for the Express.

Omaha is 47-55. A 4-game set at the Las Vegas 51s (53-50, AAA Dodgers) starts tonight. Probable starters: Omaha's Brad Salmon (6-4, 4.50) and LV's Justin Orenduff (2-6, 6.78). Joel Peralta is headed back to the Omaha pen as Leo Nunez got activated from the DL. P Tyler Lumsden was also put on the DL with an unspecified injury.

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 10, Springfield 7 (13)

3B Lucas 6-7, 2B (8), 3B, 3 RBI (21), RS, picked off, E (5) -- .322, first 6-hit game in NWA history
DH Richardson 3-7, 2B (22), 3 RBI (53), 3 K, 2 RS -- .292
2B Maddox 3-6, BB, 2 RS -- .301
1B Kaaihue 2-4, 3 BB, 3 RS -- .307, OBP up to .464
RF McFall 3-7, HR (12), 2 RBI (39), 2 K, RS -- .239
LF Falu 1-5, 2 BB, RBI (26), K, RS -- .256
C Donachie 2-6, SF, RBI (22), K -- .214
CF Duarte 0-8, K -- .255, now that's an 0-fer
* The Naturals stranded 15.

Pimentel 5 2/3 IP, 5 ER, 8 H, 4 BB, 3 K, HRA, WP -- 5.65 ERA
Atencio 3 1/3 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 2 H, BB, 4 K -- 3.94 ERA
de la Vara 1/3 IP, H, K -- 3.95 ERA
C. Hayes 3 2/3 IP, 3 H, 5 K, WP -- W, 3-1, 1.71 ERA

*** An Ed Lucas error in the 9th helped prolong the game until Lucas helped end it with a big hit in the 13th. Juan Richardson hit a 2-out, 2-run double in the 1st and Lucas started his 6-hit night with an RBI single but got picked off to end the inning. Adam Donachie hit a sac fly in the 4th to make it 4-0 before Julio Pimentel allowed 2 runs in the bottom of the inning on 3 hits, a walk and wild pitch. Richardson singled home a run in the 5th to make it 5-2 but Pimentel allowed a run in the 5th on 2 hits. The Cardinals tied it on a 2-out, 2-run homer in the 6th to chase Pimentel from the game. Brian McFall broke the tie in the 8th with a leadoff homer for his 12th of the season and then came back up and hit an RBI single in the 9th to make it 7-5 Naturals. With 2 out and 2 on in the bottom of the 9th, Greg Atencio gave up an RBI single that turned into a 2-run hit on Lucas' 5th error of the season. The Naturals stranded 2 in the 11th but Lucas came up with 2 on in the 13th and hit a triple before scoring on an Irving Falu single to make it 10-7 Nats. Chris Hayes stranded 2 in scoring position in the bottom of the inning to get the victory. RP Adam Daniels allowed 3 ER over 2 IP to fall to 1-4. The Cards used 7 pitchers as starter Justin Fiske lasted only 3 IP and allowed 3 ER. Four Cards had multi-hit games led by a 3-5 night from 3B Allen Craig, who had a walk, double, 2 RBI, 2 K and a RS. 2B Casey Rowlett hit his 4th homer and had 2 RBI.

NWA is 17-13 and tied with Springfield for first. A 3-game home set with the Tulsa Drillers (16-14, AA Rockies) starts tonight as Blake Johnson (8-6, 4.19) hurls versus Tulsa's Chaz Roe (3-1, 3.86). NWA is 7-9 versus the Drillers after starting the season 7-1 against them.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 8, Lynchburg 6

1B Correll 4-5, 2B (7), HR (5), 2 RBI (13) -- .393, ripping former team with his bat, 12-game hit streak
RF Strait 3-4, S, 2B (6), RBI (10), RS, SB (3) -- .362
2B Mertins 2-5, 2B (22), RBI (35), RS, SB (21), E (13) -- .301
3B J. Johnson 2-4, BB, RBI (29), K, SB (10) -- .275
SS McConnell 1-4, SF, 2B (26), 2 RBI (24), K, RS -- .275
CF D. Robinson 1-5, 2B (16), K, RS, SB (46) -- .245
DH Bianchi 0-4, BB, SB (6) -- .237
* LF Jarrod Dyson stole his 33rd base as the Rocks were 6/6 in that department.

Teaford 6 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, BB, 3 K, HRA -- W, 6-3, 3.35 ERA
Hartsock IP, 2 R (1 ER), 3 H, K -- 4.09 ERA
Swaggerty IP, UER, 2 BB, E (2) -- 1.98 ERA
Chambliss IP, H -- SV, 17, 2.95 ERA

*** Brad Correll was hot at the plate again as the Rocks held off the 'Cats to earn at least a series split. The Rocks got right down to business with 3 runs in the 1st on a Chris McConnell RBI double and RBI singles from Cody Strait and Kurt Mertins. Chris McConnell hit a sac fly in the 2nd and Correll singled in a run to make it 5-0 Rocks. Everett Teaford allowed a run on 2 hits in the 2nd but Josh Johnson singled home a run in the 3rd to make it 6-1. That was the score into the 6th when Teaford gave up a solo homer and another run on 2 hits and an error to cut it to 6-3. Correll doubled and scored on a passed ball in the 7th but Aaron Hartsock gave up 2 runs in the bottom of the inning on 3 hits, an error and passed ball to cut it to 7-5. Correll led off the 9th with his 5th homer to give the Rocks a little insurance and Tyler Chambliss came in with 2 on and 0 out in the 9th. He allowed a hit and a run on a double play ball but shut the door for his 17th save. Hillcats SP Daniel Moskos took the loss with 6 runs (5 ER) allowed in 5 1/3 IP to fall to 7-7. DH Kent Sakamoto was 3-5 with a double, his 6th homer and an RBI with 2 RS. Two others had 2-hit games for Lynchburg.

Wilmington is 15-15 and 2.5 games out. The series continues tonight as Rocks righty Ed Cegarra (3-4, 4.43) opposes Lynchburg right-hander Michael Crotta (7-7, 4.99). The Rocks swept the Carolina League Player of the Week awards for July 14-20 as Correll was named Player of the Week after hitting .455 with 3 HR and 8 RBI over the week. Cegarra was Pitcher of the Week after pitching 8 scoreless versus Salem.

A - Burlington: rainout

*** The finale with West Michigan was cancelled as the teams don't play again this season. The Bees have today off and start a set with Cedar Rapids Wednesday.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Chukars 12, Missoula 5

RF Francis 5-5, 2 2B (10), RBI (20), 2 RS, picked off -- .336
DH Griffin 3-4, HBP, HR, 2 RBI (11), 2 RS -- .278, first pro homer, probably best game as a pro
CF Norris 3-5, 2 2B (6), RBI (7), K, RS, SB (14), CS (2) -- .254
3B Jimenez 2-5, RBI (12), K, RS, SB (9), E (9) -- .330
SS Alfaro 0-4, SF, RBI (27), K -- .280
2B A. Perez 1-4, BB, RBI (17), 2 RS, SB (5) -- .240
LF Testa 0-3, BB, SF, 2 RBI (8), 2 RS, SB -- .189
C Graterol 2-3, BB, RBI (5), 3 RS, PB (5) -- .313

Hodgson 3 IP, 4 ER, 3 H, 5 BB, 3 K, WP -- 4.80 ERA
Beach 4 IP, ER, 3 H, 6 K -- W, 2-2, 5.74 ERA
Novakowski 2 IP, H, BB -- 3.00 ERA

*** A 7-run 1st keyed the Chukar win. Most of the damage was done with 1 out in the 1st as Shawn Griffin hit an RBI single, Antonio Jimenez hit a 2-run single aided by an Osprey error, Alwin Perez scored on an error, Juan Graterol hit a 2-run single aided by 2 Missoula errors and Patrick Norris hit an RBI double for his second 2-bagger of the inning. Ivor Hodgson struggled on the mound as he gave up 2 runs in the 2nd on 2 hits, 2 walks, a passed ball and wild pitch. Missoula scored 2 more in the 3rd on 3 walks and a hit to cut it to 7-4. Colby Beach came in for the 4th and gave up a run on 2 hits to cut the lead to 2 but the Chukars answered with 3 in their half on Griffin's 1st pro longball, a Perez RBI single and Carlo Testa sac fly. J.D. Alfaro's sac fly in the 5th made it 11-5 IF. Nick Francis hit an RBI single in the 7th to make it 12-5 and Beach and Gary Novakowski took it from there to hold the Osprey to 2 hits after the 4th. Missoula SP Bayron Zepeda lasted only an inning and allowed 7 runs (3 ER) to fall to 0-1. The Osprey committed 6 errors. Two Osprey had 2-hit games and C Chris Davis had 2 RBI.

IF is 14-19 and goes for the sweep tonight. Ryan Morgan (0-1, 5.74) vies against Missoula SP Kenny Sosa (2-1, 3.52).

Rookie - Burlington: B-Royals 3, Bluefield 2

DH Vittek 4-4, 2B, HR (4), 2 RBI (10), RS, CS -- .289, proving my theory wrong
3B F. Cruz 2-4 -- .253
RF Caldwell 1-4, 2B (7), RBI (11), K -- .204
CF H. Richardson 0-4, 2 K -- .244

G. De La Cruz 5 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 6 K -- 7.36 ERA
Baez 3 IP, H, BB, 3 K -- W, 1-2, 4.72 ERA
Bowden IP, 2 BB, 2 K -- SV, 2, 0.64 ERA

*** A Josh Vittek RBI in the 8th made the difference as Vittek's 4-4 day paced the Royals to their 10th win of the season. Starter Giancarlo De La Cruz allowed a run on 2 hits in the 2nd but the Royals tied it in the 4th on Vittek's 4th homer of the season. De La Cruz gave the lead back to the O's in the 4th on a walk and double but Allen Caldwell hit a 2-out RBI double in the 5th to retie it. With 2 out in the 8th, David Wood drew a walk and Vittek drove him home with a double to make it 3-2. Barry Bowden walked 2 in the 9th but got 2 clutch Ks to finish it for his 2nd save. RP Tom Phelps took the loss with an ER over 3 IP to fall to 1-2. Starter Eddie Gamboa allowed 2 ER over 5 IP. Four O's had a hit each.

The B-Royals are 10-23. The series ends tonight. Sam Runion is supposed to start for Burlington.

Rookie - AZL: off day

*** The Royals got shut out by the Giants today. Brent Fisher took the loss in a rehab outing.