Royals on the Farm 7/22

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 17, Las Vegas 5

RF Stodolka 3-5, HBP, HR (5), 2 RBI (18), 3 RS -- .264, getting regular playing time and bat is responding....
C Tupman 3-5, BB, 2 2B (6), 2 RBI (22), 2 RS -- .222
LF Lubanski 3-6, 3B (5), 2 RBI (36), K, RS -- .234
2B Smith 2-5, HBP, HR (19), 3 RBI (59), 3 RS -- .251
1B Shealy 2-4, BB, HBP, HR (15), 2 RBI (42), K, 3 RS -- .298, 12-game hit streak, time to move Gload
DH Buchanan 2-4, BB, HBP, HR (8), RBI (32), K, 3 RS, CS -- .258
SS Sanchez 2-6, 2B (4), 2 RBI (8), E (2) -- .192
3B Matranga 2-5, BB, 2 RBI (31), 2 K, RS, CS (3) -- .269
CF Maier 1-6, RBI (38), 3 K, RS -- .315
* Omaha stranded 10.

Salmon 5 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 5 K, HRA, WP -- W, 7-4, 4.56 ERA
Newman 3 IP, 2 H, BB, 2 K -- 2.00 ERA
Yabuta IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB -- 4.67 ERA

*** Everybody in the lineup got into the act versus Las Vegas as only 2 Royal starters didn't have more than 1 RBI and only 1 (Angel Sanchez) didn't score a run in the 17-5 rout. Nine of the runs came in the first 5 innings as Jason Smith cranked a 3-run homer in the 1st for his 19th of the season, Dave Matranga singled in a run in the 2nd, Ryan Shealy and Brian Buchanan went yard in the 3rd for their 15th and 8th of the season, respectively, Mitch Maier singled home Chris Lubanski after he tripled in the 4th, and Mike Stodolka led off the 5th with his 5th longball of the season. Brad Salmon took a 2-hit shutout into the 5th but the 51s scored 3 runs that inning on a walk, wild pitch, RBI single and 2-run homer. Omaha went scoreless for only 1 inning of the game in the 6th and bounced back with 2 in the 7th on a Sanchez RBI double and Lubanski RBI single. The Royals tacked on 5 in the 8th on a bases-loaded HBP by Stodolka, bases-loaded walk by Matt Tupman and RBI singles from Sanchez, Lubanski and Matranga to make it 16-3. Tupman doubled home another run in the 9th and Yaz Yabuta ran into some trouble in the 9th with 2 runs allowed but stranded 2 to finish it off. Starter Justin Orenduff took the loss with 4 IP of 8 runs (7 earned) allowed to fall to 2-7. RF Jason Repko was 2-5 with his 7th homer and 2 RBI and C A.J. Ellis was 2-3 with a walk, double and 2 RBI.

Omaha is 48-55. The series continues tonight as Brandon Duckworth (3-10, 4.75) takes the mound vs. 51s SP B.J. LaMura (0-1, 7.20). The 17 runs were the most by the O-Royals since 7/26/04 when they beat Albuquerque, 17-8. The Royals also notched 20 hits for the first time since 7/27/05. Joel Peralta is headed back to KC as Jimmy Gobble was put on the DL with "back stiffness". I think he's just pitching like a stiff. Peralta responded by getting beaten around by Detroit Monday. I failed to mention Tuesday that the Las Vegas roster includes Dodgers prospects righty Jon Meloan (5-10, 4.97, 1.70 WHIP in 105 IP), SS Chin-lung Hu (.572 OPS in only 7 games since not doing much at LA this season) and OF Xavier Paul (.798 OPS in 80 games).

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 11, Tulsa 8

DH Aldridge 2-4, BB, 2B (2), 3 RBI (8), 2 RS, SB -- .222
LF Suero 3-3, BB, SF, 2B (6), 4 RBI (21), RS, 3 SB (38) -- .268, what a game...
C Donachie 1-4, BB, HR (4), 2 RBI (24), 3 K, RS -- .215
1B Kaaihue 1-3, BB, 2B (10), RS, 2 E (8) -- .307
CF Duarte 1-3, 2 BB, HR (7), RBI (36), K, RS, SB (25) -- .255
3B Lucas 1-4, BB, 3B (2), RBI (22), K, 3 RS -- .320
2B Maddox 1-5, K -- .299
* NWA stranded 10.

B. Johnson 5 IP, 7 R (6 ER), 7 H, 3 BB, 4 K, 2 HRA -- 4.49 ERA
Plummer 3 IP, ER, 4 H, BB, 5 K, HRA -- BS, 2, W, 3-1, 4.62 ERA
Hamulack IP, nada -- SV, 3, 4.00 ERA

*** The offense was in full bore for the Royals' AA affiliate as well as the Naturals churned out 11 runs, although their pitching wasn't as solid Tuesday. NWA was actually down, 7-0, early on as Blake Johnson got slapped for 3 runs in the 1st on 2 hits, 2 walks and a Kila Kaaihue error and then gave up 4 runs in the second on 2 homers. The Naturals responded in a big way in the 2nd with 6 runs on a Cory Aldridge RBI single, 2-run Ovandy Suero single, 2-run homer by Adam Donachie (his 4th) and a solo shot by Jose Duarte (his 7th) to make it back-to-back longballs and cut the lead to 7-6. NWA moved ahead in the 3rd as Ed Lucas hit an RBI triple and scored on a Suero sac fly to make it 8-7 Naturals. Johnson retired 10 of the last 12 he faced and Jarod Plummer came in for the 6th. That went well until Plummer gave up a 2-out solo homer in the 8th to tie the game at 8. With 2 out and 2 on in the Naturals 8th, Aldridge ripped a 2-run double and Suero singled him home to make it 11-8. Tim Hamulack pitched a perfect 9th for save #3. RP Adam Bright took the loss for Tulsa with 2/3 IP of an ER allowed to fall to 3-6. Starter Chaz Roe allowed 8 ER over 4 2/3 IP. Three Drillers had 2-hit games and 1B Jeff Kindel was 1-5 with his 9th homer and 4 RBI. Two of the 2-hit guys were OFs Dexter Fowler and Matt Miller, who have victimized NWA pitching all season.

NWA is 18-13 and tied with Springfield for first. The series continues tonight as Dan Cortes (4-4, 4.33) tries to get back on track versus Tulsa's Alan Johnson (3-9, 5.03).

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Lynchburg 11, Blue Rocks 3

1B Correll 1-5, 2B (8), 2 RBI (15) -- .379, 13-game hit streak
SS McConnell 3-4, BB, K, RS, SB (21), E (24) -- .281
2B Bianchi 2-4, 2B (22), K -- .241
CF D. Robinson 1-4, BB, K, RS, SB (47) -- .245
RF Strait 1-4, SB (4) -- .355
3B Mertins 0-4 -- .298
LF Dyson 1-3, BB, RS, OF assist at home -- .234

Cegarra 4 1/3 IP, 7 R (6 ER), 10 H, 2 K, HRA -- L, 3-5, 4.96 ERA, don't think he's gonna win back-to-back pitcher of the week awards
Chavez 3 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, 5 K -- 7.20 ERA, mopup duty

*** Lynchburg battered Ed Cegarra for 4 runs in the 1st and kept up the hitting onslaught in taking game 3 of the set. Three doubles and a 2-run homer did the trick in the 4-run Hillcats 1st. The Rocks cut into the lead with 2 runs in the 5th on a 2-run Brad Correll double but the Hillcats knocked Cegarra out of the game in the 5th with 3 more run-scoring doubles to make it 7-2. Jarrod Dyson scored on a passed ball in the 7th to cut the lead to 4 but Wilmington would get no closer. Five more hits, including 2 doubles, off Chris Chavez plated 4 runs in the 8th to make it 11-3. Lynchburg SP Mike Crotta allowed 2 ER over 6 IP to win and move to 8-7. Five 'Cats had multi-hit games as three players -- RF Jamie Romak (4-5), 2B Jim Negrych (3-5) and DH Kent Sakamoto (3-5) -- combined for 8 of the team's 9 doubles.

Wilmington is 15-16 and 3 games back. The series wraps tonight. Starters are Rocks southpaw Paul Mildren (0-3, 5.64) and Hillcats hot prospect righty Brad Lincoln (0-1, 11.25).

A - Burlington: off day

*** The Bees (16-14) start a 3-game home set with the Cedar Rapids Kernels (15-15, A Angels) tonight. Matt Mitchell (5-8, 4.15) hurls for the Bees versus Kernels SP Esmerlin Jimenez (4-4, 3.72). The Bees are 1-6 versus the Kernels and were swept in the last 4-game set with Cedar Rapids.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Missoula 8, Chukars 7

DH A. Perez 3-5, 2 2B (9), 3 RBI (20), 2 K, 2 RS, 2 SB (7) -- .257
LF Griffin 1-4, BB, HR (2), RBI (12), K, RS -- .277
2B F. Garcia 2-4, BB, 2B (5), K, 3 RS, 2 SB (10) -- .329
CF Francis 0-4, BB, 2 K -- .325
C McCauley 0-4, BB, K, PB (6) -- .260
SS Jimenez 1-4, 3B (2), RS -- .328
1B Espinosa 0-4, K -- .153
* RF Neder Severino had an OF assist at home.

Morgan 4 IP, ER, 3 H, 4 BB, 6 K -- 5.03 ERA
Saito IP, 5 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 3 K, WP -- 7.15 ERA
B. Hardy 2 IP, ER, 4 H, 2 BB, K, E -- BS, 1, 6.61 ERA
Thompson 2 IP, ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K -- L, 1-1, 2.40 ERA

*** The Chukars held a 6-2 lead entering the 6th but it evaporated and the Osprey salvaged the series finale. Fernando Garcia and Alwin Perez hit back-to-back doubles to kick off the Chukar 1st and get IF on the board. Ryan Morgan allowed a run on 2 hits and 2 walks in the 2nd. IF scored 2 in the 3rd on a Perez RBI single and run-scoring Missoula error and then padded the lead to 5-1 with 2 in the 4th on a Perez RBI double and another run-scoring Osprey error. Derrick Saito came in to pitch the 5th and allowed a run on 2 hits and a wild pitch but Antonio Jimenez tripled and scored on an error in the 5th to make it 6-2. Missoula broke out in the 6th with 5 runs on a 3-run triple off Saito and 2 more runs on 3 hits, a walk and error by Blaine Hardy. Shawn Griffin clubbed his 2nd pro homer for a solo shot in the 6th to tie it at 7. James Thompson came in to pitch the 8th and put the first two batters on and allowed the go-ahead run. The Chukars stranded 1 in the 9th as RP Trevor Harden got his 1st save. Starter Kenny Sosa worked 3 IP of 3 runs (2 ER) allowed and RP Justin Mace blew his 2nd save but got the win to move to 1-2 with 3 IP of an ER. Four Osprey had multi-hit games and CF Winston Linton was 2-5 with a triple and 3 RBI.

IF is 14-20. The Chukars have today off as they're headed on a road trip. Six games remain in the first half.

Rookie - Burlington: B-Royals 2, Bluefield 1 (10)

C Vittek 2-5, 2B (2), K, RS -- .300
2B A. Franco 3-5, 2B (5), RBI (11), K -- .212
LF Aparicio 1-5, RBI (16), K -- .231
3B F. Cruz 2-5 -- .260, picking it up
CF H. Richardson 0-4, BB, 2 K, RS -- .236
RF Caldwell 1-3, 2 BB, K -- .207
DH Morales 1-3, BB, S -- .219
* The Royals stranded 13.

Runion 5 IP, 4 H, BB, 7 K -- 0.87 ERA, second straight great start, 17 2/3 scoreless IP streak
J. Rodriguez 4 IP, UER, 2 H, 5 K, 2 WP, E -- BS, 1, W, 1-2, 3.71 ERA
Bowden IP, BB, K -- SV, 3, 0.60 ERA

*** Sam Runion pitched well and Angel Franco had the breakthrough hit in the 10th as the Royals won the series with the O's. Runion pitched 5 scoreless and the Royals took the lead in the 3rd on a Julio Aparicio RBI single. The Royals left the bases loaded in the 4th and stranded 2 in the 5th. Jacob Rodriguez came in to pitch the 6th and allowed the tying run to come in on a hit, wild pitch and 2 errors. The 1-1 tie went into the 10th when the Royals loaded the bases with no outs and Franco hit a 1-out RBI single to make it 2-1. Barry Bowden walked the leadoff guy in the 10th but the runner was caught stealing and Bowden finished it for his 3rd save. RP Dan Eastham took the loss with 2 IP of an ER allowed to fall to 1-3. Starter Colin Allen allowed an ER over 4 2/3 IP. 2B Buck Britton was 3-4 and RF Ronnie Welty was 2-4 for Bluefield.

Burlington is 11-23. A 3-game set at the Pulaski Mariners (22-12) starts tonight. The Royals are 1-2 versus the M's.

Rookie - AZL: Giants 9, Royals 0

3B Kuebler 2-3, SB (2), E (8) -- .222
CF Llanos 0-3 -- .180
RF Del Rosario 1-4, 3 K -- .329
1B D. Batista 0-4, K -- .316
C J. Bonilla 0-2 -- .361
DH Culver 0-3, 3 K -- .000, still awaiting first pro hit
* The Royals did turn 4 double plays.

Fisher 2 2/3 IP, 2 UER, 3 H, 2 BB, 2 K -- L, 0-2, 3.38 ERA
J. De La Cruz 1 1/3 IP, WP -- 2.70 ERA
Garrido 0 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 2 BB -- infinite ERA, AZL debut
Montgomery 3 IP, ER, H, BB, K, HRA -- 1.65 ERA
L. Perez IP, 3 ER, 4 H, BB, 2 WP -- 2.45 ERA
Ruhlman IP, 2 H -- 3.86 ERA

*** Three Giants pitchers combined on a 5-hitter as the Royals got shut down. The Giants scored 2 in the 3rd off rehabbing Brent Fisher to take the lead and poured on 3 in the 5th, 1 in the 7th and 3 in the 8th. The Royals got a runner to third 3 times but couldn't get one home. Three Giants had 2-hit games and everyone in the lineup had a hit.

The Royals are 14-12 after beating the A's in extras today. Brett Richardson got the win.