Royals on the Farm 7/23

AAA - Omaha: Las Vegas 11, O-Royals 6

RF Stodolka 4-5, RBI (19), K, RS, E (4) -- .278, hot streak couldn't have come at better time for him
CF Maier 2-5, HR (9), 3 RBI (41), RS -- .316
C Tupman 2-5, 2B (7), 2 RBI (24), RS -- .226
2B Smith 2-5, K, RS -- .253
SS Sanchez 2-5, 2B (5), RS -- .205
LF Lubanski 1-3, BB, K, SB (4) -- .236
1B Shealy 0-4, BB, K -- .294, hit streak snapped at 12 G
* Omaha stranded 11.

Duckworth 5 IP, 6 ER, 7 H, 5 BB, 2 K, HRA -- L, 3-11, 5.04 ERA, pretty much roster filler at this point
Fulchino IP, 3 ER, 4 H, BB, 2 K -- 4.74 ERA
Lowery 2 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 3 BB -- 2.53 ERA

*** A 1st inning grand slam got the 51s started and they kept inching away from the Royals to even the series. Omaha stranded 2 in the 1st and Las Vegas got a 1-out grand slam from 1B Mitch Jones off Brandon Duckworth to jump out to a 4-0 lead. The Royals loaded the bases in the 2nd and Mitch Maier hit an RBI groundout before Omaha stranded 2. Mike Stodolka hit a 2-out RBI single in the 3rd and Matt Tupman followed with an RBI double to cut it to 4-3. Duckworth gave up 2 runs on 3 hits and a walk in the 4th but Maier hit a 2-run homer in the 6th for his 9th of the season to cut the deficit back to 1. Jeff Fulchino came in for the 6th and allowed 3 runs on 4 hits and a walk as the 51s started to put the game away. They added 2 runs off Devon Lowery in the 8th on 4 hits and a walk. Brian Buchanan led off the Omaha 9th with a triple and scored on a Tupman groundout but the O-Royals couldn't mount a rally. Starter B.J. LaMura got the win with 3 ER over 5 IP to move to 1-1. SS Chin-lung Hu was 3-5 with a double and 2 RS, and 5 other 51s had 2-hit games. Jones finished 2-4 with a walk, his 8th homer and 5 RBI.

Omaha is 48-56. Game 3 is tonight as lefty Dusty Hughes (2-0, 4.03) is slated to pitch vs. 51s RH Miguel Pinango (4-6, 5.71).

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 4, Tulsa 3

DH Kaaihue 1-2, BB, SF, HR (25), 3 RBI (70), RS -- .309
2B Maddox 3-4, 2B (23), RBI (24), 2 RS -- .305
CF-LF Suero 1-5, K, RS, SB (39) -- .267
1B Richardson 0-4 -- .289
3B Lucas 0-3, BB -- .314
SS Lisson 1-2, BB, S, SB (22) -- .211

Cortes 5 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 3 K -- W, 5-4, 4.40 ERA
Nicoll 3 IP, 3 H, 4 K -- 2.55 ERA
de la Vara IP, H -- SV, 1, 3.68 ERA

*** The Naturals slapped 4 runs on the board then held off the Drillers to earn a series win no matter the result of tonight's finale. Kila Kaaihue hit a 2-out, 2-run homer in the 1st for his 25th of the season and Marc Maddox hit an RBI single in the 3rd before a Kaaihue sac fly made it 4-0. Tulsa finally got to starter Dan Cortes in the 5th with 3 runs on 2 hits and 2 walks, with a bases-loaded double by nemesis DH Matt Miller being the big blow. Neither Chris Nicoll nor Gilbert de la Vara allowed a runner past second from the 6th on, and it should be noted that Adam Donachie did catch a couple runners stealing in the late innings, even if Tulsa was 4-6 in SB on the night. Tulsa starter Alan Johnson took the loss with 4 runs (3 ER) allowed over 6 IP to fall to 3-10. RF Dan Carte was 2-4 and Miller was 1-4 with a double and 3 RBI for Tulsa.

NWA is 19-13 and a game up on first. The series finale is tonight as Blake Wood (3-4, 5.55) matches up with Tulsa's Brandon Hynick (6-6, 4.76).

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Lynchburg 9, Blue Rocks 3 (5/cut short by rain)

CF D. Robinson 2-3, 2B (17), RBI (21), RS, SB (48) -- .248
RF Strait 1-2, RBI (11) -- .359
C Morizio 0-2, RBI (16) -- .165
SS McConnell 0-2, S -- .279
DH Correll 0-3, K -- .362, hit streak snapped at 13 G
2B Bianchi 0-2, K -- .239
3B J. Johnson 1-2, SB (11) -- .276

Mildren 3 2/3 IP, 7 ER, 10 H, BB, 3 K, HRA -- L, 0-4, 7.27 ERA, yeesh
Haltiwanger 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, K, HRA -- 3.57 ERA, boy, it'd be nice to have Jeff Keppinger in the KC infield right now

*** The Hillcats pounded out 5 runs in the 1st off Paul Mildren and rain washed the game away early. Cody Strait hit an RBI single in the 1st to drive in Derrick Robinson but Mildren loaded the bases with no outs, and with 2 outs, gave up a 2-run single and 3-run homer to make it 5-1 Lynchburg. C Jeff Howell left with an injured head in the inning after chasing a foul popup and hitting his face on a railing. Anthony Seratelli tripled and scored on a Matt Morizio groundout in the 2nd to cut it to 5-2 but Lynchburg scored 2 in the 4th on 4 hits, including 3 doubles, to chase Mildren. Robinson hit an RBI double in the top of the 5th to cut it to 5-3 but Russ Haltiwanger served up a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 5th before the rain ended it. Hillcats SP Brad Lincoln, the #4 overall pick in the Hochevar draft in '06, worked all 5 innings and allowed 3 ER to move to 1-1. He's working his way back from Tommy John surgery. Five 'Cats had 2-hit games despite it being shortened, and LF Jared Keel was 2-3 with 2 HR (12) and 5 RBI.

Wilmington is 15-17 and 3.5 games out. The Rocks have today off.

A - Burlington: Bees 6, Cedar Rapids 4

3B Moustakas 3-4, 2 2B (16), RBI (44), 2 RS -- .252
LF Lough 2-4, HR (9), 2 RBI (41), 2 K, RS -- .264
C Eigsti 2-3, 2 2B (12), 2 RBI (22), RS, PB (8) -- .215
CF Ortiz 0-4 -- .304
2B Giavotella 0-3, BB, K -- .310
1B Taylor 0-4, SB (33) -- .208
DH C. Robinson 0-2, 2 BB, K, RS -- .244

Mitchell 5 IP, UER, 4 H, BB, 3 K, E (6) -- W, 6-8, 3.93 ERA
M. Peterson IP, H, 2 K -- 27.00 ERA
Augustine 3 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, BB -- SV, 7, 3.29 ERA

*** The Bees built a 6-1 lead and held on to take the opener from the Kernels. Mike Moustakas hit a 2-out double in the 1st, advanced on a balk and scored on a wild pitch to give the Bees a 1-0 lead. Matt Mitchell stranded the bases full in the 3rd and Moustakas hit an RBI double in the bottom of the inning to extend the lead. The Bees stranded 2 in scoring position but bounced back with 2 in the 4th on a 2-run Ryan Eigsti double to make it 4-0. Mitchell gave up a single, error and RBI double in the 5th to get Cedar Rapids on the board but the Bees answered with 2 runs in the inning on David Lough's 9th homer of the year, which was a 2-run shot. Joe Augustine followed Matt Peterson's nice 6th to start the 7th and allowed 3 runs in the inning on 5 hits and a passed ball to cut it to 6-4. He settled down to strand 1 in the 8th and 9th for his 7th save. Kernels SP Esmerlin Jimenez took the loss with 6 ER allowed over 4 1/3 IP to drop to 4-5. SS Andy Romine was 3-5 with a double, 2 RBI, his 44th SB and a RS and four other Kernels had 2-hit games.

The Bees are 17-14 and 3.5 games out. The series continues tonight as Danny Gutierrez is slated to go for the Bees. Former Royal IF Joe Randa has been in Burlington working with some of the infielders and the team.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: off day

*** The Chukars start a 2-game set at the Ogden Raptors (14-19, Rookie Dodgers) tonight. No announced starters on the team site. IF is 3-3 versus Ogden.

Rookie - Burlington: B-Royals 5, Pulaski 0

LF Aparicio 2-4, HR, 3 RBI (19), K, RS -- .240
DH McFadden 2-4, K, RS -- .211
1B D. Cruz 2-4, RS -- .209
CF H. Richardson 1-5, RBI (11), 3 K, RS, E (4) -- .235, slumping
SS J. Gutierrez 1-4, RBI (7), K, SB (3), E (4) -- .250
RF Caldwell 0-3, BB, K, RS -- .202
C Vittek 0-4, 3 K -- .278
3B F. Cruz 1-4, K -- .260

Flanagan 4 2/3 IP, 6 H, BB, 5 K -- 0.74 ERA, got good feeling about him
Lehmann 3 1/3 IP, 2 H, 4 K -- W, 2-2, 4.03 ERA
Halliman IP, BB, 2 K -- 9.24 ERA

*** Three pitchers combined on an 8-hit shutout as the Royals continued their roll. Julio Aparicio slammed a 3-run homer in the 1st for his 1st of the season and John Flanagan was staked to a lead before he took the mound. He survived a dodgy 1st and the Royals scored 2 more runs in the 4th on a Jorge Gutierrez RBI single and Hilton Richardson RBI forceout to make it 5-0. Flanagan pitched well after the 1st but was pulled with 2 on and 2 out in the 5th. Mike Lehmann finished the inning and worked 3 more solid frames. Pernell Halliman stranded 1 in the 9th. Mariners SP Taylor Lewis took the loss with 3 ER allowed over 3 IP to fall to 0-2. 1B Guy Welsh and DH Tommy Johnson both had 2 hits for Pulaski.

The B-Royals are 12-23 and on a 3-game win streak. The series continues tonight with Carson Bryant set to pitch for Burlington.

Rookie - AZL: Royals 5, A's 4 (12)

PH-C J. Bonilla 3-3, 2 2B (6), 2 RBI (19), RS -- .387
RF Del Rosario 3-4, BB, S, 2 RS, CS (7), OF assists at third and home -- .349
2B-SS D. Batista 2-6, K, 2 RS -- .317
1B-2B Henriquez 1-5, S, RBI (5), 2 K, CS (2) -- .177
LF Llanos 0-0, SF, GW RBI (11) -- .180
C Matos 1-3, K -- .192
3B Kuebler 2-4, BB, S, K, SB (3), E (9) -- .239
* The Royals stranded 13.

Liotta 3 1/3 IP, 4 H, 3 K -- 0.96 ERA, I have high hopes for rule 5 pick
Hodge 2 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, 5 BB, K -- 15.75 ERA, something's not right
Cuevas 5 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 4 K -- 6.26 ERA, nice outing
B. Richardson IP, H, K -- W, 2-0, 1.69 ERA

*** Ray Liotta had a fine rehab outing and the Royals came back from 4 down to force extras and win in 12. Liotta tiptoed through trouble in the 1st as Luis Del Rosario had an OF assist to third and Liotta stranded the bases full. Mauricio Matos was thrown out at home in the 2nd and the game stayed scoreless into the 5th. In that inning, the A's got to Mitch Hodge for a run on 3 walks and a hit batsman. Del Rosario cut down another runner at the plate to keep it 1-0. Hodge had a rough 6th also as the A's scored 3 runs on 4 hits, including a 2-run triple. The Royals cut the lead in half in the bottom of the inning as Edwin Henriquez singled in a run and Deivy Batista scored while Henriquez was caught stealing second. The Royals rallied again in the 8th as Jose Bonilla came through with a pinch-hit 2-run single to tie it. The Royals left the bases loaded and loaded the bases again with no outs in the 10th only to squander the chance to end it. Gary Cuevas pitched 5 scoreless innings of relief and Brett Richardson stranded 1 in the 12th. Bonilla led off the Royals 12th with a double, advanced on a groundout and scored on an Alex Llanos sac fly to end the game. RP Ronald Ferreras took the loss with 1 2/3 IP of an ER allowed to fall to 0-2. Starter Julio Ramos pitched 5 scoreless innings. LF Rashun Dixon and C Carmelo Penaloza had 3-hit games as Dixon was 3-4 with 2 walks, 2 triples and 2 RBI along with a steal. Two other A's had 2-hit games, including 2B Nino Leyja, who also swiped 4 bases.

The Royals are 14-12. They were set to play the 12-13 Padres today.