Royals on the Farm 7/25

AAA - Omaha: Las Vegas 7, O-Royals 1

LF Lubanski 1-4, HR (10), RBI (38), K, RS -- .240
C Tupman 2-3, PB (10) -- .232
DH Buchanan 2-4, K -- .256
3B Dawkins 2-5, 2B (9), K, E (3) -- .293
C-RF B. Pena 1-4 -- .303
1B Shealy 0-1 -- .295, pulled in 2nd
RF-1B Stodolka 0-3, BB -- .273
SS Sanchez 0-3, BB, 2 E (4) -- .202

Bale IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 K, HRA -- L, 0-1, 6.00 ERA, must be working him back into the pen
Wright 6 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 6 H, 3 BB, 5 K, WP, E (5) -- 5.80 ERA, just an innings eater this season
Fulchino IP, nada -- 4.65 ERA

*** Omaha used up all its offense in the game 1 pounding of the 51s as Vegas won the final 3 of the set with Friday's 7-1 victory. John Bale gave up a leadoff homer in the 1st and a run on 2 hits in the 2nd before getting pulled for Matt Wright. Wright got lit up in the 5th for 5 runs on 2 walks, 4 hits, a wild pitch and Wright error. How does it make sense that 1 run is unearned when the error is on the pitcher? I can understand if it's someone else's error, but if it's the pitcher's, it should count as an earned run. Omaha stranded 2 a couple times and didn't get on the board until Chris Lubanski hit a 1-out solo homer in the 7th for his 10th of the season. The Royals stranded 2 in the 9th. 51s starter Heath Totten worked 5 scoreless innings in the spot start for Jon Meloan, who the Dodgers flipped to Cleveland for Casey Blake. Three 51s had 2-hit games as 3B Angel Chavez also drove in 2 runs.

Omaha is 48-58. A 4-game set at the Tucson Sidewinders (44-62, AAA Diamondbacks) starts tonight. Jose Capellan (3-0, 2.57) is slated to start versus an undetermined Sidewinder starter. Tucson's roster features D-Backs prospects righty Max Scherzer (Mizzou product), righty Esmerling Vasquez and righty Matt Torra.

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 2, Springfield 1

1B Kaaihue 2-3, BB, 2 RBI (73), K -- .308, getting job done when it counts
CF Duarte 2-4, RS -- .260
2B Maddox 0-3, S -- .297
3B J. Richardson 0-4 -- .285
DH McFall 1-3, K -- .243

Hardy 4 IP, ER, 5 H, 4 BB, 4 K -- 5.24 ERA
C. Hayes 4 IP, 3 H, K -- W, 4-1, 1.58 ERA, submariner pitching well
Hamulack IP, H, K -- SV, 4, 3.60 ERA

*** Chris Hayes pitched well out of the pen and the Naturals got a key win in game 1 with Springfield. Rowdy Hardy loaded the bases with 1 out in the 1st and wriggled out of the jam with 2 Ks. Kila Kaaihue hit a 2-out RBI single in the 1st to get NWA on the board. Hardy loaded the bases with 1 out again in the 3rd and, this time, the Cardinals got a game-tying single before leaving the bases loaded. Irving Falu hit a 1-out double in the 3rd and Kaaihue singled him home to make it 2-1. Hayes took over in the 5th and got a couple double plays behind him. Tim Hamulack stranded 1 in the 9th for his 4th save. Cards SP Kyle Mura worked 6 2/3 innings and allowed 2 ER to take the loss and fall to 3-2. SS Tyler Greene was 4-5 with a run scored.

NWA is 20-14 and a game up on the Cardinals. The series continues tonight as Julio Pimentel (4-9, 5.65) pitches vs. Springfield's Justin Fiske (0-0, 3.70).

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 5, Kinston 4

1B Correll 3-5, 2B (9), HR (6), RBI (16), RS -- .378
2B Bianchi 2-4, SF, 2B (23), GW RBI (45), K, RS, SB (7) -- .243
3B J. Johnson 2-3, SF, RBI (30), K -- .281
SS McConnell 2-5, E (25) -- .281
DH Mertins 2-4, BB, RS, SB (22) -- .300
LF Dyson 2-4, K -- .238
RF Strait 1-5, RBI (12), K, RS -- .348
C Morizio 1-3, S, RBI (17), K -- .169
CF D. Robinson 0-5 -- .245
*The Rocks stranded 11.

Santiago 6 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 6 K -- 3.73 ERA, nice
Holland IP, H, BB, K -- 3.63 ERA
Swaggerty IP, H -- 1.91 ERA
Chambliss 0 IP (3 batters), 3 R (2 ER), 3 BB -- 3.38 ERA, didn't have it Friday
Hartsock IP, UER, 2 H, K -- BS, 1, W, 7-4, 4.02 ERA

*** A crazy 9th saw Wilmington enter with a 6-hit shutout going, then the pen blew a 3-run lead, and the Rocks offense responded by rallying back to win it in the bottom of the 9th. Starter Mario Santiago left the bases full in the 2nd and the Rocks left 2 in scoring position that inning. The Rocks scored 2 in the 4th on a Josh Johnson sac fly and Matt Morizio RBI single but stranded 2 again. Brad Correll smoked his 6th homer as a Rock in the 7th to make it 3-0 entering the 9th. Closer Tyler Chambliss walked the bases full before getting pulled for Aaron Hartsock, who saw Chris McConnell's 25th error of the season score a run before 2 RBI singles and a sac fly gave the K-Tribe a 4-3 lead. Josh Tomlin came on to pitch the 9th for Kinston but Correll hit a 1-out double and a Cody Strait single brought the tying run home. With 1 out and runners at the corners, Jeff Bianchi lifted a sac fly to right and Strait scored to win it for Wilmington. Tomlin got his 1st blown save and the loss with 2/3 IP of 2 ER to fall to 8-5. Starter Shawn Nottingham pitched 4 2/3 innings of 2 ER allowed. 1B Beau Mills and RF Ryan Goleski had 2-hit games and Topeka native DH Jerad Head was 0-4 with an RBI and run scored.

Wilmington is 16-17 and 2 games back. Game 2 is tonight. Probable starters: right-hander Matt Kniginyzky (6-7, 3.74) versus Kinston righty Jeanmar Gomez (3-8, 5.70).

A - Burlington: Bees 7, Cedar Rapids 6 (10)

3B Moustakas 2-4, BB, HR (13), 2 RBI (46), 2 K, 2 RS -- .252
DH C. Robinson 2-5, 2 RBI (41), 2 K -- .252
CF Ortiz 2-4, HBP, 2 K, RS, picked off, OF assist at home -- .308
1B Taylor 1-3, 2 BB, HR (12), 2 RBI (40), RS -- .212, does more offensively with a low-.200s average than anyone I think I've ever seen, poster boy for potential deceitfulness of BA stat
2B Giavotella 1-5, 3B, RS -- .297, first pro triple was big
SS Martin 0-3, BB, RBI (20), K -- .324
RF Van Stratten 1-3, BB, RS, SB (4) -- .377, 17-game hit streak
C Billick 0-2, BB, HBP, K, RS, CS (2) -- .348

Cota 4 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 6 K, HRA, 2 WP -- 5.19 ERA, showing signs of progress
M. Peterson 2 1/3 IP, 2 H, 4 K -- 9.82 ERA
T. Huber 1 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, K, HRA -- 11.57 ERA
Raglione 1 1/3 IP, H, 2 K -- BS, 1, W, 1-0, 5.93 ERA

*** In a near mirror image of the Wilmington game, the Bees blew a lead in the 9th and won it in 10 Friday to sweep the Kernels. Cedar Rapids plated a run on only 1 hit in the 1st thanks to a hit batsman and steal of home. Mike Moustakas tied it with his 13th homer with 2 out in the 1st but the Kernels regained the lead in the 2nd with a run on a solo homer off Luis Cota. Adrian Ortiz cut down a runner at the plate in the 3rd to keep it 2-1 and Jason Taylor tied it in the 4th with his 12th homer of the season. The Bees took the lead with a big 4-run 5th as Moustakas singled in a run, Taylor took a bases-loaded walk, Clint Robinson tagged an RBI single and Kyle Martin hit an RBI forceout to make it 6-2. That was the score entering the 9th as Tim Huber came in for his second full inning of work. With 1 on and 2 out, Huber served up a 2-run homer to cut the lead to 6-4 then gave up another run on 3 singles before Paul Raglione came in with 2 on. Raglione gave up a game-tying single but stranded 2. Johnny Giavotella had the big hit in the 10th with a leadoff triple for his first pro 3-bagger and a Robinson walkoff single ended it after 2 intentional walks to load the bases. RP Eddie McKiernan took the loss without recording an out as he allowed an ER to fall to 1-5. Starter Robert Fish allowed 6 ER over 4 1/3 IP. CF Clay Fuller was 3-3 with a walk, his 13th triple, his 29th SB and a run scored and SS Andy Romine was 3-5 with his 45th SB and a run scored. RF Julio Perez hit a 2-run pinch-hit homer in the 9th for his 12th of the season.

Burlington is 19-14 and 1.5 games back. A 3-game set at the South Bend Silver Hawks (23-11, A D-Backs) starts tonight as Danny Duffy takes the hill for the Bees. The Bees are 2-1 versus South Bend this season.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Ogden 5, Chukars 3

C McCauley 2-4, 2B (7), HR, 2 RBI (13), K, RS -- .270
CF Norris 2-5, RS, CS (3) -- .254
SS Alfaro 1-4, RBI (28), 2 K -- .271
LF Griffin 1-3, BB, K, RS -- .288
DH Testa 0-3, HBP -- .179
1B Espinosa 0-4, 2 K -- .151
* RF Neder Severino had an OF assist at first.

Casey 5 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 4 K -- L, 2-2, 2.39 ERA
Carver 2 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, HRA -- 8.76 ERA
B. Hardy IP, 2 K -- 6.23 ERA

*** A 2-run 5th was the key to Ogden's sweep of the short 2-game set. Ogden scored a run on 2 hits in the 1st and the Chukars stranded 2 in the 2nd before tying it in the 4th on a Sean McCauley RBI double. Bryan Casey allowed an RBI triple and single in the 5th to help make it 3-1 Ogden. McCauley clubbed his 1st homer of the season in the 6th to cut it to 3-2 but Ogden matched it with a leadoff homer off Jesse Carver in the bottom of the 6th. J.D. Alfaro singled home a run in the 7th to cut it back to a 1-run lead but, again, Ogden responded as C Matt Wallach (Tim's son, I believe) hit his 2nd triple of the game and scored to make it 5-3. RP Allen St. Clair pitched a perfect 9th for his 1st save. Starter Geison Aguasviva won with 7 IP of 3 runs (1 ER) allowed to improve to 2-2. Wallach was one of 3 Raptors with 2 hits as he tripled his triple count to 3 in the win. 2B Brian Ruggiano had 2 RBI.

IF is 14-22. A 2-game set at the Orem Owlz (23-13, Rookie Halos) starts tonight as Brandon Sisk (0-0, 1.29) takes the mound for Idaho Falls. IF is 1-5 versus Orem. OF Nick Francis got promoted to A ball in Burlington and P John Foster will continue rehabbing in Arizona

Rookie - Burlington: B-Royals 13, Pulaski 7

C Vittek 2-5, GS (5), 5 RBI (15), RS, 2 PB (4) -- .283
CF H. Richardson 3-6, K, 3 RS -- .246
2B A. Franco 2-5, BB, RBI (12), K, 2 RS, SB (7) -- .225
DH D. Wood 2-6, HR (2), RBI (10), 2 RS -- .260
RF McFadden 2-6, HR (2), RBI (4), RS -- .250
3B F. Cruz 1-5, RBI (9), 2 K -- .245
SS Gutierrez 1-3, 2 BB, 3 RS, SB (4) -- .254
* The B-Royals stranded 11.

Marimon 2 1/3 IP, 4 ER, H, 4 BB, 2 K, 2 WP -- 11.08 ERA
Herrera 3 2/3 IP, 3 H, BB, 4 K -- W, 2-1, 1.66 ERA
Mieles IP, 2 BB, K -- 5.25 ERA
Farinas 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 2 BB -- 9.64 ERA
Bowden 1 1/3 IP, K -- SV, 4, 0.55 ERA

*** A 6-run 4th including back-to-back-to-back homers by Burlington was the difference as the Royals won their 3rd straight series. A 4-run 1st got the Royals going as two Pulaski errors helped load the bases and two more on one play scored all 3 runners. Fernando Cruz also singled in a run to make it 4-0 Royals. Sugar Ray Marimon gave up a run in the 1st and, after Angel Franco singled home a run in the 2nd to make it 5-1, Marimon loaded the bases and allowed a run before getting pulled in the 3rd. Kelvin Herrera came in and the Mariners ended up with 3 runs in the inning to cut it to 5-4. With the bases loaded and 1 out in the Royal 4th, Josh Vittek slammed his 5th pro homer and David Wood and Warren McFadden followed by homering as well to make it 11-4. Williams Farinas allowed 3 runs in the 8th but the Royals polished it off with 2 in the 9th on a 2-run Vittek single aided by a Pulaski error. The Mariners committed 9 in the game. Pulaski SP Kyle Haas took the loss with 5 runs (1 ER) allowed over 2 IP to fall to 1-3. RF Jose Rivero was 3-5 with a double, 2 RBI, K and RS and C Tommy Johnson was 2-3 with a double and run scored. DH Deybis Benitez drew 4 walks.

Burlington is 13-24. A 3-game set with the Bluefield Orioles (15-22) starts tonight with no announced starters on the team site. The Royals are 2-1 versus the O's.

Rookie - AZL: Royals 4, Brewers 3 (11)

C Matos 2-3, BB, SF, 2 RBI (3, including game winner), K, picked off runner -- .241
SS Jose 2-3, 2 BB, RBI (10), K, 2 RS, SB (3), E (4) -- .265
3B Kuebler 1-5, RBI (7), K -- .236
CF Llanos 0-4, BB, 3 K -- .165
RF Del Rosario 1-4, BB, 2 K, RS, E (3) -- .326
DH D. Batista 1-4, BB, picked off -- .330

J. De La Cruz 1/3 IP, H, BB -- 2.45 ERA
Fortuna 3 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K, HRA -- 6.65 ERA
Garrido 3 2/3 IP, K -- 7.36 ERA
Hentges 3 IP, 2 H, 3 K, WP -- W, 1-0, 2.70 ERA
Ruhlman IP, H, K -- SV, 2, 3.48 ERA

*** The Royals rallied in the 9th to force extras and '08 draftee C Mauricio Matos had the go-ahead hit in the 11th to help the Royals finish the first half on a high note. Julio De La Cruz loaded the bases with 1 out in the 1st before Carlos Fortuna got out of the jam. Fortuna loaded the bases with no outs in the 3rd but pulled a Houdini to escape trouble. He wasn't as lucky in the 4th as he served up a 2-run homer and a Royals error helped the Brewers to a third run in the inning. Jake Kuebler hit an RBI single in the 5th to cut into the lead but the score was still 3-1 entering the 9th. The Royals loaded the bases with no outs off RP Bob McEwen and Lifete Jose took a walk and a Matos sac fly tied the game. In the 11th, Jose walked and advanced on a balk before Matos singled him home to break the tie. Josh Ruhlman stranded 1 in the bottom of the inning for his 2nd save. RP Jose Sanchez took the loss with an ER allowed over 1 2/3 IP to fall to 0-1. Starter Adrian Rosario allowed an ER over 6 IP. 2B Carlos George was 2-5 with 2 doubles, 2 K and a run scored. He also made his 17th error and was picked off.

The Royals are 15-13. The second half starts tomorrow.