Royals on the Farm 7/3

Happy Independence Day.....

AAA - Omaha: Iowa 9, O-Royals 6

1B Shealy 3-5, HR (12), 2 RBI (30), RS -- .268
3B Dawkins 2-3, BB, 2B (4), K, RS -- .267
2B Matranga 1-2, 2 BB, HR (5), 2 RBI (23), RS -- .264
DH Buchanan 1-5, HR (5), RBI (19), K, RS -- .273
C B. Pena 1-5, 2B (6), RBI (8) -- .323
CF Maier 1-4, BB, 2B (20), K, RS -- .310
RF Costa 1-3, 2 BB, 2B (21), RS, SB (10) -- .303
* LF Damon Hollins had OF assists at home and second.

Rosa 5 IP, 7 ER, 10 H, 2 BB, 5 K, HRA, balk -- L, 3-2, 4.89 ERA
Salmon 2 IP, ER, H, 2 BB, 2 K -- 4.65 ERA
Yabuta IP, ER, 3 H, K -- 6.75 ERA, pitches more like Masato Yoshii than Takashi Saito

*** Iowa built a 7-2 lead and Omaha couldn't recover as the Cubs swept the 4-gamer. Carlos Rosa got off to a rough start with a run on 2 hits and a walk in the 1st and only a Damon Hollins assist at home helped keep it a 1-0 game. Omaha left the bases loaded in the 2nd but Ryan Shealy hit a 2-out solo homer for his 12th of the season in the 3rd to tie the game. Rosa balked in a run in the bottom of the frame then gave up a 2-run homer to make it 4-1 Iowa. Brayan Pena hit an RBI forceout in the 5th but, again, Iowa answered with 3 runs in the bottom of the inning on 4 hits off Rosa. Brian Buchanan went solo for his 5th homer of the season in the 6th and Dave Matranga hammered a 2-run homer, also for his 5th of the season, to cut the lead to 7-5. Shealy singled in Shane Costa in the 7th to cut it to 1 but Iowa matched the run in the 7th off Brad Salmon then Yasuhiko Yabuta gave up a run on 3 hits in the 8th to help put it away. Cubs starter J.R. Mathes pitched 5 2/3 innings for his 6th win and RP Carmen Pignatiello picked up his 3rd save. Two Cubs had 3 hits and three others had 2-hit games. 3B Casey McGehee was 3-3 with a homer and 4 RBI.

Omaha is 41-44 and 10 games out. A 3-game home set with the Memphis Redbirds (47-40, AAA Cards) starts tonight. Probable starters: Memphis RH Mike Parisi (5-1, 3.51) vs. Royals RH Brandon Duckworth (3-7, 4.48). The Royals are 2-2 versus the Redbirds. 30-year-old IF Jason Smith was the lone Omaha player representative in the AAA All-Star Game slated for July 16 in Louisville.

AA - NW Arkansas: suspended (rain)

*** The game was suspended at a 5-5 tie in the 7th with the Missions. It was slated to be completed tonight prior to the regular game, and San Antonio won it in 12. Former Royals farmhand OF Cory Aldridge joined the Naturals' roster after KC signed him away from the Atlantic League. He played at Wichita in 2005. P Tim Hamulack has also joined the roster after rehabbing in Arizona. OF Brian McFall and C Kiel Thibault have been put on the DL. Rowdy Hardy is set to start the regular game tonight for the Naturals.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 3, Kinston 2

C Howell 2-4, 2B (13), HR (4), RBI (28), K, 2 RS -- .262
RF Dickerson 2-3, BB, CS (13), OF assist at third -- .313
CF D. Robinson 1-4, 2B (13), RBI (19), 2 K, RS, SB (39) -- .246
SS McConnell 0-4, 3 K -- .286
DH Strait 1-3, BB, K, CS -- .286
2B Mertins 1-3, S, 2B (20), K -- .300, 12-game hit streak
3B J. Johnson 0-3, BB -- .271

Kniginyzky 5 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 5 K -- W, 4-7, 3.90 ERA
Haltiwanger 2 IP, BB, K -- 3.48 ERA
Swaggerty IP, H, K -- 2.61 ERA
Chambliss IP, H, K -- SV, 12, 3.41 ERA

*** The Blue Rocks took the 3-2 lead in the 5th and the bullpen held the line for the win. The scoring started in the 3rd when Derrick Robinson hit a 2-out RBI double and later scored on a throwing error while he stole third. Starter Matt Kniginyzky gave up 2 runs in the 4th to tie it on 2 hits and 2 walks. Jeff Howell stepped up in the 5th and hit his 4th homer for a solo shot to make it 3-2 Rocks. The bullpen faced little resistance over the final 4 innings. Indians SP Josh Tomlin took the loss over 6 1/3 IP to fall to 6-4. DH Jason Denham was 2-4 for the Tribe.

The Rocks are 6-8 and 3 games back. The series finishes up tonight. Probable starters: Rocks southpaw Everett Teaford (4-1, 3.12) vs. Kinston's Hector Rondon (6-3, 3.31).

A - Burlington: Kane County 7, Bees 2

LF Lough 2-4, HR (5), RBI (35), RS, E (4) -- .269
RF Walton 2-4, 2 K -- .214
DH C. Robinson 1-4, RBI (28), K -- .246
CF Ortiz 0-3, S -- .311
2B Giavotella 1-4, K, CS (3), E (4) -- .314
3B Moustakas 0-4 -- .241
1B Taylor 1-4, 2B (4), RS -- .208

Duffy 4 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 4 H, 5 K -- L, 4-4, 3.32 ERA
Abreu 2 1/3 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 4 H, 2 BB, 5 K -- 4.70 ERA
Baldwin 1 2/3 IP, H, BB, K -- 2.45 ERA

*** Five runs in the 6th and 7th got the Cougars another win over the Bees. Starter Dan Duffy allowed a run on 2 hits and a Johnny Giavotella error in the 1st but David Lough tied the game with his 5th homer in the 2nd. Kane County moved back ahead with a sac fly in the 3rd and 15 of 16 Bees went down into the 7th. The Cougars got a 2-run double off Juan Abreu in the 6th and the Bees left the bases loaded in the 7th before Kane County put it away with 3 runs in the 7th on 2 hits, a walk, a sac fly and a Lough error. Clint Robinson hit an RBI groundout in the 9th but that was all the Bees could get. Cougars SP Chad Kerfoot got the win with an ER over 5 IP to move to 4-1 and RP Jason Glushon went 4 innings for his 1st save. SS Michael Richard was 3-3 with a walk and 3 RS and 2B Larry Cobb was 2-2 with a walk and 3 RBI.

The Bees are 8-7 and 2 games out. The Cougars are going for the sweep tonight. Alex Caldera is pitching for the Bees.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Chukars 7, Orem 1

2B-LF A. Perez 3-5, RBI (11), K, RS, CS (3) -- .259
SS F. Garcia 2-3, S, HBP, 2 RBI (6), CS (3), E (4) -- .283
C McCauley 2-4, BB, 2 2B (3), 3 RBI (6), RS -- .192
LF Severino 2-4, RBI, K, RS, E -- .130
CF Griffin 1-5, 3 K, RS -- .246
RF Francis 0-4, BB, 2 K, 2 RS -- .324
1B Espinosa 0-4 -- .157
DH Testa 0-2, 2 BB, 2 K -- .000
* The Chukars turned 4 DPs.

Cota 5 IP, UER, 4 H, 3 BB, 6 K, E (2), pickoff -- W, 1-1, 4.41 ERA, nice to see this line from Luis
Morgan 3 IP, 3 H, BB, 4 K -- 2.31 ERA
B. Hardy IP, 2 H -- 8.00 ERA

*** A 3-run 1st got the Chukars on the road to the win. With the bases loaded and 1 outs in the 1st, Sean McCauley cleared the bases with a double to make it 3-0 IF. The Chukars left 2 in scoring position in the 5th and Luis Cota gave up his only run that inning after a Fernando Garcia error to start the half-inning. The Chukars poured on 4 runs in the 6th as Neder Severino hit an RBI single, Garcia hit a 2-run single to atone for his error, and Alwin Perez singled in a run to make it 7-1. Blaine Hardy stranded 2 in the 9th to finish it. Orem starter Baron Short took the loss with 3 runs (2 ER) allowed over 4 1/3 IP to mark his first decision of the season. Two Owlz had 2-hit games.

IF is 6-11 and 6 games out. The teams move to Idaho Falls tonight for the first of a 3-game set. Ivor Hodgson pitches for Idaho Falls.

Rookie - Burlington: B-Royals 7, Danville 6

2B A. Franco 2-5, 2 RBI (5), K, RS, E (4) -- .193
LF Aparicio 2-5, 2B (5), 2 RBI (8), K, RS -- .210
C Moctezuma 2-4, HR, RBI (5), 2 K, RS -- .276, first pro homer
1B D. Wood 1-5, 2B, RBI, K, RS -- .200
DH McFadden 1-3, BB, 2B, RBI, K -- .167
CF H. Richardson 0-4, BB, 2 K, RS, OF assist at third -- .254
RF Caldwell 0-4, K -- .164
3B F. Cruz 1-3, BB, RS, CS (2) -- .180

Jorge 5 IP, 5 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 3 K, 2 HRA, WP -- 5.54 ERA
O.D. Gonzalez 1 1/3 IP, ER, 3 H, BB, 2 K -- 11.81 ERA, has yet to have scoreless outing
Bowden 2 2/3 IP, H, BB, 4 K -- W, 1-0, 1.29 ERA

*** A 4-run comeback over the final 3 innings gave Burlington its first winning streak of the season and also a sweep of the Braves. With 2 out in the top of the 1st, David Wood doubled in a run and scored on a Warren McFadden double to make it 2-0 Royals. The offense went dormant, tho, and the Braves got a solo homer in the 3rd and 2-run homer in the 4th off Victor Jorge to take a 3-2 lead. O.D. Gonzalez came in with 2 on and 0 out in the 6th and gave up an RBI single and 2-run double to make it 6-2 Danville. The Royal offense finally awoke with 2 out in the 7th as Angel Franco singled home a run and Julio Aparicio greeted RP Matt Small with a 2-run double to cut it to 6-5. Miguel Moctezuma's 1st pro homer in the 8th tied it at 6 and Yeldrys Molina led off the 9th with a triple before scoring on a Franco single to give the Royals a 7-6 lead. Barry Bowden pitched a perfect 9th to finish off his 1st pro victory. Small blew the save and took the loss over 2 1/3 IP as starter Angelo Paulino worked 5 innings and allowed 2 runs. C Matt Kennelly was 2-3 with a walk, double, homer and 3 RBI.

The B-Royals are 3-13. A 3-game home set with the Johnson City Cardinals (8-9) starts tonight. Kelvin Herrera started for Burlington.

Rookie - AZL: Royals 6, A's 5

SS Espinal 2-5, HR, 2 RBI (4), RS -- .222
RF Del Rosario 2-4, BB, HR, RBI (3), K, 2 RS, 2 SB -- .406
2B D. Batista 2-4, RBI (3), RS, E -- .385
3B Kuebler 2-4, 2B, RS, E (2) -- .143, first pro multi-hit game
C J. Bonilla 1-4, K, E, PB (3) -- .375
CF Llanos 1-4, 2 K -- .219

Montgomery 2 1/3 IP, H, 3 K, WP -- 0.00 ERA
L. Perez 5 2/3 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 3 H, 7 K, HRA -- 1.23 ERA
J. Smith 0 IP, 3 R (1 ER), 2 H -- 7.71 ERA
Ruhlman IP, K, E -- BS, 1, W, 1-0, 4.91 ERA

*** The pen blew a win in the 9th but Luis Del Rosario got it back in the bottom of the inning. The Royals built a 5-0 lead as Deivy Batista hit an RBI single in the 1st, Yowill Espinal cranked a 2-run homer in the 2nd for his 1st of the season, and Del Rosario and Batista scored on 2 A's errors in the 4th. Leondy Perez gave up a solo homer in the 5th to get the A's on the board and a run in the 7th cut it to 5-2 entering the 9th. Jace Smith came on to pitch and a Jake Kuebler error started the inning before 2 doubles scored 2 runs to cut the lead to 1. With 2 on and 0 outs, Josh Ruhlman came in and threw the ball away on a sac bunt to score another run to tie the game. Ruhlman wriggled out of the jam with the game tied and Del Rosario led off the Royals 9th with his 1st homer of the season to end it abruptly. RP Richard Delgado took the loss with an IP with only the 1 ER. Rehabbing SP Jason Windsor pitched 2 innings and allowed 3 runs (only 1 ER). Two A's had 2-hit games.

The Royals improved to 6-4. They played the Padres today and won as Gary Cuevas picked up the W.