Royals on the Farm 7/30

AAA - Omaha: Salt Lake 5, O-Royals 4

1B Kaaihue 1-5, HR, RBI, K, RS -- .200, longball in AAA debut
3B Dawkins 2-5, 2B (10), K -- .299
CF Hollins 2-3, BB, 2B (11) -- .219
LF Lubanski 1-4, HR (13), RBI (42), RS -- .246, on HR tear lately
RF Stodolka 1-1, 3 BB, 2 RS, OF assist at second -- .288, nice night
C Tupman 1-4, RBI (26) -- .235
SS Sanchez 0-4, RBI (11), picked off in key spot -- .196
DH Shealy 0-3, BB -- .287

Wright 6 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 2 K, 2 HRA, WP -- L, 3-7, 5.89 ERA, doesn't have it this season
Bale IP, K -- 3.60 ERA
Lumsden IP, K -- 7.18 ERA, back from injury
Fulchino IP, BB -- 4.47 ERA

*** Omaha rallied in the 8th but it wasn't enough as Salt Lake opened the series with a 5-4 victory. The Bees scored a run off Matt Wright in the 2nd on a 2-out rally of 2 hits and a walk but Matt Tupman hit an RBI groundout in the bottom of the inning to tie it. A walk and hit in the 3rd plated another Salt Lake run and, after Omaha left the bases full in the 3rd, the Bees got a solo homer in the 4th to take a 3-1 lead. A 2-run homer in the 6th made it 5-1 but Chris Lubanski blasted his 13th homer of the season in the 7th for a solo shot to trim the lead to 3. Kila Kaaihue made his Omaha debut at least a partial success by leading off the 8th with his 1st AAA homer and Omaha loaded the bases with 1 out. Angel Sanchez drove in a run with a forceout to cut the lead to 5-4 but then got picked off first by RP Matt Wilhite to end the inning. Omaha stranded 1 in the 9th as Kaaihue struck out looking to end the game. Jason Bulger picked up his 13th save for the Bees with a scoreless 9th to drop his ERA to 0.56. Starter and former Omaha pitcher Shane Loux got the win with 7 IP of 2 ER allowed to improve to 12-6 with a 3.98 ERA. Two Bees had 2 hits, including OF Dermal Brown, and RF Adam Pavkovich hit his 21st homer with 2 RBI. SS Brandon Wood smacked his 23rd homer and had 2 RBI.

Omaha is 49-62. Game 2 is tonight as Salt Lake RH Giancarlo Alvarado (6-4, 3.95) squares off vs. RH Jose Capellan (3-0, 2.75). Jimmy Gobble has joined the Royals for a rehab assignment. Carlos Rosa has missed a start with an undisclosed injury and Dave Matranga was put on the DL with his shoulder injury. James Nilsen has been sent back to the AZL.

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 11, Tulsa 1

1B Richardson 4-5, 2 2B (25), 2 HR (12), 3 RBI (60), K, 3 RS -- .303, must want to follow Kila to Omaha
RF McFall 3-4, HBP, HR (15), 3 RBI (49), RS, SB (6) -- .249, picking up the offense of late
CF Falu 2-4, BB, 3 RBI (32), RS -- .278
SS Lisson 1-3, 2 BB, RBI (47), 2 RS, 2 SB (25) -- .216
3B Lucas 1-5, HR (4), RBI (25), RS -- .303
2B Maddox 1-5, K, RS -- .288

R. Hardy 7 2/3 IP, 7 H, BB, 8 K -- W, 5-8, 4.92 ERA, think that's his highest K total of season
Plummer 1 1/3 IP, ER, 2 H, 3 K -- 4.42 ERA

*** The Naturals' offense continued to hit like Roy Hobbs as NWA churned out 11 runs and Rowdy Hardy had one of his best starts of the year. NWA stranded 2 in the 1st but got a run in the 2nd on a Brian McFall RBI single. Juan Richardson smoked his 11th homer of the season in the 3rd to make it 2-0 and Hardy pretty much coasted through 5 with a 5-hit shutout. NWA plated 3 in the 6th on a Mario Lisson RBI single and 2-run McFall homer for his 15th of the season to make it 5-0. The situation repeated itself in the 7th as Irving Falu singled home a run and Richardson cranked his 2nd homer of the game and 12th of the season for a 2-run shot to stretch it to 8-0. Ed Lucas led off the 8th with his 4th homer and Falu hit a 2-run single to finish off the Naturals' scoring at 11-0. Hardy was pulled for Jarod Plummer with 2 on and 2 out in the 8th and Plummer allowed an RBI triple in the 9th before finishing it. Tulsa starter Brandon Hynick couldn't beat the Nats a second consecutive time as he was drilled for 7 ER over 6 1/3 IP to fall to 7-7 with a 5.16 ERA. LF Justin Nelson was 2-4 with his 3rd triple and an RBI. The Drillers got 9 hits but only 1 run to show for them.

The Naturals are white hot at 25-14, 5 games up on first, and on a 6-game tear. The series concludes tonight as Julio Pimentel (4-9, 5.56) tries to keep the good times going versus rehabbing Tulsa and Rockies starter Jeff Francis (0-0, 1.08).

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Potomac 7, Blue Rocks 6

3B Mertins 2-4, HR (3), 2 RBI (38), K, 2 RS -- .306
2B Bianchi 2-3, BB, 2B (26), RBI (46), RS, CS (3) -- .247
C Morizio 2-4, RBI (18), SB (8) -- .187
DH Correll 1-5, HR (7), 2 RBI (19), RS -- .337
CF D. Robinson 1-4, BB, picked off -- .241
SS McConnell 1-3, 2 HBP, RS, SB (22) -- .281
RF Strait 1-5, K, RS -- .337
* LF Jarrod Dyson stole his 34th base.

Santiago 5 IP, ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 5 K -- 3.64 ERA, good start wasted
Chavez 2 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, BB, HRA, pickoff -- BS, 1, 6.30 ERA
Chambliss IP, 3 R (2 ER), 3 H, HRA, E (2) -- BS, 3, L, 2-2, 3.63 ERA, not a stellar night for Rocks pen

*** The Blue Rocks blew a 4-1 lead in the 6th and then blew a 6-4 lead in the 9th to get swept by the Nationals in a key turn of events. Brad Correll slugged his 7th homer as a Rock for a 2-run shot in the 1st and Wilmington had a 2-0 lead. The Rocks stranded 2 in scoring position in the 2nd and Mario Santiago pitched well until loading the bases with 1 out in the 5th and allowing a sac fly. Kurt Mertins hit a 2-run homer in the 6th for his 3rd of the season and the Rocks' lead jumped to 4-1. Chris Chavez came in for the 6th and gave up a 2-run homer to trim the lead back to 1 before 2 hits tied it at 4 in the 7th for the Nationals. Jeff Bianchi brought the lead back to the Rocks with an RBI double in the 8th and Matt Morizio singled Bianchi home to make it 6-4. Tyler Chambliss pitched a perfect 8th but, in the 9th, allowed a single and 2-run homer to tie it with no outs, allowed another single and stolen base, then made a throwing error on a sac bunt attempt to allow the winning run to cross the plate and end it. RP Clint Everts got the win for Potomac with 1 2/3 IP of 2 ER allowed to move to 3-1 with a 5.40 ERA. Starter Hassan Pena worked 5 2/3 innings and allowed 4 ER to bump his ERA to 5.06. Two Nats had 2 hits and two others had a homer and 2 RBI. The big blast in the 9th was by C Jhonatan Solano and was his 1st of the season for Potomac.

The Blue Rocks are 17-21 and 5 games back of Potomac after the 3-game sweep. A 4-game set at the Frederick Keys (14-25, A-Adv. O's) starts tonight. The Rocks are 5-7 versus the Keys. Probable starters: right-hander Matt Kniginyzky (6-7, 3.69) vs. O's top prospect righty Brandon Erbe (8-9, 4.55).

A - Burlington: Dayton 14, Bees 4

1B Taylor 3-4, 2B (10), HR (13), 2 RBI (44), RS -- .227
LF Francis 1-4, RBI (3), K, E -- .300
3B Moustakas 1-5, 3 K, RS, E (18) -- .257
C Eigsti 0-2, BB, SF, RBI (29), K, picked off runner -- .215
2B Giavotella 1-4, K -- .297
DH Martin 1-4, 2 K -- .318
RF Van Stratten 1-3, BB, 2B (9), K, RS -- .354

Gutierrez 4 IP, 8 R (4 ER), 11 H, 2 K, 3 HRA -- L, 3-2, 2.48 ERA
M. Peterson 1 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, HRA -- 6.48 ERA
Baldwin 3 1/3 IP, 4 R (2 ER), 7 H -- 7.18 ERA

*** Dayton established an early 6-0 lead and rolled to the win with 21 hits, including 11 off starter Danny Gutierrez. A 2-run homer got the Dragons started in the 1st and they tacked on 4 runs in the 2nd on a sac fly and 3-run homer. Nick Van Stratten led off the Bees 3rd with a double and scored on a Ryan Eigsti sac fly to cut it to 6-1 but Dayton got a solo homer and another run on 2 hits in the 4th to pull further away. Jason Taylor clubbed his 13th homer in the bottom of the 4th but the Dragons answered with single runs in the 5th and 6th off Matt Peterson, including another solo homer. Taylor singled home a run in the 6th and a Nick Francis RBI groundout in the 8th cut it to 10-4 but Dayton poured on 4 runs in the 9th off Burke Baldwin to put it in the bag. 3 Bees errors led to 6 unearned runs on the night, and former Bee RP Henry Arias, who the Reds picked up in the Brad Salmon trade, pitched the last 2 innings for the Dragons. Starter Jeremy Horst got the win with 5 IP of 2 ER allowed to move to 6-2 with a 2.74 ERA. Six Dragons had multi-hit games led by a 5-6 night from DH Neftali Soto, who hit his 3rd homer with 3 RBI, and a 4-6 game from 3B Brandon Waring, who hit his 17th homer with 4 RBI.

The Bees are 21-17 and 1/2 a game back of first now. They'll try to salvage the finale with the Dragons tonight as Luis Cota (0-1, 5.19) takes on Dayton's Josh Ravin (2-6, 6.35).

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Chukars 6, Casper 5 (10)

C Graterol 3-4, 2B, 2 RBI (8, including game winner), K, RS, SB (2) -- .333
LF Griffin 1-3, 2 BB, HR (3), RBI (16), K, 2 RS -- .281
3B Jimenez 1-5, HR (3), RBI (13), 4 K, RS -- .290, did OK when he made contact
CF Norris 1-4, S, 2 K, RS, 2 OF assists at first -- .243
SS Alfaro 1-4, BB, 2B (11), K, E (12) -- .250
C McCauley 0-1 -- .264, pulled in 5th
1B Espinosa 0-4, K -- .159
PR-RF Testa 0-0, BB, RS -- .227

Casey 3 1/3 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, BB, 2 K -- 3.07 ERA
Carver 3 2/3 IP, 4 H, BB, 2 WP -- 6.75 ERA
Gilgenbach IP, 2 K -- 12.82 ERA
Thompson 2 IP, UER, H, BB, 3 K -- W, 2-2, 2.95 ERA

*** Idaho Falls spent most of the game digging out of a 4-run hole and tied it in the 9th before winning in another comeback in the 10th. The game was scoreless into the 4th before Casper scored 4 that frame on 3 hits and a walk off starter Bryan Casey and a hit, walk and 2 wild pitches by RP Jesse Carver. No Chukar had reached base until Antonio Jimenez changed that with a 2-out solo homer in the 4th for his 3rd of the season. Juan Graterol led off the 5th with a single, advanced on a bunt, stole third and scored on a throwing error on the play to cut the lead to 4-2. Patrick Norris turned two flyouts into double plays in the 5th and 6th by doubling the runners off first. Graterol stepped up again with an RBI double in the 7th to cut it to 4-3 and that was the score entering the 9th. RP Kurt Yacko came in to try and finish it for Casper but U of Tennessee product OF Shawn Griffin took the suspense out of the inning with a leadoff homer for his 3rd as a pro to tie the game. James Thompson pitched a perfect 9th but allowed a 1-out double in the 10th that turned into a run on a J.D. Alfaro error on the next play. The Chukars loaded the bases off Yacko with 1 out in the 10th and a 2-out passed ball scored Carlo Testa to tie it. Griffin, who was at bat when the passed ball occurred, was intentionally walked to re-load the bases and Graterol came through again with a walkoff single to end it. Yacko blew his 1st save and took the loss to drop to 1-1 with 3 ER over 1 2/3 IP to move his ERA to 3.50. Starter Matt Baugh worked 5 innings and allowed 2 runs (1 ER) to move his ERA to 3.56. 3B James Cesario was 3-5 with a double and 2 RS and three others had 2 hits for the Ghosts.

The Chukars are 2-1 and in an early tie for first in the second half. A 3-game set at the Orem Owlz (1-2, first-half champs, Rookie Angels) starts tonight with no announced starters on the team site. The Chukars are 1-7 versus Orem this season.

Rookie - Burlington: double rainout

*** The rainout of Wednesday's twinbill will be made up as doubleheaders tonight and tomorrow between the Royals and Sox. No announced starters on the team site.

Rookie - AZL: Angels 14, Royals 7

DH Beltre 2-5, RS -- .400
CF Llanos 1-5, 2 RBI (13), 2 K, RS, E (2) -- .184, one of 8 Royal errors in the game
2B Nilsen 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI (7) -- .209, back in action
LF Mariano 0-2, 2 BB, RBI (2), 2 K, 2 RS, OF assist at home -- .091
RF Del Rosario 1-4, K, RS -- .318
C J. Bonilla 0-4, K, E (4) -- .370
SS D. Batista 1-1, BB, RS -- .304
3B Kuebler 0-4, 2 K, 2 E (12) -- .220

Sample 3 IP, 11 R (5 ER), 8 H, 3 BB, 3 K, 2 E (3) -- L, 0-4, 11.49 ERA, YOWCH
Sirrett 3 IP, 3 UER, 4 H, 2 K, 2 WP -- 3.00 ERA
J. Smith IP, K -- 1.80 ERA
B. Richardson IP, nada -- 1.54 ERA

*** The Royals made 8 errors and Tyler Sample paid the price as the '08 draftee gave up 11 runs in 3 innings and a 6-run 9th went for nothing for the Royals. The Angels churned out 4 runs in the 1st on 5 hits and 2 walks and then scored 4 more in the 2nd on a walk, hit and 3 Royal errors. Miguel Mariano scored on a wild pitch in the 3rd but Sample gave up 3 more runs that inning on 2 hits and 3 more Royal errors, including 2 by Sample on the same play. Onassis Sirrett came in for the 4th and allowed 3 runs on 2 hits, 2 wild pitches and 2 more errors, both by Jake Kuebler. The game stayed 14-1 into the 9th when the Royals rallied for 6 runs on a bases-loaded run-scoring wild pitch, a bases-loaded walk by Mariano, a 2-run Alex Llanos single and a 2-run double by James Nilsen. That was it, tho, for the Royals. Angels starter Joshua Blanco worked 7 innings and allowed only an unearned run to improve to 2-2 with a 3.66 ERA. C David Golliner was 4-5 with 3 RBI, a run scored and his 3rd error and 2 other Halos had 2 hits and 3 RBIs.

The Royals are 1-3 and in the cellar of the AZL. They have today off. I think I had the Royals playing the Giants yesterday, and I could have sworn that's what the schedule said. Must not have.