Royals on the Farm 7/4

AAA - Omaha: Memphis 4, O-Royals 2

SS Smith 3-4, 2B (17), 2 RBI (56), E (13) -- .263
CF Maier 2-3, BB, RS, 2 SB (8) -- .314
RF Costa 2-4, RS, CS (2) -- .306
1B Shealy 1-4, K -- .267

Duckworth 7 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 5 K, 2 HRA -- L, 3-8, 4.43 ERA, not bad start
Lowery 2 IP, ER, H, BB, 2 K, HRA -- 1.83 ERA

*** The Royals outhit Memphis but didn't outrun them in dropping their 5th straight. Brandon Duckworth gave up a leadoff homer in the 2nd but left the bases full and then gave up another run in the 4th to make it 2-0 Redbirds. Mitch Maier tried to score on a play in the 4th but was cut down at the plate by P Mike Parisi to keep the score 2-0. Another solo homer off Duckworth in the 6th extended Memphis' lead to 3-0 and Maier was thrown out trying to score again in the 6th. Devon Lowery gave up a solo homer in the 8th and Omaha finally rallied with 2 outs in the bottom of the inning. Three singles loaded the bases and chased Parisi and Jason Smith hit a 2-run single to cut it to 4-2 but Brian Buchanan struck out to cut the rally short. The Royals stranded 1 in the 9th as Kelvin Jimenez notched his 7th save. Parisi allowed 2 ER over 7 2/3 IP to improve to 6-1. Three Redbirds had 2-hit games, including 1B Josh Phelps, who clubbed 2 HR to get to 13 on the season.

Omaha is 41-45 and 11 games out. The series continues tonight. Probable starters: Memphis RH P.J. Walters (6-1, 4.66) vs. Omaha LH Dusty Hughes (1-0, 2.31).

AA - NW Arkansas: San Antonio 6, Naturals 5 (12/comp. of Thu. game)

2B Maddox 2-5, BB, 2 2B (15), RBI (17), K, SB (13) -- .276
CF Duarte 2-6, K, RS, 2 SB (20) -- .255
RF Falu 2-5, 2B (3), E (4), OF assist at second -- .256
LF Suero 1-5, HR (3), 2 RBI (18), 2 K, RS, OF assist at home -- .284
SS Lisson 1-5, SF, RBI (37), K, SB (18), E (14) -- .223
3B Lucas 1-5, RBI (9), 2 K, RS -- .260
1B Kaaihue 1-5, BB, 2 K, RS -- .278

Pimentel 6 IP, 5 ER, 9 H, 2 BB, K, 2 HRA -- 5.94 ERA, another poor outing
Nicoll IP, 2 H, 3 K -- 2.79 ERA
de la Vara 3 IP, 2 H, K -- 6.23 ERA
Atencio 2 IP, UER, 2 H, BB, 3 K -- L, 2-3, 4.07 ERA

*** The game was tied when play was suspended Thursday and the Missions finally won it in 12. Starter Julio Pimentel served up a 3-run homer in the 1st and Marc Maddox got NWA on the board with an RBI double in the 3rd. Mario Lisson added a sac fly to cut it to 3-2. Pimentel let in a run in the 4th but Ovandy Suero hit a 2-run homer for his 3rd of the season in the bottom of the 4th to tie it at 4. The Nats stranded 2 and Suero threw out a runner at the plate to end the Missions 5th. An Ed Lucas RBI groundout in the 5th made it 5-4 Nats but Pimentel gave up another solo homer in the 6th to retie it. The game was suspended in the middle of the 7th and picked up there Friday. Errors by RF Irving Falu and C Cody Clark led to a Missions run in the 12th and NWA stranded 1 in the 12th as RP Greg Burke marked his 13th save. RP Mauro Zarate pitched a scoreless 11th for the win. Starter Stephen Faris allowed 4 ER over 3 2/3 IP.

Missions 4, Naturals 3 (reg. Fri. game)

1B Kaaihue 3-4, 2B (5), HR (19), 2 RBI (50), RS -- .289
SS Lisson 1-3, BB, HR (9), RBI (37), K, 2 RS -- .223
2B Maddox 2-4, CS (6) -- .279
DH Aldridge 0-4 -- .000, first NWA start

R. Hardy 5 1/3 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, 6 K -- L, 3-8, 5.46 ERA, nice K output
Plummer 1 2/3 IP, H, BB, 4 K -- 4.83 ERA
Hamulack 2 IP, nothing -- 0.00 ERA, NWA debut

*** One Missions rally was enough to do in Rowdy Hardy and the Naturals in Friday's regular game. Mario Lisson hit a 2-out solo homer in the 1st for his 9th of the season and NW Arkansas had a 1-0 lead. Kila Kaaihue smoked his 19th homer of the season for a 2-run shot in the 3rd to make it 3-0 Nats. Hardy was tagged for 4 doubles in the 4th as the Missions churned out 4 runs to take a 4-3 lead. The Naturals didn't really threaten again as Greg Burke got his 14th save. Starter Manny Ayala got the win with 6 IP of 3 ER to move to 4-1. CF Drew Macias and 1B Kyle Blanks had 2 hits each for the Missions.

NWA is 5-9 and 3.5 games out. The series ends tonight as the Nats send Blake Johnson (6-6, 4.22) to the mound versus San Antonio's Will Inman (8-4, 3.18).

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Kinston 5, Blue Rocks 2

SS McConnell 2-5, K, CS (13) -- .288
2B Mertins 2-4, K, RS -- .303
1B Seratelli 1-4, 2B (10), 2 RBI (38), 3 K -- .200
CF D. Robinson 0-5, 2 K -- .242
RF Dickerson 0-3, BB -- .310
DH Correll 0-3, BB -- .000, organizational debut
LF Strait 0-2, 2 BB, 2 K, RS -- .222
3B J. Johnson 0-2, 2 BB, K -- .268

Teaford 5 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, BB, 3 K, 2 HRA, WP -- L, 4-2, 3.24 ERA
Barrera 1 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 K, HRA -- 2.84 ERA
Bradley IP, K -- 3.00 ERA

*** Three K-Tribe homers doomed the Rocks as Kinston came away with the series finale. Tribe starter Hector Rondon was also beyond solid against the Rocks as he allowed only 2 hits and 4 walks over 6 2/3 IP. The Tribe got to Everett Teaford for a run in the 1st and a solo homer made it 2-0 Indians in the 4th. Another solo homer made it 3-0 Kinston in the 6th and Henry Barrera gave up a 2-run shot in the 7th to make it 5-0. The Rocks stranded 2 baserunners in 3 innings but finally broke the ice in the 9th with a 2-run bases-loaded double by Anthony Seratelli. Tribe RP Neil Wagner came in and got the last 2 outs for his 3rd save. Rondon got the win to move to 7-3. Four Kinston batters had 2-hit games, including DH Beau Mills, who hit his 12th homer.

Wilmington is 6-9 and 4 games back. A 3-game set at the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (8-7, A-Adv. Braves) starts tonight. The Rocks are 3-7 versus the Pelicans. Probable game 1 starters: Wilmington southpaw Paul Mildren (0-1, 7.20) tries to turn his season around versus Pelicans' rehabbing big leaguer Mike Hampton. The Royals signed OF Brad Correll away from the KC T-Bones after hitting .341 with 15 HR and 49 RBI in 41 games with the T-Bones.

A - Burlington: Bees 9, Kane County 2

CF Ortiz 2-5, 2B (10), 2 RBI (27), K, RS -- .313
3B Moustakas 2-4, RBI (42), RS -- .244
DH C. Robinson 2-4, 2 RBI (30), K, RS -- .251
C Eigsti 2-3, RBI (18), RS -- .219
2B Giavotella 1-4, RBI (8), RS, CS (4) -- .311
1B Taylor 1-5, RBI (29), RS -- .208

Caldera 6 IP, UER, 3 H, BB, 3 K, E (3) -- W, 6-6, 3.31 ERA
Z. Peterson 2 IP, 3 H, K -- 3.42 ERA
Raglione IP, ER, 2 H, WP -- 16.20 ERA

*** The Bees got all their runs in one fell swoop to coast past the Cougars and at least take the finale of the 4-game set. Two Cougars errors started the rally in the 3rd and Adrian Ortiz hit a 2-run bases loaded double before another error scored Ryan Eigsti, Mike Moustakas singled in a run, Jason Taylor singled home a run, Clint Robinson singled in 2 runs, Eigsti singled in a run and yet another Cougar error scored Robinson to make it 9-0. Alex Caldera had a good start as the only run he gave up came partly due to an error of his own in the 6th. Paul Raglione gave up a run in the 9th but that was it. Starter Scott Hodsdon allowed 7 unearned runs on 5 hits over 2-plus innings to drop to 4-7. Two Cougars had 2-hit games.

Burlington is 9-7 and 2 games back. A 3-game home set versus the Clinton LumberKings (6-10, A Rangers, first-half division champs) starts tonight. Probable starters: Bees SP Matt Mitchell (5-6, 3.86) versus Clinton's Michael Kirkman (1-0, 5.93). The Bees are 3-1 versus Clinton.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Orem 8, Chukars 2

RF Francis 3-4, HR (4), RBI (16), K, RS -- .347
CF Griffin 0-4, CS (2) -- .230
C McCauley 1-4 -- .196
1B Espinosa 0-4, K -- .145
LF Testa 0-3, K -- .000

Hodgson 4 IP, 6 ER, 7 H, 3 BB, 2 K, 3 WP -- L, 0-3, 4.76 ERA
J. Garcia 2 IP, ER, 3 H, K, WP -- 3.38 ERA
Novakowski 2 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, 2 K, HRA -- 5.79 ERA
Thompson IP, nothing -- 0.00 ERA

*** Orem swamped Ivor Hodgson and the Chukar offense didn't respond. Hodgson hit trouble in the 2nd by allowing 2 runs on 2 walks, 2 hits and a wild pitch. Orem tacked on 4 runs in the 4th on 4 hits, a walk and wild pitch to make it 6-0. Justin Garcia came in for the 5th and allowed a run on 3 hits and a wild pitch before Idaho Falls finally scored in the 5th on an Owlz error that scored Juan Graterol. Gary Novakowski gave up a solo homer in the 7th and Nick Francis hit his 4th homer of the season for a solo shot in the 9th to make the final score 8-2. Orem starter Jayson Miller got the win with 6 IP of an UER to move to 2-0. DH Donato Giovanotto was 4-5 with a double and 3 RBI while RF Angel Castillo was 3-5 with his 3rd homer.

IF is 6-12 and 7 games out. The series continues tonight as IF sends Steve Miller (0-0, 8.59) to start vs. Orem's Jeff Boshers (0-0, 2.45).

Rookie - Burlington: B-Royals 2, Johnson City 1 (1-hitter)

1B D. Wood 1-4, HR, RBI (2), K, RS, CS -- .222
2B-3B A. Franco 1-4, RBI (6), K, CS (2) -- .197
CF H. Richardson 1-4, 2 K, SB (2) -- .254
LF Caldwell 1-3, 2B (3) -- .172
C Moctezuma 0-2, HBP, PB (3) -- .258
3B Morales 1-3, 2 K, RS -- .222

Herrera 6 IP, 8 K -- 1.23 ERA, about the toughest no-decision you can get
Halliman 2 IP, BB, K -- 9.00 ERA
Farinas IP, ER, H, BB, K, HRA -- BS, 1, W, 1-0, 6.75 ERA

*** Kelvin Herrera handed over a hitless gem to the pen in the 7th and saw Williams Farinas lose it in the 9th but David Wood answered the call to get the Royals their 3rd straight win. Angel Franco singled in a run in the 3rd and the 1-0 lead held as Herrera and Pernell Halliman held the Cardinals hitless into the 9th. Farinas gave up a 1-out solo homer to RF Paul Cruz to lose the no-hitter and shutout in one swing, but David Wood cranked his 1st homer for the Royals with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th to end it. RP Jon Bravo took the loss for Johnson City with an ER over 3 1/3 IP to drop to 0-2. Starter Matt North allowed an ER on 3 hits over 5 innings of work. Cruz's homer was his 1st of the season.

The Royals are 4-13. The series continues tonight with no announced starters on the team site as of yet. P Sam Runion and nondrafted free agent OF Matt Olson out of the U of Georgia joined the B-Royals roster.

Rookie - AZL: Royals 12, Padres 4

SS Jose 2-4, BB, S, HR, 3 RBI, 2 K, RS, E -- .500, AZL '08 debut
2B Espinal 2-6, RBI (5), K, 2 RS -- .238
C J. Bonilla 1-3, BB, 2 RBI (6), K -- .371
RF Del Rosario 1-3, BB, RBI (4), 2 RS -- .400
3B D. Batista 0-4, BB, RBI (4), K, 2 RS, SB (3) -- .333
CF Llanos 0-4, BB, RBI (5), picked off -- .194
C Matos 0-1 -- .222
DH Kuebler 1-2, 2 BB, HBP, 2 RS -- .167

Hodge 3 1/3 IP, UER, 2 H, 2 BB, K -- 7.50 ERA
Cuevas 3 2/3 IP, ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 2 K -- W, 1-1, 11.32 ERA
Feickert 2 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, K -- 4.50 ERA

*** The Royals cruised to the win over the Padres to stay in the AZL race. Jose Bonilla hit an RBI groundout in the 2nd and the Royals scored 5 runs in the 3rd on a Yowill Espinal RBI single, Luis Del Rosario RBI single, 2-run fielder's choice by Deivy Batista aided by a Pads error and a Bonilla RBI single. Lifete Jose cranked a 3-run homer in the 4th to make it 9-0 Royals. Gary Cuevas relieved Mitch Hodge in the midst of the 4th and hit a batter with the bases full to force in a run. The Royals put it away with 3 in the 6th on a Batista RBI groundout, run scoring wild pitch and Alex Llanos RBI forceout. The Padres scored 3 meaningless runs in the 8th and 9th to make the final 12-4. Pads SP Alessio Angelucci took the loss with 8 runs (5 ER) over 3 IP to drop to 0-1. Two Padres had 2 hits.

The Royals are 7-4 and a half-game back of the division lead. They were set to play the 1-9 Brewers today.