Royals on the Farm 8/12 -- Rookie baller nailed for PEDs

AAA - Omaha: Albuquerque 11, O-Royals 5

DH Shealy 2-4, HR (18), 2 RBI (51), K, 2 RS -- .280
C Tupman 1-4, 2 RBI (29), E (4) -- .238
CF Hollins 1-4, RBI (47), K, SB (2), OF assist at second -- .224
1B Kaaihue 1-4, 2 K, RS -- .375
3B B. Pena 0-3, BB, 2 RS, SB (5) -- .275
LF Lubanski 1-4, K -- .237
RF Bigler 0-4, 3 K, E -- .000, if you're gonna actually play the guy you bring up for spot duty, why not bring up somebody that was hitting over the Mendoza line in high A-ball???

D. Hughes 2 IP, 2 BB, 5 K -- 4.70 ERA, must have been on pitch count as he recovers from sore arm
Lumsden 2 1/3 IP, 7 R (6 ER), 8 H, 3 K -- L, 3-11, 7.14 ERA, so much for the "lockdown in the pen" remark
Salmon 2 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, BB, 2 K, 2 HRA -- 5.00 ERA
Atencio 2 IP, ER, 4 H, BB, 2 K, WP -- 2.38 ERA

*** Tyler Lumsden and Brad Salmon got lit up as Albuquerque put together an 8-run 5th to take the series opener. Omaha jumped in front with 3 runs in the 1st on a Ryan Shealy RBI single and 2-run Matt Tupman single aided by an Isotope error. Damon Hollins hit a 2-out RBI single in the 3rd to make it 4-0. Lumsden had pitched a perfect 3rd after taking over for Dusty Hughes but gave up 2 runs in the 4th on 3 2-out singles. The Isotopes 5th went single, RBI double, single, K, 2-run single, single, Salmon in, flyout, 3-run homer, walk, 2-run homer, double, popout as Albuquerque surged to a 10-4 lead. Shealy led off the Omaha 6th with his 18th homer of the season but the Isotopes got the run back off Greg Atencio in the 8th to finish off the 11-5 win. Starter Rick VandenHurk got the win for the 'Topes with 5 IP of 4 runs (1 ER) allowed to improve to 2-1 with a 4.60 ERA. LF Michael Ryan was 3-5 with his 4th homer and 4 RBI along with his 2nd error. 2B Andrew Beattie was 3-5 with his 10th homer, 2 RBI and 2 RS. Three other Isotopes had 2 hit games as 3B Dallas McPherson drove in 3 runs and fairly new Marlins signee C Paul Lo Duca had 2 hits.

Omaha is 53-71. Game 2 is tonight as Isotopes RH Dallas Trahern (4-10, 6.52) matches up with RH Carlos Rosa (4-3, 4.25).

AA - NW Arkansas: off day

*** The Naturals start a 3-game set at the Midland RockHounds (28-21, AA A's) tonight as Blake Johnson (9-7, 4.66) takes on Midland's Ryan Webb (7-7, 5.06). NWA is 6-3 versus Midland and took 2 of 3 from the 'Hounds last week.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 14, Winston-Salem 1

C Morizio 2-4, 2B (6), 4 RBI (24), K, 2 RS -- .181
2B Mertins 2-4, HBP, 2B (26), RBI (43), K, 2 RS, SB (25) -- .294
RF Orlando 2-5, 2B (17), HR (10), RBI (44), K, 3 RS, SB (29) -- .267, gives him double digits in 2B, 3B and HR, third in league in SB behind new teammates Robinson and Dyson
CF D. Robinson 2-4, SF, RBI (29), 2 RS, SB (56), picked off -- .254
1B Seratelli 1-3, BB, RBI (49), K, 2 RS -- .234
DH Correll 1-5, RBI (25), RS -- .309
LF Dyson 0-3, SF, RBI (21), K -- .250, 13-game hit streak snapped
SS McConnell 0-5, RBI (28) -- .261
3B J. Johnson 0-3, 2 BB, 2 RS -- .268

Cegarra 6 IP, ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 5 K -- W, 5-6, 5.01 ERA
Hartsock 3 IP, 2 H, 3 K -- SV, 1, 4.07 ERA

*** A 7-run 1st set the tone in a runaway Blue Rock win. Derrick Robinson started the game with a single, stole second and scored on 1 of the Warthogs' 4 errors on the game. Brad Correll added an RBI single, Anthony Seratelli took a bases-loaded walk, Matt Morizio hit a 3-run double as another Warthog error helped on the play, and Jarrod Dyson hit a sac fly to make it 7-0 Wilmington as the Rocks batted around. Ed Cegarra stranded 2 in scoring position in the 1st and the Rocks added 5 runs to the lead in the 3rd on a 2-run Morizio single that was again aided by a Warthog error, a run-scoring passed ball, a Robinson sac fly and a solo homer by Paulo Orlando for his 10th of the season and 1st as a Rock. Cegarra retired 15 straight at one point and the Rocks finished their scoring with 2 runs in the 6th on a Chris McConnell RBI groundout and Kurt Mertins RBI single to make it 14-0. Cegarra finally gave up a run in the 6th on 3 hits and a walk but Aaron Hartsock was solid from the 7th on to finish off the easy win. Winston-Salem SP Matt Long took the loss with 7 runs (5 ER) allowed over an inning of work to fall to 7-11 with a 4.83 ERA. Six 'Hogs had a hit each.

The Rocks are 25-26 and 2 1/2 games back. The series ends tonight as Greg Holland (4-4, 3.72) takes on Winston-Salem's John Ely (7-11, 4.60). The Rocks have a fairly healthy lead on a wild-card playoff spot.

A - Burlington: Cedar Rapids 8, Bees 5

DH C. Robinson 3-5, 2 K, RS -- .247
LF Walton 2-5, 2B (18), RBI (44), RS -- .254
2B Giavotella 1-4, BB, HR (3), RBI (19), RS -- .304
RF Francis 1-3, BB, HBP, RBI (7), K, RS, SB (2) -- .260
3B Moustakas 1-5, K, E (20) -- .265
1B Taylor 1-5, RS, SB (36), E (15) -- .229
SS Martin 0-3, BB, 2 K -- .309
* The Bees stranded 11.

Gutierrez 4 IP, 7 ER, 6 H, 6 BB, 5 K, HRA, WP -- L, 4-3, 3.10 ERA, ugly start
Sisk 3 2/3 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 6 K -- 2.31 ERA, been nice addition to pen
Raglione 1 1/3 IP, ER, 2 H -- 8.61 ERA

*** Danny Gutierrez had a rough night and, when the dust settled, the Bees came out of the 4-game set with the same 2-game lead they entered it with. Nick Francis put the Bees on top with an RBI single in the 2nd but Gutierrez ran into trouble in the 3rd as the Kernels pounded out 5 runs on a 2-run homer and two 2-out RBI hits to take a 5-1 lead. Gutierrez was pulled after walking the first 2 batters in the 5th and Brandon Sisk allowed a 2-run single before stranding the bases loaded. Johnny Giavotella cranked his 3rd pro homer for a solo shot in the 5th to cut it to 7-2, and the Bees would score 3 in the 8th on a Jamar Walton RBI double and run-scoring error and passed ball by the Kernels to cut it to 7-5, but they would get no closer. Paul Raglione gave up an insurance run in the 9th and the Bees stranded 2 in the 9th as RP Eddie McKiernan notched his 18th save for Cedar Rapids. Starter Michael Davitt got the win with 7 IP of 2 ER allowed to improve to 6-7 with a 4.58 ERA. Four Kernels had 2 hits as 1B Gabriel Jacobo drove in 3 runs and DH Jeremy Moore doubled, hit his 14th homer and brought in 2 runs in the win. RF Julio Perez also drove in 2.

The Bees are 30-20 and 2 games up on first after the split with the Kernels. A 3-game set at the Clinton Lumber Kings (26-25, A Rangers, first-half division champs) starts tonight. Dan Duffy (7-4, 2.48) takes the mound vs. Clinton's Blake Beavan (9-6, 2.28). The Bees are 4-3 versus Clinton.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Chukars 3, Great Falls 2

RF Testa 2-4, 3B (2), RBI (16), 2 K, RS -- .243
2B F. Garcia 1-4, RBI (10), 2 K -- .217
DH A. Perez 1-4, RBI (24), 3 K -- .232
CF Norris 0-3, 2 BB, 2 K, OF assist at home -- .247
SS Alfaro 0-5, 2 K -- .265
LF Griffin 0-3, BB, K -- .244
C McCauley 1-4, 2B (10), K -- .260
1B Espinosa 0-3, S, 3 K, E (7) -- .196

Hodgson 5 IP, ER, 4 H, BB, 3 K, WP, pickoff -- 3.78 ERA
Novakowski 2 1/3 IP, ER, 4 H -- 3.99 ERA
Thompson 1 2/3 IP, K -- W, 3-2, 4.18 ERA

*** The bottom 3 batters in the order keyed a 2-run rally in the 9th as the Chukars evened the set with the Voyagers. Great Falls struck first with a run in the 3rd on 3 hits and a wild pitch off Ivor Hodgson. Fernando Garcia tied it with a 2-out RBI single in the 5th and the game stayed at 1-1 for a while. Patrick Norris nailed a runner at the plate to end the Great Falls 7th but James Thompson came in with runners at the corners and 1 out in the 8th and allowed the go-ahead squeeze play to make it 2-1 Great Falls. Devery Van De Keere reached on an error to begin the Chukar 9th and pinch-runner Antonio Jimenez was bunted to second by Tito Espinosa. A passed ball moved Jimenez to third and Carlo Testa came through with a big triple to tie the game and put the go-ahead run 90 feet away from the plate. Alwin Perez came through with a 2-out RBI single to make it 3-2 Chukars and Thompson pitched a perfect 9th for the win. RP Dan Albritton took the loss with 2 unearned runs allowed over 1 1/3 IP to fall to 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA. Starter Dexter Carter pitched 5 innings of an ER allowed to move his ERA to 2.51. DH Mike Grace and LF Johny Celis had 2 hits for the Voyagers.

The Chukars are 6-9 and 5 games back. The series wraps tonight before shifting to IF for a few games. Ryan Morgan (0-2, 5.40) pitches vs. Great Falls' Cody Allen (1-6, 6.08) tonight.

Rookie - Burlington: Princeton 3, B-Royals 0 (2-hitter)

SS Molina 2-3, 2B, E (6) -- .254, only Royal with hit
CF H. Richardson 0-3, HBP, K -- .229
DH Vittek 0-4, 4 K -- .273
RF Caldwell 0-2, BB, K, OF assist at home -- .195
3B F. Cruz 0-3 -- .248

G. De La Cruz 5 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 6 K, 2 HRA -- L, 3-4, 5.23 ERA
Baez 3 IP, 2 H, 5 K, pickoff -- 3.18 ERA
Hudnall IP, ER, H, 2 K, WP -- 9.00 ERA, organizational debut

*** It's hard to win with only 2 hits in a game, as Princeton proved to the Royals Tuesday. The Rays got back-to-back homers off Giancarlo De La Cruz in the 1st then picked up a run in the 9th on Jaeson Hudnall in his Royals debut. The Royals stranded 2 in the 3rd and 6th and the last 8 went down in order as RP Mike Jarman picked up his 3rd save. RP Angel Chapa pitched 3 scoreless innings for the win to move to 3-1 with a 2.28 ERA. Starter Alex Colome pitched 4 scoreless to drop his ERA to 5.85. #1 overall pick SS Tim Beckham was 2-4 with his 1st pro homer off De La Cruz. He also stole his 4th base.

Burlington is 17-36. The series concludes tonight as Sam Runion starts for the Royals. P Kelvin Herrera has been promoted to A-ball in Burlington after posting a 1.42 ERA in 50 2/3 innings for the Royals. C Salvador Perez is slated to rejoin the team. P Victor Jorge, who had an 8.54 ERA for the Royals, has been suspended 50 games for testing positive for metabolites of Stanozolol. I'd forgotten that another Burlington pitcher, Jacob Rodriguez, came back for this year from a 50-gamer he got in January.

Rookie - AZL: Royals 3, A's 2

C J. Bonilla 2-4, RBI (23), RS, PB (16) -- .361, despite yet another passed ball, was 3/3 in catching basethieves
DH Beltre 2-4, 2 RS, SB (5) -- .293
1B A. Marte 1-4, 3B, RBI (7) -- .186
CF Llanos 1-4, 2B (6) -- .161
2B D. Batista 1-4, 2 SB (9), 2 CS (7) -- .313
RF Del Rosario 1-3, BB, K, picked off -- .306
3B Kuebler 0-3, 2 K, E (13) -- .206

Sample 5 IP, UER, 5 H, 7 K, E (4) -- 7.30 ERA, nice night
Sirrett 4 IP, ER, 3 H, 5 K, WP -- W, 2-1, 2.45 ERA

*** The Royals scored 3 runs starting in the 6th and held off the A's for the win. Tyler Sample worked around a triple in the 2nd but Deivy Batista was caught trying to steal home in the bottom of the inning to keep the game scoreless. The Royals stranded 2 in the 3rd and ran into 2 outs on the basepaths in the 4th. A passed ball and Sample error in the 5th helped the A's scratch out a run but Geulin Beltre singled with 2 out in the 6th, advanced to third on an error and scored on a double steal with Batista to tie the game. Alexis Marte hit an RBI triple in the 7th to make it 2-1 Royals and Jose Bonilla padded the lead with an RBI single in the 8th. Onassis Sirrett gave up an RBI single in the 9th to cut the lead to 1 but Bonilla caught a runner trying to get into scoring position with a steal to end the game. RP Mickey Storey took the loss with an IP of an ER allowed to fall to 1-1 with a 3.68 ERA. Starter Julio Ramos worked 4 scoreless innings to cut his ERA to 1.22. SS Dustin Coleman and RF Jose Crisostomo had 2 hits for the Athletics.

The Royals are 4-10 and play the 8-5 Padres tonight.