Royals on the Farm 8/16

AAA - Omaha: Oklahoma 7, O-Royals 3

1B Kaaihue 2-4, BB, 2B, HR (8), RBI (13), RS -- .349, probably should join the crowd and start putting the apostrophe in the name, but maybe tomorrow....
DH B. Pena 2-5, RBI (22), K -- .280
2B Labandeira 2-5, K -- .169
SS Dawkins 2-5, K -- .286
RF Bigler 2-3, BB, K, RS -- .286
CF Hollins 1-5, HR (14), RBI (51), K, RS, OF assist at second -- .228
3B Spann 1-5, 3 K -- .462
LF Lubanski 1-4, K -- .231
* Omaha stranded 12.

Gobble 1 2/3 IP, 5 ER, 4 H, 4 BB, 3 K -- L, 0-1, 7.71 ERA, Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy.....
Atencio 3 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 3 K -- 3.07 ERA
Lumsden 3 IP, H, 2 BB -- 6.92 ERA

*** Oklahoma got 5 runs in the 2nd and that was enough to take out the Royals, who have lost 19 of their last 25. Omaha stranded 2 and Jimmy Gobble had a quiet 1st but fell apart in the 2nd as Oklahoma plated 5 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks and Greg Atencio had to finish the inning. Brayan Pena hit an RBI single in the 3rd but 3 hits and a walk scored 2 Oklahoma runs in the 4th. Kila Ka'aihue (there, I did it) and Damon Hollins went back-to-back with longballs in the 5th for their 8th and 14th of the season at AAA, respectively, but Omaha wouldn't score again. The Royals did strand 2 in the 7th, 8th and 9th, however. RP Joselo Diaz picked up his 2nd save for Oklahoma in the win. Starter Michael Ballard allowed 3 ER over 5 IP to get the win and move to 2-3 with an 8.89 ERA. Three RedHawks had 2 hits and LF John Mayberry Jr. hit 2 doubles in the winning effort.

Omaha is 54-74. Game 2 is tonight. Probables: LH Dusty Hughes (2-1, 4.70) vs. RedHawks RH Brandon McCarthy (0-1, 4.58).

AA - NW Arkansas: Frisco 3, Naturals 2

DH Aldridge 3-3, BB, 2B (3), CS (3) -- .235
CF Duarte 0-2, BB, SF, RBI (40), OF assist at home -- .259
PH Lisson 0-0, SF, RBI (53) -- .217
1B Richardson 0-3, BB, K, RS -- .295
3B Lucas 1-3, BB, 2 K, SB (10) -- .303

Hardy 5 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 2 K, HRA -- L, 6-10, 4.73 ERA
M. Peterson 1 1/3 IP, BB, K, WP -- 4.91 ERA
Hamulack IP, 2 K -- 2.65 ERA
Crist 2/3 IP, 2 K -- 4.23 ERA

*** Frisco took a narrow win from the Naturals in the series opener. Both teams stranded 2 in the early going but the Naturals took the lead in the 5th with a Jose Duarte sac fly. Rowdy Hardy gave up a 2-out RBI single in the 5th and Duarte stopped the go-ahead run from scoring on an OF assist at the plate. Hardy gave up a 2-run homer in the 6th and was pulled for Matt Peterson with NWA down, 3-1. The Nats got 2 in scoring position to start the 9th but Ed Lucas struck out before Mario Lisson hit a pinch-hit sac fly to cut the lead to 1. Ovandy Suero grounded out to end the game and RP Andrew Laughter got his 9th save for Frisco. RP Brandon Puffer worked 2 scoreless innings to get the win and move to 7-0 with a 4.10 ERA. Starter Michael Schlact allowed an ER over 5 IP to move his ERA to 5.52. CF Julio Borbon was 2-4 with an RBI, K and his 2nd error, and 1B Chad Tracy hit his 2nd homer for Frisco.

NWA is 32-22 and 2 games up on first after losing 4 straight. Game 2 of the set is tonight as Julio Pimentel (6-10, 5.58) is set to take on Frisco's Jared Hyatt (2-3, 4.20).

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 5, Salem 3

DH Strait 1-3, HR (8), 2 RBI (28), RS -- .301
C Howell 1-3, HR (5), RBI (37), RS -- .257
1B Correll 1-3, RBI (26), RS -- .297
RF Orlando 1-4, RBI (48), RS -- .267
CF D. Robinson 0-3, BB, RS -- .251
SS McConnell 1-4, 2B (27) -- .256
LF Ortiz 0-3, 2 OF assists at home -- .297

Liotta 4 IP, 3 ER, 9 H, 2 BB, 4 K -- 6.75 ERA
Hartsock 4 IP, 2 H, BB, 3 K -- W, 9-5, 3.84 ERA
Barrera IP, H, K -- SV, 4, 3.22 ERA

*** Both teams scored their runs in the 3rd as Salem outhit the Rocks, 12-5, but lost on the scoreboard. Ray Liotta made his Wilmington debut and stranded 2 in the 1st. He probably owes Adrian Ortiz a meal, or a drink or two, as Ortiz made OF assists at home on consecutive plays in the 2nd to keep Salem off the board. Liotta struggled through the 3rd as he loaded the bases with 1 out and, with 2 out, allowed 3 runs on 2 singles to give Salem a lead. The Rocks responded, however, as Jeff Howell cranked his 5th homer to lead off the bottom of the inning, Paulo Orlando and Brad Correll hit RBI singles and Cody Strait hammered a 2-run homer for his 8th for the Rocks to make it 5-3. Aaron Hartsock left the bases full in the 5th and there was a point where 23 straight batters went down before Henry Barrera allowed a 2-out double in the 9th. He finished it for his 4th save. Salem SP Chad Wagler took the loss with 5 ER allowed over 7 IP to fall to 3-4 with a 3.51 ERA. 2B Greg Buchanan was 3-4 with a double and 2 RBI and two other Avalanche batters had 2 hits.

Wilmington is 27-29 and 2.5 games back. The series ended today with a Salem win as Everett Teaford got the start and took the loss.

A - Burlington: Bees 6, Quad Cities 4

1B Taylor 3-4, 2B (15), HR (17), 3 RBI (53), 2 RS -- .238
2B Giavotella 3-3, BB, 2 2B (15), 2 RS -- .306
DH C. Robinson 2-4, 2 HR (14), 3 RBI (55), 2 RS -- .261
3B Moustakas 0-4 -- .266
RF Francis 0-4, 4 K -- .219, ouch

Mitchell 6 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, BB, 4 K -- 3.45 ERA
Herrera 3 IP, ER, 2 H, 3 K, WP -- W, 1-0, 3.00 ERA, 1 appearance, 1 win for Herrera with the Bees

*** The Bees got a comeback win as 3 runs in the 8th made the difference and Clint Robinson hammered 2 homers to continue his late season surge. Jason Taylor also chipped in as he and Robinson went back-to-back to leadoff the 2nd for their 17th and 13th HRs of the season. Matt Mitchell allowed a run in the 3rd and a 2-out rally in the 5th tied the game for the Bandits. Taylor answered with an RBI double in the 6th but Mitchell allowed 2 doubles in the 6th to tie the game at 3. Kelvin Herrera came on for his Bees debut in the 7th and allowed a run on 2 hits. Taylor tied it with a 2-out RBI single in the 8th and Robinson had the big blow with a 2-run homer for his 14th of the season and 2nd of the game to make it 6-4 Bees. Herrera stranded 1 in the 9th to pick up the victory. Bandits RP Jameson Maj took the loss with 4 ER allowed over 3 IP to fall to 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA. Starter Jared Bradford allowed 2 ER over 5 innings of work to move his ERA to 3.63. LF Adron Chambers was 2-4 with 2 doubles, 2 RBI, 2 K and a RS along with an OF assist at second.

The Bees are 33-21 and 3.5 games up on first. The series continues tonight as Dan Gutierrez (4-3, 3.10) starts versus QC's Richard Castillo (6-3, 3.14).

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Chukars 8, Great Falls 6

SS Alfaro 3-4, S, 3B (4), HR (7), 2 RBI (39), RS, SB (6) -- .263
2B A. Perez 2-4, 2 RBI (28), K, CS (8), E (3) -- .240
1B Van De Keere 2-3, BB, 2B (11), 2 RS -- .278
RF-CF Testa 0-3, BB, 2 RBI (20), RS, SB (7), picked off -- .259
DH Graterol 1-3, BB, RBI (10), K, RS -- .250
RF Severino 1-1, BB, RBI (9), RS -- .174
C McCauley 1-4, 2B (11), RS -- .264
LF Griffin 0-3, BB, K, picked off -- .241
CF Norris 0-3, K -- .249

Beach 5 IP, 6 R (4 ER), 7 H, BB, 6 K, 2 HRA -- 6.15 ERA
Miller 0 IP, 2 BB -- 7.27 ERA
Rada 2 IP, H, 3 K -- 3.45 ERA
Huber 2 IP, BB -- W, 1-0, 2.40 ERA

*** The Chukars recovered from a 6-3 deficit to win a 3rd straight game. IF threw a runner out at the plate in the 1st but left 2 in scoring position in the bottom of the inning. Alwin Perez got the Chukars on the board with an RBI single in the 2nd but Great Falls tied it in the 3rd on 2 doubles off starter Colby Beach. The Voyagers made a run-scoring error in the 4th and Perez singled in another run to make it 3-1 IF. Beach surrendered a 3-run homer in the 5th to blow the lead and a 2-run inside-the-park homer later in the inning made it 6-3 Great Falls. J.D. Alfaro slugged his 7th pro homer in the 5th to cut it to 6-4 and that was the score going into the bottom of the 8th. The first 2 Chukars reached off RP Stephen Sauer and a Great Falls error scored the first run of the rally. Carlo Testa hit an RBI groundout, Neder Severino hit a 2-out RBI single and Alfaro tripled home a run to make it 8-6 Chukars. Tim Huber followed with a perfect 9th for the win. Sauer took his first blown save and the loss with 4 runs (2 ER) over an inning of work to fall to 3-2 with a 3.54 ERA. Starter Dan Hudson worked 5 innings of 4 ER allowed to make his ERA 3.29. Three Voyagers had 2 hits as SS Tyler Kuhn hit his 3rd homer and had 4 RBI, his 4th SB and his 13th error, and 1B Kyle Shelton hit his 3rd homer with 2 RBI.

IF is 9-10 and 6 games out. The series concludes today as Ivor Hodgson (2-4, 3.78) matches up with Great Falls' Dexter Carter (4-1, 2.51).

Rookie - Burlington: Bluefield 6, B-Royals 5

SS Molina 2-4, K, CS (2) -- .258
DH S. Perez 1-4, 2 RBI (9) -- .286
RF Caldwell 1-4, RBI (16) -- .194
1B Vittek 1-4, RBI (24), K, RS -- .279
CF H. Richardson 0-4, K -- .229
LF D. Wood 1-4, RS -- .292
3B Morales 0-2, 2 BB, 2 RS -- .187
C Moctezuma 0-3, 2 K -- .159

Flanagan 4 IP, 5 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 3 K -- L, 2-3, 2.95 ERA
Hudnall IP, ER, 2 H, K, HRA -- 9.00 ERA
Farinas 3 IP, 2 H, BB, 2 K, E -- 9.18 ERA
Mieles IP, 2 H, 2 K -- 5.50 ERA

*** A game-tying Burlington rally in the 9th wasn't to be as Bluefield came away with the series finale. Royals starter John Flanagan was victimized for 5 runs in the 2nd on 4 hits and 2 walks but was perfect in his other 3 innings of work through 4. The Royals hadn't gotten a baserunner through 3 1/3 innings but would rally for 4 runs in the 4th on a run-scoring passed ball, a Josh Vittek RBI single, an Allen Caldwell RBI groundout and Salvador Perez RBI single that cut it to 5-4. Jaeson Hudnall came on for the 5th and served up a solo homer and the run would be pivotal. The score remained 6-4 entering the 9th when the first 2 Royals reached and Perez hit an RBI forceout to cut the lead to 1. Julio Aparicio pinch-ran for Perez and pinch-hitter Diego Cruz singled but Aparicio was thrown out trying to get to third. Yeldrys Molina then struck out to end it as RP Jose Barajas allowed an ER in his inning of work but got his 6th save. RP Thomas Phelps worked 2 scoreless innings to get the win and move to 2-2 with a 3.76 ERA. Starter Raul Rivero lasted 4 innings and gave up 4 ER to move his ERA to 5.75. Four O's had 2 hits and 2B Buck Britton drove in 3 runs.

The Royals are 20-37. They have today off to head out for their final 6-game road trip.

Rookie - AZL: Angels 5, Royals 3

3B D. Batista 3-4, 2B (10), RBI (16), 2 CS (9) -- .326
SS Espinal 2-4, RS, SB (10), CS (2), E (14) -- .229
LF D. Rodriguez 1-3, RBI (5), K -- .186
CF Llanos 0-3, SF, RBI (14), 2 K, OF assist at second -- .167
RF Del Rosario 0-3, BB, 2 K, OF assist at home -- .295
C J. Bonilla 0-1, HBP, K -- .357, left after HBP in 5th
PR-C Matos 1-2, RS, PB (4) -- .259

Musser IP, 3 K -- 3.38 ERA, appears to be back in shape
Montgomery 5 IP, 3 H, BB, 5 K, pickoff -- 1.51 ERA
L. Perez 2 2/3 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 5 H, BB, 2 K, WP -- BS, 1, 2.08 ERA
Ruhlman 1/3 IP, 2 UER, 2 H -- BS, 3, L, 2-2, 3.00 ERA

*** The Royals blew 2-0 and 3-2 leads in falling to the Angels. Neal Musser struck out the side in the 1st in another AZL rehab appearance and Mike Montgomery followed with 5 solid innings of work. Derek Rodriguez hit an RBI forceout in the 5th to put the Royals up and Deivy Batista singled home a run in the 6th to make it 2-0 Royals. Leondy Perez took over for Montgomery in the 7th and ran into trouble as 3 hits and a wild pitch helped tie the game. The Royals responded as Alex Llanos hit a sac fly in the bottom of the inning to make it 3-2. RF Luis Del Rosario cut the Angels 8th short with an OF assist at the plate, and Perez would have had a 1-2-3 9th if not for a passed ball on a 1-out third strike. The miscue hurt as Josh Ruhlman gave up a game-tying single and a Yowill Espinal error also factored in as a 2-out RBI single scored 2 runs to make it 5-3 Angels. The Royals got the tying run on base in the 9th but Alexis Marte hit into a game-ending double play as RP Abraham Gonzalez got his 1st save. RP Ryan Brasier pitched a hitless inning for the win to move to 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA. Starter Manuel Flores pitched 6 innings with 2 runs (1 ER) allowed to move his ERA to 3.34. Three Angels had 2 hits as DH Ricky Alvarez drove in 3 runs and SS Kevin Ramos drove home 2 and made his 6th error.

The Royals are 6-11. They play the division-leading 13-3 Giants tonight.