Royals on the Farm 8/2

AAA - Omaha: Salt Lake 5, O-Royals 3 (11)

3B Dawkins 2-6, HR (8), RBI (24), 3 K, RS -- .297, 10-game hit streak
1B Kaaihue 2-5, K, picked off -- .389
CF Hollins 1-5, HR (10), RBI (39), 3 K, RS -- .221
C B. Pena 0-3, 2 S -- .292
DH Shealy 1-3, 2 BB, 2B (17) -- .286
RF Stodolka 0-3, 2 BB, K -- .286
SS Sanchez 1-4, BB, CS -- .212
LF Lubanski 1-5, 2B (17), 2 K, E (5) -- .241
2B Labandeira 0-5, BB, RS, E -- .000
* Omaha stranded 11.

Gobble 2 IP, 2 H, 3 K -- 0.00 ERA, rehab begins at Omaha
Duckworth 6 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, BB, 4 K, HRA, WP -- 4.97 ERA
Fulchino 2 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, BB, 2 K -- BS, 1, L, 3-2, 4.58 ERA

*** It was Jeff Fulchino's turn to blow a save in the 9th for Omaha and the Bees finished the 4-game set by scoring 2 in the 11th to take 3 of 4 from the Royals. Gookie Dawkins got Omaha off to a promising start with a leadoff homer in the 1st for his 8th as a Royal this season. The Royals would leave the bases loaded, tho, and Brandon Duckworth served up a leadoff homer in the 4th to tie the game. Duckworth stranded 2 in the 7th and Damon Hollins led off the Omaha 7th with his 10th homer of the season to regain the lead for the Royals. Josh Labandeira scored on a wild pitch in the 8th to make it 3-1. With 1 out in the 9th, Duckworth allowed a single and then a key double by Dee Brown that scored a run on a Chris Lubanski error. Fulchino came in with a man at second and 1 out and allowed an RBI single to tie it before escaping the inning. Omaha left the bases loaded in the 10th and Fulchino allowed 2 runs on 2 hits and a walk in the 11th. Omaha stranded 1 in the 11th as Henry Bonilla notched his 2nd save for Salt Lake. RP Jason Bulger got the win with 2 scoreless IP despite walking 4 to improve to 3-0 with a stellar 0.53 ERA. Starter Nick Green allowed 2 ER over 7 IP to move his ERA to 4.74. SS Sean Rodriguez was 3-5 for the Bees with his 20th homer. Dee Brown was 2-4 with a walk, double, K and run scored.

Omaha is 50-64 and a long way out of the divisional race. A 4-game home set with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (54-60, AAA Rockies) started today. Roman Colon got the start for Omaha. IF Jason Smith got put back on the 40-man and called up to KC Saturday as Mark Grudzielanek hit the DL (thanks Ross Gload) and Yasuhiko Yabuta got DFA'd, which is a big move. They must not be happy with their Japanese import, and I guess they haven't liked what they've seen at Omaha from him, either. P Greg Atencio also got recalled to Omaha from NW Arkansas' pen. The Sky Sox roster features Colorado prospects lefty Franklin Morales, righty Juan Morillo, righty Greg Reynolds, IF Jonathan Herrera and former Royal, and no longer a prospect, lefty Mark Redman. The Royals are a remarkable 8-20 in games decided in the final at-bat. Starter Carlos Rosa is also slated to return from forearm soreness with a start Tuesday.

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 5, Arkansas 2

CF Duarte 1-4, HR (8), 2 RBI (38), RS -- .257
LF Aldridge 1-3, BB, RBI (16), K, CS (2) -- .270
SS Lisson 1-4, RBI (48), K -- .214
DH Richardson 0-4, RBI (61), K, RS -- .299
2B Maddox 1-3, BB, RS -- .295

Cortes 5 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 5 BB, 5 K, WP -- W, 7-4, 4.36 ERA, all of a sudden having control problems again
Plummer 3 IP, H, BB, 5 K -- 4.19 ERA
C. Hayes IP, H, K -- SV, 9, 1.48 ERA, submariner, maybe next Quiz?

*** The Naturals were efficient with 5 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks in another win over the Travs. Dan Cortes pulled a Houdini in the 1st by loading the bases with no outs and escaping without a run allowed. NWA jumped ahead in the 4th with 3 runs on a run-scoring Travelers error and RBI singles by Cory Aldridge and Mario Lisson. Cortes loaded the bases again with 2 out in the 4th but again ducked the threat. He wasn't as lucky in the 5th as an RBI triple and run-scoring wild pitch cut the Nats' lead to 3-2. Jose Duarte gave the Naturals some insurance in the 7th with a 2-run homer for his 8th of the season and Jarod Plummer and Chris Hayes finished it off. Travs SP Dan Denham took the loss with 6 IP of 3 runs (2 ER) allowed to fall to 9-9 with a 3.71 ERA. 3B Corey Smith was 2-4 with his 13th SB.

NWA is 27-15 and 4 games up on first. The series continues tonight as Blake Wood (3-5, 6.59) starts vs. Arkansas' Amalio Diaz (1-2, 3.24). Not to jinx it, but that makes it 7 straight wins versus the Travelers.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 7, Frederick 4

2B Bianchi 3-3, BB, SF, 3 2B (29), 2 RBI (50), 2 RS, SB (10) -- .257, when he's on his game he hits in bunches
RF Dyson 3-4, 2 RBI (20), K, 2 SB (36) -- .248
1B Seratelli 1-5, 2B (14), 2 RBI (47), 4 K -- .223, batted 1.000 when he made contact
CF D. Robinson 1-5, BB, RBI (26), 2 K, SB (51) -- .248
DH Correll 2-5, 2 2B (12), K, 3 RS -- .330
LF Ortiz 0-6, OF assist at first -- .111, may wanna drop him from #2 slot in order until he adjusts to high-A???
SS McConnell 0-4, BB, K -- .278
3B J. Johnson 0-1, 3 BB, S, K, RS -- .275, on-base machine and has batted leadoff twice, I think....
* The Rocks stranded 13.

Cegarra 6 IP, 3 ER, 10 H, 5 K, HRA -- W, 4-6, 5.50 ERA, 10 hits allowed but sure he'll take the W
Swaggerty 1 2/3 IP, ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K, HRA -- 2.70 ERA
Chambliss 1 1/3 IP, BB -- SV, 19, 3.52 ERA

*** A 3-run 5th was the key to victory over the Keys Saturday. Jeff Bianchi led off the 2nd with the first of his 3 doubles on the night and scored on a Jarrod Dyson single to spot the Rocks a 1-0 lead. Ed Cegarra gave up a leadoff homer in the 2nd to tie it but the Rocks moved back ahead in the 3rd on Bianchi's second double, this one for an RBI after a Brad Correll double with 2 outs. The Keys tied it on 2 hits off Cegarra in the 3rd and the Rocks took control in the 5th with 3 runs on a 2-run bases-loaded double by Anthony Seratelli and another Dyson RBI single to make it 5-2. Cegarra allowed a run on 3 hits in the 5th and the Rocks left the bases loaded in the 6th before a Bianchi sac fly in the 8th made it 6-3. Ben Swaggerty allowed a solo homer in the 8th but Wilmington got the run back in the 9th on a Derrick Robinson RBI single as Robinson added his 51st steal in the inning. Tyler Chambliss stranded 1 in the 9th for his 19th save. Reliever Robert Neigebauer took the loss as he got only 1 out in the 5th and allowed 3 runs (2 ER) to drop to 0-1 and set a 54.00 ERA in his Frederick debut. Starter Tim Bascom worked 4 innings of 2 ER allowed to move his ERA to 6.92. Four Keys had 2 hits.

Wilmington is 19-22 and 5 games back. The series concludes tonight as southpaw Paul Mildren (0-5, 7.98) vies versus Keys righty Kyle Schmidt (2-4, 4.62).

A - Burlington: Bees 5, Fort Wayne 4

3B Moustakas 3-4, 2 HR (17), 2 RBI (52), K, 2 RS -- .260
CF Lough 1-2, BB, HBP, HR (11), RBI (44), RS -- .259
2B Giavotella 1-2, S, SF, RBI (14), RS -- .304
DH Taylor 0-1, 3 BB, CS (11) -- .233
1B C. Robinson 0-4 -- .250
LF Francis 0-4, 2 K -- .269
RF Van Stratten 0-4, K, OF assist at home -- .337

Caldera 5 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 4 K -- W, 8-6, 3.19 ERA
Sisk 3 IP, ER, H, 3 BB, 5 K -- 5.40 ERA
Z. Peterson IP, BB, K -- SV, 4, 3.71 ERA, back from DL

*** The Bees took a 4-0 lead and held on to win by a run and set up a chance at a sweep of the Wizards today. David Lough led off the Bees 1st with a bang as his 11th homer made it 1-0 and a Clint Robinson double-play ball later in the inning scored Johnny Giavotella to make it 2-0. Burlington loaded the bases again in the 2nd and a Giavotella sac fly made it 3-0. Mike Moustakas led off the 3rd with his 16th homer of the season and Alex Caldera was cruising with a 4-0 lead and 2-hit shutout going through 4. In the 5th the Wizards got to him for 3 runs on 4 hits and a walk, although Nick Van Stratten protected the lead by nailing a runner at the plate to end the half-inning. Moustakas cranked his 17th homer of the season and 2nd of the game in the 5th and I can't remember if that's his 1st multi-homer game of his career or not. Brandon Sisk allowed a run on 3 walks and a single in the 7th but he and Zach Peterson retired 7 of the last 8 to shut down Fort Wayne. Starter Wynn Pelzer took the loss for the Wizards with 4 IP of 4 ER allowed to drop to 9-5 with a 3.12 ERA. C Luis Martinez was 2-3 with a walk, RBI and RS for the Wiz.

The Bees are 24-17 and 1/2 a game up on first still. The series is ending today as Matt Mitchell got the start. Mike Moustakas homered again today as the Bees held a late lead.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Chukars 6, Orem 4

LF Griffin 2-4, BB, 2B (10), HR (4), 2 RBI (18), K, RS, SB (6) -- .277
3B Van De Keere 2-4, BB, K, RS, 2 SB (3) -- .270
CF Norris 1-2, 3 BB, RBI (9), RS, 3 SB (22), picked off -- .252, nice line other than pickoff, leads league in SB
2B A. Perez 1-4, RBI (23), 2 K -- .242
C McCauley 0-5, 2 K -- .254
1B Espinosa 0-3, BB, K -- .158
SS Jimenez 1-4, BB, 2 K, 2 RS, 2 SB (12) -- .297, Chukars stole 8 bases with 2 picked off

Morgan 3 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, BB, 3 K, HRA, WP -- 5.06 ERA
Rada 3 IP, ER, 3 H, BB, 3 K, HRA -- W, 3-1, 4.01 ERA
Saito 2 IP, H, K -- 5.51 ERA
Huber IP, H -- SV, 3, 0.00 ERA

*** Two late runs gave the Chukars the win and the series versus the Owlz. Three Orem errors helped Patrick Norris score the game's first run in the 1st but Ryan Morgan allowed a 2-run homer in the bottom of the frame to give Orem the lead. IF answered with 2 in the 2nd on RBI singles by Alwin Perez and Norris but the Owlz tied it in the 2nd with a run on 2 hits, a hit batsman and wild pitch. Shawn Griffin gave Idaho Falls its third lead with an RBI double in the 3rd and, this time, it lasted until the Orem 4th when Orlando Rada allowed a homer to the first batter he faced. The Chukars left the bases full in the 5th but, in the 7th, Antonio Jimenez led off with a walk, stole second, advanced on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-4 Idaho Falls. Rada retired 10 of 12 Owlz he faced after the homer he allowed and Griffin gave IF some insurance in the 9th with his 4th pro homer to make it 6-4. Tim Huber pitched the 9th for his 3rd save. RP Jon Plefka took the loss with 2 IP of an ER allowed to fall to 1-1 with a 9.00 ERA. Starter Andrew Taylor lasted only 1 1/3 IP and allowed 3 runs (2 ER) to move his ERA to 6.95. Two Owlz had 2 hits as 3B Luis Jimenez and LF Donato Giovanotto both homered in the loss. Jimenez also committed his 12th error.

IF is 4-2 and a game up on first. A 3-game home set with the Ogden Raptors (3-3, Rookie Dodgers) begins today. Starters are Aneidy Toribio (0-4, 5.81) and Ogden's Jon Michael Redding (0-3, 5.06). IF is 3-5 versus the Raptors.

Rookie - Burlington: B-Royals 10, Johnson City 5

1B D. Cruz 4-5, 2B (4), RBI (7), RS -- .256
DH Vittek 2-4, 2B (3), HR (6), 2 RBI (18), K, 2 RS -- .291
3B F. Cruz 2-5, 2B (6), RBI (11), 2 K, RS -- .248
2B A. Franco 2-5, 2 K -- .255
C Moctezuma 1-5, RBI (8), 3 K, 2 PB (9) -- .190
CF H. Richardson 0-4, BB, K, RS, 2 SB (6) -- .225

G. De La Cruz 5 IP, UER, 4 H, BB, 7 K, E (2) -- W, 2-3, 6.09 ERA
Baez 2 IP, H, 2 K, WP -- 3.98 ERA
Roq. Colon IP, UER, H, E -- 6.06 ERA
Farinas IP, 3 ER, 3 H, K, HRA, WP -- 11.32 ERA

*** The Royals ran away with the opener versus the Cardinals. They got it started with 4 in the 2nd on a 2-run Diego Cruz single aided by a Johnson City error, a run-scoring wild pitch and run-scoring error as the Cards made 3 in the inning. Fernando Cruz hit an RBI single in the 3rd and Giancarlo De La Cruz finally allowed a run in the 4th thanks in part to 2 passed balls on Miguel Moctezuma. Burlington got the run back with interest in the 5th as Josh Vittek slammed a 2-run homer for his 6th as a pro. The Royals piled on 2 in the 6th on a 2-run Cards error (they had 7 in the game, including 3 total in the 6th) and finished their scoring with a run in the 7th on a Moctezuma RBI single. Roque Colon allowed a run in the 8th and Williams Farinas got tagged for 3 in the 9th but closed it out. Starter Adam Veres took the loss for Johnson City with 1 2/3 IP of 4 runs (2 ER) allowed to fall to 2-2 with a 2.38 ERA. C Rickey Noland was 3-4 with 4 errors and a run scored and 1B Matt Rigoli was 2-5 with his 1st homer, 2 RBI, a double, K, 2 RS and his 2nd error.

The Royals are 15-28. The set is continuing tonight as Sam Runion is making the start for the Royals. Forgot to note yesterday, but the Royals are now 2-2 versus the Cardinals.

Rookie - AZL: Cubs 9, Royals 3

2B D. Batista 2-4, 2 RBI (10), RS, CS (4) -- .311
1B Henriquez 0-4, RBI (6) -- .144
CF Llanos 0-4, OF assist at third -- .174
RF Del Rosario 0-2, 2 BB, 2 K, RS -- .307
C Matos 0-4, 2 K -- .244
3B Kuebler 1-4 -- .211
DH Culver 1-2, K -- .200

Billo 2 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K -- 4.91 ERA
D. De La Cruz 3 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, 2 K -- L, 4-1, 3.18 ERA
Ruhlman 1 1/3 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 3 H, 2 K -- 3.86 ERA
A. Martinez 2 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 K -- 10.80 ERA

*** The Royals' 3 runs came as meaningless tallies in the 9th as the Cubs rolled to the win. The Royals caught a runner trying to score in the 2nd to keep it scoreless but the Cubs broke through with a run in the 5th off Deybi De La Cruz, added 3 in the 6th on 2 triples, double, single and sac fly off De La Cruz in the 6th, scored 2 more in the 7th off Josh Ruhlman and got 3 off Angel Martinez in the 8th to make it 9-0. Two Cubs pitchers took a perfect game through 4 and the Royals were being shut out on 3 hits into the 8th. Deivy Batista spoiled the shutout with a 2-run single in the 9th and Edwin Henriquez added an RBI forceout before the Royals succumbed. RP Miguel Sierra got the win with 4 scoreless innings of work to move to 2-2 with a 4.80 ERA. Starter Oswaldo Martinez worked 2 scoreless frames to drop his ERA to 7.15. Two Cubs had 3-hit games and 3 others had 2-hit games. 3B John Contreras was 3-5 with 2 doubles, a triple, 3 RBI and 2 RS.

The Royals are 1-5 and 5 games back of the 6-0 Rangers. They play the 3-3 A's tonight.