Royals on the Farm 8/26

AAA - Omaha: New Orleans 14, O-Royals 4

CF Bigler 3-4, RBI (4), K -- .353, en fuego
C B. Pena 2-3, BB, RS -- .296
DH Shealy 1-5, HR (21), 2 RBI (61), 4 K, RS -- .283, HR and the golden sombrero in same game
SS Dawkins 0-4, RBI (29) -- .271
1B Ka'aihue 0-3, 2 BB, K, RS -- .330
LF Lubanski 1-2, 2 BB, 3B (8), K, RS -- .238
3B Spann 0-4, K, E (4) -- .271
SS Gutierrez 0-1 -- .000, Omaha debut
C Balduf 0-1, K -- .000, Omaha debut

Musser IP, 3 BB, 2 K, WP -- 4.44 ERA
Newman 4 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 4 BB, 3 K -- 3.12 ERA
Salmon 1 2/3 IP, 7 R (3 ER), 6 H, 2 BB, K -- L, 8-7, 4.86 ERA
B. Richardson 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, BB, 2 WP -- 81.00 ERA, Omaha debut wasn't pretty
Buchanan 2 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, K, WP -- 4.50 ERA, perfect ERA no more

*** The game got out of hand with Omaha's pen in the game late and the Zephyrs rolled to the win to even the series. Neal Musser pitched an inning and left the bases loaded in the 1st but Josh Newman gave up 2 runs in the 2nd on 2 hits and 2 walks. Omaha got on the board in the 3rd as Chris Lubanski tripled and scored on a Gookie Dawkins groundout to cut the lead in half. Newman stranded 2 in the 4th and Omaha tied it as Brett Bigler hit a 2-out RBI single. Omaha left the bases loaded in the 5th and Brad Salmon came on for the 6th and struggled. The Zephyrs scored 3 in the 6th on 5 hits, a walk and a Damon Hollins error before stranding the bases full. New Orleans put it away with 7 runs in the 7th on 2 walks, 5 hits, 2 wild pitches and Chad Spann error to give Salmon and Brett Richardson the Charlie Brown treatment. Ryan Shealy clubbed a 2-run homer in the 7th for his 21st of the season but that only cut it to 12-4. Brian Buchanan made his 3rd pitching appearance of the season and allowed 2 runs over 2 frames to finish the scoring. Starter Bobby Parnell worked 6 innings for the Zephyrs and allowed 2 ER to improve to 2-2 with a 6.05 ERA. Three Zephyrs had 3 hits and four others had 2 hits. RF Val Pascucci drove in 3 runs and four others drove in 2.

Omaha is 60-78. Game 3 is tonight as Zephyrs LH Willie Collazo (4-8, 4.03) faces LH John Bale (0-2, 10.38).

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 4, Arkansas 3 (10)

3B Falu 2-4, BB, RS -- .293
2B Maddox 2-5 -- .286
SS Lisson 2-5, 2B (21), CS (6) -- .223
1B Richardson 1-4, BB, HR (15), 2 RBI (75), 2 RS -- .290, HR was eventual game-winner
DH Aldridge 1-5, HR (8), 2 RBI (31), RS -- .247
CF Duarte 0-5, 2 K -- .252
RF McFall 0-2, S, HBP -- .241

Hardy 5 IP, ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 3 K -- 4.56 ERA
M. Peterson 2 IP, ER, 2 H, 2 BB, HRA -- BS, 1, 3.65 ERA
C. Hayes 2 IP, ER, 2 H -- W, 5-2, 1.67 ERA
Hamulack IP, 2 H, K -- SV, 6, 2.14 ERA

*** A homer by Juan Richardson was the difference in the 10th as the Naturals held on for the win and moved back into sole possession of first place with a Springfield loss. Both teams stranded 2 in the 1st and the teams traded stranded runners until Arkansas scored a run in the 5th on 2 hits. Cory Aldridge smoked a 2-out, 2-run homer to right for his 8th homer for NWA and the Naturals flipped the lead around. The lead lasted one batter into the Arkansas 6th as Matt Peterson served up a leadoff homer to tie the game at 2. Peterson stranded 2 in the 7th and the Nats got a runner to third with 1 out in the 9th but couldn't get him home and the game eventually went to extras. Richardson's homer came with 1 on and 1 out in the 10th and was his 15th of the season to give the Nats a 4-2 lead. Chris Hayes was pulled after giving up a leadoff single in the 10th and Tim Hamulack allowed 2 hits to score a run before stranding runners on the corners for his 6th save. RP Barret Browning allowed 2 ER over 2 1/3 IP to lose and fall to 1-1 with a 6.37 ERA. Starter David Austen worked 7 2/3 innings and allowed 2 ER to move his ERA to 4.50. CF Jordan Czarniecki and SS Ryan Leahy had 2 hits and 3B Corey Smith hit his 25th homer for the Travs.

NWA is 38-26 and a game up on first. Game 2 is tonight as Julio Pimentel gets the start. Nats pitchers Dan Cortes, Rowdy Hardy, Chris Nicoll and Chris Hayes along with OF Brian McFall have been slated by the organization to play in the Arizona Fall League this year. Two other Royals farmhands will also go -- SS Chris McConnell and OF Joe Dickerson from Wilmington.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Myrtle Beach 6, Blue Rocks 0 (7/G1)

RF Orlando 1-3, 2B (20) -- .264
1B Correll 1-3, 2B (16), E (8) -- .280
CF D. Robinson 1-3 -- .245
SS McConnell 1-3 -- .255
3B J. Johnson 1-3, E (8) -- .259
2B Bianchi 0-2, BB -- .259
LF Ortiz 0-2 -- .291
DH Mertins 0-3, K -- .284

Kniginyzky 4 1/3 IP, 5 R (2 ER), 4 H, 2 BB, 3 K, 2 HRA -- L, 9-8, 3.57 ERA
Haltiwanger 2/3 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, K -- 4.05 ERA
Swaggerty IP, BB, WP -- 2.89 ERA

*** Pelicans starter Scott Diamond avenged one of his 2 defeats for Myrtle Beach by shutting down the Rocks. Matt Kniginyzky put the Rocks down early by giving up a 3-run homer in the 1st as the Rocks had 2 errors in the inning. Derrick Robinson hit a 2-out would-be RBI single in the 3rd but Adrian Ortiz was nailed at the plate by Braves prospect CF Gorkys Hernandez to end the inning. Kniginyzky gave up a solo homer in the 4th and the Pelicans plated 2 in the 5th off Kniginyzky and Russ Haltiwanger to make it 6-0. The Rocks stranded 2 in the 7th as Diamond went the distance and allowed 5 hits and a walk with a K to improve to 12-2 with a 2.79 ERA. 3B Eric Campbell was 2-3 with his 18th homer and 3 RBI.

Myrtle Beach 2, Blue Rocks 0 (2-hitter, 7/G2)

LF Strait 1-3, 2B (12), E (2) -- .298
SS McConnell 1-3 -- .256
CF D. Robinson 0-3, K -- .244
RF Orlando 0-3, E (8) -- .262
DH Correll 0-3, K -- .275
2B Bianchi 0-3 -- .257
3B J. Johnson 0-2 -- .257

Liotta 5 IP, 2 UER, 4 H, 2 BB, K -- L, 1-1, 1.93 ERA
Chambliss IP, nothing -- 4.02 ERA

*** The "banner day" for the Rocks offense continued as the Rocks were shut out on 2 hits to most likely finish the season 0-8 in doubleheaders. The Pelicans got their runs in the 2nd on 2 hits, a walk and 2 Rocks errors. Wilmington didn't have a hit after the 4th as Cole Rohrbough pitched a complete game with 2 hits allowed and 4 Ks to move to 2-1 with a 3.51 ERA. The Pelicans only had 4 hits off Rocks starter Ray Liotta, who took the hard luck loss.

Wilmington is 31-34 and 3.5 games back of first. Tonight is the series finale as southpaw Everett Teaford (8-6, 3.83) takes on Pelicans right-hander Ryne Reynoso (10-6, 3.15). OF Joe Dickerson was the only Rock named to the postseason Carolina League all-star team. His last game was July 13 when he was hit by a pitch while trying to lay down a bunt and broke his finger.

A - Burlington: Bees 14, Quad Cities 4

2B Giavotella 4-5, BB, RBI (23), K, 2 RS -- .304
RF Van Stratten 3-5, 2B (12), 3 RBI (16), 2 RS -- .352
SS J. Rivera 3-5, 2 RBI (22), 2 RS, SB (16) -- .233
DH C. Robinson 3-5, BB, K, 2 RS -- .267
LF Francis 2-5, 2B (6), 2 RBI (14), K, 2 RS -- .272
1B Taylor 1-5, SF, 2B (17), 2 RBI (56), 2 K -- .235
3B Moustakas 1-4, BB, SF, HR (22), 2 RBI (69), 2 RS -- .270
CF Lough 1-5, BB, RBI (59), RS -- .265
* The Bees stranded 12.

Caldera 7 IP, 3 H, 3 K -- W, 12-6, 2.90 ERA, will he or Duffy be Bees pitcher of year?
Bradley IP, 4 ER, 4 H, K -- 2.25 ERA
Z. Peterson IP, 2 K -- 3.21 ERA

*** The Bees churned out 11 runs in the first 3 innings and coasted to the 14-4 win. Burlington scored 5 in the 1st on a Jason Taylor sac fly, a 2-run Nick Francis double, a Nick Van Stratten RBI single, and a Juan Rivera RBI single. The Bees tacked on 5 more runs in the 2nd on a Taylor RBI double, a 2-run Van Stratten double, a Rivera RBI single and David Lough RBI single to make it 10-0. Mike Moustakas led off the 3rd with his 22nd homer and that stretched it to 11-0. Alex Caldera pitched excellently as he struck out the side in the 5th and handed a 3-hit shutout to the pen in the 8th. Tony Bradley had trouble in the 8th as Quad Cities broke up the shutout with 4 runs on 4 hits and a hit batsman. The Bees answered with 3 runs in the 8th as Johnny Giavotella hit a 2-run single and a Moustakas sac fly and that finished off the 14-4 win. Bandits SP Ryan Kulik took the loss with 1 2/3 IP of 9 runs (4 ER) allowed to drop to 5-5 with a 5.57 ERA. LF Adron Chambers and DH Curt Smith had 2 RBI each for Quad Cities.

The Bees are 40-23 and 3.5 games up on first. Game 3 is tonight as Kelvin Herrera (2-0, 1.13) matches up with Bandits SP Jameson Maj (0-1, 4.50). Somehow, no Bees were voted to the Midwest League postseason all-star squad. No Moustakas, at least?

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Ogden 9, Chukars 5

DH Hosmer 2-3, 2 BB, 2B (2), RBI (2), K, RS -- .500, looking good
LF Griffin 2-3, 2B (14), 3B (3), RBI (23), K, E (3) -- .246
3B Jimenez 2-4, BB, RS, CS (6) -- .301
C S. Perez 1-4, HR, RBI (2), RS -- .267
SS Alfaro 1-5, RBI (53), 3 K, SB (8) -- .282
CF Norris 0-3, 2 BB, RBI (17), SB (29) -- .253
1B Van De Keere 0-4, BB, 2 K -- .291
RF Testa 1-2, 2 BB, 3B (3), K, 2 RS, SB (8), E (2) -- .305
* IF stranded 10.

Casey 4 2/3 IP, 6 R (5 ER), 6 H, 2 BB, 7 K, HRA, WP -- L, 3-4, 2.85 ERA
Carver 2 1/3 IP, ER, 3 H, 2 K, HRA -- 7.52 ERA
Gilgenbach 2 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 2 K, 2 HRA -- 10.88 ERA

*** Ogden pulled away late to end the series with the Chukars with another win. Shawn Griffin led off the IF 2nd with a tripled but the Chukars ended up stranding 2 and Ogden scored a run in the 3rd to take the first lead of the game. With 2 out in the bottom of the 3rd, Eric Hosmer hit an RBI double and scored on a Griffin double to make it 2-1 Idaho Falls. Ogden got a 2-run homer off Bryan Casey in the 4th to regain the lead but IF answered with 2 runs on Salvador Perez's 1st homer as a Chukar and a Patrick Norris RBI groundout. Casey didn't have his best stuff Tuesday as Ogden scored 3 runs in the 5th on a hit, walk, hit batsman, wild pitch, sac fly and Carlo Testa error to make it 6-4 Raptors. IF stranded 2 in the 5th and Ogden added a run in the 6th on a solo homer but Testa tripled in the 6th and scored on a J.D. Alfaro single to cut it to 7-5. The Chukars would leave 2 in scoring position, however, and stranded 2 more in the 7th. Stephen Gilgenbach gave up solo homers in the 8th and 9th and the Chukars couldn't rally. RP Jon Runnels got the win with 2 IP of an ER allowed to improve to 3-0 with a 6.43 ERA. Starter Kyle Smit worked 4 innings and allowed 4 ER to move his ERA to 6.00. 3B Pedro Baez was 3-4 with 2 doubles, his 11th HR and an RBI, C Matt Wallach was 2-4 with 2 HR (7) and 3 RBI and CF Travis Vetters also had 2 hits for Ogden.

IF is 14-14 and 6.5 games back. A 5-game home set with the Orem Owlz (20-7, Rookie Halos, first-half division champ and current division leader) starts tonight as Colby Beach (3-3, 5.40) faces Orem's Jayson Miller (7-2, 2.01). The Chukars are 3-8 versus the Owlz.

Rookie - Burlington: rainout

*** What a way for the season to end -- a rainout that won't be rescheduled. That sums up the kind of season it was for the B-Royals as they finished 24-41 with the worst record in the Appalachian League. Pulaski and Elizabethton were the division winners. I'll wrap up the Royals tomorrow.

Rookie - AZL: Giants 9, Royals 3

RF Del Rosario 2-4, 3B, K, 2 RS, OF assist at first -- .277
SS Espinal 1-4, 2B (4), RBI (18), 2 K, 2 E (18) -- .240
LF Mariano 0-2, SF, RBI (7), K -- .098, never good when BA starts with a 0
CF Llanos 1-5, 3 K -- .192
3B D. Batista 1-4, K -- .309
2B Culver 0-2, 2 BB, 2 K, RS -- .174
C T. Jones 1-4, K -- .091, first pro hit

Fortuna 3 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 8 H, 2 BB, K, HRA -- L, 2-2, 5.82 ERA
Garrido 4 IP, ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 2 K, 2 WP -- 5.49 ERA
Feickert IP, 3 ER, 3 H, K -- 13.50 ERA

*** The Giants got to all 3 Royal pitchers in the win. '08 #5 overall pick C Buster Posey got the Giants started with a 2-run homer (his 1st as a pro) off Carlos Fortuna in the 1st but Fortuna stranded 2 and the Royals scored a run in the 2nd on a Miguel Mariano sac fly. Posey walked and scored on a triple in the 3rd as a Yowill Espinal error allowed the batter to also score to make it 4-1 Giants. Luis Del Rosario tripled and scored on a passed ball in the 4th to cut it to 4-2 but Santiago Garrido uncorked a wild pitch in the bottom of the inning to score a Giant run and make it 5-2. Garrido pulled a Houdini in the 5th by loading the bases with none out and escaping without a run allowed. Espinal hit an RBI double in the 7th but the Giants got the run back on a walk and double in the 7th before touching up Casey Feickert for 3 runs on 3 hits in the 8th. RP Ryan Verdugo struck out six of seven batters in the 8th and 9th to lock down his 2nd save. Starter Jorge Bucardo got the win with 5 IP of 2 runs (1 ER) allowed to improve to 3-1 with a 3.68 ERA. Posey was 3-3 and a single short of the cycle with 2 walks, a double, his 1st pro triple, his 1st pro homer and 3 RBI with 3 RS to move to .438, 3B Josh Mazzola was 3-5 with a triple, RBI and RS and 2 others had 2 hits for the Giants. Posey also had his 1st pro passed ball.

The Royals are 7-18 with 3 games left in the season. They play the 15-10 Angels tonight.