Royals on the Farm 8/27

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 4, New Orleans 2

LF Lubanski 2-3, HR (15), 2 RBI (54), RS -- .242, hit 15 HR for third straight season
RF Hollins 2-4, 2B (15), K, RS -- .219
CF Bigler 1-2, HBP, 2B (4), RBI (5), RS -- .361
2B Labandeira 1-2, BB, 2B, RBI (8), RS -- .179
1B Ka'aihue 1-3, BB, 2B (3) -- .330, 101st BB most in minors according to team site
C B. Pena 1-4, CS (3) -- .295
DH Shealy 0-4, 3 K -- .280
3B Spann 0-4, K -- .250

Bale IP, K -- 9.31 ERA
Gobble 2 IP, ER, 2 H, K, HRA -- W, 1-1, 6.08 ERA
D. Hughes 5 IP, ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 5 K, HRA, WP, pickoff -- 4.59 ERA
Yabuta IP, K -- SV, 3, 4.86 ERA

*** A 3-run rally and some decent pitching got Omaha the win. Jimmy Gobble served up a solo homer to the first batter he faced in the 2nd inning but Omaha rallied for 3 runs in the bottom of the frame on 2-out RBI doubles by Brett Bigler and Josh Labandeira and an RBI single by Chris Lubanski. Gobble and Dusty Hughes had retired 10 straight before Hughes also gave up a solo homer in the 4th to cut it to 3-2. Hughes picked off a runner in the 6th and it came in handy as he stranded the bases loaded to tiptoe through trouble. Omaha stranded 2 in the 6th and Hughes stranded 2 more in the 7th before Lubanski cranked his 15th homer to leadoff the Omaha 7th and make it 4-2 Omaha. Yasuhiko Yabuta pitched a perfect 9th for his 3rd save. NO starter Willie Collazo took the loss with 6 IP of 3 ER allowed to fall to 4-9 with a 4.05 ERA. Three Zephyrs had 2 hits as RF Val Pascucci hit his 26th homer and 1B Michel Abreu hit his 15th longball.

Omaha is 61-78. The series wraps tonight in the home finale as Zephyrs LH Eude Brito (0-1, 7.48) takes on LH Tyler Lumsden (3-12, 6.88). KC and Omaha have extended their working agreement through 2010.

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 3, Arkansas 0

CF Duarte 1-4, HR (10), RBI (46), K, RS -- .252
LF Lucas 1-3, SF, 3B (4), RBI (30), RS -- .305
RF McFall 1-3, SF, RBI (57), K -- .242, outfield doing offensive work
2B Maddox 0-4 -- .284
3B Falu 1-3, BB, SB (9) -- .294
1B Richardson 1-4, K -- .290

Pimentel 7 1/3 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K, WP -- W, 7-12, 5.32 ERA, big start at clutch time
de la Vara 1 2/3 IP, BB -- SV, 2, 2.12 ERA

*** Julio Pimentel and Gilbert de la Vara combined on a 5-hit shutout as the Naturals ensured at least a split of the season set with their intrastate rivals. NWA stranded 2 in the 1st but Jose Duarte came up for his 2nd AB of the game in the 3rd and smacked his 10th homer of the season to put NWA up, 1-0. Cory Aldridge hit a 1-out triple in the 4th and scored on an Ed Lucas sac fly to make it 2-0. Lucas tripled and scored on a Brian McFall sac fly in the 7th and Pimentel didn't allow more than 1 runner in any inning until the 8th, when he was pulled with 2 on and 1 out. de la Vara got an inning-ending double play to escape the minor jam and stranded 1 in the 9th for his 2nd save. Arkansas SP Robert Mosebach took the loss with 7 IP of 3 ER allowed to fall to 9-12 with a 4.70 ERA. LF Adam Morrissey was 2-2 with a walk and double in the loss.

NWA is 39-26 and a game up on first. The Naturals are actually 2 games up on a playoff spot as they hold the tiebreaker with Springfield. Game 3 is tonight as Kyle Crist (4-1, 4.10) makes a start vs. Travs SP Dan Denham (9-10, 4.60).

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 11, Myrtle Beach 6

C Howell 3-5, HR (6), 4 RBI (42), 2 RS -- .263
CF Ortiz 2-6, 2B (5), 2 RBI (9), RS -- .293
1B Correll 2-4, BB, 2B (17), K, RS -- .280
SS McConnell 1-6, 2 RBI (34), K -- .254
DH Orlando 1-5, BB, HR (12), RBI (50), 2 K, RS -- .262
RF Strait 1-4, BB, HR (13), RBI (33), 2 K, RS -- .297
3B J. Johnson 1-3, 2 BB, 2 K, 2 RS, 3 E (11) -- .258, rough night defensively
2B Bianchi 1-5, 2B (33), 2 K, RS -- .256
* The Rocks stranded 10 and Anthony Seratelli stole his 17th base of the season.

Teaford 3 2/3 IP, 6 R (2 ER), 4 H, 4 BB, 3 K -- 3.86 ERA
Holland 2 1/3 IP, 5 K -- 3.35 ERA
Barrera IP, 2 K -- 2.95 ERA
Hartsock IP, BB, E -- W, 11-5, 3.60 ERA
Chambliss IP, H, BB, K -- 3.95 ERA, combined 5 1/3 scoreless IP from the pen

*** A big 2-out 9th inning rally brought the Rocks a game closer to a playoff berth in the Carolina League Wednesday. Two Josh Johnson errors in the 1st led to a Pelicans run without a hit off Everett Teaford and, after the Rocks stranded 2 in the 2nd, Myrtle Beach scored 3 in the 2nd on 3 hits, a walk and yet another Johnson error. Wilmington got its scoring started in the 4th as Paulo Orlando and Cody Strait led off the inning with back-to-back solo shots for their 12th and 13th of the season, respectively. Jeff Howell added an RBI single to cut the lead to 4-3 but the Rocks left the bases full. With 2 out in the 4th, Teaford walked 2 then gave up a 2-run double to chase him from the game down, 6-3. The Rocks stranded 2 in the 7th and the Rocks pen retired 11 straight after Teaford was pulled. With 2 out in the 8th, Howell cranked a 2-run homer for his 6th of the season to cut it to 6-5. Nick Fellman came on to finish it for the Pelicans in the 9th and got the first 2 outs before Brad Correll kept the Rocks alive with a single, pinch-runner Anthony Seratelli stole second, Josh Johnson walked, an error on a Jeff Bianchi grounder scored Seratelli to tie the game, Howell hit an RBI single, Jarrod Dyson walked, Adrian Ortiz hit a 2-run double, and Chris McConnell hit an RBI single to make it 11-6. Tyler Chambliss put the first 2 on in the bottom of the 9th but stranded them to finish it. Fellman blew his 3rd save and took the loss with 2/3 IP of 6 unearned runs to fall to 4-4 with a 3.63 ERA. SP Ryne Reynoso worked 3 innings and allowed 3 ER to move his ERA to 3.29. DH Tyler Flowers was 2-4 with a walk, 2 doubles and 4 RBI in the loss.

Wilmington is 32-34 and 2.5 games back of first. They have today off before starting the final 4-game set at home versus the division-leading Potomac Nationals. The Rocks need a sweep to win the division. Rocks IF Kurt Mertins as well as pitchers Jason Godin and Ben Swaggerty will play in the Hawaii Winter League.

A - Burlington: Bees 4, Quad Cities 3

3B Moustakas 3-4, 2B (25), 2 RBI (71), RS -- .274
2B Giavotella 2-3, BB, 2B (17), 3B (2), RBI (24), 2 RS -- .308
1B Taylor 2-4, K, CS (13) -- .237
RF Francis 2-4, K -- .281
CF Lough 1-3, BB, RS -- .266
DH C. Robinson 0-4 -- .264

Herrera 4 2/3 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 8 H, 2 K -- 2.13 ERA
J. Rodriguez 2 1/3 IP, H, 2 BB, 3 K -- W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, Bees debut
Sisk 2 IP, BB, 3 K -- SV, 2, 1.40 ERA

*** The Bees came back from behind 3 times before locking in the win behind 4 1/3 solid innings from the bullpen. Two hits and a Jamar Walton error scored a Bandits run in the 1st but Johnny Giavotella doubled and scored on a Mike Moustakas single in the bottom of the inning to tie it. The Bandits took the lead again in the 3rd on a run on 3 hits off Kelvin Herrera but Mike Moustakas doubled and scored on a Jason Taylor single in the 4th that was aided by a QC error. Herrera couldn't hold on as the Bandits scored again in the 5th to make it 3-2 and chase Herrera from the game. With 2 out in the Bees 5th, David Lough walked and scored on a Giavotella triple and a Moustakas single scored the go-ahead run to make it 4-3. Jacob Rodriguez stranded 2 in the 6th but after that, he and Brandon Sisk had no trouble finishing off the win. Bandits SP Jameson Maj took the loss with 4 ER allowed over 4 2/3 IP to fall to 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA. Three Bandits had 2 hits and 1B Curt Smith drove in 2 runs.

The Bees are 41-23 and 3.5 games up on first. The series ends tonight as Danny Gutierrez starts for Burlington. The magic number is 2 for a second-half division title.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Orem 12, Chukars 3

CF Norris 3-5, K, 2 RS, SB (30) -- .261
C S. Perez 2-4 -- .316
1B Hosmer 1-5, K -- .364, first game in field
LF Testa 1-4, RBI (29), 2 K, SB (9) -- .303
3B Jimenez 1-5, 2B (12), RBI (27), K -- .299
SS Alfaro 0-5, 2 K -- .275
DH Espinosa 1-3, BB, RS -- .206
* IF stranded 10.

Beach 2 IP, 8 ER, 8 H, BB, 2 K, 2 HRA -- L, 3-4, 6.86 ERA
T. Huber 5 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 5 K, HRA, WP -- 3.52 ERA
Miller IP, K -- 6.64 ERA
B. Hardy IP, ER, H, K, WP -- 4.55 ERA

*** Colby Beach was shelled for 8 runs over 2+ innings of work and the Chukars didn't recover. Beach gave up 2 runs in the 1st on 2 hits, a walk and hit batsman but IF got 1 run back on an Antonio Jimenez RBI double in the bottom of the inning. Orem padded the lead with 5 runs in the 2nd on 4 hits and a grand slam by 1B Roberto Lopez. Beach gave up a leadoff homer in the 3rd and was pulled for Tim Huber, who allowed 2 more runs in the inning on 2 hits, 2 walks and a sac fly to make it 10-1. IF got a run on a Carlo Testa RBI forceout in the 4th but Orem got a solo homer in the 7th off Tim Huber. The Chukars left the bases full in the 8th and Blaine Hardy allowed an Orem gravy run in the 9th before a wild pitch scored Patrick Norris to finish the scoring in the bottom of the 9th. Orem SP Jayson Miller worked 5 IP of 2 ER allowed to improve to 8-2 with a 2.11 ERA. 2B Ivan Contreras and C Alex Silversmith had 3 hits for the Owlz, three others had 2 hits and Lopez had 5 RBI.

IF is 14-15 and 7.5 games out with 9 to play. Game 2 is tonight as Ivor Hodgson (2-5, 3.41) takes on Orem's Jeff Boshers (4-0, 2.66).

Rookie - Burlington: done at 24-41

Tops in OPS (min. 75 ABs)

C/1B/DH Josh Vittek .297 BA/.345 OBP/.510 SLG, .855 OPS, 24 R, 7 2B, 1 3B, 8 HR (led team), 34 RBI (led team), 10 BB/57 K, 0/1 SB, 5 E in 42 games and 155 ABs -- surely B-Royals player of the year
SS Yeldrys Molina .280/.398/.439, .837 OPS, 12 R, 1 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 16 BB/28 K, 1/3 SB, 7 E in 27 games and 82 ABs -- showed flashes, I guess
1B David Wood .289/.352/.409, .761 OPS, 17 R, 10 2B (tied team lead), 1 3B, 2 HR, 21 RBI, 15 BB/14 K, 1/6 SB, 4 E in 40 games and 149 ABs -- needs to hit for more power, plus he was lackluster in chance at A-ball
2B/IF Angel Franco .257/.314/.321, .635 OPS, 27 R, 10 2B (tied team lead), 1 3B, 1 HR, 25 RBI, 19 BB/41 K, 14/21 SB, 11 E in 62 games and 237 ABs -- blah
OF Julio Aparicio .252/.307/.326, .633 OPS, 32 R, 8 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 27 RBI, 15 BB/66 K, 7/11 SB, 3 E in 57 games and 218 ABs -- don't know that he earned a shot at A-ball but he got it

others of note.....1B Diego Cruz .621 OPS (sub-.300 OBP, 3 BB/27 K in 135 ABs)..... OF Hilton Richardson .620 OPS (sub-.300 OBP, led team with 36 R and 5 3B, 17 BB/61 K, 10/17 SB in 205 ABs).... OF Warren McFadden .614 OPS (at least his OBP was over .300 in pro debut).... OF Allen Caldwell .595 OPS (7 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 17 BB/44 K, 6 E in 54 games and 199 ABs in pro debut, barely over Mendoza line at .201).... SS Jorge Gutierrez .549 OPS (nearly .300 OBP in 120 ABs, don't get call to Omaha but whatever).... 3B Fernando Cruz .543 OPS (9 2B, none of his rate stats were good, 3 BB/43 K, 9 E in 53 games and 198 ABs, still very young).... 3B Jason Morales .539 OPS (hit only .187, 6 XBH, 13 BB/32 K, 6 E in 35 games and 123 ABs, rough pro debut)....C Miguel Moctezuma .429 OPS (hit .158, 4 XBH in 31 games and 101 ABs)

Tops in WHIP (min. 20 IP)

Kelvin Herrera 1.05 WHIP, 2-2, 1.42 ERA, 5 BB/45 K in 11 games (8 starts) and 50 2/3 IP -- should be B-Royals pitcher of year, deserved call to Burlington
Manauris Baez 1.07 WHIP, 2-2, 2.89, 10 BB/35 K in 15 games (3 starts) and 37 1/3 IP -- improved as season went along
John Flanagan 1.09 WHIP, 3-3, 2.56, 14 BB/43 K in 12 games (7 starts) and 45 2/3 IP -- looked good among '08 draftees
Barry Bowden 1.14 WHIP, 3-2, 1.86, 12 BB/40 K in 20 games and 29 IP -- was relief ace for Burlington, deserved call to Bees
Jacob Rodriguez 1.17 WHIP, 2-2, 3.51, 12 BB/48 K in 13 games and 33 1/3 IP -- also deserved call to Burlington
Sam Runion 1.18 WHIP, 3-4, 3.35, 10 BB/30 K in 10 starts and 48 1/3 IP -- was very good at times after struggling in A-ball

others of note.... Mike Lehmann 1.27 WHIP (led team in wins at 4-4, 3.43 ERA, 16 BB/42 K in 13 games (9 starts) and 57 2/3 IP (also led team there)).... Carson Bryant 1.38 WHIP (0-4, 4.62, 10 BB/42 K in 13 games (5 starts) and 37 IP, OK debut).... Giancarlo De La Cruz 1.39 WHIP (3-5 (led team in losses), 5.69, 7 HRA (led team), 13 BB/44 K in 13 games (8 starts) and 49 IP).... Pernell Halliman 2.08 WHIP (yikes, 8.31 ERA, 16 BB/20 K, 4 HRA in 12 games (3 starts) and 26 IP, couldn't handle rookie ball batters in pro debut).... O.D. Gonzalez and Sugar Ray Marimon 2.23 WHIP (conversion from OF didn't go well for O.D., Sugar Ray has good name but can't get outs)

Rookie - AZL: Angels 7, Royals 6

2B Nilsen 2-4, BB, 2B (4), RBI (15), RS -- .286
LF D. Rodriguez 2-3, BB, K, 2 RS -- .221
1B Henriquez 2-5, RBI (9), RS -- .176
SS Espinal 1-4, 3B (3), RBI (19), K -- .240
SS D. Batista 1-1, RBI (21) -- .314
3B Kuebler 1-4, BB, RBI (10), 2 K, RS, SB (5) -- .187
CF Llanos 0-5, 3 K -- .187
RF Del Rosario 1-4, 2 K -- .276
C T. Jones 1-3, BB -- .143
* The Royals stranded 10.

D. De La Cruz 4 1/3 IP, 6 ER, 8 H, BB, 3 K, 2 WP -- L, 5-3, 4.74 ERA
Billo 2 2/3 IP, ER, 5 H, 3 BB, WP -- 5.65 ERA
A. Martinez 2 IP, 2 H, 2 K -- 7.71 ERA

*** The Royals made a run at the Angels late but fell short. James Nilsen hit an RBI double in the 1st to give the Royals a lead but left the bases full in the 2nd. Edwin Henriquez hit an RBI single in the 3rd but the Angels scored 3 in the 4th off Deybi De La Cruz on 3 doubles and 2 singles. Yowill Espinal tied it with an RBI single in the 4th but the Angels plated 3 in the 5th as De La Cruz struggled again and Greg Billo let an inherited runner in before getting out of the inning. The Angels got an insurance run off Billo in the 7th to make it 7-3 but the Royals rallied in the 8th as Jake Kuebler singled home a run, a 2-out error scored another run and Deivy Batista singled home a run to cut it to 7-6. The Royals stranded 2 and then left the tying run at third in the 9th as RP Nick Pugliese picked up his 1st save for the Halos. RP Matt Shoemaker pitched 2 innings with 1 ER allowed to get the win and move to 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA after starter Tyler Chatwood worked 3 IP of 2 ER allowed to move his ERA to 3.08. RF Terrell Alliman was 3-5 with a double, RBI and RS with an OF assist at second and five others had 2 hits for the Angels. SS Adam Younger drove in 3 runs.

The Royals are 7-19 with 2 games left. They were to play the 6-18 Brewers tonight.