Royals on the Farm 8/3

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 4, Colorado Springs 0

CF Lubanski 2-3, 3B (6), 2 RBI (46), RS -- .245
SS Sanchez 2-3, RS -- .224
1B Kaaihue 1-3, HR (3), RBI (6), RS -- .381, September call-up? C'mon, give him what Aviles deserved last year.
3B Dawkins 0-3, SF, RBI (25), K -- .292
LF B. Pena 1-4, picked off -- .291
DH Shealy 0-2, HBP, K -- .284, ejected after arguing K to end 6th
RF Stodolka 0-2, BB, RS -- .284
2B Labandeira 0-3, K -- .000, still looking for first Omaha hit

Colon 5 IP, 4 H, BB, 5 K -- W, 3-5, 4.64 ERA
Atencio 3 IP, H, BB, 6 K -- 1.42 ERA
Salmon IP, H, BB, K -- 5.01 ERA, didn't blow it! actually a good night all around for Omaha pitchers

*** Three Omaha pitchers combined for 12 Ks as the Royals shut down the Sky Sox in the first of their 4-game set. Kila Kaaihue got Omaha started with his 3rd homer for a solo shot in the 2nd. Chris Lubanski singled home a run in the 5th as Roman Colon dodged trouble a couple times. He handed a 4-hitter to Greg Atencio, who allowed only a hit and walk over 3 innings. Omaha scored 2 in the 8th on a Lubanski RBI triple and Gookie Dawkins lifted a sac fly to make it 4-0. Brad Salmon put 2 on in the 9th but got a double play to end the game. Starter Sean Smith allowed 2 ER over 7 IP to take the loss and fall to 4-4 with a 5.13 ERA. 2B Jonathan Herrera and C Edwin Bellorin had 2-hit games for the Sox.

Omaha is 51-64. Game 2 is tonight as Sky Sox LH Franklin Morales (7-4, 5.69) takes on Royals LH John Bale (0-1, 3.00-rehab) with RH Matt Wright (3-7, 5.89) in tow.

AA - NW Arkansas: Arkansas 5, Naturals 0 (4-hitter)

DH Falu 1-3, BB, 2B (9), K -- .281
RF Aldridge 1-2, 2 BB, K -- .276
2B Maddox 1-4 -- .295
3B Lucas 1-3, BB, picked off -- .298
CF Duarte 0-3, BB -- .255
1B Richardson 0-4, K -- .296

B. Wood 5 2/3 IP, 5 ER, 8 H, BB, 3 K, HRA, 2 WP -- L, 3-6, 6.71 ERA, Mr. Hyde performance
Crist 1 1/3 IP, 2 BB -- 4.38 ERA
de la Vara IP, K -- 3.38 ERA

*** The Naturals' offensive fortunes took a downward turn Sunday as they were shut out on 4 hits and the Travelers snapped a 7-game skid versus NWA. Blake Wood allowed a run on 2 hits in the 1st as former Wichita Wrangler OF Adam Greenberg led off the inning with a triple. Wood worked around a leadoff triple in the 2nd but NWA stranded 2 in the 3rd. The Travelers rocked Wood out of the game in the 6th with 4 runs on 2 RBI singles and a 2-run homer. The Naturals loaded the bases with no outs in the 7th but Adam Donachie hit into a 5-2-3 double play and Ovandy Suero struck out to kill the rally. That was NWA's last best chance. Starter Amalio Diaz got the win for Arkansas with 6 scoreless IP to move to 2-2 with a 2.61 ERA despite walking 6 and K'ing only 3. Greenberg and RF Chris Pettit both had 2 hits, including a triple, in the win and 3B Corey Smith hit his 17th homer with 2 RBI. Pettit stole his 4th base.

NWA is 27-16 and still 4 games up on first. The series with the Travelers concludes tonight as Rowdy Hardy (5-8, 4.92) takes on Arkansas' Daniel Davidson (0-0, 3.15). Both managers were ejected in the 7th when Naturals manager Brian Poldberg charged Arkansas manager Bobby Magallanes while the Travs manager was in the third-base coach's box. The two had words, and Poldberg was ejected immediately while Magallanes was ejected for saying something to Poldberg as he walked away.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Frederick 4, Blue Rocks 0 (5-hitter)

CF D. Robinson 1-3, 2 BB, 2B (19) -- .249
2B Bianchi 1-4, 2B (30) -- .257
LF Ortiz 1-4, BB, CS (2) -- .136
SS McConnell 0-5, K -- .274
1B Correll 1-2, 2 BB -- .333
RF Strait 0-4, K -- .311
DH Mertins 0-3, BB -- .300
3B J. Johnson 0-2, 2 BB, K -- .273, but a .500 OBP on the game
* The Rocks left 12 on base.

Mildren 5 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 9 H, 3 BB, 3 K, E -- L, 0-6, 7.71 ERA
Chavez 1 1/3 IP, 2 H, BB -- 5.56 ERA
Barrera IP, H, K -- 2.98 ERA

*** The Rocks had 8 walks to go along with their 5 hits but got 0 runs as Frederick finished the set with a win. Wilmington stranded 2 in the 1st and the Keys scored 2 in their half on 4 hits and an error on starter Paul Mildren. Mildren did strand 2 but got no run support. Mildren stranded 2 in both the 2nd and 3rd. Wilmington stranded 2 in the 6th and the Keys added 2 runs on 3 hits to chase Mildren in the 6th. The Rocks drew 4 walks in the 9th but couldn't get a hit as they left the bases loaded. Keys starter Kyle Schmidt got the win with 6 scoreless IP to move to 3-4 with a 4.21 ERA and walked 4 while striking out 1. RP Fredy Deza got the final out for his 2nd save. Three Keys had 2-hit games.

Wilmington is 19-23 and 5 games out. A 3-game home set with the Winston-Salem Warthogs (24-18, A-Adv. ChiSox) starts tonight. The Rocks are 6-8 versus the 'Hogs and have lost the last 4. Probable starters: Rocks righty Mario Santiago (7-6, 3.64) vs. W-S righty Clevelan Santeliz (2-5, 4.36). Jeff Bianchi was named Carolina League Player of the Week for July 28 to Aug. 3 after hitting .423 with 6 2B, a HR and 6 RBI in 7 games.

A - Burlington: Bees 6, Fort Wayne 4

DH Moustakas 2-3, HBP, HR (18), 2 RBI (54), 2 RS -- .263, bucking for player of week honors?
SS J. Rivera 2-3, BB, RBI (17), K, RS, SB (9) -- .218
C Billick 2-4, RBI (3) -- .345
2B Evangelho 2-3, HBP, RS, SB (4) -- .211
1B C. Robinson 0-4, RBI (44) -- .246
3B Taylor 0-3, HBP, K -- .231
RF Francis 0-3, BB -- .241

Mitchell 5 IP, ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K, HRA, E (7) -- W, 8-8, 3.63 ERA, not the slickest fielding pitcher
Augustine 4 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 3 K -- SV, 9, 3.30 ERA

*** The Bees built a 6-1 lead and held on to win by 2. The Bees loaded the bases with 1 out in the 1st and scored 2 runs on a Clint Robinson forceout as a Wizards error helped the cause. Burlington filled the bases with no outs in the 2nd but got only 1 run on a Juan Rivera RBI single as Zach Evangelho was cut down at the plate in the inning. Matt Mitchell had a no-hitter going through 3 1/3 innings but served up a solo homer in the 4th. Mike Moustakas got the run back with his 18th homer of the season to lead off the Bees 5th and the Bees added 2 runs in the 6th on a Joe Billick RBI single and Moustakas RBI single that made it 6-1. Joe Augustine allowed 2 runs in the 7th on 2 hits, a walk and 2 sac flies and then allowed a 2-out RBI single in the 9th before leaving the tying run at first for his 9th save. Fort Wayne starter Corey Kluber took the loss with 5 1/3 IP of 6 runs (5 ER) allowed to fall to 1-2 with a 3.81 ERA. SS Lance Zawadzki was 4-5 and a double short of the cycle as he hit his 5th triple, 6th homer and had 2 RBI along with his 27th error. CF Luis Durango was 2-4 with a walk, K, run scored and his 14th steal.

The Bees are 25-17 and 1 1/2 games up on first now with the sweep. They have today off before starting a pivotal 4-game set at the third-place Peoria Chiefs Tuesday.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Ogden 12, Chukars 3

3B Van De Keere 2-3, BB, 2B (7), RBI (15), K, RS, E (11) -- .281
1B Espinosa 2-4, RBI (8), E (6) -- .169
SS Jimenez 2-4, K, RS, SB (13) -- .302
CF Norris 0-4, 3 K, E -- .245
RF Testa 1-4, K -- .224
LF Griffin 0-3, BB, 2 K, RS, OF assist at third -- .272

Toribio 4 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 4 K, HRA -- 5.91 ERA
Miller 2 IP, 3 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 3 K, HRA -- L, 0-2, 7.27 ERA
Gilgenbach 1 1/3 IP, 4 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, K -- 14.11 ERA, God bless the guy, but he can't hack it
Novakowski 1 2/3 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 5 H, BB, 3 K -- 4.50 ERA

*** Six late runs helped the Raptors put the game away. The game was scoreless into the 4th when both teams scored 3 runs -- Ogden got it started with an RBI single and 2-run homer off Aneidy Toribio, and Idaho Falls' runs came on a Devery Van De Keere RBI double, run-scoring wild pitch and Tito Espinosa RBI single. The key was, however, that Ogden answered the rally while the Chukar offense was pretty much done for the night. Steve Miller came on for the 5th and pitched more like "The Joker" than he was able to "Fly Like an Eagle" as an RBI double and 2-run homer made it 6-3 Ogden. Stephen Gilgenbach came in for the 7th and gave up a 2-out RBI single that inning before Ogden scored 4 in the 8th on 2 singles and a walk with the bases loaded off Gary Novakowski, who had entered the game with 1 out and the bases loaded. Ogden piled on another run in the 9th. Reliever Daigoro Rondon got the win with 2 scoreless innings of work to move to 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA. Starter Jon Michael Redding allowed 3 ER over 4 IP to move his ERA to 5.33. 2B Anthony Delmonico was 3-4 with 2 walks, 2 doubles, an RBI and 3 RS and five other Raptors had 2-hit games. DH Steven Caseres also knocked in 3 runs.

IF is 4-3 and tied with Ogden for first. The series resumes tonight as Bryan Casey (2-2, 3.07) matches up with Ogden's Geison Aguasviva (2-2, 3.40).

Rookie - Burlington: Johnson City 5, B-Royals 4 (10)

DH D. Cruz 2-4, RS -- .267
RF Caldwell 2-5, K, RS -- .194
C Moctezuma 1-4, 2 RBI (10), PB (10) -- .194, not good when your passed balls equal your RBIs and they're in double digits
CF H. Richardson 1-5, K, SB (7) -- .224
3B F. Cruz 1-5, 2 RS, SB (3) -- .246
* LF Julio Aparicio had an OF assist at home as well as his 3rd error.

Runion 5 IP, 3 ER, 10 H, BB, 3 K -- 2.73 ERA
J. Rodriguez 2 IP, H, BB, K -- 3.86 ERA
Bowden 2 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 4 BB, 5 K, HRA, WP -- BS, 1, L, 2-1, 1.29 ERA, first poor outing

*** The B-Royals had a 4-3 lead in the 8th but lost the game in 10. Four hits and a Burlington error scored a run in the 1st off Sam Runion but Runion left the bases full of Cardinals. The Royals answered with 3 in the 2nd on a bases-loaded single by Miguel Moctezuma that cleared the bases thanks to a Cards error. Runion pulled a Houdini in the 4th by loading the bases with no outs but getting out of the jam without a run allowed. He wasn't as lucky in the 5th as the Cardinals tied the game with 2 runs on 4 singles before stranding 2. Burlington regained the lead in the 6th as Moctezuma hit an RBI groundout to make it 4-3. Diego Cruz was thrown out at the plate in the inning and that would be a big out for Burlington. Barry Bowden served up a leadoff homer in the 8th to tie the game but left 2 in scoring position after putting them there with no outs. The Cards got a single and walk to start the 10th and LF Julio Aparicio kept the Royals alive by cutting down a runner at the plate but Bowden walked the winning run home to end it. RP Sam Freeman got the win with 2/3 IP to improve to 4-1 with a 4.15 ERA. Starter Deryk Hooker worked 3 2/3 IP of 3 runs (1 ER) to move his ERA to 3.82. 1B Curt Smith and RF Jairo Martinez had 3-hit games while four others had 2 hits for Johnson City. Smith made his 4th error in the win as the Cards survived 6 errors and leaving 16 on base.

Burlington is 15-29. The series ends tonight with Brent Fisher continuing his rehab with his first start at Burlington.

Rookie - AZL: Royals 4, A's 2

2B Espinal 1-4, HR (4), 3 RBI (12), K, RS -- .224
C J. Bonilla 1-4, HR (5), RBI (20), K, RS, PB (11) -- .360
RF Del Rosario 1-3, BB -- .308
DH Beltre 0-3, BB, 2 K -- .333
SS D. Batista 0-3, BB -- .303

Montgomery 5 IP, UER, 2 H, 7 K -- W, 1-1, 2.10 ERA, back on track
L. Perez 3 IP, H, 3 BB, 4 K -- 1.93 ERA
B. Richardson IP, UER, H, K -- SV, 4, 1.42 ERA

*** Yowill Espinal blasted a 3-run homer in the 5th to propel the Royals to their 2nd win of the second half. Mike Montgomery gave up a double and a Jose Bonilla passed ball scored the A's first run in the 1st. Bonilla atoned with a leadoff homer in the 2nd for his 5th of the season. Espinal contributed his blast with 1 out in the 5th as the 3-run shot was his 4th of the season and made it 4-1 Royals. Brett Richardson allowed a run in the 9th but closed it out for his 4th save. A's starter Anvioris Ramirez took the loss with 4 1/3 IP of 4 ER allowed to drop to 2-3 with a 5.88 ERA. Four A's had a hit each.

The Royals are 2-5 and 4 games back. They play the 4-2 Padres tonight.