Royals on the Farm 8/30

AAA - Omaha: Iowa 10, O-Royals 4

3B Spann 3-4, 2B (2), HR, 2 RBI (9), RS -- .302
C B. Pena 1-4, BB, HR (5), 2 RBI (28), RS -- .296, 14-game hit streak
1B Shealy 1-4, 2B (21), K, RS -- .279
CF Bigler 1-4 -- .304
DH Ka'aihue 0-4, 2 K -- .305
2B J. Gutierrez 1-3, S, K -- .250

Bale 2 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, BB, K, HRA -- L, 0-3, 10.80 ERA
Gobble IP, BB, K -- 5.65 ERA
Newman 3 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 2 K, WP -- 3.68 ERA
Yabuta 1 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, K -- 5.17 ERA

*** John Bale got tattooed by the Cubs and Iowa coasted to the victory. The Cubs hit for the cycle as a team in the 1st as a single, double, triple and 2-run homer made it 4-0 off Bale with only 1 out down. Brayan Pena hit a 2-run homer for his 5th as a Royal in the 3rd to cut the lead in half but Josh Newman allowed a run in the 5th. Omaha got the run back in the 6th as Chad Spann hit a 2-out RBI single. Omaha left the bases loaded in the 7th and Iowa got some insurance with 3 runs in the bottom of the inning on 4 extra-base hits. Spann hit a solo homer in the 8th for his 1st for Omaha but Yaz Yabuta allowed a 2-run double in the 8th to make it 10-4 Iowa. Iowa starter Mitch Atkins got the win with 5 IP of 2 ER allowed to move to 8-1 with a 4.47 ERA. Four Cubs had 2 hits as RF Josh Kroeger hit his 36th double, 15th homer and drove in 3. 1B Micah Hoffpauir drove in his 100th run.

Omaha is 61-81 and needs to win these last 2 to finish less than 20 games below .500. Game 3 is ongoing as Brad Salmon got the start and Omaha trails in the 7th.

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 7, Tulsa 3

SS Lisson 3-4, 2B (23), HR (14), 2 RBI (64), K, 3 RS, SB (31) -- .226, something to be said for finishing strong
RF McFall 2-4, HR (18), 2 RBI (61), K, RS, picked off -- .244
1B Richardson 2-4, K, 2 RS -- .296
DH Aldridge 1-4, HR (10), 2 RBI (38), K, RS -- .272, been strong down stretch
CF Duarte 1-4, BB, 3B (2) -- .252
2B Maddox 0-3, BB, K -- .281

B. Wood 3 IP, H -- 5.30 ERA, rain delay shortened start
de la Vara 3 IP, 3 ER, 2 H, 4 BB, 3 K -- W, 3-0, 2.76 ERA
Hamulack 2 IP, BB, 3 K -- 1.96 ERA
C. Hayes IP, K -- 1.64 ERA

*** The Naturals won their 8th straight and clinched a half division title in their inaugural season in the process. They had 2 comebacks in the game as Tulsa took the lead with 2 runs in the 4th off Gilbert de la Vara on 3 walks and a hit. The Naturals erased the lead in the 5th as Mario Lisson and Brian McFall went back-to-back with longballs for their 14th and 18th of the season. The Nats stranded 2 and Tulsa regained the lead on an RBI double off de la Vara in the 6th. Lisson singled home Juan Richardson to tie it in the 6th and McFall drove in the go-ahead run to make it 4-3 Naturals. Cory Aldridge helped put it away with a 2-run homer in the 8th for his 10th of the season for NW Arkansas and Lisson scored on a fielder's choice to make it 7-3. Chris Hayes pitched a perfect 9th and the Naturals could pop the corks on a celebration. Tulsa RP Adam Bright blew his 4th save and took the loss with 2 ER allowed over 2 IP to fall to 3-8 with a 4.41 ERA. Starter Alan Johnson pitched 5 innings of 2 ER allowed to move his ERA to 5.23. The Drillers only had 3 hits.

NWA is 42-26 and the second-half TL North champs! Game 2 is today as Rowdy Hardy (6-10, 4.56) starts vs. Tulsa's Xavier Cedeno (7-7, 4.01). The Nats will play their archrival Arkansas Travelers in the best-of-5 first round of the playoffs starting Wednesday. I guess IF Ed Lucas was slightly injured when he was hit in the arm with a throw on a pickoff attempt Friday.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 14, Potomac 1

LF Ortiz 3-5, BB, 3B (2), 2 RBI (11), 2 RS -- .307
SS Bianchi 3-5, BB, 2B (34), 2 RBI (61), 2 K, 3 RS -- .258
2B Mertins 2-3, 2 BB, 2B (27), 3B (7), 2 RBI (46), 2 RS -- .284
CF D. Robinson 2-5, BB, 2B (21), RBI (33), K, 2 RS, picked off -- .247
DH Dyson 2-5, K -- .256
C Howell 1-4, BB, 2 RBI (44), K -- .262
RF Orlando 0-4, 2 BB, 2 K, RS -- .260
3B J. Johnson 0-4, BB, RBI (38), 2 RS -- .255
1B Seratelli 1-3, 2 BB, RBI (51), 2 RS -- .229
* The Rocks stranded 11.

Santiago 6 IP, ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 5 K -- W, 8-8, 3.43 ERA
Haltiwanger 3 IP, 2 H, 4 K -- SV, 1, 3.83 ERA

*** This is the kind of offensive output the Rocks need against the Nationals when the playoffs come around Wednesday. Mario Santiago and Russ Haltiwanger pitched well and got more than enough run support as Wilmington routed Potomac. The Rocks got started with 5 runs in the 2nd on an Anthony Seratelli RBI single, bases-loaded walk by Jeff Howell, run-scoring double play ball by Jarrod Dyson, Derrick Robinson RBI double and Adrian Ortiz RBI single. Jeff Bianchi doubled and scored on a balk in the 3rd but Potomac got its lone run in the 4th on 2 walks and a hit off Santiago to cut it to 6-1. The Rocks got the run back in the bottom of the inning on a Bianchi RBI single and then put it away with a 7-run 6th on four consecutive walks, including a run-scoring one by Bianchi, a 2-run Potomac error, a 2-run Kurt Mertins triple, a Howell RBI single and Ortiz RBI single before stranding the bases full. Haltiwanger took it from there for his 1st save of the season. Starter Hassan Pena took the loss for the Nationals with 5 IP of 7 runs (3 ER) allowed to fall to 2-2 with a 4.15 ERA. C Pat Nichols was 2-4 for Potomac.

Wilmington is 34-35 and playoff bound after getting a 3-hit shutout in today's game 3. RP Aaron Hartsock picked up his 12th win in the victory.

A - Burlington: Bees 7, Beloit 2

1B Martin 3-4, SF, 2B (13), RBI (27), K -- .322, gonna finish with nice average
LF Francis 2-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI (17), 2 K, 2 RS -- .276
3B Taylor 2-4, BB, K, RS, SB (40), E (20) -- .238, shown some potential in first full season
2B Giavotella 2-5, RS -- .300, sounds lot better than .299
RF Van Stratten 1-4, SF, 2B (13), 2 RBI (18), K, RS -- .348
SS J. Rivera 1-4, BB, 2B (13), RBI (24), RS, SB (17) -- .235

Cota 4 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, BB, 3 K, pickoff -- 5.80 ERA
Raglione 2 IP, H, K -- W, 2-0, 6.42 ERA
Bradley 2 IP, BB, 2 K -- 2.14 ERA
Z. Peterson IP, H, 2 K, WP -- 3.13 ERA

*** The Bees blew open a close game in the 8th to take down the Snappers. The Bees stranded 2 in the 1st but Nick Francis led off the 2nd with his 1st homer as a Bee to make it 1-0. Beloit tied it in the bottom of the inning but Luis Cota stranded 2. A Nick Van Stratten sac fly in the 3rd made it 2-1 but Cota gave up the equalizer again in the bottom of the inning. Kyle Martin hit a sac fly in the 5th to regain the lead and it stayed 3-2 into the 8th thanks to 4 scoreless innings from Paul Raglione and Tony Bradley out of the pen. Van Stratten hit an RBI double in the 8th and Francis socked a 2-run homer for his 2nd of the game before Juan Rivera hit an RBI double to make it 7-2 Bees. Zach Peterson stranded a runner at third in the 9th. Starter Steven Hirschfeld took the loss for Beloit with 6 IP of 3 ER allowed to fall to 10-5 with a 3.30 ERA. C Greg Yersich and 1B Allan de San Miguel had 2 hits for Beloit. Yersich also made his 20th error in the loss.

The Bees are 42-25 and playoff bound. Game 3 is today as Jacob Rodriguez (1-0, 0.00) gets a spot start vs. Beloit's Michael Allen (0-0, 1.48).

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Chukars 8, Orem 2

3B Jimenez 2-4, BB, 2B (13), 2 RBI (29), 2 RS, SB (20), E (17) -- .297
RF Testa 2-4, 2B (6), RBI (30), 2 K -- .303
1B Van De Keere 1-3, BB, 2B (14), 2 RBI (26) -- .286
SS Alfaro 1-4, HBP, HR (9), RBI (54), 2 RS -- .270
LF Griffin 1-4, BB, RBI (25), 2 K, RS, SB (12), picked off -- .244
CF Norris 1-4, BB, 2B (12), K, 2 RS, 2 SB (32) -- .256

Toribio 5 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 3 H, 3 BB, 7 K, HRA, WP -- W, 3-4, 4.84 ERA
Saito 4 IP, 2 H, 2 K -- SV, 1, 4.50 ERA

*** The Chukars rode solid pitching from Aneidy Toribio and Derrick Saito to the victory. They got started with a 2-run 1st on a 2-out, 2-run double by Devery Van De Keere. Van De Keere was thrown out at home on the next play. IF stranded 2 in the 2nd and Orem scored a run in the 3rd on a walk, passed ball, wild pitch and Antonio Jimenez error to cut into the lead. Carlo Testa had a 2-out RBI single in the 3rd to make it 3-1 and the Chukars scored 3 in the 4th on a 2-run Jimenez double and RBI double by Shawn Griffin to make it 6-1 IF. Orem got a solo homer off Toribio in the 5th but IF got the run back on an Owlz error in the bottom of the inning. J.D. Alfaro added a solo homer in the 8th for his 9th as a pro and Saito stranded 1 in the 9th to finish off the 4-inning save. Owlz SP Baron Short took the loss with 4 IP of 6 ER allowed to drop to 3-4 with a 5.81 ERA. CF Tyson Auer was 2-4 with an OF assist at home for Orem.

IF is 15-17 going into today's series and home finale. Pitcher of the year for IF, Bryan Casey, got the start and is getting lit up.

Rookie - AZL: done at 23-33

Tops in OPS (min. 20 games)

C Jose Bonilla .357 BA/.405 OBP/.625 SLG, 1.030 OPS, 20 RS, 9 2B, 3 3B (tied team lead), 5 HR (led team), 24 RBI (led team), 5 BB/22 K, 5/5 CS, 4 E in 34 games and 112 ABs -- easy pick for team player of year
2B Deivy Batista .317/.382/.472, .854 OPS, 37 RS (led team), 12 2B (led team), 2 3B, 3 HR, 21 RBI, 15 BB/32 K, 9/18 SB, 2 E in 49 games and 161 ABs -- will he be in A-ball or rookie ball next year?
2B James Nilsen .273/.367/.468, .834 OPS, 10 RS, 4 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 7 BB/15 K, 5/7 SB, 6 E in 31 games and 77 ABs -- small sample size
RF Luis Del Rosario .279/.380/.372, .752 OPS, 26 RS, 8 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 27 BB (led team)/44 K, 7/18 SB, 3 E in 52 games and 172 ABs -- tailed off as season neared end
SS Lifete Jose .261/.343/.380, .723 OPS, 11 RS, 6 XBH, 17 RBI, 10 BB/31 K, 6/10 SB, 9 E in 30 games and 92 ABs -- ho-hum

others of note.... C Mauricio Matos .617 OPS (1 BB/14 K in 24 games and 78 ABs, did better as season progressed in pro debut).... SS Yowill Espinal .596 OPS (204 ABs led team, as did 49 hits and 18 E in 50 games, also 2 BB/42 K, did have 11 XBH and was third on team with 19 RBI, 13/15 SB).... DH/IF Malcom Culver .492 OPS (only 26 ABs in pro debut, 3 BB/13 K).... 3B Jacob Kuebler .475 OPS (14 errors second on team, 6 BB/23 K, 5/6 SB, Gordon's cousin only hit .187).... CF Alex Llanos .471 OPS (1 behind Espinal for AB lead thanks to leading off a lot despite .240 OBP, 13 BB/63 K (led team), 14/18 SB, 4 E, hit .182 in 54 games)

Tops in WHIP (min. 10 IP)

Michael Montgomery 2-1, 1.69 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 12 BB/34 K, 2 HRA in 12 games (9 starts) and 42 2/3 IP -- deserved pitcher of year honor
Brett Richardson 3-0, 1.37, 1.07 WHIP, 4 SV (led team), 3 BB/9 K in 14 games and 19 2/3 IP -- team's relief ace, pretty much
Jace Smith 1-0, 1.15, 1.21 WHIP, 2 SV, 4 BB/13 K in 13 games and 15 2/3 IP -- also good out of pen for Royals
Onassis Sirrett 3-2, 3.05, 1.23 WHIP, 1 SV, 6 BB/28 K, 1 HRA in 12 games (1 start) and 41 1/3 IP -- finished with pretty decent #s
Leondy Perez 1-2, 2.53, 1.27 WHIP, 1 SV, 16 BB/46 K, 2 HRA in 12 games (1 start) and 42 2/3 IP -- was really good to start season then had his struggles

others of note.... Josh Ruhlman 1.27 WHIP (3.00 ERA in 15 IP, 2 SV, 2 BB/19 K is very nice).... Deybi De La Cruz 1.36 WHIP (led team with 5 wins and 50 K and also 49 1/3 IP, 4.74 ERA, 2 HRA, 14 BB/50 K is solid).... Chase Hentges 1.43 WHIP (2 SV, 3 BB/11 K, led team with 2 holds in 15 IP in pro debut).... Carlos Fortuna 1.50 WHIP (led team with 5 HRA, 19 BB/41 K in 38 2/3 IP, had his bright moments).... Greg Billo 2.02 WHIP (5.65 ERA, HRA, 8 BB/13 K, 1 SV in 14 1/3 IP in pro debut, had one or two good outings late).... Tyler Sample 2.19 WHIP (0-5, led team in losses, 9.00 ERA, 0 HRA, but 29 BB/39 K in 27 IP means a good K rate but nothing to write home about in terms of K/BB, probably back in rookie ball next season, I'd figure).... Mitch Hodge 2.57 WHIP (0-4, 9.79 ERA, 31 BB (led team)/14 K in 30 1/3 IP, scary numbers)