Royals on the Farm 8/6

AAA - Omaha: Colorado Springs 6, O-Royals 4

DH Shealy 2-4, HR (17), 2 RBI (49), K, RS -- .286
3B Dawkins 1-4, BB, 2B (12), RBI (26) -- .287
1B Kaaihue 1-3, BB, K, RS -- .400
RF B. Pena 0-4 -- .289
SS Sanchez 0-2, BB, S -- .206
LF Lubanski 0-4, K -- .242

Gobble 2 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, BB, 3 K -- 3.86 ERA
Newman 3 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K -- 2.97 ERA
Fulchino 2 1/3 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 4 H, 2 BB, 2 K -- L, 3-3, 4.55 ERA, another loss for the pen
Yabuta IP, H, K -- 5.18 ERA, guess he got through waivers

*** A 4-run Omaha 2nd held until the 6th but the Sky Sox ended up with the win to take 3 of 4 in the series. Jimmy Gobble got touched up for 2 in the 2nd on a walk and 2 hits but Omaha rallied in the bottom of the inning on a 2-run homer by Ryan Shealy for his 17th of the season to tie it, a Chris Lubanski run-scoring double-play ball and a Gookie Dawkins RBI double. Josh Newman took over for Gobble in the 3rd and pitched well until the 6th when the Sky Sox tied it with 2 runs on 3 hits and a walk. The Sox got a go-ahead RBI double off Jeff Fulchino in the 7th and another RBI double in the 8th made it 6-4. The Royals only had 1 hit after the 2nd and Ryan Speier pitched the 9th for his 4th save for Colorado Springs. Starter Josh Hall worked 6 innings of 4 ER allowed to improve to 1-2 with a 5.00 ERA. RF Sean Barker was 3-5 with 2 doubles, a K and 2 RS and 3 other Sox had 2-hit games.

Omaha is 51-67. They have today off to head out for a road trip. John Bale has had a setback in his rehab and Rotoworld is now reporting he'll likely miss the rest of the season.

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 9, Midland 4

1B Richardson 1-4, BB, 2B (26), 4 RBI (65), RS, E (5) -- .294
CF Duarte 2-5, 2 RS -- .257
C Donachie 2-4, RS -- .202
LF Suero 2-4 -- .256
2B Maddox 1-2, 2 BB, HBP, RBI (26), 3 RS -- .293
RF Falu 1-4, BB, RBI (35), 2 RS -- .284
SS Lisson 1-3, 2 BB, 2B (15), RBI (49), E (20) -- .212
* NWA stranded 10.

Pimentel 7 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 6 H, 8 K, HRA, WP -- W, 5-10, 5.63 ERA, showing a flash of his potential
C. Hayes 2 IP, ER, H -- SV, 10, 1.59 ERA

*** Julio Pimentel and Chris Hayes held the RockHounds in check fairly well and the offense got the job done in the opener with Midland. Pimentel gave up a 1-out solo homer in the 1st but would retire 13 of the next 16. Juan Richardson tied it with an RBI forceout in the 4th and a Mario Lisson RBI double with 2 out made it 2-1 NWA. The Naturals went to work again in the 5th as Marc Maddox singled in a run, an error scored Jose Duarte, Richardson hit an RBI fielder's choice and another Midland error scored Irving Falu to make it 6-1. The RockHounds scratched out a run on 2 hits in the 6th and NWA left the bases full. A double and Juan Richardson error led to another Midland run in the 7th and Hayes served up a triple and sac fly in the 8th to cut the lead to 6-4. Richardson came through with some insurance in the 8th as he hit a 1-out, 3-run double to salt the game away. Hayes was perfect in the 9th for his 10th save. Starter Ryan Webb took the loss for Midland with 6 runs (3 ER) allowed over 4 2/3 IP to fall to 7-7 with a 5.06 ERA. 3B Tommy Everidge was 2-3 with a sac fly, K and 2 RBI.

The Naturals are 28-17 and 3 games up on first. Game 2 is tonight as Blake Johnson (9-6, 4.56) takes on Midland's Josh Outman (0-0, 7.04), who the A's got from the Phils in the Joe Blanton trade a couple weeks ago. The Nats activated C Kiel Thibault from the DL and righty reliever Jarod Plummer was put on the suspended list for an undisclosed violation of Royals team policy. Wonder what he did....wait, found it in the Springdale paper....he was arrested for DWI in Fayetteville yesterday morning. Blood alcohol level was .101. Righty Matt Peterson has also been activated from the DL and reliever Julio De La Cruz was released. I think that cuts the number of De La Cruzes in the organization to 3 or 4. Maybe just 2. OF Brian McFall and Peterson were in the vehicle with Plummer when he was pulled over and both were reportedly "uncooperative". McFall was reported as "very belligerent" but wasn't arrested. I guess Plummer was very cooperative and apologized to the cops for his teammates' behavior.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 1, Winston-Salem 0

1B Seratelli 2-3 -- .232
2B Mertins 1-4, RBI (41), K -- .296
CF D. Robinson 0-3, BB, K, 2 SB (53) -- .248
LF Ortiz 1-3, BB, picked off -- .212
DH Correll 1-4, 2 K -- .331
RF Strait 1-4, 2 K, RS, OF assist at home -- .304
SS Bianchi 0-3, BB, 3 K, SB (11) -- .255
3B J. Johnson 1-3, HBP -- .271

Teaford 7 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 4 K, balk -- W, 7-5, 3.65 ERA, solid night
Chavez 2/3 IP, BB -- 5.25 ERA
Swaggerty 1/3 IP, K -- 2.86 ERA
Chambliss IP, K -- SV, 21, 3.38 ERA

*** The Rocks dodged a couple bullets and a 4th inning RBI single stood up for a Wilmington win to give the Rocks the series versus the Warthogs. RF Cody Strait made his presence known in the field early as a 2-out would-be RBI single turned into an inning-ending out in the 1st as Strait cut the baserunner down at the plate. A bases-loaded double play ended the Rocks 3rd and the 'Hogs stranded 2 in the 3rd. With 2 out and Strait at second in the 4th, Kurt Mertins hit a key infield single to drive in the run, as the first baseman was arguing a close call at first and Strait raced in to score. Neither team really threatened after that as Tyler Chambliss pitched a perfect 9th for his 21st save. Jacob Rasner took the loss for the Warthogs with 5 2/3 IP of an unearned run allowed to drop to 4-6 with a 3.69 ERA. 3B C.J. Retherford was 2-4.

Wilmington is 21-24 and 4 games back. They have the edge on a "wild-card" playoff spot as first-half champ Potomac is also leading the second half race. A 4-game home set with the Frederick Keys (18-28, A-Adv. O's) starts tonight. The Rocks are 7-9 versus the Keys, who are coming off a combined no-hitter Tuesday. Probable starters: righty Ed Cegarra (4-6, 5.50) and Frederick right-hander Tim Bascom (3-5, 6.92).

A - Burlington: Bees 6, Peoria 2

3B Moustakas 1-4, BB, 2B (18), RS, E (19) -- .265, one of 6 Bees doubles
C Eigsti 2-4, 2B (14), 2 RBI (33), RS -- .219
LF Walton 2-4, 2B (17), RBI (40), RS -- .246
CF Lough 2-4, S, 2B (15), RBI (47), E (5) -- .260
1B Martin 2-3, 2B (12), RBI (22) -- .323, has had nice season thus far
RF Van Stratten 2-5, RS, OF assist at home -- .340, ditto
SS J. Rivera 2-3, S, RS, SB (10) -- .233
2B Giavotella 0-5 -- .298
1B Taylor 0-2, K -- .227, pulled after grounding out in 3rd
DH C. Robinson 1-5, 2B (16), RS -- .246

Gutierrez 7 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 6 H, BB, 4 K -- W, 4-2, 2.36 ERA, another great start
Sisk 2 IP, 3 K -- 3.86 ERA

*** Danny Gutierrez pitched well and the Bees earned at least a split with Peoria with the chance at a sweep still intact. Gutierrez allowed a run on a hit and steal in the 1st but Ryan Eigsti hit an RBI groundout and David Lough cracked an RBI double to give the Bees a 2-1 lead in the 2nd. Nick Van Stratten nailed a runner at the plate from right to end the Peoria 3rd and the score stayed 2-1 into the 6th when the Bees got a run on a Jamar Walton RBI groundout. Peoria stayed close as a David Lough error in center allowed a run to score in the bottom of the inning to trim the lead back to 1. Mike Moustakas doubled and scored on a Kyle Martin double in the 7th to make it 4-2 and the Bees got more insurance with 2 runs in the 8th on an Eigsti RBI double and a run-scoring Chiefs error. Brandon Sisk pitched 2 perfect innings of relief to finish it. Peoria SP Kevin Kreier took the loss with 5 IP of 2 ER allowed to drop to 5-6 with a 3.72 ERA. RF Josh Harrison was 2-4 with a double, RS and his 3rd SB.

The Bees are 27-17 and 3 games up on first while on a 6-game win streak. Game 3 is tonight as Luis Cota (1-1, 3.77) continues his comeback versus Peoria's Jose Pina (0-0, 3.86).

Rookie - Idaho Falls: off day

*** A 4-game set at the Billings Mustangs (8-1, Rookie Reds) starts tonight. Ivor Hodgson (2-3, 3.83) starts for IF versus Billings' Leonardo Astorga (3-1, 2.45). Billings' roster features Reds '08 draftees 5th round righty Clayton Shunick (1-2, 7.09, 1.31 WHIP in 26 2/3 IP), 6th round IF Alex Buchholz (1.062 OPS in 21 games), 8th round IF Cody Puckett (1.000 OPS in only 7 games), 9th round OF David Sappelt (.863 OPS in 39 games) and 12th round C Kyle Day (.918 OPS in 20 games), among others. The Mustangs were the first-half champs in the PL North. C Brandon Fowler was sent back to the AZL Royals after not making an appearance in 3 games with IF.

Rookie - Burlington: Greeneville 4, B-Royals 3

CF H. Richardson 2-4, 3B (5), K, 2 RS, SB (8), picked off -- .236
LF Caldwell 2-4, RS -- .205
RF Aparicio 1-4, RBI (21), K, picked off -- .222
2B A. Franco 0-2, S, SF, RBI (18), K -- .244
DH Vittek 1-4, K -- .264
3B Morales 0-4, 3 K -- .184
C Moctezuma 0-3, K, 2 PB (12) -- .186

Herrera 6 IP, 4 H, 6 K -- 1.31 ERA, has been one of lone bright spots for the B-Royals
Flanagan 2 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, K -- BS, 1, 2.35 ERA
Roq. Colon IP, 2 ER, 2 H, K, HRA -- BS, 1, L, 0-2, 6.75 ERA

*** The Royals blew 2 late leads and the Astros cashed in for the win. Hilton Richardson led off the Royal 1st with a triple and scored on an Angel Franco sac fly before Julio Aparicio hit an RBI single later in the inning to give Burlington a 2-0 lead. That was all the scoring until the 7th as Kelvin Herrera gave a 4-hit shutout to the pen. John Flanagan gave up a single, RBI double and RBI triple in the 7th to tie the game, but Richardson reached on a wild pitch third strike in the 8th, advanced on a bunt and groundout and scored on another wild pitch to make it 3-2 Royals. Roque Colon gave up a double and 2-run homer in the 9th to blow the lead, however, and RP Patrick Urckfitz pitched a perfect 9th to finish the win and move to 1-0 with a 1.54 ERA. Starter Jordan Lyles allowed 2 runs over 5 IP to move his ERA to 3.96. LF Frank Almonte and C Federico Hernandez had 2 hits for the Astros as Hernandez hit a double, his 3rd homer and drove in 3 runs.

Burlington is 15-32 and on a 4-game skid. The series with the 'Stros ends tonight as RHP Manauri Baez (1-2 3.98 ERA) takes on Astros RHP Jose Trinidad (3-2 2.65 ERA).

Rookie - AZL: Mariners 1, Royals 0 (4-hitter)

DH Beltre 1-4, 2 K, SB (3) -- .250
CF Llanos 0-3, S, 2 K -- .178
3B D. Batista 0-3 -- .298
RF Del Rosario 0-1 -- .303
C J. Bonilla 0-3, 2 K -- .344
2B Culver 0-2, 2 K -- .167
1B-2B Henriquez 1-2, BB, SB (3), 2 CS (4) -- .145

Sample 4 IP, H, BB, 5 K -- 9.15 ERA, best outing yet
Sirrett 4 1/3 IP, UER, 4 H, 2 K -- L, 1-1, 2.49 ERA

*** The teams combined for only 9 hits as a walkoff double in the 9th gave the M's the win. The Royals' best chance to score came in the 5th as they got 2 on with no outs but a Jose Bonilla flyout turned into a double play as Deivy Batista was thrown out trying to score on the play. Tyler Sample pitched well over his 4 innings of work and Onassis Sirrett also was solid. A Yowill Espinal error allowed the leadoff guy to reach in the 9th and, after a sac bunt, CF Jarrett Burgess hit the double to end it. Reliever Brandon Maurer pitched 3 scoreless innings for the win to move to 1-1 with a 1.93 ERA. Starter Austen Bibens-Dirkx pitched 2 hitless innings to drop his ERA to 4.50. Five M's had a hit each as Burgess was 1-3 with a walk, double, RBI and 2 SB (11).

The Royals are 2-7 and 5 games out. They play the 6-3 Rangers tonight.