Royals on the Farm 8/8

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 6, Nashville 1

SS Sanchez 2-4, K -- .215
1B Kaaihue 1-3, 2 BB, HR (5), RBI (8), K, 2 RS -- .394
RF Hollins 1-3, BB, HR (11), 3 RBI (42), RS -- .218
C B. Pena 1-4, BB, HR (2), 2 RBI (19), K, RS, SB (4) -- .288
CF Gathright 0-5 -- .000, first game of rehab assignment
DH Shealy 0-2, 2 BB, RS -- .284
LF Lubanski 0-3, BB, K, E (6) -- .240

Duckworth 7 IP, ER, 4 H, BB, 4 K, HRA -- W, 4-11, 4.76 ERA, outings like this have been rarity this season for "Ducky"
Atencio 2 IP, 2 K -- 1.08 ERA

*** Brandon Duckworth and Greg Atencio held the Sounds to 4 hits and three homers propelled the Omaha offense in a series opening win over Nashville. Duckworth gave up a solo homer in the 2nd but otherwise stayed out of serious trouble. Omaha stranded 2 in the 3rd but Kila Kaaihue continued to hit as a solo homer in the 4th for his 5th at Omaha tied the game. The O-Royals stranded the bases loaded, however. Duckworth worked around a 2-out triple in the 4th and Omaha went back to work in the 5th as Brayan Pena smoked a 2-run homer for his 2nd as a Royal. Damon Hollins followed later in the inning with a 3-run jack for his 11th of the season and it was all of a sudden 6-1 Omaha. Atencio pitched 2 perfect innings in relief of Duckworth to lock down the Omaha win. Starter Lindsay Gulin took the loss with 5 IP of 6 ER allowed to fall to 5-6 with a 3.96 ERA. RF Laynce Nix was 2-2 with a walk, triple, his 23rd homer, an RBI and RS. Only 2 other Sounds had a hit.

Omaha is 52-67. The teams play a twinbill tonight. Game 1 probables: RH Roman Colon (3-5, 4.64) vs. Sounds LH Sam Narron (6-3, 4.78). Game 2 probables: RH Matt Wright (3-7, 5.86) vs. Sounds LH Troy Cate (2-2, 5.22).

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 9, Midland 1

CF Duarte 3-4, BB, 2B (19), HR (9), RBI (39), K, 2 RS, SB (27) -- .261
1B Richardson 2-3, 2 BB, 2 2B (29), RBI (66), 2 RS -- .296
3B Lucas 2-4, BB, 2B (10), 2 RBI (27), RS -- .291
LF Suero 2-4, 2B (9), RBI (23), CS (15) -- .256, ejected in 8th
SS Lisson 2-4, HBP, K, RS -- .218
DH-LF Aldridge 1-4, BB, HR (4), 2 RBI (18), K, RS -- .242
2B Maddox 0-3, BB, SF, RBI (27), K, RS, E (7) -- .288
*NWA stranded 11.

Cortes 6 IP, ER, 6 H, BB, 8 K, HRA, WP -- W, 8-4, 4.18 ERA, control was better Friday
Nicoll 3 IP, 3 H, 7 K -- SV, 2, 2.62 ERA

*** Two 4-run innings helped the Naturals take the series with Midland. Cory Aldridge got it started with a 2-run homer in the 2nd for his 4th of the season, Ovandy Suero hit an RBI single and Marc Maddox hit a sac fly to make it 4-0 NWA. Dan Cortes left 2 in scoring position in the 3rd but NWA left the bases loaded in the bottom half. Cortes gave up a leadoff homer in the 4th but that would be his only blemish on the night as he stranded 2. The Naturals matched the run in the 4th as Jose Duarte led off with a double and later scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-1. The Nats left the bases full again in the 6th but got the job done in the 8th. Suero led off with a hit that got past the Midland left fielder and he tried to score on the play only to get cut down at the plate. He argued the call and was ejected. Duarte followed with his 9th homer of the season, Juan Richardson hit an RBI double and Ed Lucas ripped a 2-run double to make it 9-1. Chris Nicoll K'd 7 over 3 innings of work to pick up his 2nd save. Midland SP Jason Windsor took the loss with 1 2/3 IP of 4 ER allowed to fall to 2-1 with a 6.28 ERA. The RockHounds used 6 pitchers in the loss. 3B Myron Leslie and SS Adrian Cardenas had 2 hits for Midland. 1B Tommy Everidge hit his 21st homer and picked up his 100th RBI of the season.

The Nats are 29-18 and 3 games up on first. A 3-game home set with the Frisco RoughRiders (29-18, AA Rangers, first-half TL South champs) starts tonight. No starter has been announced yet for NWA while Kevin Millwood is set to start a rehab assignment with Frisco. The Naturals are 3-3 versus Frisco.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Frederick 7, Blue Rocks 1

2B Bianchi 2-3, BB, HR (9), RBI (54), RS -- .259
CF D. Robinson 1-4, K -- .250
3B Mertins 1-4, SB (24) -- .295
LF Ortiz 0-2, BB, HBP, SB (2) -- .256
SS McConnell 0-4, 2 K -- .268
1B Correll 0-4, K -- .312
RF Strait 0-3, HBP -- .295

Mildren 6 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, BB, 7 K -- L, 0-7, 7.24 ERA, not bad start, but another L
Haltiwanger IP, 4 R (3 ER), 3 H, BB, K, WP, E (2) -- 3.72 ERA
Barrera 2 IP, 3 K -- 2.85 ERA

*** The Rocks offense managed only 5 hits as the Keys evened the series at a game each. Two doubles off Paul Mildren helped stake the Keys to a 2-0 lead in the 1st and a walk and double in the 3rd made it 3-0 Frederick. The Rocks stranded 2 in the 3rd and struggled to generate offense. Russ Haltiwanger came in for the 7th and got roughed up for 4 runs on 3 hits, a walk and wild pitch along with an error. Jeff Bianchi led off the Wilmington 7th with his 9th homer of the season but that was it for the Rocks. Starter Kyle Schmidt got the win for the Keys with 6 scoreless IP to improve to 4-4 with a 3.87 ERA. RP Fredy Deza got his 4th save, with a 3-inning variety one.

Wilmington is 22-25 and 3 games back. The series continues tonight. Probable starters: righty Mario Santiago (7-7, 3.79) vs. Frederick's Jake Renshaw (9-9, 4.81).

A - Burlington: Peoria 10, Bees 2

3B Moustakas 0-4, K -- .264
CF Lough 2-4, 2 RBI (51) -- .266
DH Walton 2-4 -- .252
C Eigsti 2-3, K, E (9) -- .228
2B Giavotella 1-4 -- .299
1B C. Robinson 0-3, BB -- .243
LF Francis 0-3, BB, K -- .205
RF Van Stratten 1-3, BB, K, RS -- .330

Cota 5 IP, 3 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 4 K -- L, 1-2, 4.19 ERA
Bradley 2 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, K, HRA -- 1.72 ERA, coming back from DL, back in Burlington
Raglione IP, 5 ER, 4 H, BB -- 6.86 ERA, that line's not good on that stat

*** Burlington was still within striking distance until a 5-run 8th helped Peoria take 1 of 4 in the set and snap a 7-game Bee win streak. Luis Cota ran into trouble in the 2nd with 3 runs allowed on 2 hits, 3 walks and 2 errors. David Lough singled home a run in the 3rd and the score stayed 3-1 into the 6th when Tony Bradley relieved Cota and the Chiefs tacked on 2 runs on a 2-out, 2-run homer. Lough singled home another run in the 7th but the Bees stranded 2. Paul Raglione came in for the 8th and got lit up for 5 runs as Peoria surged to a 10-2 lead that stood for the win. Peoria SP Casey Coleman pitched 6 innings of an ER allowed to improve to 2-1 with a 1.88 ERA. 3B Jovan Rosa and LF Brandon Guyer had 2 hits for the Chiefs as Guyer hit his 11th homer, stole 2 bases (18) and drove in 3 runs. He also had an OF assist at second. Two other Chiefs had 2 RBI.

Burlington is 28-18 and 2 games up on first. A key 4-game home set with the second-place Cedar Rapids Kernels (26-20, A Halos) starts tonight. Alex Caldera (8-6, 3.19) starts for the Bees vs. Cedar Rapids' Trevor Reckling (9-4, 2.97). The Bees are 4-6 versus the Kernels but have won the last 3.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Billings 9, Chukars 1

CF Norris 1-3, BB -- .247
SS Jimenez 1-3, BB, K -- .302
LF Griffin 0-4, 3 K -- .260
C McCauley 1-3, RS, picked off runner -- .261
1B Espinosa 0-2, BB -- .195
RF Testa 0-3, 2 K -- .233

Morgan 3 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 2 K, HRA, WP, E (2) -- L, 0-2, 5.40 ERA
Rada 2 IP, ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 K, HRA, WP -- 4.05 ERA
Huber 2/3 IP, 3 ER, H, BB, HRA -- 3.00 ERA
Gilgenbach 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 BB, K, 2 WP -- 15.00 ERA
B. Hardy 1 2/3 IP, K -- 5.48 ERA

*** Four of five Idaho Falls pitchers allowed a run as Billings rolled the Chukars. The Chukars were shut out on 1 hit over the first 7 innings and Billings got a solo homer in the 3rd off Ryan Morgan, 3 runs in the 4th off Morgan and Orlando Rada, and 5 runs in the 7th off Tim Huber, Stephen Gilgenbach and Blaine Hardy. Sean McCauley scored on a wild pitch in the 8th but the Chukars didn't come close to rallying. Mustangs starter Jamie Arneson pitched 7 very strong innings with 9 Ks to improve to 5-1 with a 3.78 ERA. 2B Cody Puckett was 3-4 with a walk, his first 2 HR, 2 RBI, a K and 2 RS. RF Byron Wiley was 3-3 with a walk, double, his 4th homer, 3 RBI and 2 RS.

IF is 4-7 and 4 games back while the skid has stretched to 5 games. Game 3 is tonight as Aneidy Toribio (0-4, 5.91) takes on Mustangs SP Clayton Shunick (1-2, 7.09).

Rookie - Burlington: Elizabethton 11, B-Royals 3

1B D. Cruz 2-4, 2B (5), RBI (9), K -- .277
LF Aparicio 2-4, 2 K, RS -- .224
2B A. Franco 1-4, RBI (19) -- .244
RF Caldwell 0-3, SF, RBI (13), K -- .201
CF H. Richardson 0-2, BB, HBP, 2 K, RS, CS (6) -- .232
DH Vittek 0-3, BB -- .255
3B Morales 1-4, E (6) -- .187
C Moctezuma 0-3, BB, PB (13) -- .178

Runion 3 IP, 6 R (5 ER), 8 H, K, HRA, WP -- L, 2-3, 3.86 ERA
J. Rodriguez 3 IP, H, 8 K -- 3.38 ERA, impressive line
Mieles IP, 2 ER, H, 3 BB, K, HRA -- 6.60 ERA
Jorge IP, 3 ER, 3 H, BB, K -- 8.54 ERA

*** The Twins made it 45-8 versus the Royals in 4 games this season with a series opening rout. With the exception of 3 sterling innings from Jacob Rodriguez, it was a dismal night for the Royal pitchers. The Twins jumped on Sam Runion for 3 runs in the 1st on 4 hits and a wild pitch and, after Diego Cruz hit an RBI double in the 2nd, the Twins scored another run in the 2nd on 2 hits and a Jason Morales error. Runion gave up a 2-run homer in the 3rd and it was 6-1 Elizabethton. That stayed the score (thanks to Rodriguez getting 8 of his 9 outs via Ks) until the 7th when Ed Mieles allowed a 2-run homer to make it 8-1. The Royals scraped out 2 runs in the 8th on an Angel Franco RBI single and Allen Caldwell sac fly but the Twins answered with 3 runs in the bottom of the inning off Victor Jorge. Starter Brad Tippett got the win for the Twins with 7 IP of an ER allowed to improve to 7-2 with a 2.45 ERA. Four Twins had 2 hits as 3B Nick Romero hit his 6th homer and drove in 4 runs. CF Angel Morales clubbed his 11th homer with 2 RBI.

Burlington is 16-33. The series continues tonight with Mike Lehmann slated to pitch for Burlington.

Rookie - AZL: Cubs 7, Royals 4

C J. Bonilla 2-4, 2B (8), 2 RBI (22), RS, PB (14) -- .347
RF Del Rosario 1-3, BB, RBI (9), 2 K, RS -- .303
2B Espinal 2-4, 3B (2), K, SB (8) -- .233
CF Llanos 0-4, 2 K -- .169
3B D. Batista 1-4, RS -- .294

Billo IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 BB -- 7.71 ERA
D. De La Cruz 4 IP, 5 ER, 9 H, 3 K -- L, 4-2, 4.03 ERA, started 4-0, now dropped 2 straight
Ruhlman 3 IP, H, BB, 6 K -- 3.07 ERA

*** The Royals tied it with a big 4th then saw Deybi De La Cruz lose it. Greg Billo gave up 2 runs in the 1st on 3 hits and 2 walks but then stranded the bases loaded. De La Cruz came in for the 2nd and allowed 2 more runs on 3 hits and a passed ball to make it 4-0 Cubs. The Royals finally awoke in the 4th with 4 runs on a Luis Del Rosario RBI single, a 2-run Jose Bonilla double and run-scoring Cubs error. The Cubs regained the lead for good with a run on 2 hits in the 5th and then scored 2 more in the 6th on 3 hits to chase De La Cruz. The Royals squandered a leadoff triple by Yowill Espinal in the 8th as the next 6 went down to end it. Reliever Yohan Gonzalez got the win with 2 scoreless IP to improve to 3-1 with a 2.63 ERA. RP Erik Hamren got his 2nd save and starter Jeffry Antigua pitched 3 scoreless innings to drop his ERA to 3.21. C Matt Cerda was 3-4 with a double, 3 RBI and 2 RS and 3 other Cubs had 2 hits.

The Royals are 2-9 and have lost 4 in a row. They play the 3-7 Brewers tonight.