Royals on the Farm 9/3

AA - NW Arkansas: game 1 tonight

*** Dan Cortes is set to take on Arkansas' Dan Davidson in game 1 in Arkansas tonight.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Potomac 2, Blue Rocks 1 (15)

2B Bianchi 2-6, 2B, K, SB -- .333, one of few guys who brought his bat Wednesday
C Howell 1-4, BB, HR, RBI, K, RS, PB -- .250
SS McConnell 1-6, K -- .167
DH Orlando 1-5, HBP, K, SB -- .200, team had 5 hits
CF D. Robinson 0-6, K, OF assist at home -- .000, what production out of leadoff spot.....
RF Strait 0-5, BB, picked off -- .000
1B Correll 0-6, 2 K -- .000
LF Ortiz 0-5 -- .000
3B J. Johnson 0-5, BB, K -- .000

Kniginyzky 6 2/3 IP, ER, 6 H, BB, 2 K -- 1.35 ERA, very nice start, no run support to speak of
Hartsock 1 2/3 IP, H, 2 K -- 0.00 ERA
Swaggerty 2 2/3 IP, H, 3 K -- 0.00 ERA
Holland 2 IP, H, BB, 2 K -- 0.00 ERA
Haltiwanger 1 2/3 IP, ER, 2 H, WP -- L, 0-1, 5.40 ERA, walk off wild pitch hurts

*** Potomac doubled the Rocks up in hits, 11-5, but it was a wild pitch that ended up making the difference in game 1 of the best-of-5. Both teams stranded a few runners early but the Nationals broke through in the 5th. Derrick Robinson came through with an OF assist at the plate for the first out of the inning but Potomac SS Daniel Lyons came through with a 2-out RBI double to make it 1-0. Nationals SP Luis Atilano handed a 2-hit shutout to the pen in the 7th and Jeff Howell finally got the Rocks back in the game in the 8th with a leadoff homer to tie it at 1. The pens dueled into extras and Russ Haltiwanger gave up a leadoff single in the 15th. A steal and groundout moved the runner to third and, with 2 outs, Haltiwanger threw a wild pitch that scored the run to end the game. Potomac RP Dan Leatherman allowed 2 hits over 4 IP to get the win. Both teams used 5 pitchers. 3B Stephen King and 2B Mike Martinez had 2 hits for Potomac.

Game 2 is tonight as right-hander Mario Santiago (8-8, 3.43) faces Potomac righty Erik Arnesen (4-3, 4.46). Myrtle Beach won game 1 in its best-of-5 versus Winston-Salem Wednesday.

A - Burlington: Bees 5, Kane County 3

1B Taylor 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 K, RS -- .500
CF Lough 1-4, RBI, RS -- .250
2B Giavotella 1-4, RBI, RS -- .250
RF Van Stratten 0-3, SF, RBI, K -- .000
3B Moustakas 1-4 -- .250
DH C. Robinson 1-3, BB -- .333
LF Francis 1-4, 2B, 2 K -- .250

Gutierrez 6 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, BB, 6 K -- 3.00 ERA
Bradley IP, H, BB, K -- 0.00 ERA
Raglione IP, H, K -- W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA
Z. Peterson 2/3 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, K -- 13.50 ERA
Sisk 1/3 IP, nothing -- SV, 1, 0.00 ERA

*** The Bees were being shut out on 2 hits through 6 but staged a late comeback to put Kane County in a must-win situation. Nobody reached base until the 3rd when the Cougars slapped together a 2-run rally off Danny Gutierrez on 3 hits and a walk. Gutierrez stranded 2 Cougars in the 5th, and the Bees couldn't generate any offense. Jason Taylor changed that in the 7th with a leadoff homer to cut the lead to 2-1 and the Bees got the first 2 on in the 8th before David Lough hit an RBI single, Johnny Giavotella singled home a run, as did Taylor, and Nick Van Stratten hit a sac fly to make it 5-2 Bees. Zach Peterson gave up a 2-out RBI single in the 9th but Brandon Sisk came in and stranded 2 to pick up the save. Cougars starter Carlos Hernandez pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings and RP Chad Kerfoot took the loss and blown save with 3 ER allowed over 1 2/3 IP. LF Adam Klein was 3-4 with a walk, RBI and SB and two others had 2 hits for the Cougars.

Game 2 of the best-of-3 has been postponed by rain to Friday in Kane County. Alex Caldera is set to start for the Bees. In other MWL playoff action, Cedar Rapids beat Clinton, 3-0, as the winner of that series faces the winner of the Bees' series. In the eastern division playoffs, South Bend beat West Michigan and Dayton beat Lansing in game 1.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Chukars 3, Casper 1

C Graterol 2-3, BB, RBI (15) -- .277
RF Severino 2-4, K, SB (2) -- .194
LF Griffin 1-3, BB, HR (5), RBI (28), K, 2 RS, 2 SB (14) -- .251
CF Norris 1-4, 2 K, CS (6) -- .263
SS Alfaro 0-4, 2 K, E (15) -- .261
1B Espinosa 0-3, BB, K, RS -- .203

Morgan 4 2/3 IP, ER, 4 H, 4 BB, K, WP -- 6.70 ERA
Novakowski 2 1/3 IP, 2 H, 2 K, WP -- W, 1-4, 5.71 ERA
B. Hardy 2 IP, H, K -- SV, 4, 4.15 ERA

*** The Chukar pitching staff continued to hold the Ghosts in check as IF took a third straight from Casper. Ryan Morgan stranded a few Ghosts early and the Chukars took the lead in the 4th on a solo homer by Shawn Griffin for his 5th as a pro. The Ghosts chased Morgan with an RBI double in the 5th but Gary Novakowski came in and stranded 2 in scoring position. Griffin walked with 2 out in the 6th, stole second and third and scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-1 Chukars. Juan Graterol hit an RBI single in the 9th and Blaine Hardy stranded 1 in the 9th for his 4th save. Casper RP Alan Deratt took the loss with 1 1/3 IP of an unearned run allowed to fall to 2-2 with a 3.94 ERA. Starter Dan Houston worked 4 2/3 IP of an ER allowed to move his ERA to 4.17. 2B Maikol Gonzalez was 2-3 with a walk, double and RBI.

IF is 18-18. Game 4 is tonight as Aneidy Toribio (3-4, 4.84) takes on Casper's Jeff Fischer (3-7, 5.00).