Royals on the Farm 4/21

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 15, Oklahoma City 9

RF Aldridge 4-6, 3B, 5 RBI (9) -- .268
DH Shealy 3-4, BB, SF, 2 RBI (7), 2 RS -- .340
2B Hulett 3-5, 2 BB, 2B (6), RBI (15), 3 RS -- .373
3B Metcalf 2-3, 2 BB, HBP, RBI (8), 3 RS -- .275
CF Murphy 2-6, BB, 2B (2), RBI (3), 2 K, RS -- .255
1B Ka'aihue 1-3, 3 BB, 2B (3), RBI (11), 4 RS -- .208
C House 1-6, BB, RBI (10), RS -- .385
LF Lubanski 1-6, RBI (8), K -- .288
SS Hernandez 1-5, SF, RBI (10), RS, 2 E (3) -- .366
* Omaha stranded 15 and was 8-for-28 with runners in scoring position on the night.

Phillips 3 1/3 IP, 6 R (5 ER), 9 H, 3 BB, 3 K -- 6.75 ERA, on second thought, maybe he's not a KC rotation candidate
Atencio 3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 5 K, HRA -- W, 1-0, 6.14 ERA
Hamulack 2 2/3 IP, ER, 2 H, 5 K, HRA -- 9.00 ERA

*** The O-Royals won a war of attrition as the teams combined to strand 26 runners, all three Omaha pitchers got touched for runs and three RedHawks pitchers, including touted starter Neftali Feliz, combined to give up 14 of the Royals' 15 runs. Omaha wasted no time as the Royals scored 4 runs in the 1st on a run-scoring wild pitch, J.R. House RBI groundout, and 2-out, 2-run single by Cory Aldridge, who had a good night at the plate. The RedHawks fired right back with 2 runs on 3 hits off starter Heath Phillips in their half of the 1st. Oklahoma scored another run in the 2nd on a double, 2 walks and a Luis Hernandez error, but Aldridge tripled home a run in the 3rd to make it 5-3 Omaha. Phillips couldn't hold it as Oklahoma scored 2 runs in the 3rd on 3 hits and a walk to tie the game. Kason Gabbard relieved Feliz for the 4th and the Royals jumped on him for 4 runs on a Travis Metcalf RBI single, a bases-loaded walk by Ryan Shealy, another Aldridge RBI single and a Hernandez sac fly that made it 9-5 O-Royals. Phillips allowed another run on 2 hits and another Hernandez error in the 4th before getting pulled as Greg Atencio got out of a jam. Omaha padded the lead with a 3-run 5th on a Kila Ka'aihue RBI forceout, and RBI singles by Chris Lubanski and Aldridge to make it 12-6. The teams were actually scoreless for an inning-and-a-half (Omaha left the bases full in the 6th) before Omaha scored 2 in the 7th on a Tommy Murphy RBI double and Tug Hulett RBI groundout. Atencio served up a 2-run homer to RF Greg Golson (his 1st of the season) in the 7th to keep the lead at 6 and the Royals scored their final run on a Shealy sac fly in the 8th. Tim Hamulack gave up a solo homer to C Kevin Richardson (his 2nd) in the 9th but that was all the RedHawks would get as Omaha escaped with the 15-9 win. Gabbard took the loss with 6 ER allowed on 3 hits and 5 walks with a K over an IP to drop to 0-1 with a 10.50 ERA. Feliz allowed 5 ER on 7 hits and 2 walks with 2 Ks over 3 IP to bump his ERA to 5.25. 1B Royce Huffman and Richardson both had 3 hits for the RedHawks with 2 others rapping out 2 hits a piece. Golson had the homer and 3 RBI (8) but also made his 2nd error. LF Brandon Boggs had 2 RBI (8) and his 1st SB. 3B Esteban German was 1-3 with a walk, his 3rd SB, K and RS.

The Royals are 8-5 and back in a 3-way tie for first in the division. Game 2 is tonight as Brandon Duckworth (0-1, 8.59) hurls versus RedHawks righty Elizardo Ramirez (0-2, 3.60). RP Yaz Yabuta will take Brian Bannister's vacated roster spot. I assume Lenny DiNardo will move to the rotation.

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 9, Corpus Christi 7

2B Mertins 3-4, 2 2B (3), 2 RBI (5), RS, CS (2) -- .294
DH Strait 3-4, 2B, HR, RBI, 3 RS -- .275, was off to sluggish start, we'll see where he goes from here
CF Duarte 2-5, 2 2B (3), RBI (4), RS -- .390, continues to produce
RF Parraz 2-4, RBI (6), RS -- .314, and the Royals shed Lumsden to get him, to boot
3B C. Smith 1-4, RBI (4), K, RS -- .160
SS Lisson 0-4, SF, RBI (7), 2 K, E (5) -- .275
1B McFall 1-3, HBP, 2B (6), K, RS, E -- .275
LF Dickerson 1-5, 2 K, RS, SB (2) -- .195

Lerew 6 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, BB, 4 K, 2 HRA, pickoff -- W, 1-0, 3.07 ERA, 87 pitches, would have been great without HRA, but still a quality start, first win for Nats starter in '09
Holland 1 1/3 IP, 3 H, BB, 3 K, WP -- 2.16 ERA
de la Vara 1/3 IP, 4 UER, 2 H, BB -- 4.26 ERA
Nicoll 2/3 IP, BB -- SV, 1, 1.08 ERA

*** A 4-run 9th made the game closer but the bullpen salvaged the 9-7 win for NW Arkansas. The game was scoreless into the 4th before the Nats scored 4 runs on a 2-run Jordan Parraz single aided by a Hooks fielding error, a run-scoring balk and an RBI double by Kurt Mertins in the 4th. Mario Lisson hit a sac fly in the 5th to make it 5-0 but the Hooks finally got to Anthony Lerew in the 6th as CF Collin DeLome went solo for his 5th homer of the season to cut it to 5-1. Cody Strait led off the NWA 6th with his 1st homer of the season to get the run back but Lerew served up a 2-run shot to RF Mitch Einertson in the 7th for his 2nd of the season to cut it to 6-3. Greg Holland would strand the bases full in the inning, and Corey Smith would single home a run in the inning before getting nailed at the plate to end the inning trying to score on a Brian McFall double. Mertins added another RBI double in the 8th and scored on a Jose Duarte double to make it 9-3. Errors by McFall and Lisson helped Gilbert de la Vara load the bases to start the 9th and the Hooks scored 4 runs before Chris Nicoll came in and got the last 2 outs to end it for his 1st save of the season. Starter Polin Trinidad took the loss for CC with 5 IP of 5 runs (4 ER) allowed on 7 hits with 6 Ks to drop to 1-2 with a 4.76 ERA. Einertson was 3-4 with his HR and 2 RBI (6) but also made his 2nd error in the field. 1B James Van Ostrand was one of 4 other Hooks with 2 hits as he was 2-5 with his 1st triple, 2 RBI (4) and a run scored to move to .414. DeLome had his homer, 2 RS and the OF assist to help get Smith at the plate in the 7th.

The Naturals are 6-6 and a game back of Tulsa and Springfield. They have a day off before starting the 2009 "Diamond Series" with intrastate rival Arkansas on Thursday.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 8, Salem 3 (7/G1)

SS Bianchi 3-4, 2B (4), RBI (6), RS, SB (3) -- .349, hope he can keep up the old rookie-ball form
1B C. Robinson 2-4, RBI (7), RS -- .366
2B-3B Seratelli 1-3, 2B, 3 RBI (5), K -- .190
LF Lough 1-2, BB, RBI (9), RS -- .326
C Eigsti 1-3, 2B (4), RBI (4) -- .258
3B Moustakas 1-2, RS -- .267, pulled in 4th after fouling pitch off his arm in 2nd
CF D. Robinson 0-3, S -- .261
PH-2B Giavotella 0-1, BB, RS -- .200
RF Ortiz 1-3, 2B, K, RS -- .256
DH Orlando 0-3, 2 K, 2 RS, SB (3) -- .132

Duffy 6 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, BB, 7 K, HRA -- W, 2-0, 2.30 ERA
Sisk IP, K -- 0.00 ERA

*** A 4-run 1st was all Danny Duffy and the Rocks needed in taking the opener from Salem. The rally came all with 2 outs in the 1st as 2 singles and a walk loaded the bases, Paulo Orlando struck out swinging for the would-be third out but reached on a wild pitch as the first run scored, and Anthony Seratelli followed with a 3-run double to clear the bases and make it 4-0 Wilmington. Adrian Ortiz led off the Wilmington 2nd with a double and scored on a Jeff Bianchi single to make it 5-0. Duffy finally got dinged in the 3rd as he served up a 2-run homer to 2B Aaron Reza (his 1st) to cut the lead to 5-2. Orlando struck out but reached again, this time on a passed ball, in the 3rd and it once again came back to bite Salem as Ryan Eigsti hit an RBI double to make it 6-2. Clint Robinson and David Lough hit back-to-back RBI singles in the 4th to extend the lead to 8-2 and Duffy gave up a run on a walk and double in the 5th but that was it for the Sox. Brandon Sisk pitched a 1-2-3 7th to finish the win. Starter Kyle Weiland took the loss for Salem with 8 runs (7 ER) allowed on 7 hits and 2 walks with 4 Ks over 3 1/3 IP to fall to 0-1 with a 15.00 ERA. RF Matt Sheely was 2-3 with his 1st double and 3rd RBI to move to .357.

Game 2 was suspended by rain in the top of the 4th with Salem up, 5-1. The game will be finished tonight. Moustakas didn't play in the second game but said on the team site he could have played.

Wilmington is 8-4 and still tied with Lynchburg for the division lead. They finish the suspended nightcap tonight before the regular game (shortened to 7 innings) with Salem to finish the set. Mario Santiago (0-2, 10.57) is set to start the regular game versus Salem lefty "the other" Jose Capellan (1-0, 4.35).

A - Burlington: Kane County 6, Bees 4

SS Martin 2-4, RS -- .189
RF Francis 1-2, 2 BB, 2B (3), RBI (4), RS, E (2) -- .355
LF Tucker 1-4, 2B (2), RBI (3), 2 K, RS -- .211
3B Jimenez 1-3, RBI (2), K -- .130
CF Norris 0-3, BB, 2 K, RS, SB (4) -- .200
1B Hosmer 0-4, RBI (3), 2 K -- .152, MWL is getting the better of him thus far
C McCauley 0-4, K -- .185, runners were 1/4 in SB against in the game

Z. Peterson 5 IP, 5 R (3 ER), 6 H, 2 BB, 3 K, HRA -- L, 1-1, 3.86 ERA
Garcia 2 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, K -- 1.93 ERA
Bryant IP, H, 2 K -- 3.00 ERA
Bowden IP, K -- 0.00 ERA

*** Kane County capitalized on Bees mistakes to take the series opener and deal Burlington yet another loss. Patrick Norris walked and stole second in the Bees 1st before scoring on an Eric Hosmer groundout to give Burlington a 1-0 lead. Kane County tied it on 2 hits and an Alwin Perez error at second in the 2nd and the Cougars loaded the bases off Zach Peterson with 0 out in the 3rd and got 3 runs out of the rally thanks in part to a Nick Francis error in right. The Bees got back in the game in the 4th with 3 runs on a Francis RBI double, Wilson Tucker RBI double and Antonio Jimenez RBI single, although Jimenez was thrown out at second trying to stretch the hit into a double. The tie was short-lived as Peterson served up a leadoff longball to CF David Thomas (his 2nd) in the 5th. Justin Garcia gave up a run on 2 hits in the 6th and the Bees didn't have another baserunner until the 9th, as Ben Hornbeck pitched 5 innings of 1-hit relief for the win. Hornbeck walked 1 and struck out 7 in improving to 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA. Starter Brett Hunter allowed 4 ER on 4 hits and 2 walks with 2 Ks over 4 IP to move his ERA to 7.71. Four Cougars had 2-hit games as SS Dusty Coleman drove in 2 runs (9) but also made his 4th error. Thomas hit his HR, scored twice, walked once and stole his 4th base.

The Bees are 2-8. Game 2 is tonight with Brent Fisher (0-0, 5.40) set to take on KC righty Matt Fitts (0-1, 5.40). OF Nick Van Stratten is day to day with a jammed thumb.