Royals on the Farm 4/9

And we're back in action, although it wasn't the greatest of opening nights for the Royals' affiliates...

AAA - Omaha: Albuquerque 14, O-Royals 8

CF Maier 3-5, HR, 2 RBI, 2 RS -- .600, continuing his hot hitting from ST
LF Lubanski 2-4, HR, 3 RBI, 2 RS -- .500
2B-3B Hulett 1-4, 3B, 2 RBI, K, RS, E -- .250
PH-RF Aldridge 1-2, RBI -- .500
1B Ka'aihue 0-4, BB, 2 K -- .000
DH Shealy 0-4, 3 K -- .000

Bannister 4 IP, 5 ER, 9 H, BB, 3 K, HRA, balk, WP, pickoff -- L, 0-1, 11.25 ERA, yowch
Hamulack 1/3 IP, 4 ER, 3 H, BB -- 108.00 ERA, yes, that's a 5-digit ERA
Atencio 2/3 IP, 4 R (3 ER), 2 H, 3 BB, K -- 40.50 ERA, plate's over there, Greg
Newman 3 IP, ER, H, HRA -- 3.00 ERA

*** Brian Bannister's well-documented struggles continued as a 7-run Isotopes 5th fueled the O-Royals' opening day loss. The Isotopes scored single runs in the first 3 innings thanks in part to a balk and wild pitch from Bannister, plus a solo homer. With 2 on and 2 out in the 4th, Chris Lubanski made his second AB of the season a good one with a 3-run homer to tie the game at 3 off Albuquerque SP Miguel Pinango. Bannister stranded 2 in the 4th and Omaha took the lead on Mitch Maier's solo homer in the 5th. The lead lasted 2 batters into the bottom of the 5th as 'Topes CF Xavier Paul doubled home a run to chase Bannister and bring in Tim Hamulack. Hamulack fared even worse as his string went walk, flyout, RBI single, RBI double, RBI single before Greg Atencio was brought in. Atencio gave up a 2-out 2-run triple that ended up also scoring the batter, 3B Luis Maza, after a throwing error by Tug Hulett. Atencio finally escaped the inning then gave up 2 walks and an RBI double in the 6th before getting pulled for Josh Newman. Newman allowed 2 inherited runners to score before getting out of the inning with the Royals down, 13-4. Omaha pushed across 3 in the 7th on a 2-run triple by Hulett and a Maier RBI single, Newman gave up a solo homer in the 8th and Cory Aldridge singled home the final Omaha run in the 9th before Kila Ka'aihue grounded into a DP to end it at 14-8. Pinango got the win with 4 runs (1 ER) allowed over 5 IP on 4 hits with 5 Ks to set a 1.80 ERA. SS Chin-lung Hu and former Royal DH Dee Brown had 3 hits each for Albuquerque and drove in a combined 5 runs. Two other Isotopes had 2 hits each and four in all drove in multiple runs.

The O-Royals are 0-1. The series continues tonight as Luke Hochevar makes his '09 debut versus Isotopes lefty Eric Stults.

AA - NW Arkansas: San Antonio 7, Naturals 2

1B McFall 2-4, 2B, RBI, RS -- .500
DH Strait 2-4, K -- .500
C Suomi 0-2, SF, RBI -- .000
CF Duarte 1-4, K -- .250
LF Dickerson 0-4, K -- .000
RF Parraz 0-3, BB, K, 2 E -- .000, ignominious organizational debut
2B Mertins 1-4, CS, E -- .250
SS Lisson 0-4, RS, E -- .000

Cortes 3 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 6 K, E -- L, 0-1, 15.00 ERA, 64 pitches
Marte 2 IP, H -- 0.00 ERA
de la Vara IP, 2 ER, 2 H, HRA -- 18.00 ERA
Sencion 2 IP, H, BB, 2 K -- 0.00 ERA

*** Dan Cortes also had a rough first outing as three San Antonio rallies were enough to get the Missions a win in the opener. Five Naturals errors didn't cost the team any runs but also don't bode well for the defense. Cortes gave up a 2-out RBI triple in the 1st as the Missions jumped out to a 2-0 lead. The Nats cut the lead in half in the 3rd on a John Suomi sac fly but the Missions answered with 3 runs in the 3rd on 4 hits, a walk, and 2 Naturals errors that didn't lead to any unearned runs. The 5-1 lead held into the 6th when Gilbert de la Vara relieved Victor Marte and gave up a single and 2-run homer to the first 2 batters he faced on the season. The Naturals got a 2-out RBI single in the 9th from Brian McFall but that was it. Missions SP Stephen Faris got the win with an ER allowed on 4 hits with 2 Ks over 6 IP to set a 1.50 ERA. Three Missions had 2 hits with 3B Travis Denker adding the 2-run homer and also committing 2 errors.

The Naturals are 0-1. Anthony Lerew makes his organizational debut tonight to start game 2 versus San Antonio righty Will Inman.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 9, Myrtle Beach 2

CF D. Robinson 2-4, BB, RBI, 2 RS, 2 SB -- .500, nice night out of the leadoff spot
1B C. Robinson 2-3, 2B, K -- .667, team's only XBH
2B Giavotella 1-4, BB, 2 RBI -- .250
3B Moustakas 0-4, BB, K, RBI -- .000
C Eigsti 0-2, 2 BB, K, RBI, 2 RS, 2 PB -- .000, also picked off a runner at third
DH A. Ortiz 0-3, SF, RBI, RS -- .000
SS Bianchi 0-5, RBI, 2 K, E -- .000

Caldera 4 IP, ER, H, BB, 5 K, HRA, balk -- 2.25 ERA, didn't work long enough for decision, but a nice start
Chavez 3 IP, UER, 3 H, K -- W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA
Sisk 2 IP, H, K -- SV, 1, 0.00 ERA

*** The Rocks got some good work out of three pitchers on the night but it took a late rally to get Wilmington its win in the opener. Derrick Robinson got the Rocks started off right with an infield single, stole second and third and then scored on a Mike Moustakas groundout to give the Rocks a 1-0 lead in the 1st. The Rocks stranded 2 in the 2nd and starter Alex Caldera had a no-hitter going into the 5th before giving up a leadoff homer to MB LF Cody Johnson and getting pulled for Chris Chavez. Chavez allowed a double and single to the first 2 batters he faced but almost worked out of the jam until a 2-out Jeff Bianchi error allowed the lead run to score to make it 2-1 Pelicans. The Rocks wouldn't have another baserunner from the 3rd through the 7th against 3 Pelicans hurlers. Clint Robinson led off the 8th with a double and pinch runner Anthony Seratelli scored on an Adrian Ortiz sac fly to tie the game. Derrick Robinson followed with an RBI single and the Rocks loaded the bases with 1 out only to see Bianchi hit into an inning ending double play. Brandon Sisk pitched a perfect 8th and the Rocks went to work in the top of the 9th to score 6 runs on three Pelicans fielding errors, a passed ball and a 2-run single by Johnny Giavotella to make it 9-2 Wilmington. Sisk shut the door in the 9th to finish the game. RP Jose Ortegano picked up the blown save and the loss for Myrtle Beach with 2 ER allowed on 2 hits, a walk and 2 Ks over 1 1/3 IP. Starter Edgar Osuna allowed an ER on 2 hits, a walk and 3 Ks over 4 IP to set a 2.25 ERA. C Mathew Kennelly was 2-3 for the Pelicans with a double but had a passed ball and was caught stealing twice, including being picked off third by Ryan Eigsti. RF Jason Heyward was 1-4 with a K.

The Blue Rocks are 1-0. The series continues tonight as Danny Duffy makes his season debut versus MB lefty Jeff Locke.

A - Burlington: Clinton 6, Bees 3

RF Francis 2-4, 3B, K, OF assist at third -- .500
1B Hosmer 1-4, RBI, K, CS -- .250
3B Martin 1-4, 3B, RBI, K -- .250
LF Van Stratten 1-3, HBP, 2 RS -- .333
CF Norris 0-3, S, RS -- .000
DH S. Perez 0-3, K -- .000
C McCauley 0-4 -- .000

Casey 3 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 5 K -- L, 0-1, 6.00 ERA
Hodgson IP, ER, H, HRA -- 9.00 ERA
Z. Peterson IP, 2 ER, 2 H, BB -- 18.00 ERA, rough first outing for Zach
M. Baez 2 IP, BB, K -- 0.00 ERA
R. Pena 2 IP, ER, H, BB, K -- 4.50 ERA

*** The Bees didn't start the defense of their league crown on the right foot as Clinton rolled past Burlington despite 4 errors. One error came in the 1st and the Bees made it count as Kyle Martin hit an RBI triple but was stranded at third. With 2 out and 2 on in the Clinton 3rd, starter Bryan Casey gave up a 2-run double but Nick Francis cut the rally short by nailing the batter at third from right field via the cutoff man to end the inning. Casey stranded 2 in the 3rd and was pulled for Ivor Hodgson for the 4th. Hodgson promptly gave up a leadoff homer in his only inning of work. Francis hit a 1-out triple in the Bees 4th but was thrown out trying to score on a Sean McCauley fly ball and the score stayed 3-1 Clinton. Zach Peterson came in for the 5th and gave up 2 runs on 2 hits, a walk and a steal of home. Burlington cut the lead to 5-3 in the 6th on an Eric Hosmer RBI single and a Clinton run-scoring error but Riquy Pena gave up an insurance run in the 9th and McCauley grounded into a 6-4-3 DP to end it as RP Ryan Moorer notched his 1st save for Clinton. Starter Steven Hensley got the win for the LumberKings with 5 IP of 3 UER on 5 hits and a K. LF Maximo Mendez was 2-5 with a triple and 2 RBI for Clinton. The Kings were 5-5 on SBs for the night. 2B Luis Nunez also had a double and 2 RBI in the win.

The Bees are 0-1. Sam Runion starts his second shot at A-ball tonight in game 2 versus Clinton righty Brett Lorin.