Royals on the Farm 6/28 & 6/29

Hochevar is looking good, finally. Let's hope he keeps it up.

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 10, Albuquerque 5 (Sun.)

LF Thorman 3-5, 2B (8), HR (13), 2 RBI (30), K, 2 RS -- .293
2B Falu 3-5, RBI (24), RS -- .266
CF Raines 2-4, 2B (3), HR, 3 RBI (4), 2 RS -- .167, finally starting to heat up?
3B Metcalf 1-4, 2B (14), 2 RBI (37), RS -- .231
C Buck 1-4, HR, RBI (2), 2 K, RS -- .182
SS Lisson 1-3, BB, 2B (5), RBI (12), K, RS -- .225
1B Ka'aihue 1-3, BB, K, RS -- .273

Phillips 5 IP, 5 ER, 9 H, 2 BB, 5 K -- W, 4-7, 6.95 ERA, 9.00 ERA in game, but gets the win
Hamulack 2 IP, H, BB -- 6.82 ERA
Hayes 2 IP, 2 K -- 2.76 ERA

*** Omaha came back from an early 4-0 deficit to surge to the 10-5 win. Heath Phillips gave up 4 runs in the 1st on 4 hits and a walk before recording an out. Omaha stranded 2 in the 1st but got to Isotopes SP Giancarlo Alvarado for 5 runs in the 2nd on a Tim Raines Jr. 2-run double, an Irving Falu RBI single and 2-run Scott Thorman homer for his 13th of the season. Phillips stranded 2 in the 4th but gave up a run on 3 hits in the 5th to tie the game at 5. John Buck hit a 1-out solo homer in the 5th for his 1st in rehab to give Omaha the lead for good. Travis Metcalf hit a 2-out, 2-run double in the 7th and Mario Lisson doubled him home to make it 9-5. Raines then led off the 8th with his 1st homer for Omaha to cap the scoring. Chris Hayes pitched 2 perfect innings to finish it. Alvarado took the loss with 6 ER allowed on 9 hits and a walk with 5 Ks to drop to 5-6 with a 3.62 ERA. Three Isotopes had 2 hits. RF Jamie Hoffmann and LF Dermal "Dee" Brown had 2 RBI each.

O-Royals 2, Albuquerque 0 (Mon.)

SS Lisson 2-3, RS, 2 E (7) -- .237
LF Thorman 2-3, HBP, RS -- .300
DH Buck 1-4, RBI (3), K -- .200
CF Raines 1-3, RBI (5), K -- .173
1B Ka'aihue 0-3, K -- .269

DiNardo 7 IP, 4 H, BB, 7 K -- W, 5-3, 3.46 ERA
Rosa 2 IP, H, 3 K -- SV, 3, 6.08 ERA

*** Lenny DiNardo and Carlos Rosa combined on a 5-hitter. John Buck singled home a run in the 1st but was thrown out trying to get to second on the play to end the inning. DiNardo retired 13 in a row after a leadoff single in the 1st and Omaha stranded 2 in the 4th. Albuquerque did the same in the 5th then got nothing out of a bases-loaded situation in the 7th. Tim Raines Jr. singled home a run in the 7th to make it 2-0 and Rosa pitched a perfect 9th for his 3rd save. Isotopes knuckleballin' SP Charlie Haeger took the loss with 7 IP of 2 runs (1 ER) on 8 hits and a walk with 4 Ks to fall to 8-5 with a 3.75 ERA. CF Jason Repko was 2-4 with 2 K to move to .249.

The O-Royals are 30-47. They shut out the Isotopes again today in the series finale as Kyle Davies (1-0, 0.00) faced Isotopes righty Scott Elbert (1-0, 0.00). Davies was named PCL Pitcher of the Week in his first week back in AAA after throwing 8 innings of shutout ball versus Memphis. The Royals have 10 shutouts (make that 11 now) in a season for the first time since 1996.

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 7, Arkansas 3 (Sun.)

RF Strait 2-4, RBI (24), RS, SB (10), picked off -- .286
LF Duarte 1-4, 2 RBI (17), K, CS (8) -- .237
C Clark 1-2, 2 BB, HR (3), 2 RBI (10), RS -- .326
CF Dyson 1-4, K -- .368
SS Bianchi 1-2, 2 BB, RS, SB (2), E (2) -- .556

Lerew 5 1/3 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 2 H, 4 BB, 4 K, HRA, E (4) -- 4.97 ERA
de la Vara 1 2/3 IP, UER, 2 H, BB -- W, 3-1, 4.85 ERA
Holland 2 IP, 2 H, BB, K -- SV, 6, 2.25 ERA

*** A 4-run 6th ended up being the key frame in the Naturals' win over the Travelers. A 2-run Travelers error put NWA on top in the 1st. Arkansas fought back with runs in the 4th and 6th off Anthony Lerew, one on a homer by C Hank Conger (his 5th), but Gilbert de la Vara got a bases-loaded double play to escape the jam in the 6th with the tie intact. Cody Strait hit a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 6th, Cody Clark took a bases-loaded walk, and Jose Duarte hit a 2-run single to make it 6-2. Arkansas scratched out a run in the 7th but NWA matched it in the 8th on Cody Clark's 3rd AA homer of the season. Greg Holland stranded 2 in the 9th for his 6th save. Starter Barret Browning took the loss with 5 IP of 4 runs (2 ER) on 4 hits and 5 walks with 4 Ks to fall to 0-7 with a 4.03 ERA. Conger and 1B Mark Trumbo had 2 hits each and Conger drove in 2 runs (32) to improve to .283.

Naturals 5, Arkansas 2 (Mon.)

1B C. Smith 2-4, 2B (13), RBI (50), K, SB (9) -- .252, first KC minor leaguer to 50 ribbies
LF Duarte 2-3, RBI (18), CS (9) -- .244
C Clark 1-2, BB, HR (4), 2 RBI (12), RS -- .333
CF Dyson 1-4, RS, OF assist at home -- .348
SS Bianchi 0-4 -- .500

Orvella 3 IP, H, 3 K -- 0.00 ERA, organizational debut
Cevette 1 1/3 IP, ER, 3 H -- 5.30 ERA
Nicoll 3 IP, 3 H, BB, K -- W, 6-0, 4.22 ERA
Sencion 2/3 IP, ER, H, BB -- 5.85 ERA
Swaggerty IP, nothing -- SV, 1, 1.86 ERA

*** NWA cobbled together a good game from 5 pitchers, including new pickup Chad Orvella, to take 3 of 4 from the Travelers. Jarrod Dyson scored on a wild pitch in the 1st to give NW Arkansas the lead and the Nats scored 2 in the 2nd on a 2-run shot by Cody Clark for his 4th of the season. Orvella pitched 3 good innings then gave way to Dan Cevette, who allowed a run in the 5th that scored off Chris Nicoll but was credited to Cevette. NWA stranded 2 in the 3rd but scored in the 4th on a Jose Duarte RBI single before stranding 2. The Naturals pushed in their last run in the 5th on a Corey Smith RBI double for his 50th RBI of the season. Nicoll was bailed out of trouble in the 7th as Dyson helped nail a runner at the plate to end the inning. Carlos Sencion loaded the bases with none out in the 9th and Ben Swaggerty came in to let 1 in but get the outs to finish it. Travs SP Tommy Mendoza took the loss with 7 IP of 5 runs (4 ER) allowed on 9 hits and 2 walks with 4 Ks to fall to 5-4 with a 3.04 ERA. Three Travs had 2 hits in the loss.

The Naturals are 4-1 and 1 1/2 games up on first. They have today and tomorrow off for a short all-star break. The TL All-Star Game is tomorrow. KC has signed righty Chad Orvella and assigned him to AA after he was released by the Rays with a 6.12 ERA in 19 1/3 IP with AAA Durham. He's coming back from an '07 shoulder surgery. IF Chris McConnell was placed on the DL with a broken finger, RP Aaron Hartsock was put on the shelf with shoulder tendonitis, and SP Blake Wood has hit the DL with elbow inflammation. IF Josh Johnson was recalled from Wilmington to take the roster spot. Jeff Bianchi was named Texas League Player of the Week for June 22-28 after hitting .625 with a homer and 6 RBI in the week.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 7, Frederick 6 (Sun.)

LF Ortiz 3-4, 2 2B (3), 3B (3), 5 RBI (19), K, RS, CS (4), E (2) -- .245
SS J. Johnson 2-4, 2 RS, SB -- .333
2B Giavotella 2-4, BB, 2B (10), RBI (26), SB (11) -- .228
CF D. Robinson 1-5, RBI (21), 2 K, picked off, OF assist at second -- .236
3B Moustakas 0-5, 2 K -- .260
*RF Paulo Orlando also had an OF assist at second.

Paulino 4 2/3 IP, 5 ER, 8 H, 3 BB, 3 K, HRA, WP -- 4.85 ERA
Godin 3 1/3 IP, UER, 2 H, 6 K -- W, 1-0, 2.11 ERA
Sisk IP, 2 K -- SV, 7, 2.61 ERA

*** The Rocks and Adrian Ortiz came back in a big way Sunday with 7 runs in the final 2 innings for the 7-6 win. Johnny Giavotella was thrown out at the plate to end the Wilmington 1st and the Keys got a homer from 2B Bobby Stevens (his 5th) to take the lead after 1. Frederick loaded the bases with none out in the 3rd off Eduardo Paulino and scored 2 runs before leaving 'em loaded. Jason Godin came in with 2 on and 2 out in the 5th and allowed 3 runs on 2 hits and an Ortiz error to make it 6-0 Keys. Mizzou product and Frederick SP Richard Zagone handed a 3-hit shutout to the pen in the 7th and Wilmington got on the board with 4 runs in the 8th on a 2-run Ortiz double, Derrick Robinson RBI single and Johnny Giavotella RBI double before leaving 2 in scoring position. RP Luis Lebron came in to try and finish it for Frederick in the 9th but Ortiz hit a 1-out bases-loaded triple to swing the game abruptly to a Rocks 7-6 lead. The Rocks stranded 2 and Brandon Sisk pitched a perfect 9th for his 7th save. Lebron picked up his 4th blown save and the loss to fall to 2-3 with a 3.00 ERA. Zagone allowed 3 hits and a walk with 5 Ks in his level debut. Stevens and DH David Cash had 2 hits for the Keys.

Blue Rocks 7, Frederick 3 (10, Mon.)

LF Orlando 2-5, 2B (13), RBI (17), 2 K, 2 RS -- .234
CF D. Robinson 2-5, RBI (22), K, RS, SB (36), E (3) -- .239
2B Giavotella 1-4, BB, 3B (6), 2 RBI (28), RS -- .229
C Eigsti 1-4, BB, RBI (20), 2 K, PB (9) -- .221
RF Walton 1-5, 2B (2), RBI (15), K -- .254
1B Seratelli 0-4, SF, RBI (20), 2 K -- .296
3B Moustakas 1-4, BB, 2 K, RS, SB (7) -- .259
DH Ortiz 1-4, 2B (4), K, RS -- .245

R. Hardy 6 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 4 H, 2 BB, 3 K, HRA -- 2.12 ERA
Chavez 2 IP, ER, 4 H, BB, 2 K -- BS, 1, 2.57 ERA
Abreu 2 IP, K -- W, 3-1, 1.65 ERA

*** The Rocks broke it open with a 4-run 10th to pick up the win for Juan Abreu. Ryan Eigsti singled in a run in the 2nd and Johnny Giavotella drove in a run with a groundout in the 3rd to make it 2-0 Rocks. Rowdy Hardy induced a bases-loaded double play to escape the 3rd and Derrick Robinson hit a 2-out RBI single in the 5th to give Wilmington a 3-0 lead. A Robinson error allowed the first Frederick run to score in the 5th and C Caleb Joseph clubbed his 6th homer off Hardy in the 6th to cut it to 3-2. Chris Chavez gave up an RBI triple in the 7th to tie it but got out with a tie before stranding 2 in the 8th. Giavotella started the scoring in the 10th with an RBI triple and scored on an Anthony Seratelli sac fly before Paulo Orlando singled in a run and Jamar Walton doubled home Orlando to make it 7-3. Abreu pitched 2 perfect innings for the win. RP Joe Esposito took the loss with 4 ER allowed over 2 IP to fall to 0-2 with an 11.25 ERA. Starter Zach Britton allowed 3 ER on 6 hits and a walk with 9 Ks over 6 IP to move his ERA to 2.14. LF David Cash was 3-4 with his 1st triple and 11th RBI and a K to move to .242. Joseph was 2-5 with the homer and his 35th RBI to move to .328.

Wilmington is 3-2 and tied with Potomac for first. Game 3 with the Keys is tonight as Alex Caldera (1-6, 6.42) faces O's prospect and Keys righty Pedro Beato (4-5, 4.62). IF Antonio Jimenez got called up from Burlington despite not hitting great there, .219 with a .554 OPS. IF Chase Fontaine is set to follow today.

A - Burlington: Bees 3, Cedar Rapids 2 (Sun.)

3B Fontaine 2-4, 2B (7), RS -- .290, not sure he deserves call, but OK
RF Francis 1-4, RBI (44), 3 K -- .287
SS Jimenez 1-4, 2B (9), RBI (21), K, CS (2), 2 E (12) -- .219, both he and Fontaine have double digit E
LF Griffin 1-3, BB, RBI, 2 K, CS -- .143
DH Hosmer 1-3, BB, 3B (2) -- .248
2B F. Garcia 0-3, BB, 2 K, RS, 2 SB (19) -- .288

Montgomery 5 2/3 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, 7 K, pickoff -- 1.93 ERA
J. Garcia 1 1/3 IP, H, 2 K -- 5.14 ERA
Bowden 2 IP, UER, 2 H, BB, 4 K -- BS, 1, W, 2-2, 2.94 ERA

*** Mike Montgomery's good start resulted in a no-decison as the Kernels tied it in the 8th but the Bees salvaged a win in the 9th. Montgomery struck out the side in the 2nd and Burlington got a 2-out RBI single from Nick Francis in the 3rd to take the lead before stranding 2. Antonio Jimenez doubled in a run in the 4th and Montgomery gave up an RBI single before getting pulled for Justin Garcia in the 6th. Barry Bowden came in to pitch the 8th and loaded the bases with 1 out. Jimenez made a 2-out error to allow the tying run to score to make it 3-3 but Bowden left the bases full. Bowden struck out the side in the 9th and, with 2 out and 2 on in the bottom of the inning, Shawn Griffin picked up his 1st A-ball RBI in style with a walkoff single. RP Nick Pugliese allowed an ER over 1 2/3 IP to fall to 1-1 with a 1.29 ERA. Starter Tyler Chatwood worked 4 IP of 2 ER allowed on 5 hits and 3 walks with 6 Ks to move his ERA to 4.17. Five Kernels had a hit each.

off day Monday

The Bees are 2-2 and a game back of first. A 4-game set at the Quad Cities River Bandits (2-2, A Cardinals) starts tonight with Sam Runion (3-4, 6.03) facing Bandits righty Brett Zawacki (1-3, 5.71). The teams are tied 2-2 in the season series. IF Marc Maddox has joined the Bees' roster, and IF Jason Taylor is on his way back to Burlington after starting at Idaho Falls.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Chukars 8, Orem 3 (Sun.)

SS Batista 3-5, HR (2), 2 RBI (9), K, 3 RS, 2 SB -- .444
DH Alfaro 3-4, HBP, HR, 2 RBI (4), 3 RS, CS -- .500
3B Taylor 1-4, BB, HR (2), 2 RBI (5), RS, SB -- .333
LF Testa 1-3, 2 BB, 2B, RBI (2), K -- .286
C S. Perez 0-4, BB, RBI (3), K -- .267
CF H. Richardson 1-4, RS, SB (2) -- .500

Wooley 2 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, BB, 2 K, HRA -- 9.00 ERA, pro debut
Halliman 4 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 6 K -- W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, one of best outings of career
Lafferty 2 1/3 IP, ER, H, BB, K -- 3.00 ERA
Morgan 2/3 IP, H, BB, K -- 0.00 ERA

*** IF pitchers stranded 14 Owlz and the Chukars did much more with their 10 hits than the Owlz did with theirs. Jason Taylor slammed a 2-run homer in the 1st for his 2nd of the season and the Chukars had a quick 2-0 lead. The problem was Nick Wooley gave up a 2-run homer to 3B Mike Wing (his 1st) to tie the game in the bottom of the inning. Wooley left 2 in scoring position in the 2nd and Deivy Batista gave Idaho Falls the lead again in the 3rd with his 2nd homer of the season to make it 3-2. Pernell Halliman took over in the 3rd and walked the bases loaded to start the 4th, including a walk to Terrell Alliman, so Pernell Halliman pitched to Terrell Alliman. Funny. He got out of the jam somehow and IF kept its 1-run lead. Halliman stranded 2 in the 5th and IF left 2 in scoring position in the 6th. Halliman stranded 2 more in the 6th and the Chukars plated 3 in the 7th on a Batista RBI forceout and bases-loaded walks to Carlo Testa and Salvador Perez that made it 6-2. Brendan Lafferty stranded 2 in the 8th and J.D. Alfaro went long in the 9th for his 1st Chukar homer of the season for a 2-run shot that made it 8-2. Lafferty hit 2 batters in the 9th and was pulled for Ryan Morgan, who walked in a run before closing it out. Starter Stephen Locke took the loss with 3 IP of 3 ER allowed on 5 hits and 4 Ks to fall to 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA. C Braulio Pardo and SS Kevin Ramos had 2 hits each for Orem. Pardo made his 1st 2 errors of the season while Ramos made his 1st.

Chukars 10, Orem 2 (Mon.)

C S. Perez 4-5, 2B, K, 3 RS -- .400
3B Alfaro 3-5, 2 2B (4), 2 RBI (6), K -- .524
2B A. Franco 3-5, HR, 2 RBI (3), 3 RS, SB (2) -- .261
1B Espinosa 1-3, 2 BB, 2 RBI (3), K, RS, CS -- .158
RF Testa 1-5, 2B (2), RBI (3), 2 K, SB -- .250
DH Cooper 0-5, RBI, 2 K, RS -- .100, first pro RBI
SS Batista 1-5, K, RS, SB (3) -- .391
CF H. Richardson 1-5, 3 K -- .429

Paukovits 4 IP, H, 5 BB, 3 K -- 0.00 ERA
Keating 2 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, 2 K, HRA -- W, 2-0, 2.84 ERA
Toribio 1 1/3 IP, BB, K -- 3.38 ERA
Ford IP, K -- 0.00 ERA, season debut

*** Four Chukar pitchers held the Owlz to 4 hits while the offense ran roughshod over Orem en route to the series win. Tito Espinosa singled in a run in the 2nd and IF had a 1-0 lead. Carlo Testa hit an RBI forceout in the 4th to make it 2-0 and J.D. Alfaro doubled in a run in the 5th to stretch it to 3-0. Patrick Keating took over for Bryan Paukovits in the 5th and gave up a 2-run homer to 2B Jean Segura (his 2nd) to cut the lead to 3-2. It was all Chukars thereafter, tho, as Alfaro doubled home another run in the 7th and IF scored 5 in the 8th on a run-scoring Orem error, a Chanse Cooper RBI forceout, a 2-run homer by Angel Franco (his 1st) and another run-scoring error that made it 9-2. Espinosa hit an RBI groundout in the 9th to finish the scoring. Orem SP Tyler Kehrer took the loss with 3 1/3 IP of 2 ER allowed on 6 hits with 6 Ks to fall to 0-1 with a 2.45 ERA. Segura was 3-4 with his homer and 2 RBI (4) along with his 3rd steal to improve to .440.

IF is 5-1 and 1 1/2 games up on first. A 4-day, 5-game set at the Casper Ghosts (1-5, Rookie Rockies) starts tonight with Santiago Garrido (0-0, 5.40) facing Ghosts lefty Jonathan Vargas (0-1, 9.00). The Chukars are 3-0 versus Casper. IF Jason Morales and P Richard Folmer have been added to the Chukars' roster. SS Deivy Batista was named Pioneer League Hitter of the Week for June 22-28 after hitting .444 with 2 triples and 2 HR with 9 RBI in the week.

Rookie - Burlington: Johnson City 4, B-Royals 0 (Sun.)

LF Del Rosario 2-4, K, CS -- .348
2B Espinal 1-4, 2B (2), K -- .400
C Moctezuma 0-2, BB, K, E -- .000
SS Culver 1-2, BB, 3B -- .200

Lamb 4 IP, 4 R (3 ER), 7 H, 2 K, pickoff -- L, 0-1, 4.00 ERA, long awaited pro debut
Odenbach 3 IP, H, 3 BB, 2 K -- 0.00 ERA
Hudnall IP, BB -- 5.40 ERA

*** John Lamb, the Royals '08 5th round draftee, finally made his pro debut and took the loss as the Cards shut out the B-Royals. Johnson City scored a run on 3 hits off Lamb in the 2nd before stranding 2, then after the Royals stranded 2 in the 3rd, got 2 runs on an RBI triple and sac fly to make it 3-0. The Cards pushed across another run in the 4th and the Royals would squander two triples down the stretch as the Cards sat down the last 8 in order to finish it. Cards SP Reynier Gonzalez worked 5 innings of 4 hits and a walk with 4 Ks to move to 1-1 with a 7.11 ERA. Three Cards had 2 hits as RF Edgar Lara was 2-4 with 2 doubles (4), a RS and an OF assist at third to improve to .471.

B-Royals 8, Bluefield 5 (Mon.)

SS Espinal 3-5, RS, SB (3) -- .433
LF Del Rosario 2-5, 2 RBI (3), 2 RS -- .357
C T. Jones 1-3, SF, 2B (4), 2 RBI (3), K, E -- .250
3B Kuebler 1-2, 2 HBP, 2B, RBI, K, 2 E (3), picked off -- .200
CF G. Beltre 0-3, S, SF, RBI (2), K, RS -- .130
RF MacDougall 1-4, BB, 2 RS, E (3) -- .250
2B R. Wood 1-3, 2 BB, K, 2 RS -- .125

Billo 4 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 4 H, BB, 3 K, pickoff -- 2.35 ERA
D. De La Cruz 3 IP, UER, H, K, E (2) -- W, 1-0, 2.45 ERA
Kelley IP, UER, H -- 0.00 ERA
B. Richardson IP, H -- SV, 2, 4.50 ERA

*** A 5-run 7th keyed a B-Royals win in the opener with the Babybirds (O's). Geulin Beltre gave Burlington the lead with a sac fly in the 1st. Bluefield responded with 3 runs in the 3rd on 3 hits and a Jake Kuebler error to take the lead off Greg Billo. The Royals tightened it with a run-scoring wild pitch in the 4th but stranded 2. Deybi De La Cruz gave the run back in the 5th thanks to his own error and Bluefield led, 4-2. Travis Jones doubled home a run in the 6th but the Royals stranded 2 once more. In the 7th, the Royals loaded the bases with none out and a wild pitch scored the first run, followed by a 2-run Luis Del Rosario single, a Jones sac fly and Kuebler RBI double to make it 8-4 B-Royals. A dropped foul pop error on Jones led to a Bluefield run off Scott Kelley in the 8th and Brett Richardson pitched a solid 9th for his 2nd save. RP Robert Holloway blew his first save and took the loss with 6 ER allowed in an inning of work to fall to 0-1 with a 54.00 ERA. Starter Vito Frabizio worked 5 IP of 2 unearned runs allowed on 4 hits and a walk with 4 Ks to keep a 0.00 ERA. SS Javier Santana was 2-3 with a double and 2 RS to move to .158. 2B Omar Casamayor drove in 2 runs (4) and scored twice in improving to .250 with a 1-3 night.

Burlington is 3-4 and 2 games back. Game 2 versus the Bluefield Orioles (3-4) is tonight with Carlos Fortuna (0-0, 4.50) facing O's righty Robert Bundy (0-1, 4.50). Bluefield's roster features Orioles '09 draftees 19th rounder OF Kipp Schutz and others.

Rookie - AZL: Padres 7, Royals 2 (Sun.)

2B Maddox 2-4, 2 2B, RBI, RS, SB -- .300
DH A. Gordon 1-3, BB, 2 K -- .400
3B Figueroa 1-4, RBI (6) -- .333
CF Llanos 0-3, K, E -- .296
PH-CF A. Howard 0-1, K -- .000, pro debut
1B G. Baldwin 1-4, K -- .240

L. Ortega 6 IP, 4 ER, 9 H, K, WP -- L, 0-1, 8.38 ERA
G. Batista 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, BB -- 7.71 ERA
Adams 2 2/3 IP, 2 H, 3 K -- 0.00 ERA

*** The Padres took an early 4-0 lead and made it stand. Starter Luis Ortega allowed 2 runs in both of the first 2 innings and the Royals got an RBI double from Marc Maddox in the 3rd before stranding 2. Yunior Figueroa pulled the Royals a run closer in the 6th with an RBI groundout but Geronimo Batista and Jack Adams got battered for 3 runs, all credited to Batista, in the 7th as the Pads socked it away. The Royals stranded 2 in both the 8th and 9th. Starter Jonathan Berger worked 5 innings of 1 ER allowed on 4 hits with 4 Ks to move to 1-1 for the Padres with a 3.00 ERA. Six Padres had multi-hit games. CF Rymer Liriano had 3 hits and 2 RBI (6) along with his 1st SB to improve to .320. SS Jonathan Galvez was 3-3 with a walk, HBP, his 4th RBI and 5th SB to move to .421.

Mariners 9, Royals 5 (Mon.)

RF Mariano 2-4, K, RS, E -- .333
CF Polonia 1-3, 3B, 3 RBI (4), K, RS -- .273
SS A. Martinez 0-4, RBI -- .069
3B A. Gordon 0-2, K -- .286
2B Maddox 0-3, BB, K -- .231
DH Stovall 0-4, 2 K -- .300
PH-1B G. Baldwin 1-2, RS -- .259
LF Howard 0-2, K -- .000, first pro start

Sample 2 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 2 H, 2 BB, 4 K, E -- L, 0-1, 6.75 ERA
Castaneda IP, 2 K -- 0.00 ERA, season debut
L. Santiago 3 1/3 IP, 4 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 5 K -- 6.75 ERA
Yambati 1 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 2 K, HRA, 3 WP -- 16.20 ERA, season debut

*** The Royals were down by 8 when they got on the board late and what they got wasn't enough. Tyler Sample allowed 2 runs in the 1st but the two teams retired 24 in a row at one point into the M's 6th, when they scored 2 runs off Leonel Santiago to make it 4-0. Marc Maddox broke up an M's perfect game bid with a 2-out walk in the 7th and the M's scored 4 in the 7th off Santiago and Robinson Yambati to make it 8-0. The Royals loaded the bases with none out in the 8th and Juan Polonia ripped a 3-run triple to right to break up the shutout. Adrian Martinez added an RBI groundout and the Royals got another run on a Mariners error to cut it to 8-5. The Mariners got a run back in the 8th and the Royals didn't threaten in their half of the 9th. RP Anthony Fernandez allowed only a walk with 7 Ks over 6 IP to improve to 1-0 with a 0.82 ERA. Starter Shawn Kelley pitched a hitless 1st. DH Evan Sharpley was 2-3 with a walk, his 1st triple and 1st homer with 4 RBI (6) along with 2 RS with a steal to move to .389.

The Royals are 4-4 and 2 games back. They have today off.

Royals on the Farm 6/27

Bruce Chen didn't pitch awfully his first start. It wasn't a Picasso, but it wasn't a stick figure drawing, either. You don't expect Nyjer Morgan to take you deep, and it would be nice to get more than 2 runs of support out of the offense. The Royals are assured their first losing interleague record since the horrible, horrible days of 2004. As much as I want to see several moves made, I wonder if they ever will be.

AAA - Omaha: Albuquerque 4, O-Royals 2

CF Raines 2-4, 2B (2), RBI -- .149, finally gets first RBI with organization
SS Lisson 2-3, BB, 2 2B (4), RS, SB (2) -- .222
1B Ka'aihue 1-4, HR (12), RBI (33), K, RS -- .272

M. Wright 5 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 3 K -- L, 0-5, 7.12 ERA
Marte 2 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, BB, 2 K -- 4.30 ERA
Yabuta 2 IP, 6 K -- 4.37 ERA, wow

*** The Isotopes came up with 4 runs despite only 5 hits and Omaha couldn't keep pace in the series opener. Matt Wright gave up 2 2-out RBI hits in the 2nd and Omaha stranded 2 in the 3rd. The Royals left the bases full in the 4th and Victor Marte allowed 2 runs in the 6th to make it 4-0 Isotopes. Kila Ka'aihue led off the Omaha 6th with his 12th homer of the season and Tim Raines Jr. hit a 2-out RBI double to cut the lead in half. Yasuhiko Yabuta pitched 2 perfect innings with 6 Ks for his biggest night as an O-Royal and Omaha went down in order in the 9th as RP Scott Strickland got his 14th save. Starter Stephen Randolph allowed only 4 hits and 3 walks with 2 Ks over 5 IP to win and move to 4-2 with a 5.10 ERA. DH Juan "Not Juan Gone" Gonzalez was 2-4 with his 3rd double and 6th RBI to move to .222. 1B Sergio "Not the Golfer" Garcia was 1-2 with a walk, 2 RBI (7) and his 1st SB to move to .221.

The O-Royals are 28-47. Game 2 is today as Heath Phillips (3-7, 6.81) faces Isotopes righty Giancarlo Alvarado (5-3, 3.10).

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 4, Arkansas 3 (10)

SS Bianchi 5-5, 2B (5), walkoff HR, 3 RBI (7), RS, picked off -- .559, what a night other than pickoff
DH C. Smith 2-5, K, RS -- .247
CF Dyson 1-5, 2 K, SB (3) -- .400
3B Mertins 1-5, RBI (33), 2 K, SB (6) -- .294
LF Duarte 1-4, RS, SB (11) -- .237
RF Strait 1-4, K, OF assist at home -- .283

Cortes 5 IP, 5 H, 4 BB, 3 K, WP -- 4.00 ERA, 100 pitches, only 53 strikes
Swaggerty 2 1/3 IP, ER, 4 H, BB, 3 K -- 2.08 ERA
Nicoll 1 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 3 BB -- BS, 2, 4.54 ERA
Sencion 1 1/3 IP, H, 2 K -- W, 2-1, 5.72 ERA

*** The Naturals coughed up a 2-run lead in the 9th but Jeff Bianchi saved the day by capping off a nice night at bat. Bianchi started the scoring with a 2-out, 2-run double in the 1st and the Naturals stranded 2 in the 2nd. Cody Strait gunned down a runner at the plate in the 4th and Dan Cortes stranded 2. He stranded 2 more in the 5th before getting pulled after 100 pitches. Ben Swaggerty loaded the bases with none out in the 7th and allowed 1 run to score before escaping the jam. Jose Duarte hit a 2-out single in the 7th, stole second and scored on a Kurt Mertins single to make it 3-1 NWA before the Naturals left the bases full. Chris Nicoll came in to strand 2 in the 8th but gave up a 2-run triple to C Hank Conger in the 9th to tie the game. Carlos Sencion came in to strand 2 and, with 2 out in the NWA 10th, Bianchi smoked his 1st AA homer to left center off RP Marco Albano to end it. Albano worked 1 2/3 IP and dropped to 1-2 with a 4.55 ERA. Starter Trevor Reckling went 6 1/3 IP of 2 ER allowed on 8 hits and a walk with 4 Ks to move his ERA to 2.55. 1B Mark Trumbo and LF Coby Smith had 3 hits for Arkansas and Smith stole his 29th base. Conger was 2-5 with his 1st triple and 2 RBI (30)

The Naturals are 2-1 and 1/2 a game back. Game 3 is today as Anthony Lerew (4-4, 5.21) faces Travelers lefty Barret Browning (0-6, 4.08). Starters Blake Wood and Blake Johnson are getting some extra rest in before the all-star break. OF David Lough has been added to the Naturals' roster, but no accompanying move has been made.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Potomac 5, Blue Rocks 2

LF Orlando 2-3, S, 2B (12), 2 RS -- .229
1B-SS Seratelli 1-3, BB, 2B (9), RBI (19) -- .308
RF Walton 1-3, BB, RBI (14) -- .256
3B Moustakas 0-2, 2 K -- .265, left or pulled in 5th, story says ejected but not in box score
2B Giavotella 1-4, BB, E (13) -- .224
1B C. Robinson 0-3, K -- .288
DH Lough 1-4, K -- .320
* The Blue Rocks stranded 10.

Santiago 5 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 6 H, 4 K -- L, 3-8, 4.16 ERA
Rivas 1 2/3 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 2 H, BB, 3 K, WP, balk -- 6.90 ERA
Z. Peterson 1 1/3 IP, 2 H, 2 K -- 1.93 ERA
Liotta IP, H, K -- 4.43 ERA

*** Three Rocks errors helped lead to 2 unearned runs as the P-Nats won 2 of 3 in the series. The Rocks stranded 2 in the 2nd and Mario Santiago gave up 2 runs in the 3rd on 3 hits to give Potomac a 2-0 lead. Anthony Seratelli doubled home a run with 2 outs in the 4th to cut the lead in half but Mike Moustakas struck out for the 2nd time in the game that inning and didn't come out to his position for the 5th. The box score doesn't mention an ejection but the game story does. Two Rocks errors helped the Nationals score a run in the 5th and the Rocks stranded the bases full in the bottom of the frame. Jamar Walton singled in a run in the 6th but Wilmington stranded 2. Potomac put it away in the 7th with 2 runs on a run-scoring Carlos Rivas wild pitch and Zach Peterson gave up a 2-out, bases-loaded RBI single to the first batter he faced before stranding the bases full. Derrick Robinson struck out for the third out in the 9th but got to first on a wild pitch on the play. Johnny Giavotella singled to bring the tying run to the plate but Clint Robinson struck out to end it as RP Atahualpa Severino picked up his 10th save. Starter Terrence Engles allowed 2 ER on 5 hits and 4 walks with 4 Ks to pick up the win and move to 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA. DH Sean Rooney was 3-5 with his 2nd SB, 2 RBI (31) and a K to move to .302 and C Brian Peacock and LF Dan Nelson had 2 hits each. 2B Stephen King stole 2 bases (10) and scored 3 runs and RF Michael Burgess was 1-4 with his 38th RBI and a K to move to .232.

The Blue Rocks are 1-2. A 4-game set at the Frederick Keys (2-1, A-Adv. O's) starts tonight. Eduardo Paulino (3-4, 4.45) starts versus Keys lefty and former Mizzou pitcher Richard Zagone in his A-Advanced debut. The Rocks are 3-3 versus the Keys this season.

A - Burlington: Cedar Rapids 3, Bees 2

3B Jimenez 1-3, 3B (4), RBI (20), RS -- .219
SS Rivera 1-3, RBI (4) -- .229
LF Griffin 0-4 -- .000, A-ball debut
DH Hosmer 0-4, 2 K -- .247
RF Francis 0-4, K -- .288
CF Norris 0-3, 2 K, OF assist at home -- .242

Casey 3 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 4 BB, 2 K, HRA -- L, 4-7, 3.67 ERA, left with reported injury, nothing in team site story
B. Hardy 3 1/3 IP, ER, 5 H, 2 K -- 2.75 ERA
R. Pena IP, 2 BB, K, WP -- 4.76 ERA
Thompson IP, K -- 2.34 ERA

*** The Bees scraped out only 4 hits and 2 late runs as Cedar Rapids earned at least a split of the set. Bryan Casey gave up a 2-out solo homer to RF Roberto Lopez (his 7th) in the 1st and, after a walk, 1B Gabe Jacobo doubled in a run to make it 2-0 Kernels. Casey left the bases full in the 2nd but the Kernels added a run off Blaine Hardy in the 5th. Antonio Jimenez hit an RBI triple in the 8th to get the Bees on the board and scored on a Juan Rivera groundout to cut the lead to 1 but RP Michael Kohn struck out the side in the 9th for his 6th save. Starter Manuel Flores went 8 IP of 2 ER on 4 hits and a walk with 4 Ks to improve to 4-3 with a 3.40 ERA. Three Kernels had 2 hits. Jacobo hit 2 doubles (11) and drove in his 39th run to move to .234 and Lopez drove in his 39th run and scored twice to move to .253.

The Bees are 1-2. The series is ending this afternoon with Mike Montgomery (1-1, 1.99) facing Kernels righty Tyler Chatwood (3-4, 4.14).

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Orem 8, Chukars 7

2B D. Batista 2-5, 3B (2), HR, 5 RBI (7), 2 RS -- .385
SS Alfaro 2-4, BB, 2B (2), RBI (2), SB (2) -- .417
1B Espinosa 2-4, 2B, RS -- .167
CF H. Richardson 2-4, K, RS, OF assist at first -- .583
3B Taylor 1-5, HR, RBI (3), K, RS -- .353
DH S. Perez 0-5 -- .364
C Theriot 0-3, BB, K, RS, PB, E -- .000

Hodgson 4 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 BB -- 4.50 ERA
Hodge 1 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, BB -- 13.50 ERA, season debut
Toribio 1 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 BB -- 4.50 ERA
Keating IP, H, BB, 2 K, WP -- 0.00 ERA
C. White IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 2 K -- BS, 1, L, 0-1, 9.00 ERA

*** The Chukars blew a 1-run lead in the 9th to take their first loss of the season. The Chukars stranded 2 in the 1st but got a 2-run homer from Deivy Batista (his 1st) in the 3rd to take the lead. The Chukars loaded the bases with none out in the 4th and got a 1-out, 3-run triple from Batista to make it 5-0. J.D. Alfaro followed with an RBI single to make it 6-0. Two walks, a triple and passed ball in the 4th gave Orem 2 runs to cut it to 6-2. Mitch Hodge loaded the bases with 1 out in the 6th and Aneidy Toribio allowed 2 runners to come in to cut it to 6-4. Jason Taylor led off the 7th with his 1st homer of the season but Orem scored 2 more runs on 3 hits, a walk, and wild pitch off Toribio and Patrick Keating in the bottom of the inning to trim it to 7-6. Cole White came in and left the bases loaded in the 8th and, with 2 out and 1 on in the 9th, a walk was followed by a 2-run walkoff double from DH Justin Bass to end it. RP Yeison Almeida worked 2 scoreless innings for the win to move to 1-0 with a perfect ERA. Starter Patrick Corbin allowed 2 ER on 4 hits with a K over 3 IP to set a 6.00 ERA. 3B Mike Wing was 3-3 with his 1st error, 2 BB and 2 RS to move to .438, and 3 other Owlz had 2 hits. Bass was 2-5 with his 1st double and 3 RBI to move to .273 and CF Dan Eichelberger drove in 2 runs (3).

IF is 3-1. Game 2 is today as Nick Wooley makes his pro debut versus Owlz lefty Stephen Locke (1-0, 1.80).

Rookie - Burlington: B-Royals 6, Johnson City 3

RF V. Soto 2-3, S, 3B, HR, 2 RBI, RS -- .500
1B D. Cruz 2-3, SF, 2 2B, RBI, RS -- .400
CF MacDougall 2-5, 2B (2), RBI (2), RS, SB -- .250
2B Espinal 1-5, RBI (2), 2 K, CS (2), 2 E (4) -- .429
SS R. Wood 0-4, 2 K -- .095
C F. Cruz 1-4, 2B (2), RS, PB -- .250
DH Molina 1-2, BB, S, 2B, K, 2 RS -- .500

Hayenga 6 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 6 H, 4 K, WP -- W, 1-0, 1.50 ERA, season debut
Hentges 3 IP, ER, 3 H, 2 K -- SV, 1, 3.00 ERA

*** Keaton Hayenga made a nice start and the B-Royals got past Johnson City to even the series. Hayenga threw a run-scoring wild pitch in the 1st but Gabe MacDougall hit an RBI double in the 3rd and Yowill Espinal singled him home to make it 2-1 Royals. Diego Cruz hit a sac fly in the 4th to make it 3-1. Hayenga left 2 in scoring position in the 4th but 2 doubles scored a Cardinals run in the 5th to trim the lead to 1. Hayenga stranded 2 more in the 6th and Victor Soto gave the Royals some breathing room with a 2-run homer in the 7th to make it 5-2. Chase Hentges allowed a run on 2 hits in the 8th but Diego Cruz doubled and scored on an error in the 9th and Hentges pitched a perfect 9th for the save. Cards SP Randy Santos went 4 IP of 3 ER allowed on 6 hits and a walk with 4 Ks to drop to 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA. 2B Luis Mateo and LF Rainel Rosario had 2 hits for Johnson City.

The B-Royals are 2-3 and 2 games back. The set ends tonight with no announced starters on the team site.

Rookie - AZL: Royals 13, Dodgers 7

DH Stovall 2-5, HR, 3 RBI (9), 2 K, 2 RS -- .346, first pro homer
RF S. Cabrera 2-5, 2B, 3 RBI (4), 3 RS -- .158
3B Figueroa 2-5, RBI (5), K, 2 RS -- .348
CF Llanos 1-4, BB, SF, RBI (5), 2 K, SB (3) -- .333
1B G. Baldwin 2-4, BB, K, 2 RS -- .238
C E. Escobar 1-1, RBI (2), RS -- .444
LF Polonia 1-3, BB, HBP, RBI, K, RS, SB (2) -- .267
2B Maddox 0-3, BB, RS, E -- .167

Amador 5 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 7 H, BB, 4 K, WP -- 10.00 ERA
E. Diaz 1 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, 2 K, WP -- 6.75 ERA
S. De La Rosa 2 1/3 IP, 6 K -- W, 1-0, 1.69 ERA, very nice

*** The Royals came back from a 7-0 deficit with 13 runs in the last 3 innings to win. The game was scoreless until the Dodgers got to Ezequiel Amador for 2 runs in the 4th on 3 hits and a hit batsman with 2 outs. The Royals left the bases full in the 5th and the Dodgers struck for 3 runs that inning on 3 hits, a walk, wild pitch and Marc Maddox error to make it 5-0 Dodgers. Eric Diaz stranded 2 in the 6th and the Royals finally got to work in the 7th. Santos Cabrera broke the ice with a 2-run double, Juan Polonia hit an RBI single, Yunior Figueroa singled home a run and Ryan Stovall went long for the 1st time as a pro to make it 7-5 Royals. Diaz allowed 2 runs in the 7th to tie the game at 7 but Cabrera scored on a wild pitch in the 8th to give the lead back to the Royals. The Royals got an Edul Escobar RBI single before loading the bases with 0 out in the 9th and a 2-run error was followed by another run-scoring error and Alex Llanos sac fly to make it 13-7. Starling De La Rosa struck out the first 5 he faced, then got another K to finish the game. RP Marlon Urriola allowed 5 runs (3 ER) over an inning of work to drop to 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA. Starter Carl Webster pitched 5 scoreless innings of 2 hits with 6 Ks to drop his ERA to 2.00. RF Travis Vetters was 3-5 with a double, RBI and 2 RS to set a .600 BA. 3B Johan Garcia was 2-4 with 2 SB (4), 2 RBI (4) and 2 RS to move to .364 and 1B Ryan Arp drove in 2 runs and had 2 errors in the loss.

The Royals are 4-2 and 1/2 a game back. They play the 0-5 Padres tonight.

Royals on the Farm 6/26

AAA - Omaha: Memphis 2, O-Royals 1

RF Aldridge 1-2, HR (10), RBI (40), RS -- .297, left in 5th
C House 1-4, 2B (12) -- .278
DH Buck 0-4 -- .143
1B Ka'aihue 0-3, K -- .272
SS Lisson 0-3 -- .210

Ponson 5 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 4 K -- L, 0-1, 3.00 ERA
Duckworth 2 IP, BB -- 4.64 ERA
Atencio 1/3 IP, 2 BB, K, WP -- 6.27 ERA
Hughes 2/3 IP, nothing -- 4.54 ERA

*** Omaha managed only 4 hits as Memphis took 3 of 4 in the set to firm up Omaha's hold on the division cellar. Cory Aldridge hit a 2-out solo homer in the 2nd for his 10th of the season for Omaha's only run. Two doubles scored a Redbirds run off Sidney Ponson in the 2nd and Ponson stranded 2 in the 3rd. Two hits plated a run to give the Redbirds a 2-1 lead in the 4th and Memphis SP Evan MacLane retired 15 of the last 17 he faced. Brandon Duckworth stranded 2 in the 6th and the last 4 Royals went down in order as RP Jess Todd picked up his 15th save. MacLane got the win with 7 2/3 IP of an ER allowed on 4 hits and a K to move to 3-7 with a 3.78 ERA. CF Shane Robinson and DH Mark Shorey both had 2 hits for Memphis. Shorey had a walk, his 7th double and 2 RBI (14) to move to .318. 3B Brett Wallace was 1-3 with his 6th double, a K and RS to move to .269.

The O-Royals are 28-46. A 4-game home set with the Albuquerque Isotopes (38-36, AAA Dodgers) starts tonight with Matt Wright (0-4, 7.67) facing Isotopes lefty Stephen Randolph (3-2, 5.79). Omaha is 6-6 versus Albuquerque. With Kyle Farnsworth hitting the DL for a while with a torn groin, lefty Bruce Chen got the call to make the Saturday start versus the Pirates. Hope he does well. Sidney Ponson tested positive for a banned stimulant at the WBC, but won't be suspended by MLB. Rotoworld is surmising that's why Chen is getting a shot over him. I say Chen earned his chance. We've seen what Ponson brings to the table.

AA - NW Arkansas: Arkansas 7, Naturals 4 (10)

DH Mertins 2-5, 2B (16), RBI (32), RS -- .296
SS Bianchi 2-3, BB, K, SB -- .483
CF Dyson 2-5, RS, picked off -- .500
1B C. Smith 1-4, 2B (12), RBI (49), 2 K -- .245
3B Lucas 0-5, RBI (22), K -- .277
LF Duarte 0-4, RBI (15), 2 K, RS -- .237

Kniginyzky 7 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, BB, 4 K, HRA, WP -- 6.18 ERA
de la Vara 1 2/3 IP, BB, K -- 5.06 ERA
Hartsock 1 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, BB, K, HRA -- L, 0-1, 5.51 ERA

*** Travelers SP Jordan Walden had a good start but the Naturals came back from a 4-0 hole in a big way in the 8th only to lose in 10. Matt Kniginyzky had another middling start as he served up a 2-run homer to RF Val Majewski (his 3rd) in the 1st to put NWA in an early 2-0 deficit. Walden faced one over the minimum through 6 innings. Kniginyzky also settled down through 6 but gave up 2 runs on 2 hits and a wild pitch in the 7th to make it 4-0 Travelers. The Naturals stranded runners at the corners in the 7th but had runners at the corners with none out in the 8th to chase Walden for RP Bobby Cassevah. Jose Duarte followed with an RBI forceout and Kurt Mertins singled home a run to cut it to 4-2. Ed Lucas hit an RBI groundout and Corey Smith came through with a clutch 2-out RBI double to tie the game. The Nats would strand 2, tho, and Arkansas would do the same in the 9th. With 2 out in the 10th, Aaron Hartsock allowed 2 singles then served up Majewski's 4th homer of the season and 2nd of the game to give the Travs a 7-4 lead. RP Robert Mosebach finished his second perfect inning of work for the win to move to 2-0 with a 0.34 ERA. Walden was credited with 2 ER allowed on 6 hits with 6 Ks over 7 IP to move his ERA to 3.91. Majewski was 2-5 with the homers and 5 RBI (13) along with a K and 2 RS to move to .243. C Hank Conger also had 2 hits and 2 RS to move to .278.

NWA is 1-1. Game 2 with the Travs is tonight as Dan Cortes (5-6, 4.28) and young Arkansas lefty Trevor Reckling (4-2, 2.52) face off once more. The Naturals have dealt Reckling both of his losses in AA. The Nats are 10-7 versus Arkansas in this year's Diamond Series.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 8, Potomac 7

CF D. Robinson 3-4, 3B, 2 RS -- .240
3B Moustakas 2-2, BB, SF, 2B (16), RBI (43), 3 RS, SB (6) -- .267
2B Giavotella 2-4, 2B (9), RBI (25), K, 2 RS, SB (10) -- .223
PR-1B Seratelli 1-3, 2 RBI (18), RS, E (9) -- .307
SS J. Johnson 1-4, RBI (3), K -- .300
1B C. Robinson HBP, left game in 1st with hand/wrist injury
RF Lough 0-4, OF assist at home -- .321

Duffy 3 1/3 IP, 6 ER, 8 H, 2 BB, 3 K -- 3.43 ERA, rare poor outing from Danny
Villa 3 IP, 4 H, BB, K -- W, 2-4, 3.51 ERA
Sisk 1 2/3 IP, 2 H, 2 K -- 2.70 ERA
Abreu IP, UER, BB, 2 K, balk, E -- SV, 8, 1.88 ERA

*** A seesaw game swung to Wilmington's advantage in the middle innings and the Rocks held on for the win. Danny Duffy got battered by the Nationals for a 3-run 1st on 4 hits and a walk before he stranded 2. Derrick Robinson led off the Rocks 1st with a triple and scored on a Mike Moustakas sac fly to cut the lead to 3-1. Clint Robinson was hit by a pitch on his forearm in the next AB and had to leave the game. Afterwards, he said it was a bruise and he wouldn't miss much, if any, time. Duffy stranded 2 in the 2nd and Wilmington took the lead with a 4-run 3rd on a Johnny Giavotella RBI double, Anthony Seratelli RBI single, run-scoring balk and Josh Johnson RBI single, although Johnson was thrown out trying to get to second on the play to end the inning. Duffy gave up a 2-run single before getting pulled in the 4th and Kelvin Villa allowed one inherited runner to score to make it 6-5 Potomac before he escaped the jam. Wilmington answered in the 5th with 2 runs on a run-scoring Nationals error and wild pitch that scored Moustakas to make it 7-6 Blue Rocks. Wilmington stranded 2 in the 6th and Brandon Sisk came in with 1 out and 2 on in the 7th and got a big OF assist from David Lough at the plate to keep the lead intact before leaving 2 in scoring position. Moustakas doubled and scored on another wild pitch in the 7th. Juan Abreu balked in a run in the 9th but closed the door for his 8th save. Potomac SP Tom Milone took the loss with 4 1/3 IP of 7 runs (6 ER) allowed on 7 hits, a walk and 3 Ks to fall to 3-3 with a 4.04 ERA. Six Nationals had 2 hits, including RF Michael Burgess, who was 2-3 with 2 BB and 2 RS and was caught stealing for a 5th time to move to .232. C Sean Rooney and 3B Stephen King had 2 RBI for Potomac. King also stole his 8th base.

Wilmington is 1-1. The series ends tonight as Mario Santiago (3-7, 4.20) faces Potomac righty Terrence Engles (0-2, 4.80).

A - Burlington: Cedar Rapids 10, Bees 2

RF Francis 2-4, 2B (15), RBI (43), K -- .293
CF Norris 0-2, SF, RBI (12) -- .246
2B F. Garcia 1-4, 2B (6), K, RS -- .300
LF Van Stratten 0-3, BB -- .325
DH Hosmer 0-3, BB, K -- .251

Lehmann 5 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, BB, 4 K, HRA, WP -- L, 2-3, 4.72 ERA
Baez 2 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, K -- 3.97 ERA
Basurto IP, H, BB, K -- 0.00 ERA, Bees debut
Bowden 2/3 IP, 4 ER, H, 3 BB, 2 WP -- 3.13 ERA
J. Garcia 1/3 IP, K -- 5.35 ERA

*** The Kernels scored 7 late runs to rout the Bees. The Kernels got to Mike Lehmann off the bat in the 1st with a run on 2 hits. Nick Francis hit a 2-out RBI single to tie it in the Bees 1st but Cedar Rapids scored again in the 2nd on RF Angel Castillo's 7th homer of the season. The Kernels scored again in the 3rd on a walk and hit to make it 3-1. As Kernels SP Will Smith held the Bees in check, the Kernels added 3 runs off Manauris Baez in the 7th on 4 hits and a sac fly. Patrick Norris hit a sac fly in the 7th to end the Bees' scoring drought but Barry Bowden allowed 4 runs in the 9th to help CR put it away. Smith got the win with 7 IP of 2 ER allowed on 6 hits and 2 walks with 2 Ks to move to 5-3 with a 3.58 ERA. CF Tyson Auer was 2-3 with his 1st error, a walk, 3 RBI (25) and 3 RS along with his 27th SB to move to .303, 1B Gabe Jacobo was 2-4 with his 9th double and K to move to .227, and DH Roberto Lopez drove in 3 runs (38). C Anel De Los Santos also drove in 2.

The Bees are 1-1. Game 3 is tonight as Bryan Casey (4-6, 3.59) faces Kernels lefty Manuel Flores (3-3, 3.52).

Rookie - Idaho Falls: rainout

IF is 3-0. The game will be made up in a July 1 doubleheader. A 3-game set at the Orem Owlz (3-1, Rookie Halos) starts tonight with Nick Wooley making his pro debut versus Orem lefty Patrick Corbin. The Owlz roster features Angels '09 draftees supplemental 1st round lefty Tyler Kehrer, 2nd round lefty Corbin, 7th round SS Jon Karcich, 9th round righty David Carpenter, 11th round IF Dillon Baird and others....

Rookie - Burlington: Johnson City 4, B-Royals 0

SS Espinal 2-4, 3B (2), K, picked off, E (2) -- .500
LF Del Rosario 2-3, SB -- .333
RF MacDougall 0-4, K -- .200
2B R. Wood 0-3 -- .118
C F. Cruz 0-3, K -- .250, no SB against

L. Perez 5 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 4 K, HRA -- L, 0-1, 3.60 ERA
Dennick 3 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 4 K, HRA, WP, pickoff -- 6.00 ERA, pro debut

*** The Cardinals got a 5-hit shutout from 3 pitchers to deal Burlington another loss. Leondy Perez gave up a solo homer to RF Edgar Lara (his 2nd) in the 3rd and the Royals wasted a leadoff triple by Yowill Espinal in the 4th. Three hits scored another Cards run in the 4th before Perez stranded 2, and he left the bases full in the 5th. Fernando Cruz was thrown out at the plate in the 8th and Ryan Dennick gave up a 2-run homer to DH Romulo Ruiz (his 3rd) in the 9th as Johnson City polished off the win. Starter Anthony Ferrara worked 5 innings of 3 hits and 4 Ks to improve to 1-0 with a spotless ERA. Four Cards had 2 hits and Ruiz had 2 RBI (7).

The B-Royals are 1-3 and 3 games back. Game 2 is tonight with no announced starters on the team site.

Rookie - AZL: Royals 5, Mariners 2

C E. Escobar 2-4, K, RS -- .375
DH A. Gordon 1-2, BB, SF, HR, 3 RBI, RS, picked off -- .500, rehabbing
CF Llanos 1-3, BB, RBI (4), K, RS, OF assist at home -- .350
2B Maddox 1-3, K, RS -- .333, also rehabbing
3B Stovall 0-3, BB, 2 K -- .333
1B G. Baldwin 1-4, 2B, RBI (3), 2 K -- .176

Sample 2 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, K -- 9.00 ERA
Avinazar 6 IP, 2 H, 5 K, WP -- W, 1-0, 3.72 ERA
L. Roberts IP, 2 K -- SV, 1, 0.00 ERA

*** The Royals battled back for the win. Tyler Sample gave up 2 runs in the 1st on 4 hits, although CF Alex Llanos gunned down a runner at the plate in the inning. Alex Gordon went long in his first rehab AB (a good sign) for a 2-run game-tying shot and Geoff Baldwin doubled in a run to give the Royals a 3-2 lead. The Royals rallied for another run with 2 out in the 4th as two singles set up a Llanos RBI single to extend the lead to 2 but they left 2 in scoring position. Gordon hit a sac fly in the 7th to make it 5-2 and Willian Avinazar, who had taken over for Sample in the 3rd, retired the last 12 he faced. Lee Roberts pitched a perfect 9th for his 1st save. M's SP Miguel Celestino took the loss with 4 ER allowed on 7 hits and 2 walks with 3 Ks to drop to 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA. LF Mark McGonigle was 2-4 with 2 doubles and a run scored to move to .400.

The Royals are 3-2 and a game back. They play the 3-2 Dodgers tonight.

Royals on the Farm 6/25

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 7, Memphis 0 (4-hitter)

SS Falu 3-5, 3 RBI (23), K, RS -- .261
2B Murphy 3-4, 2B (10), K, 2 RS -- .238
1B Ka'aihue 2-5, HR (11), RBI (32), RS -- .276
3B Lisson 2-4, HR (7), RBI (11), RS -- .216, hits HR in short bursts at a time
RF Aldridge 2-3, HBP, RS -- .295
DH House 0-5, RBI (27), 2 K -- .278
C Buck 1-3, RBI, K -- rehab starts
C Suomi 0-2 -- .000, '09 AAA debut

Davies 8 IP, 3 H, BB, 8 K -- W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, announcing presence with authority
Hughes IP, H, K -- 4.64 ERA

*** Kyle Davies proved more than ready for AAA competition and Omaha shut down the Redbirds. A Kila Ka'aihue leadoff homer (his 11th) sparked a 5-run 2nd as Irving Falu hit a 2-run single, J.R. House hit an RBI groundout and John Buck hit an RBI single in his second rehab AB. Omaha stranded 2 but Mario Lisson went long for his 7th at AAA this season in the 3rd to make it 6-0. Omaha left the bases loaded in the 5th and Davies lost an early no-hit bid that inning as well. Falu hit an RBI single in the 8th to make it 7-0 and the Redbirds never threatened. SP P.J. Walters took the loss with 6 ER allowed on 11 hits with 6 Ks over 4 2/3 IP to fall to 2-6 with a 5.06 ERA. Four 'Birds had a hit each. Top prospect 3B Brett Wallace was 1-3 with 2 K to move to .268.

The O-Royals are 28-45. The series and lengthy roadtrip end tonight as Sidney Ponson (0-0, 2.57) faces Memphis lefty Evan MacLane (2-7, 4.04). No announcement yet of any roster move for Davies' rotation slot.

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 5, Tulsa 1

CF Dyson 3-5, RBI, 2 SB -- .600, nice AA debut
SS McConnell 2-4, 2B (7), RBI (11), K, RS, E (5) -- .220
RF Strait 2-3, S, RBI (23) -- .288
DH Bianchi 2-5, K, RS -- .462
C V. Wilson 2-3, HBP, 2B (3), 2 RS -- .524
LF Duarte 1-4, RBI (14) -- .242
2B Mertins 1-5, E (10) -- .294

Teaford 5 IP, ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 2 K, HRA -- W, 2-1, 7.82 ERA, labored somewhat, 102 pitches
Nicoll IP, BB -- 4.23 ERA
Swaggerty IP, K -- 1.42 ERA
Holland 2 IP, 2 H, BB, K -- 2.38 ERA

*** Two innings' worth of scoring was enough for the Naturals Thursday as they slid past the Drillers to get off to a good start in the second half. Everett Teaford stranded 2 in the 1st and got some early run support with a 3-run NWA 2nd on a Jose Duarte run-scoring double play, a Chris McConnell RBI double and Jarrod Dyson RBI single. Teaford served up a solo homer to 2B Dan Mayora (his 3rd) in the 3rd to cut into the lead and then stranded 2 Drillers in the 4th. He loaded the bases with none out in the 5th but pulled the Houdini to get out of the jam unscathed. NWA left 2 in scoring position in the 6th but got RBI singles from Strait and Duarte in the 8th to make it 5-1. The Nats would leave the bases loaded but Greg Holland took care of the rest as he stranded 2 in the 9th. Tulsa SP Chaz Roe took the loss with 3 unearned runs allowed on 9 hits with a K in 5 IP to drop to 2-1 with a 2.55 ERA. Mayora and SS Danny Sandoval had 2 hits for the Drillers. Mayora's homer gave him his 28th RBI as he improved to .312.

The Naturals are 1-0. A 4-game home set with the Arkansas Travelers (1-1, AA Angels) starts tonight with Matt Kniginyzky (2-6, 6.30) facing Travs righty and Angels prospect Jordan Walden (1-4, 4.12). Jordan Parraz has an undisclosed leg injury and has been out since June 22. He's not on the DL yet.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Potomac 6, Blue Rocks 0

CF D. Robinson 2-4, CS (10), OF assist at second -- .232
3B Moustakas 0-4 -- .261
2B Giavotella 1-4 -- .218
1B C. Robinson 1-4 -- .291
DH Lough 0-3, K -- .327

Caldera 4 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, BB, 3 K, WP -- L, 1-6, 6.42 ERA
Godin 1 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 K -- 2.50 ERA
Liotta IP, K -- 4.53 ERA
Chavez IP, BB, K -- 2.45 ERA
Z. Peterson IP, ER, H, HRA -- 2.70 ERA

*** Wilmington fell flat in its second half opener as Potomac got the shutout victory. Alex Caldera had a 1-hit shutout in the 5th but that ended abruptly as the Nationals scored 3 runs off him on 5 hits and a walk to chase him from the game. Jason Godin stranded the bases loaded but the Nationals scored twice more in the 6th on 3 hits. Wilmington didn't have more than 1 baserunner in an inning until the 8th and Zach Peterson gave up a solo homer to 2B Dan Nelson (his 4th) in the 9th. Starter Will Atwood allowed 4 hits with 5 Ks over 7 IP to improve to 3-5 with a 4.90 ERA. Nelson was 3-4 with the homer, 4 RBI (16) and his 9th error to move to .252. Two others had 2 hits and prospect RF Michael Burgess was 0-3 with a walk and K to drop to .226.

The Rocks are 0-1. Game 2 is tonight as Danny Duffy (6-2, 2.85) faces P-Nats lefty Tom Milone (3-2, 3.48). Potomac has shut out the Rocks 5 times this season.

A - Burlington: Bees 9, Cedar Rapids 4

RF Francis 4-5, HR (10), 2 RBI (42), 2 RS -- .289
2B F. Garcia 2-3, BB, SF, HR, 4 RBI (15), RS, SB (17) -- .301
C Bonilla 2-4, HR (3), 2 RBI (18), K, RS, 2 PB (4) -- .254
3B Fontaine 2-4, K, 2 RS, E (11) -- .280
CF Norris 2-3, BB, 2 RS, 3 SB (25) -- .249
LF Van Stratten 1-5, RBI (29), RS -- .330
DH Hosmer 1-5, K -- .255

Melville 6 IP, 4 R (3 ER), 6 H, 3 BB, 4 K, HRA -- W, 2-4, 4.00 ERA
Saito 3 IP, BB, 3 K, balk -- SV, 1, 3.75 ERA

*** Derrick Saito pitched 3 hitless innings to preserve Tim Melville's 2nd pro win as the Bees pulled away for the 9-4 victory. The Kernels got a run off Melville in the 1st then got a solo homer from RF Angel Castillo (his 6th) in the 2nd and another run in the 3rd to take a 3-0 lead. Patrick Norris singled, stole 2 bases and scored on a Nick Van Stratten groundout to get the Bees on the board in the 3rd. Melville stranded 2 in the 4th and Burlington took command. The Bees scored 5 runs in the 4th on a Jose Bonilla 2-run homer (his 3rd) and a Fernando Garcia 3-run blast for his 1st of the season. Cedar Rapids got a run back in the 5th off Melville to cut it to 6-4 but the Bees answered with a Nick Francis solo homer for his 10th of the season to stretch it back to a 3-run lead. Garcia hit a sac fly in the 6th before the Bees left the bases loaded. Francis hit an RBI single in the 8th to make it 9-4 and Saito pitched a perfect 9th to finish off his 1st save. Kernels SP Manaurys Correa allowed 6 ER on 7 hits and a walk with 3 Ks over 4 IP to fall to 4-5 with a 4.21 ERA. 1B Roberto Lopez drove in 3 runs (35) for the Kernels. No Kernel had more than 1 hit.

The Bees are 1-0. Game 2 is tonight as Mike Lehmann (2-2, 4.60) faces Kernels lefty Will Smith (4-3, 3.69).

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Chukars 6, Casper 5

3B Taylor 2-4, RBI (2), 2 RS, E -- .417
2B Alfaro 2-4, BB, 2B, RBI, 2 K, RS, SB, picked off, E -- .375, little bit of everything Thursday
LF Testa 1-4, 3B, RBI -- .250, '09 debut
DH Aparicio 1-4, 2B (2), RBI (4) -- .333
SS Franco 0-4, S, RBI, 2 E (3) -- .154
C Theriot 0-2, 2 BB, RS -- .000, pro debut
CF Cooper 1-4, K, RS -- .200, first pro start

Marimon 4 IP, 4 R (2 ER), 5 H, BB, K, WP -- 4.50 ERA
Arias 4 1/3 IP, ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 4 K, HRA -- W, 1-0, 2.08 ERA
Lafferty 2/3 IP, 2 K -- SV, 1, 0.00 ERA, pro debut

*** The Ghosts scored an 8th inning run to take the lead but the Chukars rallied back to stay undefeated. Sugar Ray Marimon allowed a run on 2 Casper hits in the 1st but the Chukars scored 2 runs on a Jason Taylor RBI single and Julio Aparicio RBI double to take a 2-1 lead after 1. Marimon allowed a run on a wild pitch to tie it in the 2nd and Casper scored 2 in the 4th on 2 hits, a walk, a J.D. Alfaro error and a bases-loaded hit batsman to make it 4-2 Casper. Alfaro atoned with an RBI double in the 5th and Carlo Testa hit an RBI triple to tie it at 4. The Chukars left the bases loaded in the 6th and the Ghosts got a leadoff homer from LF Nathan Hines (his 1st) in the 8th off Carlos Arias to make it 5-4. Two errors by Casper 2B Angelys Nina helped the tying run score in the bottom of the inning and Ben Therio scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch to make it 6-5 IF. Brendan Lafferty came in with 2 on and 1 out in the bottom of the 9th and struck out both batters he faced to lock down the win. RP David Born took the loss with 1 1/3 IP of 2 UER allowed to fall to 0-1 with a 0.00 ERA. RP Leuris Gomez got his 1st blown save. SP Ricardo Ferrer worked 4 2/3 IP of 4 ER on 8 hits and a walk to set a 7.71 ERA. Hines and 1B Chad Jacobsen had 2 hits for the Ghosts.

IF is 3-0. Game 4 of the set is tonight as Ivor Hodgson faces Ghosts righty Juan P. Gonzalez.

Rookie - Burlington: Princeton 4, B-Royals 3 (12)

SS Espinal 3-5, BB, 2B, RS -- .500
2B R. Wood 2-6, 2 2B, RBI, 2 K, RS -- .143, finally breaks 0-fer
CF G. Beltre 2-6, RBI, 2 K, RS -- .231
LF MacDougall 2-5, BB, 2 K, CS (3), E (2) -- .273
DH F. Cruz 2-6, K -- .308, still awaiting first game at C
RF Del Rosario 1-3, BB, RBI, K -- .250
* The Royals stranded 14.

Fortuna 4 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 4 BB, 3 K -- 4.50 ERA
Cuevas 4 IP, ER, 4 H, 8 K, 3 WP -- 2.25 ERA
Kelley 2 IP, 2 H, K, E -- 0.00 ERA, pro debut
Sirrett IP, ER, 4 H, BB, WP -- L, 0-1, 9.00 ERA

*** The Royals dropped a hard-fought series as their 2 losses both came in extra innings. Geulin Beltre hit an RBI single and Ryan Wood hit an RBI double for his 1st pro hit and RBI in the 1st as Burlington took a 2-0 lead. Princeton got 1 run back before stranding 2 off Carlos Fortuna in the bottom of the inning. The score stayed 2-1 into the 4th when the Rays tied it on 2 hits. Gary Cuevas allowed the go-ahead run to score on the 5th on a single, Gabe MacDougall error in left and wild pitch as the Rays made it 3-2. Luis Del Rosario hit an RBI single in the 6th to tie the game and the Royals stranded the bases full in the 7th. Burlington stranded 2 in the 8th and then 2 more in the 9th as the game stayed knotted at 3. Scott Kelley stranded 2 Rays in the 10th and the Royals stranded another pair in the 11th. Onassis Sirrett did the same to the Rays in the 11th but gave up a double, single, intentional walk and walkoff wild pitch in the 12th. RP Geno Glynn pitched a hitless inning for the win to move to 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA. Rays SP Omar Bencomo lasted 6 IP of 3 ER allowed on 7 hits with 6 Ks to set a 4.50 ERA. Four Rays had multiple hits led by a 3-6 night from 3B Julio Cedeno. The Rays also stranded 14.

The B-Royals are 1-2. A 3-game set at the Johnson City Cardinals (2-1) starts tonight with no announced starters on the team site. The Cards roster features '09 St. Louie draftees 2nd rounder C Robert Stock of USC, 14th round OF Ross Smith, 19th round C Travis Tartamella and others.

Rookie - AZL: off night

The 2-2 Royals take on the 2-2 Mariners tonight.

Royals on the Farm 6/24

AAA - Omaha: Memphis 7, O-Royals 6

C House 4-5, 2 2B (11), HR (5), 3 RBI (26), 2 RS -- .283, slump over?
1B Ka'aihue 2-3, BB, 2B (19), K, RS -- .273
SS Lisson 1-4, HR (6), RBI (10), RS, E (5) -- .204, solo homer has been main weapon at AAA
LF Thorman 1-5, 2B (7), RBI (28), K -- .295
DH Aldridge 1-3, 2B (10), RBI (39) -- .289
* RF Tommy Murphy was picked off but also had an OF assist at home.

Chen 2 IP, ER, H, 2 K, HRA -- 3.40 ERA, only 23 pitches, in line for Davies' rotation slot?
DiNardo 4 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 4 K, HRA -- 3.79 ERA
Hayes IP, 3 R (1 ER), 3 H, 4 H, HRA -- 3.14 ERA, longball hurt Omaha Wednesday
Rosa IP, nothing -- 6.43 ERA

*** Omaha blew a 4-2 lead in the middle innings and a late comeback fell short as Memphis earned at least a split of the 4-game set. J.R. House hit a 1-out solo homer in the 1st for his 5th of the season and Cory Aldridge hit a 2-out RBI double to make it 2-0 off SP Clayton Mortensen. Bruce Chen served up a solo homer to just-demoted Memphis LF Nick Stavinoha (his 6th) in the bottom of the inning, tho, to cut the lead in half. Lenny DiNardo took over in the 3rd and allowed the tying run to come in that inning. He stranded the bases loaded in the 4th and House and Scott Thorman hit back-to-back RBI doubles in the 5th to make it 4-2 Omaha. Stavinoha led off the 6th with his 7th homer of the season and 2nd of the game and 2 more hits brought in the tying run off DiNardo. Chris Hayes came in for the 7th and a 1-out Mario Lisson error was followed by a 2-run homer by CF Shane Robinson (his 3rd) to give Memphis the lead. Stavinoha hit a would-be RBI double but Tommy Murphy and Lisson hooked up on a relay to gun down a runner at the plate. A 2-out single brought Stavinoha home, however, to make it 7-4 Redbirds. Omaha loaded the bases but made nothing of it in the 8th. Lisson led off the Omaha 9th with his 6th AAA homer and House hit a 2-out RBI double to cut the lead to 1 but RP Charlie Manning came in and got Thorman to flyout for his 1st save. Mortensen got the win with 4 ER allowed on 7 hits with 6 Ks over 7 IP to move to 7-4 with a 4.24 ERA. Three Redbirds had multi-hit games led by Stavinoha's 3-4 night with his 8th double, the homers, 2 RBI (32) and 3 RS to move to .285. Robinson also drove in 2 runs (15).

Omaha is 27-45. Game 3 of the set is tonight as Kyle Davies makes his '09 Omaha debut versus Redbirds righty P.J. Walters (2-5, 4.50). C John Buck is set to start a rehab assignment with the Royals tonight.

AA - NW Arkansas: rainout

The second half will instead start with the series finale with Tulsa tonight. The rainout will be made up July 29. Everett Teaford (1-1, 11.74) faces Drillers righty Chaz Roe (2-0, 2.97) tonight. OF Jarrod Dyson has been leapfrogged from A ball in Burlington to NWA. He hit .343 in 17 games in Burlington. He did play in Wilmington last season so it's not a crazy promotion. But why not David Lough, who's hitting well in Wilmington?

A-Adv. - Wilmington: all-star break wraps up

A 3-game home set with the Potomac Nationals (37-30 first half) starts the second half tonight. Alex Caldera (1-5, 6.43) is set to start the opener versus P-Nats lefty Will Atwood (2-5, 5.46). Wilmington is 3-7 versus the Nationals thus far. Blue Rocks SP Danny Duffy has been named to the U.S. team in the All-Star Futures Game July 12 in St. Louis.

A - Burlington: all-star break wraps up

A 4-game home set with the Cedar Rapids Kernels (40-30 first half) starts the second half tonight. Tim Melville (1-4, 3.90) faces Kernels righty Manaurys Correa (4-4, 3.74). The Bees are 4-4 versus Cedar Rapids. RP Eric Basurto has been moved up to the MWL after only 1 game in rookie ball. He had pitched at this level in the Marlins chain before coming over for Gload. OF Shawn Griffin has also been assigned to Burlington.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Chukars 7, Casper 4

CF H. Richardson 3-4, RS, SB -- .625
3B Taylor 2-4, 2B, RBI, K, 2 RS -- .375
2B Franco 2-5, K, CS -- .222
RF Caldwell 1-2, 2 SF, 3B, 3 RBI (5), K, RS -- .400
SS D. Batista 1-4, SF, RBI (2), 2 K, RS, E -- .375
LF Aparicio 0-3, HBP, RBI (3), RS, CS, 2 E -- .375
DH Alfaro 1-4, K, RS -- .250
C S. Perez 1-2, BB, HBP -- .667

Garrido 3 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 4 BB, 4 K, WP -- 5.40 ERA
Keating 2 2/3 IP, UER, 2 H, 4 K, WP -- W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, pro debut and a W
Morgan 2 IP, H, K -- 0.00 ERA, season debut for Rockhurst product
White IP, UER, 2 H, 2 K -- 0.00 ERA, pro debut for 6th rounder

*** The Chukars took a 5-0 lead and held on for the win. Idaho Falls' offense got it started early with 3 runs in the 1st on a Jason Taylor RBI single, Julio Aparicio RBI fielder's choice and Allen Caldwell sacrifice fly that turned into an inning-ending double play, but not before the run scored to make it 3-0. Deivy Batista hit a sac fly in the 2nd to make it 4-0 and Caldwell hit another sac fly with the bases loaded and 0 out in the 3rd to give the Chukars a 5-0 lead. Chukars starter Santiago Garrido loaded the bases with 1 out in the 4th and hit a batter to force in the Ghosts' first run. Patrick Keating was brought in for his pro debut and allowed 1 more run to score before stranding 2. Caldwell hit an RBI triple in the 5th and scored on a wild pitch to make it 7-2 Chukars. Casper scored a run on an error in the 6th but Ryan Morgan stranded 2 in the 8th. Cole White made his pro debut in the 9th and got 2 strikeouts before 2 singles and Aparicio error scored a meaningless Casper run. White got the final groundout to end it. Casper SP Jonathan Vargas took the loss with 4 IP of 5 runs (4 ER) allowed on 7 hits and a walk with 3 Ks to move to 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA. CF Eliezer Mesa was 3-5 with a double and RS to move to .444 and 1B Chad Jacobsen was 2-4 with a K and 2 RS to move to .286.

IF is 2-0. Game 3 is tonight as Sugar Ray Marimon (who struggled last season in the Appy League) faces 19-year-old Ghosts righty Ricardo Ferrer.

Rookie - Burlington: B-Royals 4, Princeton 3

C T. Jones 3-4, 3 2B, RBI, RS -- .500
1B J. Morales 2-4, 2B, RS -- .250
SS Espinal 1-3, BB, HBP, HR, RBI, SB (2), E -- .429
DH F. Cruz 1-4, 2B, RBI, K -- .286
LF MacDougall 0-3, BB, HBP, K, picked off -- .167
2B R. Wood 0-4, BB, RS -- .000
* The Royals left 10 on base.

D. De La Cruz 4 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, BB, 4 K, HRA, E -- 4.15 ERA
Billo 3 2/3 IP, H, 2 BB, 6 K -- W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, nice '09 debut
B. Richardson IP, ER, 2 H, K -- SV, 1, 9.00 ERA

*** A Royals insurance run in the 9th paid off as the B-Royals got their first win of 2009. Burlington had its first 2 batters hit by pitches in the 1st but the Royals made nothing of it to squander the opportunity. The Rays also wasted a potential scoring chance in the 1st off Deybi De La Cruz. Burlington loaded the bases with none out in the 3rd but also blew that chance. De La Cruz gave up a solo homer to 2B Seth Henry (his 1st) in the 4th but Yowill Espinal answered with a 2-out solo blast in the 5th to tie the game. De La Cruz allowed another Rays run on 2 hits before getting pulled for Greg Billo in the 5th and Billo left 2 in scoring position. Travis Jones stroked a 2-out double in the 6th and Fernando Cruz doubled him home to tie it at 2 but Burlington stranded 2 in scoring position. Jones hit a 1-out RBI double in the 8th to give the B-Royals the lead and Jason Morales scored on a wild pitch in the 9th to make it 4-2 Royals. Brett Richardson gave up a 2-out RBI triple in the 9th but ended the game with a K for his 1st '09 save. RP Jairo De La Rosa took the loss with 3 IP of 2 unearned runs allowed to fall to 0-1 with a 0.00 ERA. Starter Wilking Rodriguez worked 4 scoreless innings to keep a 0.00 ERA. CF Ty Morrison and Henry had 2 hits each for the Rays.

The B-Royals are 1-1. The set ends tonight as Carlos Fortuna faces Rays righty Omar Bencomo.

Rookie - AZL: Rangers 4, Royals 2

2B Stovall 1-4, SB (2), E -- .389
1B G. Baldwin 1-4, K, RS, E -- .154, team only had 2 hits
C H. Moreno 0-3, SF, RBI, 2 K, 2 PB (4), picked off runner -- .111
PH Shortell 0-0, HBP -- .000, pro debut

L. Santiago 4 2/3 IP, 4 R (2 ER), 6 H, BB, 2 K -- L, 0-1, 3.86 ERA
Folmer 2 1/3 IP, H, 2 BB, 3 K -- 2.25 ERA
Bavera IP, H -- 0.00 ERA

*** Five Ranger pitchers combined on a 2-hitter. The Rangers scored 2 in the 1st off Leonel Santiago thanks to 4 Royal errors in the inning. Two hits scored another Ranger run in the 4th and the Royals were being no-hit until Geoff Baldwin led off the 5th with a single. He would score on a wild pitch and a Henry Moreno sac fly cut the lead to 3-2 in the inning. Santiago gave the run back before getting pulled in the 5th with 2 out and the bases full. Richard Folmer ended the threat and the Royals stranded 2 in the 7th. The Rangers also stranded 2 that inning. The Royals got 2 in scoring position with 1 out in the 9th but Moreno and Miguel Mariano struck out to end the game as RP Justin Miller got his 1st save. Starter Juan Grullon got the win with 5 IP of 2 runs (1 ER) allowed on a hit, walk and 4 Ks to move to 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA. C Tomas Telis and LF Braxton Lane had 2 hits for the Rangers. Telis also stole his 1st base, and committed his 2nd error and 3rd passed ball.

The Royals are 2-2 and a game back in the early going. They have tonight off.



The Royals have also signed 42nd rounder lefty Jonathan Keck out of Bethel (TN) College and 47th round HS CF Anthony Howard from Maryland. Non-drafted FA righty Scott Shimek was also signed out of St. Mary's U (TX).

Farm Fresh Royals -- draft rds 21-30

I kinda got sidetracked on the draft recap...so 10 days after my last post and a couple weeks after the draft, we continue. Nothing like timeliness...

21st rounder OF Marvin "Chanse" Cooper is signed and in Idaho Falls after his junior season at Belhaven College in Mississippi. He hit .331 with 40 SB this season for Belhaven, so he's another athletic centerfielder. We'll see if he can hit in the pros, unlike Derrick Robinson or Patrick Norris thus far. He turned 21 in March.

22nd rounder lefty Ryan Dennick came out of Tennessee Tech and is already signed and in rookie ball. He turned 22 in January. He started this last college season as the Tech closer before moving into the rotation and finishing 4-2 with a 3.75 ERA in 72 IP. His BB/K ratio was 33/58, so not quite 2-1. He was 3-0 with a 1.99 ERA in his 5 starts with a .189 OAV, including good starts versus CWS qualifier Southern Miss and Clemson. He pitched at 2 other colleges other than Tech. Could be a good middle-round pick.

23rd rounder righty Scott Kelley was a senior out of Penn State and is also signed and assigned. He turns 23 in October. Despite a fastball in the 90s, Kelley posted a 5.43 ERA this season for the Nittany Lions. He was an outfielder/part-time pitcher his junior year after being a full-time outfielder as a sophomore and full-time pitcher as a freshman at PSU. He struck out 42 in 59 2/3 IP this season, but also walked 33 with a .325 OAV. Maybe the Royals took him thinking if he can't get anybody out they can move him to the outfield and give him a shot there. He hit 4 HR as a junior and slugged .443. We'll see how he handles rookie ball.

24th rounder righty Zach Jones was drafted out of Santa Teresa HS in San Jose, California. He turns 19 in December and hasn't signed. No report of him headed to any college. A San Jose Mercury News item from May said San Jose State was interested, but haven't seen that he had committed anywhere. He finished this season 14-0 on the mound with an ERA under 1. It would be a nice sign, if it happens.

25th rounder righty Richard Folmer was a senior at Stephen F. Austin U in Texas and has signed and is in rookie ball. He turns 23 in November. He was the Lumberjacks' all-time leader in saves with 21 and appearances with 96. He struck out 37 with 21 BB in 33 IP with a .162 OAV, including a .143 mark against righties. He had a 3.27 ERA and 12 saves this season. Seems like it should be a good pick for the round.

26th rounder 1B Matt Frazer came out of Nitro HS in West Virginia. He stands 6-4 and bats left and just turned 18 in May. He is committed to WVU and sounded open to signing. He hit .443 with 11 HR his senior season at Nitro. On second thought, maybe he wasn't so open. Our first definite NO thus far.

27th rounder OF Gabe MacDougall came out of Division II champ Lynn U in Florida and is already signed and assigned. He turned 22 in April. He finished his Lynn career as the all-time leader in HR and slugging percentage. He batted .341 in his Lynn career. He hit more than 20 HR and 20 doubles in 2008. This season he only hit .302 with 21 2B and 10 HR but did post a .429 OBP. He was 9/9 in SB and walked 34 times with 48 K in 225 AB. Another seemingly good pick for the round.

28th rounder 1B Eric Peterson marked the Royals' third HS 1B draftee this year, as he is out of Liberty HS in Washington. He also bats left and turns 18 in October. He is a U of Washington commit. We're getting to the point in the draft where the high school guys just figure a couple years of college will boost their round enough it's not worth it to sign, unless they just hate school and are wanting to give pro ball a go. He hit a school-record 12 HR this season, and one of the links I glanced at had somebody declaring him a "once in a generation type player". Wow. Surely the Royals have shot him a bonus figure by now, so it occurs to me he may be a Husky rather than a Royal or Chukar.

29th rounder OF Nick Zaharion was drafted out of South Fork HS in Texas, bats right and turns 19 in November. Zaharion also was being looked at as a catcher, and was committed to St. Petersburg JuCo. He sounded open to the idea of signing. Rumors were running that Rice U was after him around draft time but I never saw them substantiated. You'd think the Royals might be able to get him away from a juco, but on the other hand going to juco gives him more flexibility for redraft in the future. As with Peterson, the longer it is after drafting him, the more likely I'd think he's headed for juco.

30th rounder righty Josh Worrell is the son of former Cards closer Todd and signed out of Indiana Wesleyan U. He posted a 3.32 ERA with a 7-6 record and 55 BB/77 K in 78 2/3 IP as a starter this season. As noted in the RotF reports, he's signed and in rookie ball. He had a 1.04 ERA over his last 67 IP this season, which is remarkable. He also allowed only a .194 OAV. Basically he had 3 bad starts to start the season and then was lockdown from there versus NAIA competition.



Hopefully more to come...

Royals on the Farm 6/23

Since now we've got all 7 Royals affiliates firing at the same time, some of the guys on the fringe I may have noted in the early part of the season may not get noted now in the interest of time. When the short season leagues begin, this report can be a grind.

Nice to see Greinke get a win again.

AAA - Omaha: Memphis 6, O-Royals 3

DH Aldridge 3-4, HR (9), 2 RBI (38), RS -- .289
C House 2-4, 2B (9), K -- .273
SS Lisson 1-4, HR (5), RBI (9), K, RS -- .202, about every time he dips to Mendoza waterline, he stays afloat
3B Metcalf 0-4, 2 K, E (8) -- .241
1B Ka'aihue 1-3, BB, RS -- .268, Jacobs needs to have a hot couple weeks so the Royals can deal him
LF Thorman 0-4 -- .299

Phillips 4 IP, 6 R (4 ER), 10 H, BB, 2 K, 2 HRA -- L, 3-7, 6.81 ERA
Yabuta 2 IP, 3 H -- 4.79 ERA
Hamulack 2 IP, H, 3 K -- 7.28 ERA

*** Heath Phillips got knocked around and the O-Royals dropped the opener with Memphis. Omaha put 2 in scoring position with 0 out in the 1st but squandered the chance and Memphis stranded 2 in the 2nd off Phillips. The Redbirds cashed in in the 3rd as CF Shane Robinson led off their half of the inning with his 2nd homer, a sac fly brought in another run and 3B Brian Barden hit a 2-run homer for his 1st of the season for Memphis to make it 4-0. Omaha stranded 2 in the 4th and Memphis added 2 runs in the frame on 3 hits and a Travis Metcalf 2-out error. Cory Aldridge got Omaha off 0 with a 2-run homer in the 7th for his 9th of the season and Mario Lisson followed with his 5th homer to make it 2 straight games with back-to-back homers for the Royals. The Royals wouldn't threaten again as RP Jess Todd pitched a perfect 9th for his 14th save. Starter Mitch Boggs allowed 3 ER over 5 1/3 IP to improve to 3-3 with a 5.31 ERA. Five Redbirds had multiple hits.

The O-Royals are 27-44 and 6 games back of third place in the 4-team PCL American North. Once they get back within sight of the division lead, I'll let you know. Game 2 of the set with Memphis is tonight as Kyle Davies makes his '09 Omaha debut versus Redbirds righty Clayton Mortensen (6-4, 4.15). The team site has Davies starting in one place and Bruce Chen in another. If Chen is starting, I guess that likely means Sidney Ponson will replace Davies in the KC rotation Saturday? With John Suomi now up at AAA, the Royals have cut ties with C Matt Tupman. Tupman was hitting .261 in 21 games. Too bad Matt wasn't able to take advantage of his opportunities more the last few years.

AA - NW Arkansas: Tulsa 13, Naturals 1

SS Bianchi 3-4, RBI (4), E -- .476, gotta like this, other than error
LF Lucas 2-4, 2B (6), RS -- .298
3B Mertins 1-4, 2B (15), K -- .296

Lerew 4 IP, 9 R (7 ER), 7 H, 2 BB, 4 K, HRA, E (3) -- L, 4-4, 5.21 ERA
de la Vara 2 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 K, WP -- 5.30 ERA
Sencion IP, ER, 3 H -- 5.92 ERA
Hartsock IP, ER, 2 H, K, HRA -- 4.20 ERA

*** Tulsa rapped out 11 of its runs in the 3rd through 5th innings and the Naturals didn't recover. The game was quiet until Anthony Lerew served up a 3-run homer to CF Anthony Jackson (his 3rd) with 1 out in the 3rd. Jeff Bianchi hit an RBI single in the 4th to get NWA on the board but Tulsa answered with 2 runs in the 4th on 2 walks, a hit and 2 Naturals errors before leaving the bases full. Things fell further apart in the 5th as Lerew and Gilbert de la Vara were touched up for 6 runs on 6 hits, a hit batsman and a wild pitch as Tulsa made it 11-1. NWA stranded 2 in the 6th and Carlos Sencion allowed a run in the 7th before stranding 2. Aaron Hartsock gave up a solo homer to LF Cole Garner (his 6th) in the 8th to finish the scoring. Tulsa SP Esmil Rogers got the win with 8 IP of an ER allowed on 8 hits with 7 Ks to improve to 7-2 with a 2.68 ERA. Four Drillers had 2 or more hits as C Mike McKenry drove in 3 runs (28), as did SS Rex Rundgren (12). Jackson only had the homer as a hit but drove in 4 runs (19).

The Naturals finished the first half 36-34. Game 3 of the set is tonight as the records reset and Blake Johnson (5-5, 4.95) faces Drillers lefty Keith Weiser (5-5, 4.24). RP Dan Cevette has been activated from the DL to replace Suomi.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: California League AS 2, Carolina League AS 1 (10)

Duffy perfect IP, 1 K
Lough 1-2, K
Moustakas 1-2, K

The all-star break concludes today and the second half of the season starts Thursday.

A - Burlington: MWL East 6, MWL West 3

Francis 2-3, BB, 2 2B, RBI, RS -- only West leaguer with more than 1 hit
Van Stratten 0-3
Casey 2/3 IP, H, K
Bowden 2/3 IP, ER, 2 H, K

The all-star break ends today and the second half starts tomorrow.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Chukars 10, Casper 1

C S. Perez 3-4, BB, 3B, 2 RBI, K, 2 RS -- .750, half-A player right now, I guess?
LF Aparicio 3-5, 2B, 2 RBI, RS -- .600
DH Griffin 2-3, BB, 2B, 3 RS -- .667
SS D. Batista 2-4, BB, 3B, RBI, K, RS -- .500
CF H. Richardson 2-4, 2B, 2 K, RS -- .500
RF Caldwell 1-3, BB, HR, 2 RBI, K, RS, E -- .333
3B Taylor 1-4, BB, K, RS -- .250
DH Cooper 0-1, K -- .000, pro debut
1B Espinosa 0-4, RBI, K -- .000

Paukovits 5 IP, UER, 3 H, BB, 8 K, WP -- W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, nice first outing
Toribio 2 2/3 IP, 2 H, BB, 5 K -- 0.00 ERA
Basurto 1 1/3 IP, 3 K -- 0.00 ERA

*** Bryan Paukovits had a nice opening day start and the Chukars routed the Ghosts. Casper got a runner to 3rd in the first 2 innings but didn't score, and IF got an RBI single from Salvadore Perez in the 2nd to take the lead. Paukovits allowed a leadoff triple in the 3rd and a run-scoring error by 2B Angel Franco tied the game at 1. With 2 out in the 4th, the Chukars got a Perez RBI triple and 2-run homer by Allen Caldwell to make it 4-1. They added 4 in the 5th on a Deivy Batista RBI single, run-scoring wild pitch, and 2-run Julio Aparicio single to make it 8-1. Aneidy Toribio stranded 2 Ghosts in the 7th and Tito Espinosa hit an RBI forceout in the 7th that scored 2 runs thanks to a Ghosts error. RP Eric Basurto, who the Royals got for Ross Gload, pitched 1 1/3 perfect innings to finish it. Casper SP Kyle Hancock took the loss with 4 1/3 IP of 8 ER allowed on 10 hits with 3 Ks to drop to 0-1 with a 16.62 ERA. Five Ghosts had a hit each.

The Chukars are 1-0. Game 2 is tonight with no announced starters on the team site.

Rookie - Burlington: Princeton 2, B-Royals 1 (10)

SS Espinal 2-4, 3B, SB -- .500
LF MacDougall 1-3, BB, 2B, RBI, 2 CS, E -- .333, pro debut
2B R. Wood 0-4, K -- .000, pro debut
DH F. Cruz 1-3, K -- .333

Lamb 5 IP, ER, 4 H, BB, 2 K -- 1.80 ERA
Odenbach 1 1/3 IP, 2 H, BB -- 0.00 ERA, pro debut
Baumann 2 1/3 IP, 2 K, WP -- 0.00 ERA, pro debut
Hudnall 2/3 IP, ER, 3 H, BB, K -- L, 0-1, 13.50 ERA

*** The Royals tied it in the 8th but lost in 10 on opening night versus the Rays. Starter John Lamb stranded 2 in the 1st but gave up a 2-out RBI single in the 3rd for the only damage he took. Ryan Wood hit into a double play with 2 on in the 6th to stymie a Royal rally and Buddy Baumann stranded 2 Rays in the 7th to keep the game 1-0. Gabe MacDougall came through with a 1-out RBI double in the 8th to tie the game but was caught stealing third before a Yowill Espinal triple, which proved fruitless. Jaeson Hudnall came on with 2 out in the 9th and allowed a 1-out triple in the 10th before Rays 2B Kyle Spraker ended it with a walkoff squeeze bunt single. Rays RP Joey Callender went 5 innings for the win despite getting his 1st blown save. He is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA. Starter Jason McEachern allowed only 3 hits with 4 Ks over 5 IP. Only 4 Rays had hits, and all 4 had multiple hits. LF Brian Bryles was 3-4 with a walk, double, triple and 2 RS to go with an OF assist at second. Spraker had both Rays RBI.

The B-Royals are 0-1. Game 2 is tonight as Deybi De La Cruz faces Rays righty Wilking Rodriguez.

Rookie - AZL: Indians 10, Royals 8 (12)

2B Piterson 3-6, 2B, RBI (2), 2 K, RS, SB (2) -- .357
3B Figueroa 3-6, RS, SB -- .429
RF Dickerson 2-4, BB, S, RBI (3), K, 2 RS, 2 SB, OF assist at home -- .250
DH Stovall 1-6, 2B (3), 2 RBI (6), 2 K -- .429
CF Llanos 1-7, RBI (3), K, SB (2), CS, OF assists at second and third -- .353, like to see leadoff guy take a walk once in a while
C E. Escobar 1-2, RBI -- .250
SS A. Martinez 1-5, BB, K, 2 RS, 3 SB (4) -- .167
C Matos 1-3, S, K, E -- .333, '09 debut
* The Royals stranded 11.

L. Ortega 3 2/3 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, 3 K, WP -- 12.27 ERA
G. Batista 4 1/3 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 4 H, BB, 4 K, HRA, WP -- 2.08 ERA
Adams 3 IP, H, 4 K -- 0.00 ERA, nice pro debut
Worrell IP, 3 UER, H, 3 BB, K, E -- L, 0-1, 0.00 ERA

*** The Royals came back from a 5-1 deficit to tie the game twice but a third time wasn't in the cards as the Indians pulled out the win in 12. Luis Ortega allowed a run on 2 hits in the 1st but the Royals matched the run with a 2-out Ryan Stovall RBI double in the bottom of the inning. The Indians took command with a 4-run 4th on 5 hits, a hit batsman and wild pitch off Ortega and RP Geronimo Batista to make it 5-1 Tribe. Luis Piterson hit an RBI single in the 4th to cut the lead to 3 and Joe Dickerson hit an RBI single in the 5th to cut it to 5-3. A throwing error by C Mauricio Matos allowed an Indians run to score in the 6th but the Royals kept chipping away as Juan Polonia scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the inning to cut it to 6-4. Stovall hit an RBI groundout in the 7th and Dickerson scored on a wild pitch to tie the game. The tie was short-lived as Batista gave up a solo homer to C Juan Aponte (his 1st) in the 8th to make it 7-6 Indians. Alex Llanos came through with an RBI single in the bottom of the inning to retie it and RP Jack Adams struck out the side in the 9th for the Royals in his pro debut. Josh Worrell took over in the 12th and made a 1-out throwing error that threatened to allow the lead run to score but Dickerson gunned down the runner at the plate from right to keep it tied at 7. Worrell walked the bases full and this time wouldn't escape as Aponte hit a 2-out, 3-run double to make it 10-7. Edul Escobar hit a 2-out RBI single in the bottom of the inning but that was it as Indians RP Vidal Nuno got his 1st save. RP Francisco Valera went 3 2/3 scoreless IP to get the win and move to 1-0. SP Daniel Jimenez pitched 4 innings of 2 ER allowed on 5 hits and a walk with 5 Ks to set a 4.50 ERA. Three Indians had more than 1 hit led by Aponte, who was 3-6 with his 1st double and HR and 4 RBI along with 2 K and 2 RS to move to .444. CF Trent Baker also drove in 2 runs (3).

The Royals are 2-1. They play the 1-1 Rangers tonight.

Royals on the Farm 6/21 & 6/22

Remember when the battle cry for Baird apologists was "Wait 'til '08"? Yeah, it didn't happen in 2008. Nor will it happen in 2009, from the looks of things. Now we can have a new group saying "Wait 'til 2011!" Sorry, but my patience is wearing thin.

AAA - Omaha: Albuquerque 5, O-Royals 4 (12/Sun.)

1B Ka'aihue 2-4, BB, 2 HR (10), 2 RBI (31), K, 2 RS -- .267
LF Thorman 2-4, BB, HR (12), RBI (27), K, RS -- .307
2B Falu 2-5, BB, RBI (20), CS (4) -- .262
RF Murphy 2-4, BB, RS, SB (16) -- .228
C House 0-6 -- .269
3B Metcalf 0-5, BB, 4 K -- .245, golden sombrero
SS Lisson 0-4, S, 2 K -- .200
* Omaha turned 4 DPs.

Ponson 5 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, BB, HRA -- 2.57 ERA
Hayes 3 IP, ER, 2 H, K -- 2.70 ERA
Marte 1 1/3 IP, ER, 4 H, BB, 2 K -- BS, 2, 3.55 ERA
Atencio 2 IP, ER, 2 H, 3 K, WP -- L, 2-7, 6.34 ERA, think it's time for him to go elsewhere

*** Simply put, the Omaha bullpen stinks. The Royals blew yet another game in the 9th and Albuquerque won in 12 to take 3 of 4 in the set. Irving Falu hit an RBI single in the 2nd and Kila Ka'aihue popped his 9th homer of the year in the 3rd to make it 2-0 O-Royals. Sidney Ponson pitched well into the 5th but gave up a leadoff homer to former Royals OF prospect DH Dee Brown (his 13th) and another run on 3 hits tied the game at 2. Omaha left the bases loaded in the 6th and stranded 2 in the 7th before Chris Hayes allowed a run on a hit batsman (Brown) and 2 hits to make it 3-2 Isotopes. The longball erased the deficit in the 8th as Scott Thorman hit his 12th of the season to tie it and Ka'aihue made it back-to-back shots with his 10th of the season and 2nd of the game to give Omaha a 4-3 lead. Victor Marte came in to try and finish it in the 9th but gave up a 1-out single to Brown and another single and sac fly tied the game before Marte stranded 2 despite his 2nd blown save. Omaha didn't have a hit after the 8th and Greg Atencio gave up a 1-out single, steal and walkoff single to SS Chin-lung Hu to end it in the 12th. RP Henry Bonilla pitched a perfect 12th for the win to move to 3-5 with a 4.29 ERA. RP Will Ohman pitched a scoreless 1st in a rehab appearance. Former big deal Jason Schmidt allowed 2 ER over 5 IP to move his ERA to 4.70. Four Isotopes had multi-hit games. LF Luis Maza was 3-4 with a walk and 2 RBI (20) to move to .267. Brown was 2-3 with the homer, his 45th RBI and 2 RS to move to .308.

off day Monday

The O-Royals are 27-43. A 4-game set at the Memphis Redbirds (32-38, AAA Cards) starts tonight with Heath Phillips (3-6, 6.69) facing Memphis righty Mitch Boggs (2-3, 5.35). C John Suomi has been called up to Omaha after hitting over .300 with some pop in AA.

AA - NW Arkansas: Springfield 4, Naturals 3 (Sun.)

1B C. Smith 1-4, HR (13), RBI (46), 3 K, RS -- .245
CF Duarte 0-3, 2 BB, RBI (13), picked off -- .249
PH Suomi 1-1, RBI (18) -- .319
RF Parraz 1-4, K -- .354
2B Mertins 1-4 -- .304
SS Bianchi 0-4, K -- .417
C Clark 1-3, 2B (2), K, E -- .324

B. Wood 6 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 5 H, 2 BB, 5 K -- L, 2-6, 5.27 ERA
Swaggerty 2 IP, ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K -- 1.69 ERA

*** Springfield won a neck-and-neck game. The Naturals stranded 2 in the 3rd and Blake Wood allowed 2 runs that inning on 3 hits and a walk to spot the Cards a 2-0 lead. Jose Duarte got the Naturals on the board with an RBI groundout in the 5th and Corey Smith tied it in the 6th with his 13th homer of the season. Springfield regained the lead in the bottom of the inning as an RBI double made it 3-2. A walk and 2 hits scored another run in the 8th but Ben Swaggerty stranded the bases loaded. John Suomi hit a pinch-hit RBI single with 2 out in the 9th but there would be no rally as Duarte lined out and give RP Francisco Samuel his 17th save. Starter Trey Hearne worked 7 IP of 2 ER on 6 hits and 3 walks with 6 Ks to move to 7-1 with a 2.96 ERA. 2B Dan Descalso was 2-4 with his 24th double and 2 RBI (43) to move to .329. RF Tyler Henley stole his 5th base, walked twice and scored twice as he was 0-1 to drop to .325.

Naturals 12, Tulsa 4 (Mon.)

LF Lucas 5-6, 2B (5), 2 RS, SB (8), picked off -- .291
CF-RF Strait 3-5, 2 2B (18), 2 RBI (22), RS, SB (9) -- .288
RF Parraz 2-3, BB, HR (7), 2 RBI (42), RS -- .358, pulled for pinch runner in 6th
SS Bianchi 2-5, 2 RBI (3), K, 2 RS -- .412
1B C. Smith 2-5, 2B (11), 2 RBI (48), 2 RS -- .248
C V. Wilson 3-5, 2B (2), HR, RBI (3), RS -- .571
DH Suomi 0-3, BB, SF, RBI (19) -- .311
3B Mertins 0-6, RBI (31), K, RS -- .297
2B McConnell 1-5, K, RS -- .211

Cortes 6 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K, HRA -- W, 5-6, 4.28 ERA
Nicoll 2 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, 2 K, 2 WP -- 4.34 ERA
Holland IP, BB -- 2.53 ERA

*** A 6-run rally put the game away for NWA. Jordan Parraz went solo in the 1st for his 7th homer of the season and Vance Wilson did likewise for the 1st time this season in the 2nd to make it 2-0 NWA. Dan Cortes allowed a run on 2 hits in the 2nd but NWA answered with 2 runs in the 3rd on a Corey Smith RBI double and Jeff Bianchi RBI single to stretch the lead to 4-1. Cody Strait stole home on a double steal with Ed Lucas in the 4th but Cortes allowed a run in the bottom of the inning to make it 5-2. NWA left the bases full in the 5th but went to work on RP Xavier Cedeno in the 6th. A run-scoring error started the big rally before Parraz singled home a run, another error scored a run to make it 8-2, Bianchi singled home a run, and Cody Strait smacked a 2-run double to stretch it to 11-2. Cortes allowed a leadoff homer to C Mike McKenry (his 8th) in the 7th and was pulled for Chris Nicoll. John Suomi hit a sac fly in the 8th and Nicoll allowed a meaningless run in the 8th before Greg Holland finished it. SP Greg Smith went 3 1/3 IP of 5 ER allowed on 8 hits and a K to fall to 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA. CF Anthony Jackson and DH Mike Paulk had 2 hits each for Tulsa. Jackson also stole his 14th base.

The Naturals are 36-33 and 1 game back with 1 game left in the first half. The series with the Drillers (37-32, AA Rockies) is 4 games but game 2 today is the first half finale. The Naturals' dreams of being in the playoff mix are done as the Drillers are dealing back a beating in spades. Anthony Lerew (4-3, 4.61) started versus Tulsa righty Esmil Rogers (6-2, 2.84). One of those guys is still in the game late, and it isn't Lerew. P Greg Holland has been named as an injury replacement for the TL All-Star Game, making it 5 Naturals playing in Frisco July 1. There was no mention of any Parraz injury Monday, but he didn't play today.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Winston-Salem 6, Blue Rocks 2 (7/G1, Sun.)

Moustakas DNP
RF Orlando 2-3, 2B (11) -- .229
SS Seratelli 1-3, 2B (8), RBI (16), RS, SB (6) -- .302
3B J. Johnson 0-1, BB, SF, RBI (2), E -- .333
CF D. Robinson 1-4, 2 K, OF assist at second -- .228
2B Giavotella 1-3 -- .215
DH Lough 0-3 -- .330
1B C. Robinson 0-2, BB, RS -- .292
LF Ortiz 0-2, BB, K -- .235

Santiago 6 1/3 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, BB, 4 K, pickoff -- L, 3-7, 4.20 ERA
Sisk 2/3 IP, ER, H, BB, K -- 2.86 ERA

*** The Rocks only scored in 1 inning as the Dash took the first of 2 to end the first half schedule Sunday. The Dash scored a run on 2 hits and an SB off Mario Santiago in the 1st but Anthony Seratelli doubled in a run in the 2nd and scored on a Josh Johnson sac fly to make it 2-1 Rocks. Santiago gave up a 2-out, 2-run double in the 4th to swing the lead back to Winston-Salem for good. Derrick Robinson was thrown out at home in the 6th and the Dash scored 3 runs in the 7th to help salt the game away. The Rocks left the bases loaded in the 7th as RP Henry Mabee picked up his 6th save. SP Justin Edwards got the win in his A-Advanced debut with 5 IP of 2 ER allowed on 3 hits and a walk with 2 Ks to move to 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA. 3B Brent Morel was 2-4 with 3 RBI (33) to move to .257, LF Tyler Kuhn was 2-3 with an SB and 2 RS to move to .625, and C Logan Johnson drove in 2 runs (16) but made his 14th passed ball to move to .239.

Blue Rocks 2, Winston-Salem 1 (7/G2, Sun.)

Moustakas DNP again
LF Lough 1-2, S, HR (5), RBI (30), K, RS -- .332
1B C. Robinson 1-3, RBI (36) -- .292
3B J. Johnson 1-3 -- .333
2B Giavotella 1-2, BB, RS, CS (6) -- .218
SS Seratelli 1-2, BB, E (8) -- .306

R. Hardy 6 IP, UER, 6 H, 4 K, WP -- W, 2-0, 2.25 ERA, if only every level were A-Advanced
Abreu IP, 3 K -- SV, 7, 2.02 ERA, dominant save

*** Rowdy Hardy pitched well and the Rocks ended the first half on a good note with a narrow win over the Dash. An Anthony Seratelli error contributed to the Dash's only run in the 3rd but David Lough led off the Rocks 4th with his 5th homer to tie it. Clint Robinson hit the go-ahead RBI single in the 6th and Juan Abreu struck out the side in the 7th for his 7th save. Dash SP Anthony Carter went the distance but took the loss with 2 runs (1 ER) allowed on 5 hits and 2 walks with 3 Ks to move to 6-4 with a 3.84 ERA. RF Salvador Sanchez was 3-3 with 2 SB (14) to move to .245 and 2B Dale Mollenhauer was 2-3 with his 14th double but was caught stealing for a 7th time despite moving to .290.

all-star break started Monday

The Rocks finished the first half 38-31. Lough, Moustakas and SP Dan Duffy are headed to the Carolina-California League AS Game, which is tonight in California.

A - Burlington: Bees 7, Peoria 1 (Sun.)

2B F. Garcia 2-3, BB, 3B (3), RBI (11), 2 RS -- .294
CF Dyson 2-5, 2 K, RS -- .343
3B Fontaine 1-3, SF, HR (2), 2 RBI (13), K, RS -- .270
DH Hosmer 1-4, BB, 2B (14), 2 RBI (39), 2 K -- .256
LF Van Stratten 1-5, RBI (28), K, RS -- .333
RF Francis 1-4, 3 K, RS -- .277
C Bonilla 1-4, 2 K -- .248

Runion 5 IP, 4 H, BB, 3 K, WP -- W, 3-4, 6.03 ERA, where'd that come from?
Casey IP, H, BB, K -- 3.59 ERA
Thompson 1 1/3 IP, ER, 2 H, 3 BB -- 2.41 ERA
Bowden 1 2/3 IP, H, K -- 2.03 ERA

*** Sam Runion had his best start of the season and the Bees ended the first half with a win. Runion stranded 2 in the 1st and Chase Fontaine hit a sac fly in the 2nd to give the Bees a 1-0 lead. Runion stranded 2 more in the 2nd but retired 7 straight into the 5th. Fontaine led off the Bees 5th with his 2nd homer, Nick Van Stratten hit an RBI single and Eric Hosmer ripped a 2-run double to make it 5-0. Fernando Garcia singled home a run in the 6th to extend the lead and Bryan Casey stranded 2 in the 6th. Barry Bowden came in with 1 out and the bases loaded in the 8th and allowed only 1 run to score before escaping the jam. Garcia tripled and scored on an error in the 9th and Bowden pitched a quiet 9th to finish it. Starter Aaron Shafer took the loss for Peoria with 4 1/3 IP of 5 runs (4 ER) allowed on 7 hits and a walk with 5 Ks to drop to 5-4 with a 5.04 ERA. C Mike Brenly was 3-4 to move to .277 and DH Jose Made was 2-4 to set a .500 BA. 3B Josh Vitters was 0-4 to drop to .308.

all-star break started Monday

The Bees ended the first half 29-41. Nick Francis, Nick Van Stratten, Bryan Casey and Barry Bowden are taking part in the MWL AS Game tonight in Clinton, Iowa.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: season starts tonight

The Chukars face the Casper Ghosts (Rookie Rockies) in the first series of the season, a 4-gamer. No announced starters on the team site. The Ghosts roster features '09 Rockies draftees 6th round righty Chris Balcom-Miller, 11th rounder OF Avery Barnes, 13th round lefty Paul Bargas, 14th round SS Jeff Squier and others.

Rookie - Burlington: season starts tonight

The B-Royals face the Princeton Rays in the first series of the season. John Lamb will face Rays righty Jason McEachern. The B-Royals roster features catchers Fernando Cruz (one to watch in his transition to a new position), Travis Jones ('08 50th rounder) and Miguel Moctezuma ('08 draftee, had middling debut last season), infielders Diego Cruz, Yeldrys Molina, Ryan Wood (one to watch in pro debut), Malcom Culver ('08 draftee), Yowill Espinal, Jake Kuebler (Alex Gordon's cousin, struggled in pro debut last year), and Jason Morales (showed some flashes last year), outfielders Geulin Beltre (did all right at AZL last season), Luis Del Rosario (ditto), Gabe McDougall ('09 draftee), Derek Rodriguez and Victor Soto (up from Dominican league last season). The pitching staff includes Buddy Baumann ('09 draftee), Greg Billo ('08 draftee), Gary Cuevas, Deybi De La Cruz, Ryan Dennick ('09 draftee), Carlos Fortuna, Keaton Hayenga (one to watch), Chase Hentges, Jaeson Hudnall, Scott Kelley ('09 draftee), Lamb (also one to watch, 5th rounder in '08), Dusty Odenbach, Leondy Perez, Brett Richardson (had nice '08) and Onassis Sirrett. Former Blue Jay Nelson Liriano is managing Burlington. The Rays roster features '09 Rays draftees 7th round OF Cody Rogers and a couple others from this year's draft.

Rookie - AZL: Royals 10, Padres 5 (Sun.)

DH Stovall 2-3, BB, SF, 2 RBI, RS -- .667, nice pro debut
1B G. Baldwin 1-4, BB, HR, 2 RBI, 2 K, 2 RS -- .250, also nice debut
3B Figueroa 1-3, S, SF, 3 RBI, K -- .333
RF Dickerson 0-3, 2 BB, RBI, RS -- .000, rehab
CF Llanos 2-5, K, 2 RS -- .400
SS A. Martinez 1-3, BB, K, 2 RS, SB -- .333

Avinazar 3 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, BB, 3 K -- 9.82 ERA
Folmer 1 2/3 IP, ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K -- 5.40 ERA, 4 Ks in 5 outs is nice pro debut
Bavera 2 2/3 IP, H, 2 BB, 2 K, WP -- W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, win in pro debut
Worrell IP, K -- 0.00 ERA, also trouble-free debut

*** The Royals scored 6 late runs to win their season opener. They stranded 2 in the 1st and SP Willian Avinazar allowed 2 Padre runs in the 1st on 2 hits and a walk. Joe Dickerson took a bases loaded walk in the 3rd, Ryan Stovall picked up his first pro RBI with a sac fly and Yunior Figueroa added a sac fly to make it 3-2 Royals. Avinazar and Richard Folmer allowed 3 runs in the 4th on 4 hits as the Padres came back to take a 5-3 lead. Folmer stranded 2 in the 5th and Geoff Baldwin walked and scored his first pro run on an error in the 6th to cut it to 5-4. Claudio Bavera stranded the bases loaded in the 6th and Baldwin stepped up in the 8th and slammed his 1st pro homer for a 2-run shot to give the Royals the lead. A run-scoring Padre error, Stovall RBI single, and 2-run Figueroa single made it 10-5 in the 9th and Josh Worrell pitched a perfect 9th in his pro debut. RP Stalyn Valdez took the loss and his 1st blown save with 2 ER allowed in 2 IP to set a 9.00 ERA. Starter John Hussey pitched a hitless 1st before getting pulled. 3B Dan Garce was 2-3 with a walk, double, RBI and RS and also committed 2 errors. The Pads had 5 errors in the game.

Royals 9, Dodgers 8 (11, Mon.)

DH Stovall 3-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI (4), K, 2 RS, SB -- .625, off to fine start
CF Llanos 3-5, 2 RBI, K, RS, SB -- .500
3B Figueroa 2-5, RBI (4), RS, 2 E -- .375
2B Piterson 2-5, RBI, K, 2 RS, SB -- .250
RF Dickerson 1-5, RBI (2), RS -- .125
LF S. Cabrera 0-3, HBP, RBI, 2 K, RS -- .125
1B G. Baldwin 0-5, 5 K -- .111, ouch

Amador 4 IP, 7 R (6 ER), 5 H, 4 BB, 4 K, 2 HRA, WP -- 13.50 ERA
L. Roberts 3 IP, H, BB, 2 K -- 0.00 ERA
S. De La Rosa 3 IP, ER, 2 BB, 3 K, WP, balk -- 3.00 ERA
Diaz IP, H, 2 K -- W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, one appearance, 1 win in career

*** The Royals bounced back from a 5-run Dodger rally, lost a lead, tied it in the 9th, then won in 11. Royals SP Ezequiel Amador gave up back-to-back homers to 1B Clay Calfee (his 1st, a 2-run shot) and LF Nick Akins (his 2nd) in the 2nd then allowed 2 more runs to come in on a wild pitch and groundout later in the inning to give the Dodgers a 5-0 lead. Ryan Stovall led off the Royals 2nd with a double and scored on a Yunior Figueroa single before Santos Cabrera drove in Figueroa with a groundout to cut it to 5-2. Two Dodger errors started the Royals 3rd and Joe Dickerson hit an RBI single before Stovall doubled home 2 to tie the game. Stovall scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-5 Royals. Amador gave up 2 runs in the 5th on 2 hits and 2 walks before getting pulled with 2 on and 0 out, but Lee Roberts got out of the inning without further damage. Alex Llanos hit a 2-out RBI single in the 7th to tie it at 7 but Starling De La Rosa threw a run-scoring wild pitch in the 8th to make it 8-7 Dodgers. The Royals stranded 2 in the 8th but Luis Piterson hit a 1-out single in the 9th, stole second and scored on a Llanos single to tie the game. The game stayed tied until the bottom of the 11th when Juan Polonia led off with a single and moved to second on a throwing error on the play. He stole third with 1 out and scored on a Piterson walkoff single to give the Royals the win. Dodgers RP Beyker Fructuoso took the loss with an unearned run allowed over 1 1/3 IP to fall to 0-1 with a 0.00 ERA. SP Andres Santiago worked 5 innings of 6 runs (1 ER) allowed on 5 hits with 6 Ks to move his ERA to 1.80. DH Pedro Tavarez was 2-3 with a walk and RS to move to .714. Calfee's HR gave him 2 RBI (5) as he dropped to .300 with a 1-5 night.

The Royals are 2-0 and lead the AZL West. They play the 1-1 Indians tonight. The roster features catchers Edul Escobar (up from Dominican league last season), Mauricio Matos ('08 draftee) and Henry Moreno (another DSLer, hit for .914 OPS in Dominican last season), infielders Geoff Robinson ('09 10th rounder), Yunior Figueroa (hit .304 in DSL last season), Edwin Henriquez, Adrian Martinez (up from DSL), Luis Piterson (DSL), and '09 draftee Ryan Stovall (one to watch), outfielders Santos Cabrera (DSL), Alex Llanos ('08 draftee struggled somewhat in debut), Miguel Mariano, Juan Polonia (DSL) and NDFA Eric Shortell along with rehabbing Joe Dickerson. The pitching staff includes NDFA Jack Adams, Ezequiel Amador (DSL), Willian Avinazar (pitched well in DSL last season), Geronimo Batista (DSL), '09 draftee Claudio Bavera, Starling De La Rosa (DSL), '09 draftee Eric Diaz, '09 draftee Richard Folmer, Luis Ortega (also pitched well last season in DSL), NDFA Lee Roberts, Tyler Sample ('08 draftee, one to watch), Leonel Santiago (pitched well in DSL in '08), Jacob Theis and '09 draftee Josh Worrell.


The Royals signed Arkansas IF tandem Scott Lyons and Ben Tschepikow. Both are headed to Arizona to get over some nagging injuries then are headed to Idaho Falls.