Royals on the Farm 7/15

AAA - Omaha: IL 6, PCL 5

Hughes 1/3 IP, K

The O-Royals are 36-53. A 4-game home set with the Memphis Redbirds (44-45, AAA Cards) starts tonight with Kyle Davies (3-1, 1.88) facing an as-yet unnamed Redbirds SP. Omaha is 2-6 versus Memphis this season. Hughes was the third pitcher for the PCL on the night and struck out his batter on 3 pitches. The stud for the PCL in the game, despite an error, was former Royal Esteban German, who was 3-4 with a double, HR, 4 RBI and stole a base. Former Royal Justin Huber was 0-2 with a sac fly and RBI for the IL.

AA - NW Arkansas: off day

The Naturals are 12-5 and 2 1/2 games up on first. A 4-game set at the Springfield Cardinals (10-8) starts tonight as Rowdy Hardy makes his '09 AA debut versus Cards righty Scott Gorgen (0-1, 10.80). The Nats are 9-7 versus the Cards.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Myrtle Beach 6, Blue Rocks 5

2B Giavotella 2-5, 3B (7), 2 RBI (31), RS -- .241
C Eigsti 2-4, RBI (23), K, 2 RS, PB (12) -- .211
CF D. Robinson 2-5, RS, SB (41) -- .228
1B A. Jimenez 2-4, picked off -- .100
3B Moustakas 0-5, RBI (53), K -- .262
DH C. Robinson 0-3, BB, K -- .281
* RF Paulo Orlando had an OF assist at second.

Paulino 7 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, BB, 4 K, 2 HRA -- 4.87 ERA
Villa 2 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, BB, 3 K -- L, 2-6, 4.35 ERA

*** Myrtle Beach used a 2-run 9th to take yet another game from Wilmington. Eduardo Paulino served up a 2-run homer to LF Cody Johnson (his 23rd, he's been hard on the Rocks this season) in the 1st but Johnny Giavotella hit an RBI triple and scored on a Mike Moustakas groundout in the bottom of the inning to tie it. Pelicans DH Gerardo Rodriguez led off the 2nd with his 2nd homer for MB and the Pelicans added a run in the 6th to take a 4-2 lead. Ryan Eigsti hit an RBI single in the 7th but a pickoff of Antonio Jimenez would cost the Rocks as Eigsti scored on an error to tie it instead of score the go-ahead run. The Rocks stranded 2 in the 8th and Kelvin Villa gave up a 2-out, 2-run triple to C Jesus Sucre in the 9th to give the Pelicans the lead. Giavotella hit a 2-out RBI single in the 9th to keep the Rocks' hopes alive but Moustakas flew out to end it. RP Pat Currin allowed an ER over 2 2/3 IP for the win to move to 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA. Starter Jose Ortegano worked 5 IP of 2 ER allowed on 4 hits with 3 Ks to move his ERA to 3.82. Three Pelicans had 2 hits and Sucre and Johnson had 2 RBI each. Johnson's gave him 64 on the season. If Dayton Moore is still around in 5 years, he'll pick Johnson up after he's crapped out in AAA.

The Rocks are 8-11 and 4 1/2 games back. The Pelicans go for the sweep tonight as lefty Richard Sullivan (2-5, 4.16) faces Jason Godin (1-0, 2.36). The Rocks are 3-11 in their last 14 home games.

A - Burlington: Beloit 9, Bees 3

LF Van Stratten 3-5, RBI (37), K, SB (15) -- .317
3B Taylor 3-4, RS, E (6) -- .278
CF Norris 2-4, 2B (2), 2 K, RS -- .248
C Bonilla 1-4, RBI (21), PB (8) -- .220
1B Hosmer 0-4, BB, 2 K -- .257, both he and Moustakas were parts of a recent BP feature for top 100 prospects who have fallen short this season, great
RF Francis 1-4, 2B (18), RS, OF assist at second -- .270
SS Molina 1-3, BB, K, E -- .333, Burlington debut

Montgomery 4 IP, 6 R (4 ER), 6 H, 2 BB, 3 K, HRA, WP -- L, 2-3, 2.25 ERA, roughest night yet
J. Garcia 2 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 4 H, 3 K -- 4.47 ERA
R. Pena IP, H, K -- 3.52 ERA
J. Thompson 2 IP, H, BB, 2 K -- 2.57 ERA

*** Both teams had 12 hits but Beloit produced much more on the scoreboard to deal Mike Montgomery a loss. The Snappers scratched out a run thanks to a wild pitch and passed ball in the 1st as the Bees stumbled out of the gate, then added 2 in the 2nd on a solo homer by C Daniel Rams (his 1st) and a Yeldrys Molina error. The Bees stranded 2 in the 2nd and 3rd and Beloit scored 3 runs in the 4th on 3 hits and a walk to make it 6-0. Nick Van Stratten singled home a run in the 5th to get Burlington on the board but Justin Garcia gave up 3 runs in the Beloit 6th to make it 9-1. Jose Bonilla singled home a run in the 8th and another run scored on a wild pitch but that was all the Bees would get. Starter Liam Hendriks got the win for Beloit with 6 2/3 IP of an ER allowed on 9 hits and a walk with 4 Ks to improve to 1-1 with a 1.46 ERA. Four Snappers had multiple hits led by a 3-hit night from 2B James Beresford, who also drove in 3 runs (23) and hit 2 doubles (5) and stole his 9th base in moving to .295. Rams had 2 hits, scored 3 times and had his 5th passed ball to move to .300.

The Bees are 8-10 and 4 1/2 games out. Game 2 is tonight as Sam Runion (3-5, 6.11) faces Snappers righty Brad Tippett (7-3, 2.63).

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Helena 17, Chukars 5

DH Aparicio 2-4, 2B (5), HR, RBI (7), 2 RS -- .259
RF Caldwell 1-3, BB, HR (2), 2 RBI (10), K, RS -- .238
CF H. Richardson 1-4, 2B (5), RBI (5), K -- .393
2B Franco 0-4, RBI (11), K -- .205
3B-SS D. Batista 0-4, 4 K -- .294, ouch
PH-1B Theriot 1-3, K, RS -- .269
C S. Perez 1-4, 2B (4), RS -- .302
LF Cooper 0-2, HBP, K, E (3) -- .121

Marimon 1 1/3 IP, 6 ER, 4 H, 4 BB, K -- L, 0-2, 8.36 ERA, yowza
Lafferty 1 1/3 IP, 5 R (3 ER), 5 H, 2 BB, K, WP -- 3.48 ERA
Hodge 3 1/3 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 4 H, BB, K -- 5.23 ERA
Keating IP, 2 ER, 2 H, BB, 2 K -- 4.63 ERA
Shimek 2 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, 3 K -- 6.00 ERA

*** Helena lit up all five Chukar pitchers at one point or another, but did most of their damage with 12 runs in the first 3 innings. Sugar Ray Marimon gave up a 2-out, 2-run single to 2B Cutter Dykstra in the 1st and the rout had just begun. Helena got to Marimon and Brendan Lafferty for 4 runs in the 2nd on 4 hits and 3 walks, then scored 6 runs in the 3rd on 5 hits, a walk, a wild pitch, and a J.D. Alfaro error at short to make it 12-0 off Lafferty and Mitch Hodge. Helena scored another run in the 5th off Hodge but Hilton Richardson hit a 2-out RBI double in the 5th to break up the shutout. Patrick Keating gave up 2 runs in the 7th and Angel Franco hit an RBI groundout in the 8th. Scott Shimek gave up 2 runs in the 9th to make it 17-2 and the Chukars scored 3 in the 9th on a 2-run homer by Allen Caldwell (his 2nd) and Julio Aparicio's 1st homer as a Chukar. Starter Nick Bucci worked 7 IP of an ER allowed on 2 hits and a walk with 9 Ks in a masterful outing to move to 4-0 with a 3.86 ERA. Every Brewer had a hit and 4 had multiple hits. RF Mike Brownstein was 4-5 with a walk, triple, 2 RBI (11), his 6th SB and 4 RS to move to .313 and 3B Kyle Dhanani was 4-5 with his 3rd SB, 3rd double, 2 RBI (8) and 2 RS to move to .214. Dykstra and LF Chris Ellington drove in 3 runs each and two more drove in 2 runs.

The Chukars are 12-7 and a game up on first. Game 2 is tonight as Pernell Halliman (2-0, 4.35) faces Brewers prospect righty Jake Odorizzi (1-2, 3.86).

Rookie - Burlington: Pulaski 9, B-Royals 6

CF G. Beltre 3-4, 2 2B (4), 3 RBI (10), RS, SB (6), OF assist at second -- .250
RF Del Rosario 2-3, BB, K, 2 RS, E -- .372
3B Culver 1-4, 2B (2), 2 RBI (8), K, 3 E (5) -- .261
SS Espinal 1-5, RBI (4), 2 K, RS -- .263
2B R. Wood 0-2, 2 BB, HBP, K, 2 RS, SB (4) -- .181
DH F. Cruz 1-4 -- .241, not getting much PT at C

Lamb 1 1/3 IP, 6 ER, 4 H, 4 BB, K, 2 HRA, WP -- L, 1-2, 5.31 ERA
Odenbach 2 2/3 IP, 3 R (1 ER), 7 H, 2 K -- 0.63 ERA
B. Richardson 2 IP, 4 H, BB, K -- 7.71 ERA
Sirrett 2 IP, H, 4 K -- 3.18 ERA

*** Pulaski scored all 9 runs in the first 4 innings and held on to win thanks in part to 4 Royal errors. Ryan Wood led off the 1st with a walk, stole second, advanced on a balk and scored on a Yowill Espinal groundout to give the Royals a run without the benefit of a hit in the 1st. John Lamb, however, gave up a 2-run homer to 3B Vinnie Catricala (his 4th) in the bottom of the inning to turn the lead around. Catricala came back up in the 2nd and hit a grand slam for his 5th of the season and 2nd of the game to make it Catricala 6, B-Royals 1. Geulin Beltre hit a 2-run double in the 3rd and Malcom Culver hit an RBI groundout to cut it to 6-4. Unfortunately, Dusty Odenbach and the defense couldn't keep it that close as the Mariners scored 2 runs in the 3rd on 3 hits, a passed ball and Culver throwing error to make it 8-4. Four more hits scored a run in the 4th before Odenbach stranded 2. Brett Richardson left 2 on in the 5th and the bases full in the 6th. Burlington cut the lead to 3 with 2 runs in the 8th on RBI doubles by Beltre and Culver but wouldn't get another baserunner. RP Anthony Vasquez got the win with 2 ER allowed over 4 IP to move to 2-0 with a 3.21 ERA. Starter Nolan Diaz worked 3 IP of 4 ER allowed on 6 hits and a walk with 2 Ks and a balk to move his ERA to 4.85. Four M's had multiple hits as SS Gabe Noriega was 5-5 with 2 doubles (8), his 2nd triple, 10th RBI and 2 RS to move to .303. Catricala was 3-5 with his 2 HR, 6 RBI (16) and 2 RS to move to .289 and RF Mark McGonigle also had 3 hits for Pulaski.

The Royals are 7-15 and 7 games back, in the cellar of the Appy East. Game 2 is tonight with no announced starters on the team site yet.

Rookie - AZL: off day

The Royals are 6-14 and 7 games out. They play the 8-12 Brewers tonight.