Royals on the Farm 7/25

Good job, Luke Hochevar.

AAA - Omaha: Round Rock 4, O-Royals 2

SS Falu 2-4 -- .260
LF Thorman 1-3, SF, 2B (11), RBI (46), K, RS -- .283
1B Ka'aihue 1-3, BB, K -- .264
3B Lisson 0-3 -- .252
RF Hulett 0-2, 2 BB, RS -- .300

Hughes 3 IP, ER, 4 H, 4 BB, 2 K, pickoff -- 3.64 ERA
Yabuta 3 IP, BB, 3 K -- 3.48 ERA
Rosa 3 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, BB, K -- L, 1-7, 5.12 ERA, breaks string of decent outings

*** A 3-run Round Rock 9th sealed Omaha's fate Saturday. Dusty Hughes stranded the bases loaded in the 2nd then gave up a run in the 3rd before leaving the bases loaded again. Scott Thorman scored on a 2-out, bases-loaded wild pitch in the 5th to tie it but Omaha would strand the other 2. Round Rock had gone hitless since the 3rd but finally got to Carlos Rosa in the 9th as 3 hits and a walk drove in 3 runs to make it 4-1. Thorman hit a sac fly in the bottom of the 9th but that was all Omaha would get. RP Casey Daigle picked up his 3rd save in relief of Yorman Bazardo, who worked 8 IP of an ER on 5 hits and a walk with 3 Ks to improve to 9-4 with a 2.76 ERA. RF Reggie Abercrombie had 3 hits and his 35th RBI in improving to .267. He also scored twice. C Lou Santangelo had 2 RBI (21).

Omaha is 40-59. Game 3 is ongoing as Kyle Davies (3-2, 2.16) faces Express lefty Mark McLemore (3-5, 3.76). The Royals are making the move to try Tony Pena Jr. as a reliever. He's headed to Arizona to work on the transition. Starter Stephen Randolph was scratched, as he left the team to take an offer to pitch in Korea. That's telling about what he thought of the Royals.

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 12, Springfield 3

3B Mertins 3-6, 2 RS -- .289
1B C. Smith 2-4, BB, 2B (19), HR (18), 4 RBI (66), K, 2 RS -- .256
DH V. Wilson 2-5, BB, 2B (7), HR (5), RBI (16), K, 2 RS -- .337
RF Lough 1-5, 2 RBI (10), 3 K, RS -- .321
2B Maddox 1-5, 2 RBI (7), RS -- .242
CF Dyson 1-3, 2 BB, S, RBI (6), K, 2 RS -- .278
C Clark 1-5, PB (2) -- .315

Kniginyzky 7 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 3 K, HRA, WP -- W, 4-7, 5.20 ERA, nice start
de la Vara 2 IP, ER, 2 H -- SV, 2, 4.55 ERA

*** The Naturals scored 9 late runs, including 7 in the 9th, to crack open a tight game with Springfield. Vance Wilson got things started with a 2-out solo homer (his 5th) in the 2nd. Matt Kniginyzky gave the run back in the 1st but settled down to blank the Cardinals over the next 5 frames. NWA loaded the bases with 2 outs in the 3rd and got a 2-run double from Corey Smith to take a 3-1 lead. The score stayed that way until Kniginyzky gave up a solo homer to LF Steven Hill (his 15th) in the 7th to cut the lead to 1. Corey Smith stepped up and hit a 2-run homer for his 18th of the season in the 8th to make it 5-2, and the Nats finished it off in the 9th. The 7-run rally consisted of a bases-loaded run-scoring wild pitch, 2-run David Lough single, 2-run Marc Maddox single, bases-loaded walk by Jarrod Dyson and a run-scoring Cardinal error. Springfield got a run in the 9th before Gilbert de la Vara finished the game for his 2nd save. Cards SP Ryan Kulik took the loss with 3 ER allowed on 6 hits and a walk with 7 Ks over 6 IP to fall to 4-7 with a 5.15 ERA. 3B David Freese was 2-4 with his 1st error, and Hill's 2 RBI gave him 49 on the season. 1B Troy Glaus was 0-3 with a walk, K and error.

The Naturals are 18-9 and 2 games up on first. Game 3 is tonight as Rowdy Hardy (1-1, 2.77) takes on Cards righty Scott Gorgen (1-2, 5.17).

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 4, Kinston 3

3B Moustakas 2-5, 2 2B (23), 2 RBI (57), 2 K -- .244, hopefully breaks him out of funk
2B Giavotella 2-4, BB, 3B (8), RBI (35), RS -- .257, batting .343 in last 29 games
SS Seratelli 1-4, BB, RBI (24), 2 K, RS -- .281
DH C. Robinson 0-5, 2 K -- .279, cleanup spot blues continue
1B Hosmer 1-4, 2 K -- .300
RF Van Stratten 1-3, S, SB (2) -- .118

Santiago 6 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 7 K -- W, 5-11, 4.21 ERA
Chavez 1 2/3 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, K -- 2.12 ERA
Sisk IP, 2 BB -- SV, 10, 2.20 ERA

*** Mario Santiago pitched well and all 7 runs were scored in the 7th, which turned out lucky for Wilmington. Santiago stranded 2 in the 1st and 4th and finally got some run support after K-Tribe starter Eric Berger was pulled going into the 7th with a 3-hit shutout. Two 2-out singles set up an Anthony Seratelli RBI single followed by a Johnny Giavotella RBI single and Mike Moustakas 2-run double to make it 4-0 Rocks. Chris Chavez came on with 2 on and 1 out in the 7th and 2 2-out singles cut the lead to 4-3. Brandon Sisk stranded 2 in the 9th for his 10th save. RP Jonathan Holt allowed 4 ER over 2/3 of an inning to fall to 1-5 with a 5.40 ERA. Berger allowed 3 hits and 2 walks with 11 Ks over 6 IP to drop his ERA to 2.29. 2B Cord Phelps and SS Ron Rivas had 2 hits for Kinston while DH Lonnie Chisenhall drove in 2 runs (67).

The Rocks are 14-14 and 4 1/2 games out. The series is wrapping today as Mike Montgomery makes his Blue Rock debut versus righty Alex Perez (1-1, 1.42).

A - Burlington: Bees 3, Fort Wayne 2

SS Jimenez 2-3, RBI (22), RS -- .218
C Graterol 2-3, 2B -- .333
RF Francis 1-4, RBI (48), RS, CS (3) -- .264
CF-LF Ortiz 1-4, RBI (3), K, OF assist at home -- .286
2B F. Garcia 1-3, BB, RS, SB (23) -- .249
3B Taylor 1-4 -- .275

Baez 6 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 2 K -- W, 5-4, 3.57 ERA
B. Hardy 1 1/3 IP, 3 K -- 2.39 ERA
Thompson IP, H, BB -- SV, 5, 2.44 ERA

*** A 2-run rally in the 6th was the difference in the Bees victory as the TinCaps lost for only the 5th time in the second half. Manauris Baez allowed a run in the 2nd and another in the 4th as Ft. Wayne took a 2-0 lead. Adrian Ortiz got Burlington on the board with a 2-out RBI single in the 5th, although Juan Graterol was thrown out at home on the play to keep the TinCaps' 2-1 lead. Nick Francis tied it with an RBI forceout in the 6th and Antonio Jimenez came through with the go-ahead RBI single. Blaine Hardy stranded 2 inherited baserunners in the 7th and James Thompson got a timely double play in the 9th to finish off the win. Starter Chris Fetter took the loss for the TinCaps with 6 IP of 3 ER on 8 hits and 2 walks with 6 Ks to fall to 0-1 with a 3.48 ERA. SS Cole Figueroa was 3-4 with his 14th RBI to move to .331 and RF Yefri Carvajal had his 15th RBI and 2 OF assists in the loss.

The Bees are 12-15 and 4 games out. Game 2 is ongoing as Ivor Hodgson got called up from Idaho Falls to make his Burlington debut versus TinCaps righty Erik Davis (9-4, 4.05). Simply put, it hasn't gone well for Ivor.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Ogden 12, Chukars 8

3B Alfaro 3-4, BB, 2 2B (10), K, 2 RS -- .281
1B Morales 2-5, 2B (5), 3 RBI (12), 2 K, E (4) -- .286
SS D. Batista 2-5, HR (7), 2 RBI (27), 2 K, 2 RS -- .308
LF Testa 2-3, 2 BB, SB (3), picked off, E, OF assist at home -- .303
DH Caldwell 2-3, HBP, BB, 2B (2), 2 RS -- .259
RF Parraz 1-5, HR, 2 RBI (5), RS, OF assists at home and first -- .353
CF H. Richardson 0-5, RBI (9), RS, SB (11) -- .314
* IF stranded 10.

Marimon 3 IP, 5 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 4 K, HRA -- L, 0-3, 8.14 ERA
Lafferty 4 IP, 6 R (3 ER), 10 H, BB, 2 K, HRA -- 4.19 ERA, worst beating as a pro
Folmer IP, ER, H, BB, 2 K, HRA -- 2.00 ERA

*** Ogden had rallies of 6 and 4 runs en route to the win to knock the Chukars from their first-place perch. Deivy Batista got things started right for IF with a solo homer in the 1st for his 7th of the season and the Chukars added 2 in the 3rd on a 2-run homer by Jordan Parraz for his 1st of his rehab assignment. Sugar Ray Marimon got an OF assist from Carlo Testa to bail him out of a jam in the 3rd and Ogden got to him in a big way in the 4th. A 2-run double and then a 3-run homer by 1B Kyle Orr (his 2nd) chased Marimon and Brendan Lafferty allowed another run in the inning, although Parraz helped him out with another assist at the plate. Jason Morales hit a 2-run double in the 6th to cut it to 6-5 but Ogden got a run back in the bottom of the inning, then scored 4 in the 7th off Lafferty, including a solo homer by CF Jerry Sands (his 11th) to make it 11-5. Morales hit an RBI single in the 8th, Hilton Richardson hit an RBI forceout and Deivy Batista hit an RBI groundout to cut it to 11-8. Richard Folmer gave up a leadoff homer to LF Brian Cavazos-Galvez (his 10th) in the 8th and that finished the scoring, although IF did leave the bases full in the 9th. RP Graham Miller worked 2 1/3 IP with 2 ER allowed for the win to move to 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA. Starter Luis Vasquez allowed 3 ER on 7 hits with 2 Ks over 3 1/3 IP to move his ERA to 5.14. Six Raptors had multiple hits, including 3-hit nights from 3B Brian Ruggiano and SS Bryant Hernandez. Ruggiano and Orr drove in 3 runs each and C Gorman Erickson drove in 2. Ruggiano also stole 2 bases while Hernandez swiped 1.

The Chukars are 17-11 and now a game back of first. Game 2 is late this afternoon as John Lamb makes his IF debut versus an unannounced Ogden SP.

Rookie - Burlington: B-Royals 9, Greeneville 1 (completion of Fri. game)

LF Pickett 2-5, RBI (2), RS, CS (4) -- .237
1B Kuebler 1-2, 2 BB, HR (2), 2 RBI (7), K, 3 RS -- .198
C Moctezuma 1-3, BB, 2B (2), 2 RBI, RS, PB (2) -- .250
SS Espinal 1-4, BB, RBI (7), SB (8), CS (4) -- .234
CF G. Beltre 1-4, BB, HR (3), RBI (13), K, RS -- .221
2B-RF V. Soto 1-4, 2B (3), RBI (7), K, RS -- .155
RF Del Rosario 0-2, BB -- .327
PH-2B R. Wood 0-2 -- .183
DH F. Cruz 0-3, BB, RS -- .241

Hayenga 5 2/3 IP, ER, 5 H, BB, 5 K, 2 WP -- W, 2-3, 3.07 ERA
Fortuna 1/3 IP, K -- 4.12 ERA
D. De La Cruz 2 IP, 2 H, BB -- 3.86 ERA
B. Richardson IP, H -- 5.59 ERA

*** The Royals picked up where they left off Saturday to get a win over the Astros. Keaton Hayenga stranded 2 in the 4th and Jake Kuebler went long in the 5th for a 2-run shot for his 2nd of the season to make it 2-0 Burlington. Hayenga stranded 2 in the 5th but allowed a run in the 6th before being pulled. The Royals responded with 4 runs in the 7th on a 2-out rally of a Victor Soto RBI double, Jovan Pickett single that brought in 2 thanks to an Astro error and a Yowill Espinal RBI single that made it 6-1. Geulin Beltre clubbed his 3rd homer in the 8th and Miguel Moctezuma's 2-run double later in the inning finished the scoring. Starter Angel Gonzalez took the loss with 5 IP of 2 ER allowed on 3 hits and a walk with 4 Ks to drop to 2-2 with an 11.70 ERA. 1B Kyle Miller and RF Nathan Metroka had 2 hits for Greeneville.

B-Royals 11, Greeneville 6

C F. Cruz 4-5, 2B (7), 2 HR, 5 RBI (11), K, 2 RS, PB (6) -- .273
RF Soto 3-5, 2B (4), RBI (8), 2 RS, SB (7) -- .190
LF Pickett 2-6, RBI (3), K, RS, SB (7) -- .246
DH D. Cruz 2-4, BB, RBI (2), RS -- .238
3B Culver 2-5, 2B (3), RS -- .244
SS R. Wood 1-5, BB, 2B (4), RBI (6), RS -- .184
CF G. Beltre 1-5, S, 2B (5), RBI (14), K -- .220
1B Kuebler 1-3, 2 BB, RBI (8), K, 3 RS, 2 SB (4), E (12) -- .202
* The Royals stranded 11.

Sample 4 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 8 K, WP -- 6.28 ERA
Dennick 3 1/3 IP, 3 ER, H, 3 BB, 4 K, HRA -- W, 1-1, 3.94 ERA
Hudnall IP, BB, K, WP -- 10.00 ERA

*** The Royals scored in each inning from the 2nd through the 7th in drubbing the Astros again. Fernando Cruz hit an RBI single in the 2nd but the Royals left the bases full. Tyler Sample stranded 2 in the 2nd and the Royals struck for 5 in the 3rd on a Jake Kuebler RBI single, 2-run Cruz homer for his 1st of the season, Victor Soto RBI single and Diego Cruz RBI single to make it 6-0. Fernando Cruz stepped up again in the 4th with an RBI double and Jovan Pickett hit an RBI forceout in the 5th to push the lead to 8-0. Sample was pulled after giving up a 2-out, 3-run double in the 5th but Fernando Cruz got 1 run back with his 2nd homer of both the game and season in the 6th. Ryan Wood hit an RBI groundout followed by a Geulin Beltre RBI double to stretch the lead to 11-3 in the 7th. Greeneville's other 3 runs came on a 3-run homer by C Luis Alvarez (his 1st) in the 8th. Starter Carlos Quevedo took the loss with 6 ER allowed on 9 hits and a walk with 2 Ks over 2 1/3 IP to fall to 1-4 with a 7.22 ERA. LF Frank Almonte and Alvarez drove in 3 runs each.

Burlington is 10-21. The B-Royals go for the sweep tonight as an unannounced starter takes on Greeneville lefty Luis Cruz (1-2, 5.35).

Rookie - AZL: off day

The 10-18 Royals face the 13-15 Padres tonight.