Royals on the Farm 7/29

Fairly late post today, life got in the way...the Royals and Luke Hochevar got whipped by Baltimore, and the Royals traded cash to Detroit for OF Josh Anderson, which probably means Mitch Maier is headed back to Omaha, perhaps for good. I think it's telling that Detroit sold him within the division, surely they wouldn't do that if they thought he was gonna do any damage. But he is a former Brave and Astro, which makes him much more attractive to Dayton Moore and Astros-owner-buddy-KC-owner David Glass. Will Teahen get dealt to the Cubs? That's the rumor. I'm hoping for SS Darwin Barney in the deal, but will probably get 2 A-ball pitchers coming into the organization instead.

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 5, Iowa 0 (Omaha's 14th shutout, best in PCL)

DH Hulett 3-4, 2B (21), HR (7), RBI (42), RS -- .316
SS Hernandez 2-3, BB, 2B (5), RBI (14), RS -- .284
CF Raines Jr. 2-4, RBI (9), K -- .214
C House 2-3, BB, 2B (17), RS -- .253
2B Falu 1-5, RBI (33), K -- .260
3B Metcalf 1-3, BB, RBI (46), RS -- .222
1B Ka'aihue 0-2, 2 BB, RS -- .260, leads PCL with 80 walks
RF Parraz 0-4, 2 K -- .000
* The Royals turned 4 DPs.

DiNardo 6 IP, 8 H, BB, 4 K -- W, 7-4, 3.26 ERA, been involved in 5 of Omaha's 14 shutouts
Marte 2 IP, H, 2 BB, K -- 3.10 ERA
Waechter IP, H -- 4.91 ERA

*** Lenny DiNardo helped Omaha to its 14th shutout along with assistance from Victor Marte and Doug Waechter. Omaha left the bases loaded in the 1st but took the lead on an Irving Falu RBI single in the 2nd. DiNardo stranded 2 in the 3rd and Travis Metcalf and Tim Raines Jr. hit RBI singles in the bottom of the inning before Metcalf was nabbed at the plate to end the inning. Tug Hulett went solo in the 4th for his 7th homer of the season to make it 4-0 O-Royals. Luis Hernandez finished the scoring with an RBI double in the 8th. Iowa ended up stranding 8 in the game. Starter Greg Reinhard took the loss with 2 2/3 IP of 3 ER on 5 hits and 3 walks with 2 Ks to drop to 2-4 with a 4.89 ERA. 2B Aaron Miles had 3 hits and Barney and C Chris Robinson had 2 hits for the Cubs. Robinson is hitting .325, while Barney is hitting .241. CF Matt Camp had 4 OF assists as the Royals helped Iowa out on the basepaths.

The O-Royals are 43-60. Game 3 is under way as Dusty Hughes (0-1, 3.64) started against Iowa lefty J.R. Mathes (9-5, 3.93). OF Chris Lubanski has been added back to the Omaha roster after ripping it up in rehab in the AZL.

AA - NW Arkansas: Tulsa 2, Naturals 1 (7/G1)

C V. Wilson 1-2, BB, RBI (19) -- .349
CF Duarte 1-3, 2B (11) -- .252
2B Mertins 0-3, K -- .283
SS Bianchi 0-3, K -- .358
RF Lough 1-3, K -- .351

Teaford 6 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 2 K, HRA, pickoff -- L, 3-4, 4.99 ERA

*** Both teams had only 4 hits and 2 Tulsa runs in the 2nd proved enough for the win in the first of two Wednesday. NWA stranded 2 in the 2nd and Tulsa moved ahead on a 2-run homer by DH Cole Garner (his 10th) as one pitch ended up meaning a loss for Everett Teaford. Tulsa starter Brandon Durden retired 13 of 14 going into the 7th but the first two Nats reached to bring in RP Andrew Johnston. Vance Wilson came through with an RBI single to put the tying run at third with 1 out but David Lough was thrown out at the plate on a fielder's choice and Marc Maddox hit a game-ending forceout as Johnston got his 27th save. Durden allowed an ER on 3 hits and 2 walks with 4 Ks over 6 IP to move to 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA. Garner's HR gave him 2 RBI (45). Four Drillers had a hit each.

Naturals 5, Tulsa 1 (7/G2)

RF Lough 2-3, HR (4), 2 RBI (17), RS -- .361
1B C. Smith 2-4, 2B (20), K, RS -- .252
DH V. Wilson 1-3, BB, HR (6), RBI (20), K, RS -- .349
2B Mertins 0-3, SF, RBI (44), K -- .281
CF Dyson 0-4, RBI (7) -- .269
C Clark 1-3, RS -- .328

Godin 3 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, K, WP -- 3.00 ERA
Hartsock 3 IP, 3 H, BB, E (3) -- W, 1-1, 3.64 ERA
Nicoll 1/3 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, K -- 3.62 ERA
Abreu 2/3 IP, K -- SV, 2, 0.00 ERA

*** The Naturals turned the tables on Tulsa in the nightcap. Vance Wilson hit a 2-out solo shot (his 6th) in the 1st and, after Corey Smith doubled, David Lough ripped a 2-run shot (his 4th at AA) to make it 3-0 Naturals. Jason Godin pitched 3 scoreless frames and was followed by 3 more scoreless innings from Aaron Hartsock. Jarrod Dyson hit an RBI groundout in the 5th and a Kurt Mertins sac fly made it 5-0. Chris Nicoll allowed a run in the 7th before Juan Abreu shut the door for his 2nd save. Tulsa SP Andy Graham worked 4 IP of 3 ER allowed on 3 hits and 5 Ks to take the loss and drop to 2-4 with a 5.40 ERA. 3B Dan Mayora had 2 hits and DH Jeff Kindel drove in his 45th run.

NWA is 21-11 and 2 games up on first. The series finale is tonight as Matt Kniginyzky (4-7, 5.20) is taking on Tulsa righty Chaz Roe (3-2, 3.50). Baseball America recently reported Joe Dickerson was placed on the restricted list, which I assume leaves him the opportunity to come back in 2010 if he wants, rather than stay retired, if he did so.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 2, Lynchburg 1

3B Moustakas 2-4, 2B (24), K -- .250
RF Van Stratten 1-3, HR, RBI (2), K, RS -- .129
CF D. Robinson 0-4, K, CS (14) -- .225
2B Giavotella 0-4, K, RS -- .252
DH C. Robinson 0-3, HBP -- .285
1B Hosmer 0-4 -- .235

Caldera 7 IP, 8 H, BB, 3 K, WP -- 5.36 ERA, good start
Z. Peterson 2 IP, UER, 2 H, BB, K -- BS, 1, W, 1-0, 0.82 ERA

*** The game was tied going into the 9th before a wild pitch ended it. Alex Caldera left the bases full in the 1st then stranded 2 more in the 2nd and 4th. Lynchburg SP Jeff Locke had faced the minimum over 4 2/3 IP until Nick Van Stratten stroked his 1st homer at the level to give the Rocks the lead. Zach Peterson had 2 on with 2 out in the 8th when a Matt Morizio throwing error brought in the tying run. The Rocks loaded the bases with none out in the 9th and a 1-out wild pitch scored Johnny Giavotella to end it. RP Tom Boleska took the loss with an unearned run allowed over 2 1/3 IP to drop to 1-1 with a 0.68 ERA. Locke allowed an ER on a hit with 7 Ks over 6 IP to move his ERA to 5.42. RF Erik Huber had 3 hits for the 'Cats and CF Alex Presley had 2 hits and stole 2 bases (8).

The Rocks are 18-14 and 3 1/2 games back. A 4-game home set with the Salem Red Sox (17-15) started tonight as Mario Santiago (5-11, 4.21) took on Salem righty Kyle Weiland (3-8, 3.94). Gil Meche is set to make a rehab start for the Rocks Sunday.

A - Burlington: Bees 3, West Michigan 1

LF Ortiz 2-5, RBI (5), SB (2), CS -- .243
CF Norris 2-5, SB (35) -- .261
DH Griffin 2-4, 2B (6), CS (2) -- .323
1B D. Wood 1-4, HR (5), RBI (36), RS -- .250
SS R. Wood 1-3, SF, 2B, RBI, K -- .333, A debut
3B Taylor 0-3, BB, SB (4) -- .253
RF Francis 0-4, 2 K -- .258
C Bonilla 1-3, BB, RS -- .222

Melville 5 IP, ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 8 K -- 3.92 ERA
Odenbach 2 IP, 3 H, BB, K -- W, 1-0, 6.75 ERA
Coleman 2 IP, BB, K -- SV, 1, 0.00 ERA, first pro save

*** Tim Melville didn't get the run support for the win but pitched well as Burlington evened the series with the Whitecaps. Melville stranded 2 in the 2nd and the Bees took the lead in the 3rd on an Adrian Ortiz RBI groundout. The Whitecaps got a sac fly in the 4th to tie it and the game stayed tied at 1 into the 7th. Ryan Wood hit a sac fly for his 1st RBI as a Bee in the 7th but the Bees had 2 guys thrown out at the plate in the inning. David Wood hit a 2-out solo homer (his 5th) in the 8th to make it 3-1. Louis Coleman stranded 2 in the 8th and then pitched a perfect 9th for his 1st pro save. RP Victor Larez took the loss with an ER allowed in an inning to drop to 4-6 with a 4.16 ERA. Starter Luke Putkonen allowed an ER on 4 hits and 2 walks with 3 Ks over 6 IP to move his ERA to 3.68. SS Gustavo Nunez had 2 hits for the Whitecaps to move to .331.

The Bees are 14-18 after falling in today's series finale. Riquy Pena took the loss after Mike Lehmann made the start. IF Antonio Jimenez hit the DL to make room for Ryan Wood.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Orem 9, Chukars 3

LF Testa 2-4, K, RS -- .309
C S. Perez 1-4, RBI (16), K, RS -- .277
DH Theriot 1-3, BB, RBI (12), K -- .340
SS D. Batista 1-1, CS (4) -- .311, left in 3rd
CF Cooper 0-4, K -- .146
* RF Allen Caldwell had an OF assist at first.

Morgan IP, 5 R (4 ER), 4 H, BB, 2 K, WP, E (3) -- L, 2-1, 5.51 ERA
Shimek 4 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, K -- 6.75 ERA
Folmer 3 IP, 2 H, 4 K -- 1.50 ERA
Keating IP, 2 K -- 3.24 ERA

*** Ryan Morgan was battered in the 1st and the Chukars didn't recover. Four XBH, a walk and wild pitch did the damage for Orem for 5 runs in the 1st and the Owlz got to Scott Shimek for 3 in the 3rd to make it 8-0. Salvador Perez hit an RBI groundout in the 4th but Orem got the run back in the 5th. The scoring was finished with 2 Chukar runs in the 6th on a Ben Theriot RBI single and run-scoring Orem error. RP Jeremy Berg pitched 2 scoreless innings for the win to move to 1-0 with a spotless ERA. Starter Carson Andrew worked 4 innings of an unearned run on 3 hits and 2 walks with 4 K to move his ERA to 1.85. Four Owlz had multiple hits, including 3 with 3 hits. LF Richard Cates drove in 3 runs (20) and made his 2nd error while 2 others had 2 RBI.

The Chukars are 18-14 and 3 games out with time running out on the first half. Orem goes for the sweep tonight as Sugar Ray Marimon (0-3, 8.14) faces Owlz righty Orangel Arenas (1-2, 4.91).

Rookie - Burlington: Danville 6, B-Royals 3

LF Pickett 4-4, BB, RS, SB (11) -- .287, has picked it up nicely
RF D. Rodriguez 2-4, RBI, 2 K, SB (5), E -- .179
SS Espinal 1-4, S, 3B (3), RBI (8) -- .222
2B V. Soto 1-4, 3B (2), RBI (9), RS, E (5) -- .176
C F. Cruz 0-4, PB (7) -- .253

Hayenga 4 2/3 IP, 4 R (2 ER), 5 H, 3 BB, 2 K, E (3) -- L, 2-4, 3.18 ERA
B. Richardson 2 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, K -- 6.00 ERA
Hudnall 2 IP, H, BB, 3 K -- 8.18 ERA

*** Danville moved to 6-0 versus the Royals this season with the win. The Braves got 2 runs off Keaton Hayenga in the 1st thanks in part to 3 Royal errors. Danville added a run in the 4th and another in the 5th. The Royals stranded 2 in the 6th and the Braves polished off their scoring with 2 in the 7th. Braves SP Matt Crim had a 3-hit shutout going with 2 out in the 7th when the Royals got 2 runs on a Victor Soto RBI triple and Derek Rodriguez RBI single. Yowill Espinal hit a 2-out RBI triple in the 9th but that was it. Crim allowed 2 ER on 7 hits and a walk with 4 Ks over 7 IP to improve to 6-0 with a 3.65 ERA. 1B Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg had 2 hits and 2 RBI (31) to drop to .413 while DH Osman Marval had 2 hits, a walk and his 7th RBI to improve to .194.

The B-Royals are 10-26 after falling again to Danville today as the Braves got the 4-game sweep. Tyler Sample took the loss. IF Gerard Hall got a whopping 2 pro career games in before breaking his ankle Tuesday to go down for the season. He was a NDFA out of Old Dominion.

Rookie - AZL: Mariners 7, Royals 6

RF Llanos 4-5, 2 RS, SB (12), CS (5), OF assist at home -- .318, let's see what he can do at Burlington or IF
1B G. Baldwin 2-4, 2 2B (6), RBI (15), K, RS -- .316
CF Howard 1-5, 2B (2), 2 RBI (6), 2 K, RS -- .209
C E. Escobar 1-2, RBI (6), K, PB (6), 2 pickoffs -- .286
LF S. Cabrera 0-3, SF, RBI (6), 2 K -- .207
2B Tschepikow 1-3, picked off -- .333, pro debut
2B Trapp 0-1, S, K -- .370
DH L. Adams 1-3, BB, 2 K, 2 SB (3) -- .257

L. Santiago 5 IP, ER, 5 H, BB, 7 K, 2 WP, E -- 4.91 ERA
G. Batista IP, 2 UER, 2 H, BB, 3 K -- BS, 2, 5.06 ERA
J. Adams 1 1/3 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 2 K, HRA -- L, 0-1, 2.77 ERA, first runs allowed of career
Worrell 1 2/3 IP, H, 3 K -- 2.35 ERA

*** A 3-run M's 8th helped the Royals blow their third lead of the night. Edul Escobar put the Royals on top with an RBI single in the 3rd but the Mariners tied it in the 4th despite an OF assist at the plate from Alex Llanos. Santos Cabrera hit a sac fly in the 4th to make it 2-1 Royals and Geoff Baldwin hit a 2-out RBI double in the 5th to make it 3-1. Geronimo Batista relieved Leonel Santiago to start the 6th and allowed 2 runs thanks in part to a Luis Piterson throwing error behind him to tie the game. The M's took the lead on a run off Jack Adams in the 7th but Anthony Howard hit a 2-run double in the 7th and scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-4 Royals. Adams gave up a 2-run homer to 3B Rudy van Heydoorn (his 2nd) in the 8th to tie it and Josh Worrell gave up the go-ahead RBI double later in the inning. The Royals didn't threaten again. RP Jeff Breedlove got his 5th save as RP Jonathan Arias got the win despite his 1st blown save and 3 ER allowed in an inning of work to move to 1-0 with a 6.75 ERA. Rehabbing RP Chad Cordero pitched a scoreless 1st. 1B Evan Sharpley and LF Mark Angelo had 3 hits for the M's while DH Henry Contreras had 2 hits.

The Royals are 1-3. They had tonight off.