Royals on the Farm 8/23 and 8/24 -- Dwyer debuts in IF

It was truly a shocker that the Royals brought in Kyle Farnsworth in a relatively close game Sunday and he ended up allowing 5 ER....there is nothing to get excited about in regard to the Royals at this point. Zack Greinke pitches well but gets no run support, Billy Butler's breakout season is going for naught, Joakim Soria has been good but not his best, any other player has been solid but not great at best, and in most cases, they stink to high heaven. How about that for stating the obvious? Joe Posnanski has declared it the worst Royals team ever. And with this front office/ownership/manager, it's getting no better. I'm thinking of declaring my fan free agency. How about "Giants on the Farm" next season? I'm seriously considering it.

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 8, Oklahoma City 3 (7/G1, Sun.)

1B Thorman 3-4, 2B (13), RBI (53), RS, SB (7) -- .274
2B Falu 3-3, HBP, 2B (18), RS -- .265
RF Aldridge 2-4, 2 HR (19), 2 RBI (61), 2 RS -- .307
DH Buchanan 2-4, 2 RBI (26), K, RS, SB -- .252, had to be first SB in long time
SS Lisson 1-2, S, 2B (16), 2 RBI (31) -- .221
LF Hulett 1-3, SF, 2B (24), RBI (53), K, RS -- .294
3B Gordon 0-4, K -- .294

Nicoll 5 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, BB, 5 K -- W, 1-1, 9.00 ERA
Rosa 1 1/3 IP, K -- 4.93 ERA

*** The O-Royals rocked OKC starter Bryan Corey and Chris Nicoll threw 100 pitches in the win.

Oklahoma City 4, O-Royals 2 (7/G2, Sun.)

3B Lisson 2-2, BB, HR (10), 2 RBI (33), RS, CS (3), E (14) -- .226
2B Falu 2-4, 2B (19) -- .267
DH Gordon 0-1, BB, HBP -- .278

Chavez 4 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 4 BB, 3 K -- L, 0-1, 2.57 ERA
Godin 3 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 3 H, 2 BB, 3 K -- 2.25 ERA

*** The Royals didn't score until Mario Lisson hit his 2-run homer in the 7th. That's all they got.

Oklahoma City 10, O-Royals 4 (Mon.)

SS Lisson 2-4, 2B (17), RBI (34), K, RS, CS (4) -- .230
3B Gordon 2-3, BB, 3B, RS -- .333
1B Thorman 2-4, 2B (14), CS (3) -- .274
C House 2-4, RS -- .247
RF Aldridge 1-4, HR (20), RBI (62), RS -- .306, Omaha's player of year?
2B Hernandez 1-4, RBI (20) -- .290

O'Connor 6 IP, 7 R (6 ER), 9 H, 3 K, 3 HRA, E -- L, 1-2, 5.70 ERA
Hamulack 2 IP, ER, H, 4 K, HRA -- 5.56 ERA
Hartsock IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, 2 K, HRA -- 18.00 ERA, AAA debut

*** Travis Metcalf,who resigned with the Rangers and is now with the RedHawks, slammed 2 HR against his former teammates to lead OKC to the win. Omaha's runs came on a Cory Aldridge solo homer in the 2nd, a Mario Lisson RBI double and Luis Hernandez RBI single in the 5th and Alex Gordon triple that he scored on thanks to an error in the 6th. RedHawks SP Kris Benson got the win with 8 IP of 4 ER allowed on 9 hits and a walk with 3 Ks to move to 4-3 with a 5.70 ERA. LF Royce Huffman had 4 hits and 3 RBI (53) for OKC. Metcalf drove in 4 runs.

The O-Royals are 55-74. The series ends tonight as Lenny DiNardo (9-5, 3.47) faces OKC righty Luis Mendoza (6-5, 4.44). 36-year-old DH Brian Buchanan was named PCL Player of the Week for Aug. 17-23 after hitting .333 (6-18) with 2 HR and 12 RBI in 4 games in the week. Kila Ka'aihue has been sidelined since getting hit by a pitch on the hand last Friday. RP Yas Yabuta was called up to KC as Ron Mahay was DFA'd. I assume they're trading him somewhere. Otherwise, why not Roman Colon? Righty Aaron Hartsock, as noted, has been promoted to Omaha after hitting both Wilmington and NW Arkansas this season.

AA - NW Arkansas: Frisco 6, Naturals 4 (Sun.)

CF Dyson 2-3, S, 2B (4), RBI (14), RS, 2 SB (29), CS (4) -- .257
2B Mertins 2-4, CS (10) -- .284
DH V. Wilson 1-3, HBP, 2 RBI (27) -- .287
RF Lucas 1-2, 2 BB, RBI (44), K, RS, 2 SB (15) -- .288
LF Lough 1-5, K -- .333

Lerew 7 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 7 H, 2 BB, 5 K, WP -- 4.31 ERA
de la Vara 1/3 IP, 2 ER, H, BB -- L, 6-2, 5.74 ERA
Abreu 2/3 IP, ER, H, 2 BB -- BS, 4, 4.72 ERA

*** The Naturals scored 2 to take the lead in the 8th but Gilbert de la Vara and Juan Abreu fell apart in the bottom of the inning as Frisco came back for the win.

Frisco 4, Naturals 2 (Mon.)

3B Lucas 2-4, HR (7), RBI (45), RS -- .290
DH V. Wilson 2-4, 2B (9), RBI (28) -- .292
LF Dyson 0-3, S, K, OF assist at third -- .253
SS Bianchi 0-4, 2 K -- .314
CF Lough 1-4, 2B (10), RS -- .331

B. Johnson 6 IP, ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 2 K -- 4.81 ERA
B. Wood IP, 3 ER, 4 H, BB -- L, 2-7, 5.57 ERA
J. Bannister IP, 2 K -- 5.94 ERA

*** A 3-run Frisco 7th off Blake Wood, who is gonna work out of the pen for the rest of the season, sealed the Naturals' fate in their second straight series sweep loss. Ed Lucas hit his 7th homer in the 4th and Vance Wilson doubled home a run in the 9th. RP Beau Vaughan picked up his 6th save and starter Mike Ballard allowed an ER over 8 IP to improve to 5-6 with a 4.12 ERA. CF Craig Gentry and 2B Marcus Lemon had 2 hits for Frisco. Gentry and 1B Chad Tracy had 2 RBI.

The Naturals are 29-27 and 2 games back now while on their 6-game skid. A 4-game home set with the Springfield Cardinals (26-29) starts tonight with Everett Teaford (3-6, 5.95) facing Cards righty Lance Lynn (10-4, 2.99). The Naturals are 15-13 versus Springfield.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 3, Kinston 1 (comp. of Sat. game Sunday)

CF D. Robinson 2-4, HR (4), RBI (44), RS -- .239
2B Giavotella 2-4, RS, SB (23), CS (8) -- .255
3B Fontaine 1-2, BB, RBI (12), E (6) -- .304
DH Van Stratten 1-3, HBP, RBI (8), K, SB (3), CS (2) -- .278
1B C. Robinson 1-4, K, SB (3) -- .286

Caldera 3 IP, UER, 3 H, 3 BB, K, pickoff -- 5.51 ERA
Villa 4 IP, 4 H, BB, 3 K -- W, 6-7, 3.65 ERA
Coleman 2 IP, K -- SV, 0.00 ERA

*** The game was tied at 1 in the 3rd as Chase Fontaine singled home a run in the 2nd before rain suspended play Saturday. Derrick Robinson gave the Rocks the lead with his 4th homer of the season when play resumed Sunday and Nick Van Stratten hit an RBI single. Kelvin Villa and Louis Coleman held on the rest of the way.

Blue Rocks 3, Kinston 1 (7/Sun.)

1B C. Robinson 2-2, HBP, 2B (25), 2 RS -- .290
DH Van Stratten 2-3, RBI (9) -- .290
3B Moustakas 1-3, HR (14), RBI (77), K, RS -- .253
CF D. Robinson 0-3 -- .237
2B Giavotella 0-2, BB -- .254

Gutierrez 4 2/3 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K, 2 WP -- 2.11 ERA
Bowden 1 1/3 IP, ER, H, K, WP -- W, 1-0, 6.75 ERA, win in level debut
Sisk IP, H, 2 K -- SV, 17, 2.11 ERA

*** Mike Moustakas clubbed his 14th homer and the Rocks swept the doubleheader.

Blue Rocks 7, Lynchburg 3 (Mon.)

CF D. Robinson 2-5, 2B (18), 2 K, RS, SB (66), E (4) -- .239
1B C. Robinson 2-5, 2B (26), RS -- .292
RF Van Stratten 2-4, BB, RS -- .299
3B Moustakas 1-5, HR (15), 2 RBI (79), RS, 2 E (23) -- .252
C Eigsti 1-3, BB, GS (3), 4 RBI (34), RS -- .198
2B Giavotella 1-5, RBI (43), RS -- .253
still no Hosmer, this is ridiculous...

Paulino 7 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 6 K, HRA -- W, 9-6, 3.68 ERA
M. Santiago 1 2/3 IP, UER, 4 H, 2 K -- 4.50 ERA
Z. Peterson 1/3 IP, K -- SV, 2, 2.03 ERA

*** The Rocks' offense was working well Monday. Johnny Giavotella hit an RBI single and Mike Moustakas hit an RBI groundout to put Wilmington up, 2-0, in the 1st. Ryan Eigsti cranked a grand slam in the 4th for his 3rd homer of the season and Moustakas led off the 7th with his 15th homer to finish the Rocks' scoring. Lynchburg SP Bryan Morris allowed 6 ER in 5 IP to fall to 4-7 with a 5.40 ERA. Four Hillcats had 2 hits.

The Rocks are 36-20 and 2 1/2 games up on first. Game 2 with the Hillcats (24-33, A-Adv. Pirates) is tonight as Danny Duffy (8-3, 3.22) faces Hillcats righty Ron Uviedo (5-5, 3.53). The Rocks are 12-5 versus Lynchburg this season.

A - Burlington: Bees 2, Quad Cities 1 (Sun.)

C Graterol 1-3, 2B (4), 2 RBI (7) -- .294
CF Norris 0-4, OF assist at home -- .244
LF Ortiz 1-4, 2B (7), K, RS -- .235
1B Taylor 1-4, 2B (11), K, CS (7) -- .253
RF Francis 0-4, K -- .277
DH Griffin 1-3, BB, 2 K, RS -- .300
3B Morales 1-3, K, SB -- .367
SS R. Wood 0-3, K, E (5) -- .224

Runion 5 IP, ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 4 K, WP -- W, 4-10, 6.82 ERA, had been 0-6 in last 9 starts
T. Pena 2 IP, K -- 5.40 ERA, first great outing as Bee
C. White IP, 2 H, BB, 2 K -- 3.48 ERA
Thompson IP, BB, 2 K -- SV, 7, 2.77 ERA

*** Sam Runion almost had a 2.00 WHIP on the day but held the Bandits to only a run and a Juan Graterol 2-run double in the 4th was all Burlington needed.

Bees 5, Wisconsin 1 (Mon.)

DH Taylor 2-4, K, 2 RS, 2 SB (11) -- .259
LF Griffin 1-2, 2 BB, HR (2), 4 RBI (22), K, RS -- .303
C Bonilla 0-4, RBI (35), PB (14) -- .224
CF Norris 1-4, RS, CS (8) -- .244
RF Francis 0-4, 2 K -- .274
3B Morales 0-4 -- .324
SS R. Wood 0-2, BB -- .217

Melville 6 IP, ER, 4 H, BB, 8 K, HRA, WP -- W, 6-7, 3.93 ERA, nice
Odenbach 2 IP, H, 4 K -- 3.32 ERA
B. Hardy IP, 3 K -- 2.14 ERA, dominant outing

*** The Rattlers got their only run on a solo homer in the 4th and the Bees offense took care of the rest in support of Tim Melville. Shawn Griffin put Burlington on top with a 3-run homer in the 4th and then took a bases-loaded walk in the 8th before a Jose Bonilla RBI groundout finished the scoring. Rattlers SP Cody Scarpetta took the loss with 3 runs (2 ER) allowed over 5 2/3 IP to drop to 4-10 with a 3.39 ERA. SS Josh Prince had 2 hits, including his 1st homer, and 9 RBI for Wisconsin. He also made his 5th error.

The Bees are 27-29 and 8 games back, but now 2 games up on Clinton for a playoff spot. Game 2 with the Timber Rattlers (23-33, A Brewers) is tonight as Mike Lehmann (4-5, 5.71) faces T-Rats righty R.J. Seidel (1-2, 6.57). The teams will also finish their suspended game from July 7 tonight. The Bees are 6-5 versus the Rattlers.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Great Falls 6, Chukars 5 (Sun.)

2B Franco 2-5, RBI (20), RS, SB (14) -- .252
1B Espinosa 2-5, RBI (19), 2 K, E (9) -- .248
SS Alfaro 2-2, BB, S, 2B (12), RBI (16), RS, E (11) -- .230
C S. Perez 1-3, RBI (27), K -- .306
CF H. Richardson 1-5, RBI (17), K, RS -- .308
PR-C Theriot 0-1, BB -- .290
3B Stovall 0-4 -- .294
DH Lewis 1-4, 2B (3), 2 K, RS -- .267
RF Llanos 1-4, K, RS -- .229
* LF Julio Aparicio had an OF assist at third.

Dwyer 1 2/3 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, 2 K, HRA -- 5.40 ERA, pro debut
Arias 4 1/3 IP, 5 H, 2 BB -- 4.31 ERA
Morgan 0 IP, 2 H, BB -- 6.16 ERA
Hodge IP, 2 K -- 6.75 ERA
Folmer 1/3 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 2 H, 2 BB, HRA, WP -- L, 0-1, 5.40 ERA
Shimek 2/3 IP, nothing -- 7.90 ERA

*** Great Falls put together a big rally off Richard Folmer in the 8th to get a comeback win. KC 4th rounder lefty Chris Dwyer made his pro debut and allowed a solo homer in the 1st before getting pulled with 2 on and 2 out in the 2nd while being kept on a tight pitch count. Hilton Richardson, Angel Franco and Salvador Perez hit RBI singles in the 5th to put IF up, 3-1, and Tito Espinosa made it 4-1 with an RBI single in the 7th. J.D. Alfaro hit an RBI double in the 8th but the Voyagers scored 5 off Folmer in the inning to take the lead. RF Nick Ciolli had 4 hits, including 2 HR (7) and 4 RBI (29) in the win for GF.

off day Monday

The Chukars are 12-8 and 6 games out. A 3-game home set with the Ogden Raptors (11-9, Rookie Dodgers) starts tonight as Santiago Garrido (1-3, 5.16) faces an unannounced starter. IF is 3-6 versus Ogden. C Wil Myers has been added to IF's roster.

Rookie - Burlington: Princeton 7, B-Royals 0 (2-hitter, Sun.)

SS Espinal 1-4, 2B (6), K -- .222
LF D. Rodriguez 1-3 -- .270
CF Pickett 0-4, K -- .257
DH F. Cruz 0-3, K -- .280
2B Tschepikow 0-3 -- .234

Hentges 5 1/3 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 2 K, HRA, balk -- L, 0-2, 5.40 ERA
L. Roberts 2 2/3 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 4 H, 3 K -- 4.50 ERA

*** Chase Hentges had a pretty mediocre start and the Royals only got 2 hits off 2 Rays pitchers.

B-Royals 3, Princeton 0 (3-hitter, Mon.)

SS Espinal 2-4, RBI (17), K -- .227
RF G. Beltre 2-4, HR (6), RBI (26), K, RS, CS (5) -- .231
3B Culver 1-3, RBI (18), K, RS -- .218
CF Pickett 1-3, HBP, SB (22), picked off -- .258
LF Del Rosario 0-4, K, E (6) -- .276
DH F. Cruz 0-4 -- .274
2B Tschepikow 0-4 -- .216

Fortuna 6 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K, E (2) -- W, 3-6, 4.14 ERA
Billo 3 IP, 7 K, WP -- SV, 1, 1.99 ERA, he was dealing

*** Carlos Fortuna and Greg Billo only allowed 1 hit after the 1st and Billo was especially dominant as the Royals returned the favor for Sunday's shutout. Geulin Beltre went long for his 6th homer of the season in the 2nd and the Royals added 2 in the 8th on a Malcom Culver RBI single and Yowill Espinal RBI single. Fortuna retired the last 11 he faced. Rays SP Wilking Rodriguez took the loss with only an ER allowed over 4 IP to fall to 1-5 with a 3.00 ERA. Three Rays had a hit each.

The B-Royals are 20-40. Game 3 with the Rays is tonight as an unannounced Royals SP takes the hill versus Rays righty Deivis Mavares (4-1, 3.29).

Rookie - AZL: Royals 5, Rangers 4 (Sun.)

3B Piterson 2-4, 2 RBI (14), K, RS, SB (10) -- .304
CF L. Adams 1-3, BB, RBI (10), K, 2 RS, SB (14) -- .233
C Matos 1-3, BB, 3B, RBI (11) -- .303
2B Trapp 0-3, BB, RS -- .261

L. Santiago 5 IP, 6 H, BB, 5 K, WP -- 5.33 ERA
E. Diaz 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 2 H, BB, 2 K, HRA -- 6.90 ERA
S. De La Rosa 1 1/3 IP, BB, 2 K -- 6.89 ERA
Bavera IP, H, BB, 2 K, WP -- W, 4-0, 0.48 ERA
L. Ortega IP, ER, 3 H, 3 K, WP -- SV, 1, 4.26 ERA

*** The Royals rallied back from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Rangers. Leonel Santiago pitched well to start but the Rangers scored 3 off Eric Diaz in the 6th. Mauricio Matos hit an RBI triple in the 7th to get the Royals on the board and Luis Piterson hit a 2-run single in the 8th before Lane Adams hit an RBI single and scored on an error to finish the Royals' scoring. Luis Ortega allowed a run in the 9th before stranding 2 to end it. Four Rangers had multiple hits. DH Tomas Telis had 3 hits and LF Santo DeJesus had 2 hits and 3 RBI.

off day Monday

The 8-14 Royals play the 11-13 Padres tonight.