Royals on the Farm 8/25 -- Myers makes IF debut

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What else can be said about Zack Greinke's pitching last night? It'll be a shame that the team didn't get him more wins if he doesn't win the Cy Young Award, because that's the only stat holding him back. He can't do anything about his run support. Then today it's back to Billy and the noodlebats. I can't believe this team is gonna go from a winning April to likely 100 losses.

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 1, Oklahoma City 0 (4-hitter)

RF Falu 2-3, BB -- .270
LF Thorman 2-3, K -- .277
C House 1-3, HR (9), RBI (46), RS, E (5) -- .248
3B Gordon 0-2, BB, 2 E (3) -- .304
DH Aldridge 1-3, 2 K -- .307
1B Ka'aihue 0-3, K -- .263
SS Lisson 0-3, E (15) -- .228

DiNardo 8 1/3 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 7 K -- W, 10-5, 3.27 ERA, been involved in 6 of 17 Omaha shutouts
Rosa 2/3 IP, K -- SV, 7, 4.88 ERA, been involved in 5 of 'em

*** The O-Royals took over sole possession of second place in season shutouts in team annals with only 1972's 19 above them, as Lenny DiNardo and Carlos Rosa combined on the 4-hit blanking of the RedHawks. The only run of the game came on a J.R. House solo homer (his 9th) in the 2nd. DiNardo struck out the side in the 4th, stranded 2 in the 5th, and stranded 2 in the 8th before Rosa stranded 2 in the 9th for his 7th save. OKC starter Luis Mendoza went the distance with an ER allowed over 8 IP to fall to 6-6 with a 4.17 ERA. Four RedHawks had a hit. 1B Justin Smoak was 1-4 with a K to move to .240.

The O-Royals are 56-74, meaning with their 17th shutout win 30.3 percent of their wins have come that way. A 5-day, 6-game home set with the New Orleans Zephyrs (57-72, AAA Marlins) starts tonight with Dusty Hughes (2-3, 4.05) facing Zephyrs righty Willie Glen (1-2, 7.98). Omaha is 4-6 versus the Zephyrs.

AA - NW Arkansas: Springfield 5, Naturals 1

CF Dyson 2-3, BB, 2B (5), RS, CS (5) -- .259
SS Bianchi 1-4, RBI (32), 3 K -- .313
LF Lough 0-4, K -- .324
2B Mertins 0-2, BB, HBP -- .283

Teaford 5 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 4 K, 2 HRA -- L, 3-7, 5.91 ERA
Castaneda 4 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, BB, 3 K, HRA -- 3.10 ERA

*** Everett Teaford got little run support and giving up 2 longballs didn't help his cause as Springfield dealt NWA another loss. Jarrod Dyson doubled and scored on a Jeff Bianchi single in the 1st but the Nats would only have 2 more hits in the game. Teaford gave up a 2-run homer in the 2nd and a solo homer in the 3rd and the Cards added 2 late runs off Federico Castaneda. NWA stranded 2 in the 5th and didn't threaten again. Cards SP Lance Lynn allowed an ER over 6 IP to improve to 11-4 with a 2.92 ERA. Three Cardinals had 2 hits.

NWA is 29-28 and 2 games back while losing 7 straight. Game 2 of the set is tonight as Matt Kniginyzky (5-9, 5.24) faces Cardinals righty Scott Gorgen (3-4, 4.93). RP Aaron Hartsock was just making a momentary appearance in Omaha as he was sent back down to AA and RP Gilbert de la Vara was called up to AAA despite an ERA near 6 at NWA. RP Chad Orvella was activated from the DL. OF David Lough, SS Jeff Bianchi and lefty Ben Swaggerty will play in the Arizona Fall League along with 3B Mike Moustakas and righty Danny Gutierrez from Wilmington on the Surprise Rafters. Two other Royals reps haven't been named yet. Aaron Crow is expected to be one, if they get him signed.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 4, Lynchburg 2

CF D. Robinson 2-4, BB, 3B (4), HR (5), 2 RBI (46), RS, CS (20), E (5) -- .241
2B Giavotella 2-4, BB, 2B (22), HR (5), RS -- .255
1B C. Robinson 1-4, HR (12), RBI (52), K, RS, E (7) -- .291
3B Moustakas 1-3, BB -- .253
RF Van Stratten 0-3, HBP -- .290

Duffy 6 IP, 2 ER, 8 H, BB, K, pickoff, WP -- W, 9-3, 3.21 ERA
Z. Peterson 2 IP, 2 H, 2 K -- 1.91 ERA
Sisk IP, BB, K -- SV, 18, 2.08 ERA

*** Derrick Robinson continued his August surge as a 2-run homer in the 7th was the difference in the Rocks' victory. Johnny Giavotella hit a 1-out solo homer in the 1st for his 5th of the season but Danny Duffy labored in the 1st to allow Lynchburg to tie it. The Hillcats took the lead in the 3rd as Duffy never got settled in, but Clint Robinson hammered his 12th homer of the season to tie it in the 4th. Derrick Robinson was caught stealing second in the 5th and it was costly as Giavotella followed with a double. With 2 out and 1 on in the 7th, Robinson redeemed himself with the 2-run homer for his 5th of the season (and the month of August). Brandon Sisk closed it out for his 18th save. Hillcats RP Nathan Adcock allowed 2 ER over 4 IP to fall to 3-1 with a 3.50 ERA. Starter Ron Uviedo worked 5 IP of 2 ER allowed to move his ERA to 3.53. Four Hillcats had 2 hits.

The Rocks are 37-20 and 2 1/2 games up on first. Game 2 is tonight as Mike Montgomery (2-1, 2.70) faces Hillcats lefty Jeff Locke (4-8, 5.04). Wilmington manager Brian Rupp will manage the Surprise Rafters, which will include the Royals' prospects, in the AFL. Eric Hosmer has left the team to undergo Lasik surgery. He could rejoin the team for the playoffs or late in the regular season.

A - Burlington: Bees 2, Wisconsin 1 (comp. of suspended July 7 game)

2B D. Wood 2-2 -- .250
CF Norris 1-4, 3B, RS -- .233, I think season totals are based on July 7 stats
2B F. Garcia 1-2, RBI (16) -- .288
RF Francis 1-4, picked off -- .278
3B Taylor 0-3 -- .290
DH Bonilla 0-3 -- .230
SS Rivera 1-2, HR, RBI (7), RS -- .247

Lehmann 5 IP, ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 5 K -- 3.77 ERA
J. Garcia 4 IP, 3 H, 2 K -- W, 3-5, 4.19 ERA

*** Patrick Norris hit a clutch triple in the 8th to help the Bees get the win a month-and-a-half after the game started. The game was suspended July 7 tied at 1 in the 6th as Wisconsin had scored a run off Mike Lehmann in the 2nd and the Bees tied it in the 3rd on Juan Rivera's first homer of the season. When play resumed Tuesday, Rivera was on the DL. Norris hit a 1-out triple in the 8th and scored on a Fernando Garcia single as Justin Garcia finished the win with 4 scoreless innings of work. RP Efrain Nieves took the loss with an ER allowed in 3 IP to fall to 2-6 with a 6.64 ERA. Five Rattlers had a hit each.

Burlington 12, Wisconsin 6 (reg. Tue. game)

SS R. Wood 3-4, HBP, 2 HR, 5 RBI (9), 2 RS -- .243, best game as a pro
LF Ortiz 3-5, 2 RS, SB (6), OF assist at home -- .248
3B Morales 2-5, 2B (4), 3 RBI (9), 2 RS -- .333
RF Francis 2-4, BB, 2B (24), HR (16), RBI (66), 2 K, 2 RS -- .275
1B D. Wood 1-4, BB, 2B (21), RBI (61), 2 K, RS -- .274
CF Norris 1-6, K, OF assist at third -- .244
DH Griffin 0-2, 3 BB, 3 RS -- .297
C Bonilla 0-3, BB, S -- .221
* The Bees stranded 10.

Lehmann 5 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, K, WP -- W, 5-5, 5.69 ERA
R. Pena 2 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, K -- 5.35 ERA
C. White 2 IP, H, 2 K -- 2.92 ERA

*** Technically, Mike Lehmann started both games Tuesday, the starts just came 49 days apart. The Bees' offense churned out run after run in support of Lehmann to drill the Rattlers, 12-6. Lehmann had an ugly 1st as Wisconsin scored 3 runs on 5 hits before Adrian Ortiz gunned down a runner at the plate to end the rally. A 2-run error got the Bees on the board in the 1st and they tied it in the 2nd on Ryan Wood's 1st professional homer. Nick Francis doubled and scored on an error in the 3rd and Wood slammed his 2nd homer of the game for a 3-run shot to make it 7-3. Francis came back up in the 4th and cranked his 16th homer of the season as Jason Morales added an RBI single to make it 9-3. David Wood hit an RBI double in the 5th before Riquy Pena allowed 3 late runs. Burlington polished it off with 2 in the 8th on a Morales RBI double and Ryan Wood RBI single. Rattlers SP R.J. Seidel took the loss with 7 runs (4 ER) allowed over 3 IP to fall to 1-3 with a 7.16 ERA. Two Rattlers had 2 hits.

The Bees are en fuego at 29-29 and 6 1/2 games back. They've won 5 in a row and are 3 1/2 games up on a playoff spot over Clinton and Quad Cities. Game 4 with the Timber Rattlers is tonight as Manauris Baez (7-5, 3.68) faces Wisconsin righty Trey Watten (5-13, 4.77).

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Chukars 8, Ogden 5

CF H. Richardson 3-4, BB, K, RS, SB (20), picked off twice, E (4) -- .319, not the best night on the basepaths
SS Alfaro 2-5, 2B (13), RBI (17), K, 2 RS, SB (6) -- .236
1B Espinosa 2-4, BB, RBI (20), K -- .255
2B Franco 2-5, 2 RS, SB (15) -- .256
LF Aparicio 2-4, 3B (2), RBI (15), K, RS -- .221
3B Stovall 1-3, BB, 2B (8), 2 RBI (8), 2 RS -- .296
C Lewis 1-4, RBI (5), 2 K -- .265
DH W. Myers 1-5, K -- .200, Idaho Falls debut
RF Llanos 0-4 -- .216

Garrido 3 IP, 5 ER, 9 H, 2 BB, 4 K, 3 WP -- 5.77 ERA
Kelley 4 1/3 IP, 3 H, 6 K -- W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, has been good as pro, picks up first pro win
Keating 1 2/3 IP, H, BB, 2 K, WP -- SV, 8, 2.00 ERA, ditto

*** The Raptors got all 5 of their runs in the 1st and it was all Chukars thereafter. Santiago Garrido withstood the 5-run barrage in the 1st and the Chukars immediately retaliated with 3 runs in the 1st on a J.D. Alfaro RBI single, run-scoring passed ball and run-scoring Ogden error. IF stranded 2 in the 3rd but tied it in the 5th on a Ryan Stovall RBI double and Joey Lewis RBI single. Scott Kelley and Patrick Keating pitched 6 innings of scoreless relief and the Chukars took the lead for good on a Julio Aparicio RBI triple in the 7th. Aparicio scored on a wild pitch and Tito Espinosa hit an RBI single in the 8th to finish the scoring. RP Eric Thompson allowed 2 ER over 2 1/3 IP to fall to 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA. Starter Edwin Contreras allowed 5 ER over 4 2/3 IP to move his ERA to 4.18. Four Raptors had multiple hits led by 3 hits from 1B Clay Calfee.

The Chukars are 13-8 and 6 games back. Game 2 is tonight as John Lamb (3-1, 2.18) tries to make it 3 great starts in a row versus an unnamed Ogden starter.

Rookie - Burlington: B-Royals 2, Princeton 1

SS Espinal 2-4, 2B (7), HR (6), 2 RBI (19), K, RS -- .232
CF Pickett 2-4, 3B (2), RS -- .264
LF Del Rosario 0-3, BB, K -- .271
2B Tschepikow 0-4, K -- .200

Sample 6 IP, 2 H, BB, 4 K -- W, 3-2, 3.30 ERA, nice
Dennick 3 IP, ER, 4 H, K -- SV, 1, 2.43 ERA

*** Tyler Sample had a good start and the Royals made 2 1st inning runs stand. Yowill Espinal ripped his 6th homer of the season for a 2-run shot in the 1st and the Royals only had 3 hits from then on. The Royals had a 4-hit shutout as Ryan Dennick stranded 2 in the 8th but allowed a run on 2 doubles in the 9th before closing it out. Starter Omar Bencomo took the loss with 2 ER allowed over 3 IP to fall to 2-1 with a 3.24 ERA. Two Rays had 2 hits.

The B-Royals are 21-40. They play the Danville Braves (43-18, 10-0 versus the Royals) tonight for a 1-game series. Leondy Perez (1-5, 4.35) is facing Braves lefty ace Matt Crim (10-0, 2.61).

Rookie - AZL: Padres 13, Royals 2

DH A. Martinez 2-4, 2B (4), RBI (19), picked off -- .219
CF Cooper 0-2, BB, RBI (2), RS, SB (8) -- .167
SS Trapp 0-4, K, E (15) -- .252
2B Piterson 1-4 -- .303
LF Howard 1-3, RS, SB (10), OF assist at home -- .195
C Matos 1-2, K -- .309

Avinazar 3 2/3 IP, 8 R (6 ER), 9 H, BB, 7 K, HRA, 2 WP, balk -- L, 4-5, 6.43 ERA
Keck 2 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, BB, 2 K -- 9.00 ERA
S. De La Rosa 2 IP, 2 UER, 2 H, 2 K, WP -- 6.11 ERA

*** The Padres thumped the Royals. The Pads rallied for a run in the 1st as Anthony Howard killed the rally with an assist at the plate from left via relay man Justin Trapp. Chanse Cooper hit an RBI groundout in the 2nd but the Padres regained the lead for good with 3 in the 3rd off Willian Avinazar. They chased Avinazar with 4 runs in the 4th and then got 5 more runs off Royal relievers down the stretch. The Royals' other run came in the 8th on an Adrian Martinez RBI single. Pads SP James Needy got the win with 5 IP of an ER allowed to move to 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA. The Royals had handed Needy his only loss his last start. Six Padres had multiple hits led by 3 hits from RF Rymer Liriano. 1B Cody Decker drove in 3 runs (61).

The Royals are 8-15 and play the 9-15 Dodgers tonight. The teams will also complete their suspended Aug. 21 game.