Royals on the Farm 8/30 and 8/31

I'm gonna save the monthly wrap-up for the end of season wrapups, as there's only a few days left in the minors seasons.

I don't know that I want Dayton Moore fired, but he sure as hell didn't have an extension coming at this point. Damn. I don't want to waste the effort to type any more about it.

I'm trying to get the fantasy league filled for a 7 p.m. start tonight but it's not looking promising. May have to bump it back again. E-mail me if you're interested.

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 6, New Orleans 5 (Sun.)

DH Aldridge 3-3, BB, HR (22), 2 RBI (66), 2 RS -- .310
LF Thorman 3-4, 2B (16), HR (19), 2 RBI (57), 2 RS, E (6) -- .285
2B Hernandez 3-4, 2 RBI (23) -- .297
1B Ka'aihue 0-3, BB, RS -- .255
SS Lisson 0-3, BB, K, E (17) -- .230

DiNardo 5 1/3 IP, 5 R (3 ER), 8 H, BB, 3 K -- 3.33 ERA
Rosa 1 2/3 IP, H, BB, 4 K -- 4.70 ERA
Marte 2 IP, H, 2 K -- W, 1-4, 2.23 ERA

*** Omaha rebounded from 5 early Zephyr runs to win. Cory Aldridge smacked a 2-run homer in the 1st (his 22nd) to give Omaha a 2-1 lead and, after a 4-run NO 2nd, Scott Thorman went deep in the Omaha half for his 19th of the season to cut it to 5-3. Thorman and Luis Hernandez tied it with RBI singles in the 4th and Hernandez's RBI single in the 8th was the gamebreaker.

O-Royals 3, Iowa 1 (2-hitter, Mon.)

C House 2-3, 2 RBI (50) -- .253
3B Hulett 2-4, 2B (27), RS -- .291
2B Hernandez 2-4, CS (2) -- .302
RF Aldridge 1-4, 2B (15), RBI (67), RS -- .310
DH Gordon 1-4, RS -- .263
SS Lisson 0-3, K -- .227
1B Ka'aihue 0-3, BB -- .254, not the way to get attention for a call-up, but surely he'll get one anyway?

Hughes 8 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, 7 K, HRA -- W, 3-3, 3.50 ERA, too bad wasn't in rotation all season
Hayes IP, K -- SV, 3, 4.67 ERA, breaks string of lackluster outings

*** Dusty Hughes and Chris Hayes retired the last 14 Cubs as Omaha started the series with a nice win. A solo homer in the 2nd was the only thing standing between the duo and another Omaha shutout. Omaha got its runs on a Cory Aldridge RBI double and 2-run J.R. House single in the 6th.

Omaha is 60-77. The final home series with the I-Cubs (71-66) continues tonight with lefty Heath Phillips (7-7, 5.20) facing Iowa righty Esmailin Caridad (5-10, 4.06). Utility guy Irving Falu has left the team to join the Puerto Rico World Cup team. IF Tug Hulett left the team today to join the U.S. team. Lefty Lenny DiNardo was named to this year's All-PCL team. He's the first O-Royal to earn such honor since 2005. Omaha is 7-6 versus Iowa.

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 2, Tulsa 1 (12/Sun.)

SS Bianchi 2-5, 2B (15), 2 RS, 2 E (8) -- .313
C Clark 2-3 -- .291
LF Lough 1-5, 3B (2), RBI (30), K, E (4) -- .327
1B C. Smith 1-5, GW RBI (82), K -- .250
CF Dyson 0-5, 2 K -- .274

Teaford 5 IP, 4 H, 4 BB, 4 K -- 5.52 ERA
Orvella 2 IP, nothing -- 2.57 ERA
Abreu 2 IP, UER, H, 3 BB, 3 K -- BS, 5, 3.86 ERA
Swaggerty 3 IP, 2 H, BB, K, pickoff -- W, 4-1, 3.57 ERA

*** The Naturals blew a narrow lead in the 8th but got the key win in the 12th. David Lough hit an RBI triple in the 4th and that was the only run in the game until Juan Abreu issued a 2-out, bases-loaded walk in the 8th to tie it. Jeff Bianchi hit a 1-out double in the 12th and Corey Smith came through with a 2-out walkoff single to end it.

Tulsa 8, Naturals 4 (Mon.)

C Clark 2-4, RBI (28) -- .295
1B C. Smith 0-3, SF, 2 RBI (84) -- .248
2B Maddox 1-4, HR (4), RBI (17), K, RS -- .190
CF Dyson 0-4, K -- .269
SS Bianchi 1-4, K, RS -- .312
LF Lough 1-4, K, RS -- .325

Castaneda 3 IP, 5 ER, 4 H, BB -- L, 0-3, 4.63 ERA
J. Bannister 3 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, K -- 5.93 ERA
Orvella 2 IP, H, K -- 2.00 ERA
Clark IP, H, BB, K -- 0.00 ERA, catcher threw an inning

*** A 5-run rally was all Tulsa needed. NWA scored its runs on a Corey Smith sac fly in the 2nd and Marc Maddox solo homer (his 4th) in the 3rd. Tulsa had an 8-2 lead when the Nats scored their last 2 runs in the 9th on a run-scoring Tulsa error and Cody Clark RBI single.

The Naturals are 34-29 and a game up on Tulsa. A 4-game set at the Arkansas Travelers (29-34, AA Angels) starts tonight with Matt Kniginyzky (5-9, 5.39) facing Travs righty Marco Albano (4-6, 4.01). The Nats are 18-9 versus the Travelers. Nats pitcher Anthony Lerew put on the Strike mascot costume for some of Monday's game.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Salem 3, Blue Rocks 2 (Sun.)

1B C. Robinson 2-4 -- .295
LF Orlando 2-4, 2B (20), K, RS -- .261
RF Van Stratten 0-3, BB, RBI (12), K, E (3) -- .283
CF D. Robinson 0-4, 3 K -- .243
2B Giavotella 0-4, K -- .252
3B Moustakas 1-3, BB, 2B (30), K, RS -- .255

Duffy 5 2/3 IP, ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 8 K, HRA -- 3.13 ERA
Bowden 1 1/3 IP, BB -- 3.18 ERA
Coleman IP, 2 R (1 ER), 2 H, BB, 2 K, WP -- BS, 2, L, 2-1, 0.79 ERA, first pro loss

*** Danny Duffy and Dave McKae dueled and the game came down to the pens. Salem drew first blood in the 6th on a solo homer off Duffy but Wilmington tied it in the 7th on a Nick Van Stratten RBI forceout and a run-scoring wild pitch gave the Rocks a 2-1 lead in the 8th. Louis Coleman had 1 on and 2 out in the 8th when a single tied it and a wild pitch allowed the go-ahead run to cross the plate. The Rocks stranded 2 in the 9th.

Blue Rocks 3, Myrtle Beach 0 (3-hitter, Mon.)

C Eigsti 3-4, RBI (35), K, RS, SB (4) -- .199
2B Giavotella 2-3, SF, 2 RBI (48), SB (25), E (21) -- .255
CF D. Robinson 1-3, BB, 3B (5), K, RS, SB (69) -- .244
3B Moustakas 0-4, K -- .253
1B C. Robinson 0-3, BB -- .293
RF Van Stratten 1-4, SB (4) -- .282

Montgomery 6 2/3 IP, H, 12 K -- W, 3-1, 2.35 ERA, just keeps getting better
Z. Peterson 2/3 IP, 2 H, BB, K -- 2.34 ERA
Sisk 1 2/3 IP, 3 K -- SV, 20, 1.98 ERA

*** Mike Montgomery hurled a gem and the Rocks beat former farmhand Erik Cordier. Montgomery allowed the only hit he would allow in the 3rd. Derrick Robinson tripled and scored on a Johnny Giavotella sac fly in the 3rd and Giavotella and Ryan Eigsti added RBI singles in the 4th. Montgomery retired the last 11 he faced and the pen took it the rest of the way.

The Rocks are 41-23 and 2 1/2 games up. Game 2 is tonight as Alex Caldera (5-10, 5.16) faces Pelicans righty Brandon Beachy (4-3, 3.42). The Rocks are 9-9 versus the Pelicans. OF Paulo Orlando has returned to his native Brazil to be with his wife for the birth of their first child. Caldera was named Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for Aug. 24-30 after an 8-inning, 1-hit start versus Lynchburg.

A - Burlington: Bees 8, Beloit 5 (7/G1, Sun.)

2B Molina 2-2, BB, 2 RBI (12) -- .225
LF Griffin 2-4, HR (3), 2 RBI (25), 2 K, RS -- .299
C Graterol 2-4, RBI (8), K, RS -- .301
3B Morales 2-4, RS -- .326
RF H. Richardson 2-4, K, RS, 2 SB -- .250
1B Taylor 1-3, BB, 2B (12), 2 RBI (24), 2 RS, SB (13) -- .254
CF Norris 1-4, K, RS, OF assist at second -- .249
SS R. Wood 1-4, E (6) -- .244

Melville 3 IP, 4 R (2 ER), 2 H, 5 BB, 2 K -- 4.00 ERA
Pena Jr. 3 IP, H, 5 K -- W, 1-2, 3.09 ERA, first pro win, nice game
Thompson IP, ER, H, BB, 2 K -- 2.83 ERA

*** The Bees took the first of two with the Snappers Sunday as Tony Pena Jr. got his first pro win as a pitcher. Jason Taylor and Yeldrys Molina had RBI hits in the first 2 innings and the Bees scored 3 in the 3rd on a Taylor RBI fielder's choice, steal of home by Hilton Richardson and Juan Graterol RBI single. The Snappers cut it to 5-4 but Shawn Griffin hit a 2-run homer (his 3rd) and Molina hit an RBI single to put it away.

Beloit 2, Bees 1 (7/G2, Sun.)

RF Ortiz 2-3, BB, SB (8) -- .257
SS R. Wood 0-1, BB, SF, RBI (10) -- .241
CF Norris 0-4 -- .246
DH Taylor 0-2, BB, 2 SB (15) -- .251
C Bonilla 1-3, 2B (12), K, RS -- .218

Lehmann 3 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, WP -- L, 5-6, 5.70 ERA
J. Garcia 3 IP, 2 H, 3 K -- 3.93 ERA

*** Both teams had 4 hits but Beloit squeaked out a 1-run win. Jose Bonilla doubled and scored on a Ryan Wood sac fly in the 2nd but Beloit tied it that inning off Mike Lehmann and took the lead for good in the 3rd. The Bees were 1-11 with runners in scoring position in the loss.

Bees 3, Beloit 1 (Mon.)

DH Morales 1-4, 3B (2), 2 RBI (11), K -- .321
CF Ortiz 1-4, BB, 2B (8), SB (9) -- .256
RF H. Richardson 0-3, BB, K -- .182
3B Taylor 1-3, K -- .253
C Graterol 1-3, S, 2 K -- .303
SS R. Wood 0-4, 2 K, E (7) -- .230

Baez 6 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 K -- W, 8-5, 3.40 ERA
C. White 2 IP, UER, 2 H, BB, 2 K -- 2.51 ERA
B. Hardy IP, 2 K, WP -- SV, 8, 2.12 ERA

*** It was the Bees' turn to eke out a close win and split the series with Beloit Monday. The Bees broke a scoreless tie in the 7th as Jason Morales hit a 2-run triple. Cole White allowed a run in the 8th but the Bees got an insurance run on a Beloit error in the 9th.

The Bees are 32-31 and out of the second-half hunt. They are 4 games up on a wildcard playoff spot. They have today off.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Chukars 13, Orem 0 (4-hitter, Sun.)

2B Franco 4-6, 3B (4), 3 RBI (25), K, 2 RS -- .278
LF-3B Stovall 4-5, 2B (10), RBI (9), RS -- .326
DH Lewis 4-5, 2 2B (5), 2 RBI (8), RS -- .348
SS D. Batista 3-6, 2B (6), 2 RBI (47), K, 3 RS -- .281
CF-LF Pickett 2-5, 2 K, 2 RS -- .154
1B Espinosa 2-6, 3B (3), 2 RBI (22), 2 K, RS -- .259
CF Llanos 1-3, RBI (8) -- .204
C W. Myers 1-4, BB, K, RS, PB (3) -- .364

Garrido 5 IP, 3 H, BB, 3 K -- W, 2-3, 5.23 ERA
Kelley 4 IP, H, BB, 8 K -- SV, 2, 0.00 ERA

*** The Chukars pounded Orem. The Chukars put on 4 multiple-run rallies in the game, and Santiago Garrido and Scott Kelley combined on a gem.

Chukars 6, Ogden 4 (10/Mon.)

2B Franco 3-4, BB, 2 RS, SB (17) -- .286
SS D. Batista 1-4, BB, HR (11), 2 RBI (49), 2 RS -- .280
CF Llanos 1-5, 2B (4), 2 RBI (10), 2 K -- .204
C S. Perez 1-4, BB, RBI (31) -- .311
DH Myers 0-4, SF, RBI (5), 3 K -- .308
3B Stovall 1-5, 2B (11), 2 K -- .320
1B Lewis 0-2, 2 BB, K, RS -- .333
LF Pickett 0-2, HBP, S -- .133

Lamb 4 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 8 K, HRA, 2 pickoffs, 2 WP -- 3.70 ERA
Halliman 2 2/3 IP, 4 H, BB, 3 K -- 5.85 ERA
Keating 2 1/3 IP, 4 K -- W, 5-1, 1.78 ERA
Hodge IP, 3 H, K -- SV, 1, 5.25 ERA

*** Idaho Falls tied it in the 8th and won in 10. Alex Llanos hit a 2-run double in the 2nd but Ogden scored 4 off John Lamb and Pernell Halliman in the 5th. Deivy Batista hit a 2-run homer (his 11th) in the 8th to tie it and a Salvador Perez RBI single and Wil Myers sac fly in the 10th made the difference.

The Chukars are 17-10 and 6 games out. They go for the 2-game sweep tonight with no announced starters on the team site. C Ben Theriot has been sent to Arizona to rehab an injured thumb. P Scott Kelley and IF Angel Franco were named Pioneer League Pitcher and Player of the Week, respectively, for Aug. 24-30. Kelley pitched 8 1/3 scoreless innings in 2 appearances in the week with 14 Ks. Franco hit .449 (13-28) with 8 RS and 5 RBI on the week. IF is 7-6 versus Ogden.

Rookie - Burlington: B-Royals 6, Bluefield 2 (Sun.)

SS Espinal 2-4, 2 2B (9), RBI (23), RS -- .238
1B Kuebler 2-4, HR (4), RBI (13), RS -- .214
LF Soto 2-4, 2B (6), RS, CS (4) -- .194
CF D. Rodriguez 1-5, RBI (3), K, RS -- .228
2B Tschepikow 0-3, SF, RBI (11) -- .205
C F. Cruz 1-4, 2B (10), RBI (19), K, RS -- .274
DH Moctezuma 1-4, RBI (6) -- .221

Sample 7 IP, 2 H, BB, 3 K -- W, 4-2, 2.84 ERA, nice
Bavera 2 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, K, E -- 9.00 ERA

*** Six late runs gave the Royals the win. Bluefield scratched out 2 runs in the 9th to spoil the shutout.

Bluefield 3, B-Royals 2 (Mon.)

3B Culver 1-3, BB, RBI (19), 2 K -- .215
SS Espinal 1-4, 3 K -- .238
2B Tschepikow 1-4, K -- .208
DH F. Cruz 1-4, 2B (11), RS -- .273

L. Perez 5 2/3 IP, ER, 4 H, BB, 6 K, 2 WP -- 3.84 ERA
Cuevas 2 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB -- L, 0-5, 6.63 ERA

*** A 2-run Bluefield 8th sealed the win. Malcom Culver hit an RBI single in the 7th to tie it at 1 but Gary Cuevas faltered in the 8th. The Royals got within a run in the 9th on a run-scoring O's error but stranded 2.

The B-Royals are 23-44. The season draws to a close tonight as an unnamed Royals SP faces O's righty Matt Hobgood (1-1, 5.40).