Royals on the Farm 4/30

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 3, Iowa 1

RF Parraz 1-4, HR (2), 2 RBI (9), RS, E (3) -- .156
DH Thorman 1-3, RBI (8), SB, CS (2) -- .258
1B Ka'aihue 1-3, BB, K, RS -- .306
SS Aviles 1-4, K -- .286
LF Lough 1-4 -- .250
CF Miller 1-3, 2B, K, RS -- .175

Mendoza 3 IP, ER, 3 H, BB, 2 K -- 3.00 ERA
Castaneda 3 IP, H, 2 BB, K, WP -- W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA
Holland 2 IP, 4 K -- 5.54 ERA
B. Wood IP, K -- SV, 4, 3.00 ERA

* A 3-run 7th did the trick for Omaha. The I-Cubs scored their run in the 2nd but stranded 2. Federico Castaneda relieved Luis Mendoza to start the 4th and left the bases full. Jordan Parraz turned the game on one swing of the bat as he clubbed a 2-run homer in the 7th for his 2nd of the season and a Jai Miller double was followed by a Scott Thorman single to make it 3-1 Omaha. The last 16 batters in the game went down as Greg Holland and Blake Wood helped Castaneda close it out. Iowa SP J.R. Mathes took the loss with 3 ER allowed over 6 1/3 IP. Four I-Cubs had a hit each. Omaha is 10-11 and 5 games out. Bryan Bullington gets the start Saturday. One key chink in my Jose Guillen to Chicago idea -- he'd have to play the field. His legs don't have much left, I don't think he can do anything other than DH. They'd have to try to find an AL GM worse than Dayton, which is slim pickings. Chris Getz got sent back up to Omaha as RP Victor Marte headed back north to Omaha.

AA - NWA: rainout

* The game was 2-0 NWA in the 2nd when it got washed out. It'll be made up as part of a Sunday twinbill. Mike Montgomery had K'd 2 in his AA debut before Mother Nature stepped in. Eduardo Paulino starts Saturday's game. OF Tim Smith was activated from the DL and UT Anthony Seratelli was demoted to Wilmington.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 3, Winston-Salem 1

1B Hosmer 2-4, 3B (3), RBI (15) -- .421
RF Ortiz 2-4, 2B (5), 3B (2), K, 2 RS -- .290
LF Seratelli 1-4, RBI, K -- .250
CF Norris 0-3, BB, RBI (8) -- .262
C S. Perez 0-3, BB, K -- .286

Cuevas 8 IP, ER, 8 H, 5 K, HRA -- W, 2-2, 5.55 ERA
Bowden IP, 2 K -- SV, 3, 2.35 ERA

* The Dash are 1-3 against the Rocks, 14-3 against the rest of the league. That's after the Rocks outdid the Dash in Friday's series opener. Jairo Cuevas gave up a solo homer in the 2nd but was otherwise solid. Anthony Seratelli hit an RBI single in the 4th to tie it up in his first 2010 Carolina League game and Cuevas worked around 2 in scoring position with 0 out in the 5th. Eric Hosmer hit an RBI single in the 5th and Adrian Ortiz tripled and scored on a Patrick Norris groundout in the 7th. Cuevas and Barry Bowden retired the last 10 Dash batters. W-S Justin Edwards took the loss with 6 IP of 2 ER allowed. DH Ozzie Lewis had 3 hits for the Dash. The Rocks are 10-11 and a game back of first. Righty Riquy Pena has been handed his walking papers after posting a 13.50 ERA in 5 appearances. IF Jason Taylor was put on the DL with a hamstring problem. RP Harold Mozingo got called up to take Pena's place. Tim Melville will start Saturday's game.

A - Burlington: Quad Cities 3, Bees 2 (10)

RF Oriental 2-3, BB, RS -- .244
SS Hall 1-4, BB, CS -- .270
C Myers 0-4, BB, K -- .232, 3/5 CS against
CF Testa 1-5, 3 K -- .262

Herrera 6 IP, ER, 5 H, 6 K -- 2.39 ERA, appears to be back on track
Paukovits IP, BB, K -- 3.00 ERA
Lafferty 2 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 2 K -- BS, 1, L, 1-2, 3.18 ERA

* The Rocks took a late lead only to lose it in the 8th and lose the game in the 10th. The River Bandits got a leadoff triple in the 1st and a single scored a run, but that was all Kelvin Herrera would allow. The 1-0 lead held into the 7th when the Bees loaded the bases with 0 out. A wild pitch tied the game with 1 out and a passed ball scored the lead run before Burlington left the bases full. Brendan Lafferty came in for the 8th and allowed a 2-out RBI single to tie the game at 2. The Bees stranded 2 in the 10th and Lafferty gave up a 2-out walkoff single in the bottom of the inning. Bandits RP Jesse Simpson pitched 4 hitless innings for the win. Starter Eric Fornataro pitched 6 scoreless for Quad Cities. 2B Jason Stidham was 3-4 with 2 RBI (9) and 3 errors (6), and RF Devin Shepherd had 2 hits for the Bandits. The Bees are 7-15. RP Sam Runion has mercifully been sent back to extended spring training and will play for Idaho Falls. He had a 13.06 ERA in 10 1/3 IP.

Royals on the Farm 4/29

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 11, Iowa 7 (6)

1B Ka'aihue 2-2, BB, 2B (4), HR (6), 4 RBI (19), 3 RS -- .304, has more HR than whole Wilmington team thus far
SS Aviles 3-4, RBI (8), K, 3 RS -- .288
CF J. Miller 2-3, 2 RBI (3), K, RS -- .162, nice organizational debut
DH Thorman 1-2, BB, 2B (4), 2 RBI (7) -- .254
LF Lough 1-2, SF, 2 RBI (8) -- .250
2B Getz 0-2, 2 BB, K, 3 RS -- .333, Gordon to be casualty of his recall?
RF Parraz 0-3, OF assist at home -- .151

G. Hernandez 4 1/3 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 4 BB, 2 K, HRA -- 6.49 ERA
Rosa 1 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, K, HRA, WP -- W, 2-1, 3.65 ERA, he's not ready for prime time yet

* Mother Nature was the 10th man for the Royals as a big bad storm system shut down the Iowa comeback early. Gaby Hernandez stumbled out of the gate as an RBI triple made it 1-0 I-Cubs in the 1st. The O-Royals answered with 5 runs in their half on a Mike Aviles RBI single, David Lough sac fly, Jai Miller RBI single in his first Omaha AB and a 2-run Scott Thorman double. Hernandez stranded 2 in the 2nd and Kila Ka'aihue slammed a 3-run homer for his 6th of the season to make it 8-1 in the 2nd. Hernandez left 2 in scoring position in the 4th and Omaha padded the lead with their final 3 runs on a Ka'aihue RBI double, a Lough RBI groundout and Miller RBI single. Hernandez hit the wall in the 5th as he served up a 2-run homer and was pulled with 1 out for Carlos Rosa, who promptly gave up a 2-run homer and another run to cut it to 11-6. He gave up another run in the 6th before play was shut down in the middle of the inning. Iowa SP Mike Parisi took the loss with 2 IP of 8 runs (7 ER) allowed. Three Cubs had multiple hits led by a 3-hit, 3-RBI night from RF Brad Snyder. Snyder was a double shy of the cycle. Omaha is 9-11. Game 2 is tomorrow in Des Moines as Luis Mendoza makes his Omaha debut. As expected, it was OF Jose Duarte who got his walking papers with the addition of Jai Miller. I don't like it, but he wasn't doing much. Too bad he didn't make more of his shot last season. RP Victor Marte also got called up as KC RP John Parrish hit the DL with shoulder soreness. Righty Phil Humber was also placed on the DL with too-many-people-not-enough-roster-spots-itis. Why not just release Luis Mendoza? Oh, it's because Dayton Moore doesn't make mistakes. Even small ones. Damn Royals. The Cubs are stupid, maybe they'd take a hot Jose Guillen off KC's hands and a wheelbarrow of cash to pay his salary and give up SS Darwin Barney in the trade. He's only hitting .227 for Iowa, but it would free up a Kila Ka'aihue roster spot, and I think Barney is worth a shot. The Rangers don't need a DH, or I'd like SS Marcus Lemon more. I'm also trying to figure out a way to move Gil Meche to the bullpen, but haven't worked it out yet.

AA - NWA: Naturals 9, Springfield 2

DH Mejia 2-5, 2 HR (3), 4 RBI (12), K, 2 RS -- .224
1B C. Robinson 2-5, K, RS, SB (2) -- .275
3B Moustakas 1-5, 2B (5), RBI (9), K, RS -- .324
2B Giavotella 1-4, BB, RBI (8), RS -- .324
C Pina 0-3, BB, SF, RBI (13), K -- .283
RF Van Stratten 1-4, BB, K, RS, SB (3) -- .284
SS McConnell 1-1, 3 BB, 2B (4), 2 RS, SB (5) -- .256

Crow 8 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, BB, 6 K -- W, 1-1, 3.94 ERA, only 79 pitches, efficient in 1st pro win
Coleman IP, nothing -- 3.48 ERA

* A big 9th helped the Nats and Aaron Crow to the win. Crow's first professional victory was in doubt for quite a while as he gave up 2 runs in the 4th and the Nats were being shut out on 2 hits going into the 6th. They stranded 2 in that inning but Ernesto Mejia led off the 7th with his 2nd homer and Johnny Giavotella tied the game with an RBI single later in the frame. Crow escaped a jam with a double play in the 7th and the floodgates opened for NW Arkansas in the 9th. An error scored the first run of the inning before another error scored 2 more runs. Manny Pina hit a sac fly before Mejia cranked a 3-run jobber for his 2nd of the game and 3rd of the season. Louis Coleman had a quiet 9th. RP Eduardo Sanchez took the loss with 3 UER over 1/3 IP and the bullpen did SP David Kopp no favors, as he pitched 6 scoreless. RF James Rapoport had 2 hits and his 6th RBI. NWA is 12-8 and finishes the series tied for first with the Cards. A 4-game set at the Arkansas Travelers (AA Angels) starts Friday. Mike Montgomery has officially gotten the call to AA as lefty reliever Ben Swaggerty was put on the DL with oblique problems.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: off day

* The Rocks start a 3-game home set with the 14-5 Winston-Salem Dash (A-Adv. ChiSox) Friday. The Rocks have handed the Dash 2 of their 5 losses. Jairo Cuevas starts the opener for Wilmington.

A - Burlington: off day

* A 4-game set at the Quad Cities River Bandits (14-7, A Cardinals) starts Friday. Kelvin Herrera starts the opener. Dominican righty Rodolfo Encarnacion has been added to the Bees' roster. He's 24 in a couple weeks.

Royals on the Farm 4/28

AAA - Omaha: off day

* A 4-game set with the Iowa Cubs (9-10) starts Thursday in Omaha for a game before switching to Iowa for 3 games. Gaby Hernandez is set to start the opener. Omaha is 8-11.

AA - NWA: Springfield 4, Naturals 3

RF-LF Seratelli 2-3, BB, HR, RBI (4), RS -- .194
1B Mejia 2-4, RBI (8), K, E (2) -- .210
DH C. Robinson 0-4, RBI (8), K -- .266
CF D. Robinson 1-1, BB, RS, SB (15) -- .329, left game in 3rd
RF Van Stratten 0-3, K -- .286
2B Giavotella 0-4, BB, K -- .329
3B Moustakas 1-4, 2B (4), K, RS, E -- .345

Santiago 5 IP, 4 R (2 ER), 5 H, 2 BB, 3 K, pickoff -- L, 0-3, 3.43 ERA
R. Hardy 2 IP, H, K -- 0.00 ERA
Swaggerty IP, H, K -- 5.00 ERA

* The Cardinals regained sole possession of first place with the matinee win over the Naturals. Derrick Robinson led off the game with a single and scored on a Clint Robinson groundout as NWA grabbed the early lead. Derrick Robinson walked and stole second in the 3rd but left in the middle of the inning. Mario Santiago gave up the tying run on a 2-out rally in the 4th but Anthony Seratelli led off the 5th with his 1st homer of the season to make it 2-1 NWA. 1B Ernesto Mejia made a 2-run error in a 3-run Springfield 5th as the Cards made it 4-2. NWA stranded 2 in the 6th and Mike Moustakas led off the 8th with a double and scored on a Mejia single to cut the lead to 1. The Nats stranded 2, but went down in order in the 9th. Starter Scott Gorgen got the win for Springfield with 5 2/3 IP of 2 runs (1 ER) allowed to move to 4-0. CF Adron Chambers and 1B Curt Smith had 2 hits each. Aaron Crow starts Thursday's series finale for NW Arkansas. The Naturals are 11-8.

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

1B Hosmer 0-3, SF, RBI (14), 2 K -- .417, when that line leads off the summary, you know it wasn't a great offensive day for the Rocks
CF Norris 1-4, 3 K -- .272, was having too much success in 2-hole, needed to move back to leadoff
LF J. Rivera 1-3, RS -- .200
DH Prasch 1-4, K -- .391

Caldera 5 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 4 BB, 8 K -- L, 1-1, 3.54 ERA
Keating 2 IP, 2 BB, 2 K -- 2.25 ERA
Bowden 1/3 IP, BB, K -- 2.70 ERA

* Salem SP Alex Wilson had a good start and the Rocks had a woeful offensive day before making it close in the 9th. Wilson set the tone by striking out the side in the 1st. Salem loaded the bases off Alex Caldera with none out in the 3rd but Caldera pulled the Houdini to emerge unscathed. Eddie Prasch broke up Wilson's no-no with a single in the 5th and the Red Sox finally broke through off Caldera for a 2-run 6th before Patrick Keating came in to strand the bases loaded. The Rocks got their other 2 hits to start the 9th off RP Lance McClain and they loaded the bases before an Eric Hosmer sac fly cut the lead to 1. Prasch and Ryan Wood struck out with the bases loaded to end the game. Wilson allowed a hit and walk with 6 K over 5 IP but picked up the no-decision. RP Mitchell Herold pitched 3 hitless innings for the win. Five Sox had a hit each and 3B Will Middlebrooks was 1-3 with a walk, his 8th double and 2 RBI (12). The Rocks are 9-11 and 3 games back. They have Thursday off.

A - Burlington: Beloit 11, Bees 1

1B Lewis 2-4, RBI (16) -- .246
C Myers 2-4, 2B (3), K, PB (7), E (2) -- .244
DH Frost 2-4 -- .286
SS Hall 0-4, BB, 2 K, RS -- .271
CF Testa 0-3, BB, 2 K -- .268
The Bees stranded 10.

Lamb 4 IP, 4 ER, 3 H, 4 BB, 2 K, HRA, 2 pickoffs -- L, 0-3, 2.45 ERA
Kelley 2 IP, 4 R (2 ER), 4 H, BB, K, HRA -- 12.00 ERA
Runion 2 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, K, HRA -- 13.06 ERA
Hodge IP, nothing -- 2.53 ERA

* A day after beating the Snappers by 10, Beloit returned the favor in the series finale. John Lamb gave up 2 runs on 2 walks and a hit in the 1st but the Bees answered with a run on a Joey Lewis RBI single to cut the lead in half. Of course, it was all Beloit thereafter. The Snappers got a 2-run homer off Lamb in the 2nd, added a homer off Scott Kelley in the 5th, then scored 3 off Kelly and Sam Runion in the 7th. The Bees stranded 2 in the 6th and 7th and Beloit tagged Runion for 3 runs in the 8th to finish the scoring. The Bees stranded 2 in the 8th and that was it. SP Tom Stuifbergen allowed an ER over 7 IP to move to 3-0. Three Snappers had multiple hits led by 3 hits from 3B Reggie Williams, who hit his 1st homer and drove in 2. Four Snappers in all had 2 RBI. The Bees are 7-14 and in the cellar of the MWL West. They have Thursday off. C Jose Bonilla has been placed on the DL with an MCL sprain.

Royals on the Farm 4/27

This is post #910 on the Pipeline, which for you fellow Beatles fans out there makes this the One After 909. Hard to pick a Beatles top 5 songs, but here's one:

1) Yesterday (most recorded song in history, just discovered Marvin Gaye's version a few months back, puts his own legendary spin on it); 2) Let It Be; 3) Golden Slumbers/Carry that Weight/The End; 4) Blackbird; 5) Long and Winding Road (the version on the reissued Let it Be...Naked album is even better than the original). So many good songs left off, too. It's really amazing what the Fab Four did for music. What can be said that hasn't already been said?

AAA - Omaha: Albuquerque 3, O-Royals 2 (10)

1B Ka'aihue 2-5 -- .284
CF Lough 2-4, S, RS -- .244
2B Getz 2-4 -- .500
DH Thorman 1-5, RBI (5), 2 K -- .246
LF Coats 0-3, SF, RBI (2) -- .314
RF Parraz 0-4 -- .157, hot start meant so much in '09, doesn't have that fortune in 2010

Lerew 6 IP, ER, 4 H, BB, 5 K -- 3.15 ERA, solid
Castaneda IP, K -- 0.00 ERA
Colon IP, nothing -- 0.00 ERA
B. Wood IP, 2 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 2 K -- L, 1-1, 3.27 ERA

* The teams battled for 6 scoreless innings before combining for 3 runs in the 10th as the Isotopes won the series finale. A Buck Coats sac fly in the 2nd gave Omaha a 1-0 lead but the Isotopes got a sac fly of their own in the 3rd. Both teams stranded 2 in the 4th and David Lough grounded into an inning-ending DP with the lead runner at third in the 8th. Blake Wood walked 2 in the 10th and a Cody Clark throwing error broke the game open as Albuquerque scored 2 runs for a 3-1 lead. Scott Thorman hit an RBI single in the 10th to put runners at the corners with 1 out in the bottom of the 10th but Kila Ka'aihue popped out and Lough grounded out to end the game. RP Travis Schlichting pitched a scoreless 9th for the win. Starter Josh Towers only allowed an unearned run over 6 IP. Four Isotopes had a hit each. The Royals are 8-11. They have Wednesday off.

AA - NWA: Naturals 6, Springfield 2

RF Van Stratten 3-4, HR, 2 RBI (8), K, 2 RS -- .300
CF D. Robinson 2-4, BB, RBI (4), 2 SB (14), picked off -- .319
SS McConnell 1-2, RBI (4) -- .225
LF-SS Seratelli 0-3, BB, RBI (3) -- .152
DH Giavotella 0-5, 2 K -- .348
3B Moustakas 1-4, 2B (3), 2 K, RS -- .360
1B C. Robinson 1-4, RS -- .283

Osuna 6 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, BB, 6 K, 2 HRA -- W, 3-1, 0.78 ERA
B. Hardy 3 IP, K -- SV, 1, 0.00 ERA, your next Omaha Royal, I'd bet

* Edgar Osuna had another good start and the Naturals tied the Cardinals for the division lead. Nick Van Stratten led off the 2nd with his 1st homer of the season and the Nats took command with 4 in the 4th on a Van Stratten RBI single, a bases loaded walk by Anthony Seratelli, a Chris McConnell RBI single and a Derrick Robinson RBI forceout. Osuna served up a solo homer but stranded 2 in the 4th and then gave up another solo homer in the 5th to cut it to 5-2. Clint Robinson scored on a passed ball in the 8th and Blaine Hardy was lockdown out of the bullpen to make it 12 scoreless innings to start the season. Springfield SP Gary Daley took the loss with 4 IP of 5 runs (3 ER) allowed. RF James Rapoport had 2 hits for the Cards. The Naturals are 11-7 and tied for first.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Salem 15, Blue Rocks 5

DH Prasch 2-3, BB, 2B (4), 2 RBI (7), RS -- .421
LF Taylor 2-3, 2B (4), K, 2 RS -- .224
SS Alfaro 1-5, 2B, RBI (4), 2 K, E -- .182
3B R. Wood 0-3, BB, RBI (4), E (5), K -- .105
C Theriot 0-4, RBI, K, 2 E -- .250
CF Norris 1-5, 2 K, RS, OF assist at home -- .273
1B Hosmer 1-4, BB, 2B (6) -- .435

Dwyer 4 2/3 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 4 H, 4 BB, 4 K, HRA, WP -- 3.57 ERA
J. Thompson 2 IP, 4 UER, 4 H, 2 BB, 3 K -- L, 0-2, 6.35 ERA
R. Pena 1 1/3 IP, 8 ER, 9 H, BB, K -- 13.50 ERA

* A 5-3 lead in the 7th went up in smoke as Salem poured it on late to win by 10. Eddie Prasch hit an RBI double and Ben Theriot hit an RBI groundout to give the Rocks a 2-0 lead in the 2nd. Chris Dwyer gave up a leadoff homer in the 2nd and the Sox got another run in the inning to tie the game. Ryan Wood hit an RBI groundout in the 4th and Dwyer got pulled with 2 on and 2 out in the 5th before James Thompson gave up a game-tying double. Prasch hit an RBI single in the 6th to make it 4-3 and J.D. Alfaro hit an RBI double in the 7th to make it 5-3 but Thompson got lit up in the bottom of the inning. He gave up 4 runs before Riquy Pena came in to strand the bases full. It was Pena's turn to get lit up, and he did, worse than Thompson, in the 8th as Salem pounded out 8 runs on 9 hits and a walk. Salem RP Michael Lee got the win with an ER allowed over 2 1/3 IP. Six Sox had multiple hits led by 3-hit games from 2B Oscar Tejeda and 3B Jonathan Hee. LF David Mailman drove in 4 runs and 4 others had 2 RBI. The Rocks are 9-10. According to the Star, Mike Montgomery is getting called up to AA. C Juan Graterol is headed back to Burlington as RP Thompson was activated from the DL.

A - Burlington: Beloit 6, Bees 4 (Monday)

RF Oriental 2-4, RBI (4) -- .212
DH Myers 1-4, HR (3), 3 RBI (10), K, RS -- .225
CF Testa 1-3, BB, 2 K -- .292
C Bonilla 1-3 -- .200, left in 9th with leg injury
LF Allen Caldwell had an OF assist at first.

Mitchell 7 IP, ER, 4 H, BB, 5 K -- 7.27 ERA
Runion IP, 2 R (1 ER), 3 H, K, WP -- BS, 1, 12.96 ERA, ERA actually dropped
Lehmann IP, 3 R (2 ER), 2 H, 3 BB, 2 K -- BS, 1, L, 0-2, 6.30 ERA

* When last I left the game last night, they were in a delay in the 9th with the Bees up 1 but Mike Lehmann having walked the leadoff batter. When play resumed, things went bad for the Bees. Matt Mitchell gave up a run in the 2nd but Wil Myers smoked a 3-run homer in the 3rd for his 3rd of the season to make it 3-1 Bees. Mitchell had his best start yet as he didn't budge another inch over 7 innings of work. Sam Runion came in, though, for the 8th and gave up 3 singles to load the bases with 1 out. A wild pitch scored 1 run and a Deivy Batista error helped the tying run score, so it's arguable that Runion could have escaped with the lead intact. Gerard Hall led off the Bees 8th with a walk, advanced on a passed ball and wild pitch, and then scored on a Rene Oriental single, although Joey Lewis was thrown out at the plate to end the rally. Lehmann walked the leadoff guy in the 9th and then, after a 62-minute rain delay in which Jose Bonilla left the game and Fernando Cruz took over at catcher, a steal and Cruz throwing error put the tying run at third. Lehmann then gave up an RBI double and a 2-out passed ball on Cruz let the lead run in. Lehmann gave up another RBI single before escaping the inning with the Bees down, 6-4. The Bees went down 1-2-3 in the 9th to end it. RP Kane Holbrooks got 1 out for the win. Starter Miguel Munoz only allowed Myers' homer over 6 IP. DH Aaron Hicks and RF Angel Morales had 2 hits for the Snappers. Morales had 2 SB (7). The Bees are 6-13 as Nick Wooley starts tonight's game.

Bees 13, Beloit 3 (Tuesday)

SS Hall 4-5, RBI (13), K, 4 RS, SB (7), E (5) -- .288
DH D. Batista 3-5, 2 2B (5), 2 RS -- .274
RF Oriental 3-5, 2B (3), RBI (5), K, 2 RS -- .239
3B F. Cruz 2-4, SF, 2 RBI (4), K -- .179
C Myers 1-3, BB, SF, HR (4), 4 RBI (14), RS, 2 PB (6) -- .230, ooooh, starting to heat up???
1B Lewis 1-3, 2 BB, 2B (5), RBI (15), K, RS, E (5) -- .231
CF Testa 1-5, 3B (2), RBI (8), 2 K, 2 RS -- .283
LF Caldwell 1-4, SF, 2B (4), RBI (6), RS -- .227

Wooley 5 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 5 BB, 6 K -- W, 1-1, 6.14 ERA
Paukovits 4 IP, ER, H, 2 BB, 6 K, WP -- SV, 1, 3.18 ERA

* The Bees poured on the O as a 16-hit barrage produced 13 runs and a 10-run win. Nick Wooley gave up a run before he recorded an out as the Bees had a passed ball and error in the inning but the 1 run was all the Snappers got out of the rally. Wil Myers made up for the passed ball as he came up with 2 on and 0 out in the bottom of the 1st and slammed a 3-run jack for his 4th of the season. Fernando Cruz and Allen Caldwell added sac flies and Burlington had a 5-1 lead. Carlo Testa ripped a 2-out RBI triple in the 2nd, scored on a Rene Oriental single and Oriental scored on a wild pitch to make it 8-1. Another wild pitch in the 3rd scored Gerard Hall to make it 9-1. Cruz hit an RBI single in the 4th to make it an even 10-1. Beloit scratched out another run in the 5th but the Bees matched it on a Joey Lewis RBI double. Beloit cut it to 11-3 in the 6th but the Bees got their last 2 runs in the 7th on a Hall RBI single and Myers sac fly. Beloit SP Brad Stillings allowed 8 runs (6 ER) over 2 IP to take the loss. SS Brian Dozier had 2 hits and his 6th RBI for Beloit. The Bees are 7-13.

Royals on the Farm 4/26

AAA - Omaha: rainout

* Game 3 with Albuquerque was rained out and will be made up in July. Anthony Lerew starts Tuesday's series finale for Omaha. The Royals claimed OF Jai (pronounced like Jay) Miller off waivers from Oakland after he hit .118 in 10 games with AAA Sacramento. He had been with the Marlins' organization until being released in early April. He's 25 and has hit his best the past couple seasons in the high minors with an .821 OPS in AAA in 2008 and an .870 OPS in AAA in 2009. He's right in Dayton Moore's wheelhouse, the toolsy CF type, tho he does have some pop in the bat. Only thing missing is the ex-Brave element. Must have something on the ball, as he had signed to play baseball and basketball at Stanford before he signed with the Marlins. They put Josh Fields on the 60-day DL to put Miller on the 40-man. Could be curtains for OF Jose Duarte or IF Ed Lucas once Miller makes it to the Royals clubhouse.

AA - NWA: Naturals 6, Springfield 2

C Howell 4-5, 2 HR, 4 RBI, K, 2 RS -- .800, the week for big 2010 AA debuts
2B Giavotella 2-3, 2 BB, 2B (3), RBI (7), SB (3) -- .377
1B C. Robinson 2-5, 2B (5), 2 RS, E (2) -- .286
RF Van Stratten 1-5, RBI (6) -- .268
CF D. Robinson 1-3, 2 BB, K, RS, 4 SB (12) -- .308
3B Moustakas 0-4, HBP, RS -- .381
NWA stranded 12.

Paulino 7 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 2 K, HRA -- W, 1-0, 3.78 ERA
Bl. Johnson 2 IP, BB, 3 K -- 11.57 ERA, nice

* The Naturals took the early lead and hung strong to win in the start of a key early-season series. The Naturals left the bases full in the 2nd but got a Nick Van Stratten RBI groundout and a 2-run Jeff Howell homer in the 3rd to take a 3-0 lead. Eduardo Paulino took a no-hitter into the 5th before a solo homer broke that up. Howell slammed another 2-run homer in the 7th and Johnny Giavotella hit an RBI single in the 8th to make it 6-1. Blake Johnson allowed an inherited runner to score in the 8th but that was all the Cards would get. Starter Nick Additon took the loss for Springfield with 3 ER over 6 IP. Three Cardinals had a hit each. The Naturals are 10-7 and a game back of the Cards. Mike Moustakas and Edgar Osuna were named as the Texas League's Player and Pitcher of the Week. Moustakas hit .471 (8-for-17) with 3 home runs and 8 RBI in his first 4 AA games. Osuna pitched 7.0 scoreless innings last Thursday and is 2-1 with a 0.00 ERA in 3 starts. As Howell was sent back to NWA from Omaha and C Ben Theriot was sent back to A-Adv. Wilmington from NWA.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 7, Salem 6

1B Hosmer 3-4, BB, 2 2B (5), RBI (13), 2 RS -- .446
LF Romak 3-5, 2B (3), RBI (12), K, RS -- .265
RF Ortiz 3-5, K, RS, SB (8) -- .277
3B Taylor 2-4, BB, HR (2), 2 RBI (9), K, RS, picked off -- .203
DH Prasch 1-4, BB, 2B (3), RBI (5), K, RS -- .375
C S. Perez 0-4, K -- .304

Hodgson 5 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 8 H, BB, 3 K, HRA, 2 WP -- W, 2-0, 4.85 ERA
Baumann 2 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, WP -- 2.13 ERA
Basurto 1 1/3 IP, nothing -- SV, 2, 3.86 ERA

* The Rocks took the lead and held on to take the opener from the Red Sox. Adrian Ortiz led off the 1st with a single, got sacrificed to second, stole third and scored on a throwing error and Jamie Romak hit an RBI single as the Rocks took a 2-0 lead. Ivor Hodgson stranded 2 in the 1st but allowed 2 runs in the 2nd on 3 hits. Wilmington scored a run on a double play ball in the 3rd and added 2 in the 4th on a Jason Taylor RBI groundout and a Salem error to make it 5-2. Eric Hosmer hit an RBI double in the 6th but Hodgson gave up a solo homer and got pulled with 2 on and 2 out in the Salem 6th. Buddy Baumann walked 2 batters to force in a run before stranding the bases full. Taylor led off the 7th with his 2nd homer to make it 7-4 but Baumann gave up a run in the 7th allowed another run in the 8th before Eric Basurto came in to strand 2. The Rocks stranded 2 in the 9th and Basurto had a 1-2-3 9th for his 2nd save. Salem SP Fabian Williamson allowed 5 ER over 5 IP to take his 1st loss of the season. Three Sox had multiple hits led by 3-hit games from CF Peter Hissey and C Tim Federowicz. Federowicz also had 2 errors. Former Royal IF Carlos Febles is Salem's hitting coach. The Rocks are 9-9. Chris Dwyer starts Tuesday's game 2. Mike Montgomery was named Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for a second straight week for April 19-25. Over 2 starts he was 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA, 14 Ks/3 BB in 12 2/3 IP. It's actually Montgomery's 3rd straight Carolina League Pitcher of the Week award as he won the award for the last week of the '09 season.

A - Burlington: Bees 4, Beloit 3 (delay/9)

* The Bees are up by a run late as Sam Runion and Deivy Batista helped blow a 2-run lead in the 8th but the Bees got a Rene Oriental RBI single in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead. Matt Lehmann walked the leadoff guy in the 9th before action was delayed.

Royals on the Farm 4/25

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 4, Albuquerque 3

3B Lucas 2-4, 2B, RS -- .250, back from early season DL stint
DH Ka'aihue 1-3, BB, HR (5), 2 RBI (15), K, RS -- .274
2B Maddox 1-4, 2B, RBI (8), K -- .233
CF Duarte 1-3, RBI (3), K -- .231, still doing better than first shot at AAA
LF Lough 0-4, K -- .230
RF Parraz 0-3, BB -- .167

Bullington 8 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 4 K, HRA -- W, 1-0, 2.08 ERA, only 79 pitches
Marte 1/3 IP, H -- SV, 1, 3.48 ERA

* Bryan Bullington had a great start but the O-Royals had to hold off the Isotopes in the 9th for the win. Both teams had early chances but neither struck until Omaha got a leadoff triple from Scott Thorman in the 4th and Kila Ka'aihue followed with a 2-run homer for his 5th of the season to spot the Royals a 2-0 lead. Marc Maddox laced an RBI double in the 5th to make it 3-0 and Jose Duarte hit an RBI single in the 6th to make it 4-0 as Bullington retired 12 in a row at one point. The lead held into the 9th before Bullington gave up a leadoff homer and put 2 in scoring position with 2 out. Victor Marte was brought in and gave up a 2-run double before getting the final out with the tying run at second. Starter Josh Lindblom took the loss for Albuquerque with 4 ER allowed over 7 IP. Two Isotopes had 2 hits. Omaha is 8-10. IF Mike Aviles may miss a few games after taking a HBP on the left elbow Saturday. IF Chris Getz is to begin a rehab assignment in Omaha Monday. Righty Federico Castaneda got the call to Omaha and will start Monday. Wilson Betemit has been placed on the DL with a groin injury. Also in Royals injury news, 3B Josh Fields will have hip surgery and perhaps miss all of the 2010 season.

AA - NWA: Arkansas 8, Naturals 7

2B Giavotella 3-4, BB, 2B (2), 2 RS -- .362
1B C. Robinson 2-3, 2 BB, 2B (4), RBI (7), RS -- .275
3B Mertins 2-5, 2 2B, RBI (8), 2 RS -- .278
CF D. Robinson 2-5, 3B (4), RBI (4), K, SB (8) -- .306
LF Orlando 1-5, 2 RBI (9), RS -- .239, OF assist at home
C Pina 0-4, BB, RBI (12) -- .326
RF Van Stratten 1-4, BB, RBI (5) -- .275
DH Moustakas 0-4, BB -- .471
NWA stranded 11.

Teaford 5 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, BB, 6 K, 2 HRA -- L, 3-1, 4.34 ERA
Coleman 2 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, BB, 3 K, HRA, WP -- 3.86 ERA
Sisk 2 IP, ER, 4 H, BB, 2 K, HRA -- 2.70 ERA

* It was NWA coming from behind but falling short in today's AA game as they split the series with Arkansas. NWA did take the early lead Sunday as Clint Robinson hit an RBI single in the 1st and Paulo Orlando hit an RBI groundout in the 2nd to make it 2-0 Naturals. Everett Teaford was perfect through 2 2/3 IP but the Travs rallied for 3 runs in the inning to take the lead. The Nats stranded 2 in the 3rd and Arkansas extended the lead with 2 in the 5th as 2B Ryan Mount clubbed his 2nd 2-run homer of the game to make it 5-2 Arkansas. Louis Coleman came in for the 6th and gave up another 2-run homer - this one to 1B Efren Navarro - to make it 7-2 Arkansas. NWA answered with 2 in the 6th on an Orlando RBI single and Derrick Robinson RBI triple. The Nats scored 2 more in the 7th as Kurt Mertins ripped an RBI double and Nick Van Stratten hit an RBI single to trim the lead to 7-6. Brandon Sisk gave up a solo homer in the 8th and that was the difference as Manny Pina took a bases loaded walk in the 8th but the Nats left the bases full. Travs RP Amalio Diaz retired all 4 he faced for his 2nd save. Starter Tim Kiely got the win despite 4 ER allowed over 5 2/3 IP. Four Travs had 2 hits led by Mount's 2-5 day with 2 HR (3) and 4 RBI (10). The Naturals are 9-7. A 4-game set at the first-place Springfield Cardinals (11-5) starts Monday. Eduardo Paulino starts for NW Arkansas. SP Blake Johnson was activated from the DL to replace Castaneda on the roster.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Winston-Salem 8, Blue Rocks 6

CF Norris 3-5, 3B (3), 2 RBI (7), K, RS, SB (6) -- .279, has thrived in 2 slot
DH Prasch 2-4, BB, 2B (2), 2 RBI (4), K -- .417
RF Ortiz 2-4, S, 2B (4), RS -- .250
2B F. Garcia 2-3, HBP, 3B, RS -- .282
C Graterol 0-3, SF, RBI (2) -- .000
1B Hosmer 0-4, BB, K, RS -- .426

Melville 3 1/3 IP, 6 ER, 9 H, 3 BB, K -- L, 1-2, 10.66 ERA, what to say...
Baez 4 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, BB, 3 K, HRA -- 5.06 ERA

* A 4-run 7th wasn't enough to get the Rocks back in the game as Winston-Salem took 1 of 3 in the set. Eddie Prasch was thrown out at home to end the Rocks 2nd and Tim Melville got beaten around for 2 runs in the bottom of the inning on 3 hits, a walk and HBP. The Dash plated 3 more in the 3rd as they had 2 hits, 2 walks and another HBP. The Rocks got off ground zero as Juan Graterol hit a sac fly in the 4th but Winston-Salem had 3 hits to score another run to chase Melville in the 4th. Patrick Norris hit an RBI single in the 5th but Adrian Ortiz and Norris were both thrown out trying to score in the inning. Manauris Baez gave up 2 runs in the 6th to make it 8-2 Dash. The Rocks mounted a rally off Dash RP Santos Rodriguez in the 7th as Norris hit an RBI triple, scored on a wild pitch, and Prasch hit a 2-run single to cut it to 8-6. The Rocks left 2 in scoring position in the 8th and Dash RP Greg Infante sat them down 1-2-3 in the 9th for his 1st save. Starter Nathan Jones allowed 2 ER over 6 IP for the win. The 3-7 hitters in the Dash lineup all had multiple hits led by a 4-5 day from C Luis Sierra, who had 2 doubles (4) and 3 RS. The Rocks are 8-9. A 3-game set at the Salem Red Sox starts Monday as Ivor Hodgson starts the opener.

A - Burlington: Cedar Rapids 7, Bees 6

DH Stovall 3-4, 2 2B (5), RBI (8), K, RS -- .220
3B F. Cruz 2-4, RS -- .157
1B Lewis 1-4, 2B (4), 3 RBI (14), K -- .237, not getting a lot of hits, but making them count
SS D. Batista 1-4, SF, RBI (7), E (10) -- .262
C Myers 0-5, RS -- .224
CF Testa 0-4, K -- .289

Sample 5 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 6 K, WP -- 5.12 ERA
Odenbach 2 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 2 K -- L, 1-1, 4.91 ERA
Mozingo 2/3 IP, ER, H, HRA -- BS, 3, 6.23 ERA
Hodge IP, BB, WP -- 2.79 ERA

* Cedar Rapids took command for good in the 8th, but the Bees did take 2 of 3 in the series. The Kernels scored 2 runs off Tyler Sample in the 1st and then plated another in the 2nd to make it 3-0. The Bees loaded the bases with 1 out in the 3rd and a Deivy Batista sac fly was followed by a 3-run Joey Lewis double to give the Bees a 4-3 lead. A Sample wild pitch scored a run in the 4th to tie the game at 4 but Ryan Stovall hit an RBI double in the 6th to give the Bees a 5-4 lead. Dusty Odenbach was pulled with 2 on and 1 out in the 8th and Harold Mozingo served up a 3-run homer to the first batter he faced, DH Casey Haerther, to give the Kernels a 7-5 lead. Fernando Cruz scored on a passed ball in the 9th and Wil Myers flew out with runners at the corners to end it. Starter Patrick Corbin allowed 5 ER over 7 IP to get the win to move to 3-0. The 7-8 hitters in the Kernels' lineup each had 2 hits as Haerther's 3 RBI gave him 6 for the season. The Bees are 6-12. A 3-game home set with the Beloit Snappers (A Twins) starts Monday. OF Hilton Richardson has had hamstring issues to force him from the lineup recently.

Royals on the Farm 4/24

AAA - Omaha: Albuquerque 10, O-Royals 2

LF Coats 2-4, 2B (4), K, SB -- .333
1B Thorman 1-4, HR, RBI (4), K, RS -- .250
DH Ka'aihue 1-4, RBI (13) -- .271
SS Aviles 1-3, HBP, K, 2 E (4) -- .255
CF Lough 0-4, K -- .243
RF Parraz 0-4 -- .175

Humber 6 2/3 IP, 4 R (2 ER), 8 H, BB, K, HRA, WP -- L, 1-2, 5.56 ERA
Holland 1 1/3 IP, 3 R (2 ER), H, 3 K -- 6.55 ERA
Hayes IP, 3 ER, 5 H -- 7.20 ERA

* A 2-0 O-Royal lead evaporated in the 6th as it was all Isotopes thereafter. Kila Ka'aihue hit an RBI single in the 1st and Scott Thorman led off the 2nd with his 1st homer of the season to make it 2-0 Omaha. Phil Humber had a 4-hit shutout going into the 6th but Albuquerque 1B John Lindsey scorched a 2-run homer for his 3rd of the season to tie it. Humber allowed 2 more runs in the 7th before getting pulled for Greg Holland. Omaha stranded 2 in the 8th and the 'Topes put it away with a 6-run 9th off Holland and Chris Hayes. The Royals left 2 in scoring position in the 9th. RP Juan Perez pitched a scoreless 6th for the win. Four Isotopes had multiple hits as SS Ivan DeJesus Jr. and 3B Russ Mitchell notched 3 hits each. Lindsey drove in 3 runs (16) and is hitting .500. Omaha is 7-10. Bryan Bullington is being moved into Bruce Chen's vacated rotation spot. He starts Sunday for Omaha.

AA - NWA: Arkansas 10, Naturals 9

3B Moustakas 4-5, 2B (3), HR (3), 3 RBI (8), 3 RS -- .615, white hot
LF Orlando 3-4, 2B (3), RBI (7), RS, SB (4), E (2) -- .244
1B C. Robinson 1-3, 2 BB, HR (2), 2 RBI (6), K, 2 RS -- .250
RF Van Stratten 1-5, RBI (4), 2 K, RS -- .277
C Theriot 1-4, RBI, K -- .200
CF D. Robinson 0-4, BB, 2 K, SB (7) -- .298
2B Giavotella 1-4, BB, K, RS, E (5) -- .333

Crow 4 1/3 IP, 8 R (5 ER), 8 H, 3 BB, 2 K, 2 HRA -- L, 0-1, 4.57 ERA, that's disappointing...
Swaggerty 1 2/3 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 2 H, K, HRA, 2 WP -- 5.63 ERA
R. Hardy 3 IP, K -- 0.00 ERA

* A would-be Naturals comeback in the 9th fell just short. A 6-run Travs 5th was the key to the win. Aaron Crow served up a 2-run homer in the 1st but Mike Moustakas kept his hot start rolling with a 2-run homer of his own to tie the score. The Nats left 2 in scoring position in the 2nd but NWA took the lead with 3 in the 3rd on a Nick Van Stratten groundout and RBI singles by Paulo Orlando and Ben Theriot. Crow served up DH Paul McAnulty's 2nd homer of the game in the 4th to cut it to 5-3 NW Arkansas. Crow got into trouble again in the 5th as an Orlando error helped a run score and another run came in before Crow was pulled with the bases loaded and 1 out. Ben Swaggerty came in and got a pop out but then RF Julio Perez took him out for a grand slam to make it 9-5 Arkansas. Nick Van Stratten scored on a wild pitch in the 5th but Arkansas got the run back in the 6th to make it 10-6. Arkansas RP Jordan Walden came in to close it out with that score in the 9th but Moustakas cracked an RBI single and Clint Robinson smoked a 2-run homer to cut the lead to 1. That was it though as Walden survived from there. RP Barret Browning allowed an ER over 3 IP for the win. Three Travs had multiple hits led by 3 hits from SS Andrew Romine. McAnulty drove in 3 runs (9) and Perez's HR gave him 4 RBI (6). The Naturals are 9-6.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 7, Winston-Salem 3

1B Hosmer 3-4, BB, 2B (3), RS, SB (3) -- .456
3B Taylor 2-4, SF, 2 2B, 2 RBI (7), K, 2 RS -- .182
DH Prasch 2-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, RS -- .375
C S. Perez 2-4, RBI (4) -- .333, 0/2 SB against
SS R. Wood 1-4, RBI (3), 3 K, RS -- .102
CF Norris 0-4, BB, RBI (5), picked off -- .254
RF Ortiz 0-5, 4 K -- .232, golden sombrero
* LF Jamie Romak had an OF assist at third.

Montgomery 6 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 8 H, 6 K -- W, 2-0, 1.09 ERA
Keating 2 1/3 IP, ER, H, 3 BB, 4 K -- SV, 1, 2.70 ERA

* Winston-Salem's 9-game win streak has turned into a 2-game losing streak as Mike Montgomery led the Rocks to another win over the Dash Saturday. A Jamie Romak assist to third helped Montgomery escape a jam in the 1st and the Rocks scored 2 in the 2nd on a 2-out RBI single by Ryan Wood and an Eddie Prasch RBI double. Montgomery settled down and the Rocks added 2 in the 6th on a Jason Taylor RBI double and Salvador Perez RBI single. Montgomery had retired 10 in a row with 2 out in the 7th when he gave up a triple, RBI double and RBI single to cut the lead to 4-2. Patrick Keating came in and walked 2 before stranding the bases loaded. Jason Taylor hit a sac fly in the 8th to make the lead 3 but Keating gave the run back in the bottom of the inning on a Dash sac fly. Prasch led off the 9th with his 1st organizational homer and Patrick Norris hit an RBI groundout in the 9th to restore a 4-run lead. Keating closed out the game in convincing fashion as he struck out the side in the 9th for his 1st save. Dash SP Justin Edwards took the loss with 5 runs (4 ER) allowed over 7 2/3 IP. RF Brandon Short and LF Kenny Williams Jr. (son of the ChiSox GM) had 2 hits for W-S. The Rocks are 8-8. Tim Melville starts Sunday for the Rocks.

A - Burlington: Bees 6, Cedar Rapids 3

C Myers 1-3, BB, HR (2), 2 RBI (7), RS, SB (2), E -- .242, 1/1 SB against
LF Caldwell 1-3, 2B (3), 2 RBI (5), K, RS -- .219
SS Hall 1-4, 2B (8), RBI (12), 2 K, RS -- .259
2B D. Batista 1-4, RBI (6), 2 K, RS, E (9) -- .262
CF Testa 0-4, 2 K -- .317

Herrera 6 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 4 BB, 6 K, WP -- W, 2-0, 2.66 ERA
Lafferty 2 2/3 IP, UER, 3 H, BB, K, 2 WP -- 2.51 ERA

* The Bees found somebody they can beat. A 6-run 5th got Burlington the win Saturday. Kelvin Herrera had a 2-hit shutout through 5 but no run support. That changed when the Bees rallied with 2 out in the 5th. Two walks were followed by a 2-run Allen Caldwell double, a Gerard Hall RBI double, a Deivy Batista RBI single, and a 2-run Wil Myers homer for his 2nd of the season. Herrera gave up 2 walks in the 7th and was pulled for Brendan Lafferty with 1 out. Lafferty let both inherited runners score before getting out of the inning. Lafferty had a wild pitch in the 8th and Myers made a throwing error on the play to score a run and cut it to 6-3 Bees. Lafferty stranded 1 in the 9th to finish the game. Kernels SP Fabio Martinez Mesa took the loss with 5 ER over 4 2/3 IP. CF Mike Trout was 3-5 with his 9th SB and 6th RBI. The Bees are 6-11.

Royals on the Farm 4/23

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 6, Round Rock 3

RF Parraz 2-3, SF, RBI (7), RS -- .186
2B Falu 2-5, 3B, RBI (3), RS -- .294
DH Thorman 2-3, BB, RS -- .250
SS Aviles 1-5, HR, 2 RBI (7), RS -- .250
C Clark 1-4, 2B (2), 2 RBI (6), RS -- .167
1B Ka'aihue 0-2, 2 BB, K, RS -- .273
CF Lough 1-4, K -- .258

Hernandez 6 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, 3 K, HRA -- W, 2-1, 6.14 ERA
Rosa 2 IP, ER, H, 2 BB, 4 K, HRA -- 1.69 ERA
B. Wood IP, BB -- SV, 3, 3.00 ERA

* The O-Royals took the finale from Round Rock as Gaby Hernandez had a nice bounceback start. Jordan Parraz hit a sac fly in the 2nd and Mike Aviles hit a 2-run homer in the 3rd for his 1st of the season to make it 3-0 Omaha. Hernandez gave up a leadoff homer in the 4th but Omaha scored 3 in the 6th on a 2-run Cody Clark double and an Irving Falu RBI triple. Hernandez loaded the bases with 0 out in the 6th but escaped, giving up only a run. Carlos Rosa came on for the 7th and served up a leadoff homer before stranding 2 in the inning. Blake Wood stranded 1 in the 9th for his 3rd save. Express SP Josh Banks took the loss with 6 ER allowed over 5 1/3 IP. Four Round Rock batters had a hit each. Omaha is 7-9. Changes are in order for the Omaha pitching staff as KC jettisoned RP Juan Cruz and DFA'd Luis Gas Can Mendoza to call up Bruce Chen and Brad Thompson. Wilson Betemit hurt his leg in Thursday's game. A 4-game home set versus the Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA Dodgers) starts Saturday. Phil Humber starts the opener for Omaha.

AA - NWA: Naturals 4, Arkansas 3

2B Mertins 2-3, BB, RBI (7), RS, E (3) -- .265
CF D. Robinson 2-3, BB, RBI (3), RS, SB (6), CS (3) -- .321
DH Giavotella 2-3, BB, RS, picked off -- .340
3B Moustakas 1-4, RBI (5), K -- .500
C Pina 0-2, SF, RBI (11), K, E -- .357, left in 8th with hand injury
RF Van Stratten 1-4, K, OF assist at third -- .286

Santiago 5 IP, ER, 2 H, 4 K -- 3.38 ERA
Villa IP, 2 R (1 ER), 2 H, BB, WP -- 9.64 ERA
B. Hardy 3 IP, 4 H, K -- BS, 1, W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA

* The Naturals plated a run in the 8th to get another win over the Travs. Mike Moustakas continued his torrid start with an RBI single in the 1st and Manny Pina hit a sac fly to make it 2-0 NWA. Mario Santiago allowed an RBI triple in the 4th but the Nats got the run back in the inning on a bases-loaded walk by Derrick Robinson. Kelvin Villa allowed a run in the 7th and Blaine Hardy was brought in with 2 on and 0 out. He allowed the game-tying single but survived without further damage. Kurt Mertins hit the go-ahead RBI single in the 8th and Hardy pitched out the win. Arkansas RP Michael Kohn took the loss. 3B Abel Nieves and RF Julio Perez had 2 hits for Arkansas. The Nats are 9-5.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 10, Winston-Salem 8

CF Norris 3-5, 2 2B (3), 3 RBI (4), 2 RS -- .271, production out of 2 slot
1B Hosmer 3-5, 2B (2), 2 RBI (12), 2 RS, E (3) -- .434
LF Romak 3-5, 2B, 2 RBI (11), K, CS, E -- .250
3B Taylor 2-5, RBI (5), K, RS, CS (2), E (2) -- .157
RF Ortiz 2-3, 2 S, 2B (3), RBI (5) -- .255
2B F. Garcia 2-3, BB, 2 SB (3), 4 RS -- .250
SS R. Wood 1-4, BB, 3B, RBI (2), K -- .089
C S. Perez 0-5 -- .316

Cuevas 7 IP, 6 R (5 ER), 10 H, 3 K -- W, 1-2, 7.71 ERA
R. Pena IP, 2 ER, 2 H, BB, K -- 7.27 ERA
Bowden IP, 3 K -- SV, 2, 2.84 ERA, dominant save

* The Rocks came back from down 2 in a game featuring a lot of offense. Jairo Cuevas had a rough 1st as the Dash scored 3 runs on 4 hits and a Jason Taylor error. Patrick Norris, Eric Hosmer and Taylor had RBI singles in the 3rd and Jamie Romak added an RBI double as the Rocks took a 4-3 lead. Cuevas didn't hold it tho as the Dash scored 3 in the 3rd on 4 hits and a Hosmer error. The Rocks got 1 run back on an Adrian Ortiz RBI double in the 4th and a Ryan Wood RBI triple tied it in the 5th to chase W-S starter Stephen Sauer. Norris gave the Rocks the lead with an RBI fielder's choice in the 6th but the Rocks left the bases full. Norris and Hosmer hit back-to-back RBI doubles in the 8th and Romak added an RBI single to make it 10-6 Rocks. Riquy Pena came on for the 8th and served up a 2-run double but Barry Bowden struck out the side in the 9th for his 2nd save. RP Hector Santiago took the loss after Sauer allowed 6 ER in 4 2/3 IP. LF Kyle Shelton had 3 hits for the Dash while 2 others had 2 hits and 2 others had 2 RBI each. The Rocks are 7-8. Mike Montgomery starts game 2 of the set Saturday.

A - Burlington: Bees 10, Cedar Rapids 9

CF Testa 3-4, BB, 2 2B (4), RBI (7), K, 2 RS -- .351
2B Frost 3-5, 2 RBI, K -- .278
LF Caldwell 1-3, BB, 2 RBI (3), RS -- .207
1B Lewis 1-4, SF, 2 RBI (11), 2 K, RS, E (4) -- .236
3B Stovall 1-4, BB, 2B (3), RBI (7), K, RS -- .174
SS Hall 2-4, BB, 2B (7), 2 RS, SB (5), E (4) -- .260
DH Myers 2-5, K -- .237

Lamb 5 1/3 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 2 H, 2 BB, 8 K -- 1.00 ERA
Kelley 1 1/3 IP, 5 R (2 ER), 4 H, BB, K, HRA -- 12.86 ERA
Lehmann 1 1/3 IP, BB, K -- 5.00 ERA
Mozingo IP, 2 ER, 2 H, HRA -- BS, 2, W, 1-0, 5.63 ERA

* The Bees blew an 8-0 lead but salvaged a win in the 9th. The Bees started their night offensively with 5 straight hits as Carlo Testa hit an RBI double, Joey Lewis and Adam Frost hit RBI singles and Allen Caldwell hit a 2-run single in the inning to make it 5-0 Bees. Testa doubled again to lead off the 2nd and scored on a Lewis sac fly. Wil Myers plated a run with a DP ball in the 4th and Ryan Stovall doubled in a run in the 5th to make it 8-0 Burlington. Meanwhile, John Lamb had a 1-hit shutout to start the 6th. He was pulled with 2 on and 1 out that inning and Scott Kelley gave up an RBI double, Lewis made an error that scored a run and 1B Jose Jimenez cranked a 3-run homer to cut the lead to 8-5. Kelley gave up 2 runs in the 7th to trim the lead to 1. The Bees drew walks to load the bases in the 8th and Caldwell scored on a wild pitch to make it 9-7. Harold Mozingo came on to close it out but gave up a 2-run homer to SS Adam Younger to tie the game. A Younger error helped the Bees load the bases with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th and Frost hit a walkoff single to end it. RP John Hellweg took the loss for Cedar Rapids. Two Kernels had 2 hits and 3 had multiple RBI. The Bees are 5-11.

Royals on the Farm 4/22 -- the Moose is Loose

AAA - Omaha: Round Rock 5, O-Royals 2

DH Maddox 2-4, 3B, K, RS -- .250
LF Coats 2-3, BB -- .341
SS Aviles 1-4, 2B (3), RBI (5), E (2) -- .255
C Clark 1-4, RBI (4) -- .156
1B Ka'aihue 0-4 -- .283
CF Lough 0-3, HBP, K, OF assist at third -- .258
RF Parraz 0-4, K -- .161

Lerew 5 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 6 H, BB, 2 K, pickoff -- L, 1-2, 3.86 ERA
Hayes 2 IP, ER, 5 H -- 2.25 ERA
Herges IP, ER, H, BB, K -- 5.63 ERA

* The O-Royals turned on the O too late as the Express got the win. Round Rock jumped ahead on Anthony Lerew in the 4th with 3 runs on 3 hits, a sac fly and walk. The Express plated another run in the 6th and Omaha was being shut out on 3 hits entering the 7th. Cody Clark had a bases-loaded RBI forceout to break up the shutout and Mike Aviles doubled home a run in the 8th to cut the lead to 2. Matt Herges allowed a run in the 9th for some icing and Omaha stranded 1 in the 9th. Express SP Wesley Wright got the win with an ER allowed over 6 1/3 IP. Four Express batters had multiple hits led by a 3-4 night from SS Edwin Maysonet. The O-Royals are 6-9. Gaby Hernandez starts the finale tomorrow night. O-Royals P Adam Bostick was nailed with a 50-game suspension for a second positive drug test for a drug of abuse.

AA - NWA: Naturals 11, Arkansas 0

3B Moustakas 3-4, BB, 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 RS, CS -- .750
RF Van Stratten 3-5, 2 2B (5), 2 RBI (3), K, OF assist at home -- .289
2B Giavotella 2-5, 3B, RBI (6), K, 2 RS -- .319
DH Mertins 2-4, BB, 2 RS -- .239
C Pina 1-3, BB, GS (2), 4 RBI (10), RS -- .375
1B C. Robinson 0-2, 3 BB, RS -- .244
CF D. Robinson 0-3, 2 BB, RS -- .300

Osuna 7 IP, 5 H, BB, 6 K -- W, 2-1, 0.00 ERA
Paulino 2 IP, BB, 2 K -- 4.66 ERA

* Ah, 11-0 wins always remind me of the good times, game 7 of the '85 WS. Sooooooo long ago. Well, Mike Moustakas was apparently ready to play. He announced his presence with authoritahhhhhh Thursday as his debut was a 2-HR, 4-RBI game in a Naturals rout of the Travelers. Nick Van Stratten threw out a runner at the plate to end a kinda shaky first from Edgar Osuna and Moustakas followed up a Johnny Giavotella triple with a 2-run blast in his first AB of the season to make it 2-0 NWA in the 1st. Moustakas came back up in the 3rd and slugged a solo shot to make it 2-2 HRs/ABs. The big inning was the 6th when the Rocks pounded out 7 runs on a Giavotella RBI single, a Moustakas RBI double, Manny Pina crushed a grand slam for his 2nd of the season, and Van Stratten doubled home a run to make it 10-0 NW Arkansas. Osuna recovered from his shaky 1st to hand a 5-hit shutout to Eduardo Paulino in the 8th and Paulino didn't falter as he allowed only a walk. Van Stratten poured some gravy on the game with an RBI double in the 9th. Starter Jeremy Thorne took the loss with 3 ER in 5 IP for Arkansas. 2B Abel Nieves was 2-3 with a walk and 2 doubles for Arkansas. The Naturals are 8-5. OF Tim Smith was placed on the DL with a quad injury to make room for Moustakas.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Kinston 7, Blue Rocks 4 (G1)

1B Hosmer 2-4, BB, K, RS -- .422
3B Taylor 1-3, SF, HR, 2 RBI (4), K, RS -- .114, just for your information, drafted ahead of O's Chris Tillman, A's Brett Anderson, A's Trevor Cahill, Indians' Justin Masterson...at the time, I, personally, thought they should get OF Jon Jay, who is now with the Cards' AAA team
DH Romak 1-3, BB, RBI (9) -- .224
LF Walton 0-4, RBI -- .045
RF Ortiz 1-3, 2 BB, RS, SB (6), OF assist at home -- .227
C S. Perez 1-4, 2B (3) -- .364

Dwyer 5 IP, ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 6 K, WP -- 4.15 ERA
Basurto 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, BB, 2 K, balk -- BS, 1, 4.76 ERA
Baumann 2 1/3 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 4 K -- 0.84 ERA
Baez IP, 3 ER, 3 H, BB, 2 K -- L, 1-1, 6.00 ERA

* The Rocks were outscored, 6-0, after taking a 4-1 lead into the 6th. Wilmington loaded the bases with 0 out in the 1st and got an RBI single from Jamie Romak, an RBI forceout from Jamar Walton and a sac fly from Jason Taylor. Chris Dwyer allowed a run on 2 hits and 2 walks in the 3rd and the Rocks squandered a leadoff triple from Patrick Norris in the bottom of the inning. Jason Taylor led off the Rocks 4th with his 1st homer of the season and Dwyer handed the ball to the pen in the 6th. Things went bad quickly as Eric Basurto loaded the bases before balking a run home, K'ing 2 and then giving up a 2-run double to tie the game. Buddy Baumann came in and gave up a would-be go-ahead single but Adrian Ortiz came up firing and cut down the runner at the plate to end the inning. Wilmington had baserunners but couldn't put anything together and the game stayed tied into the 9th. Manauris Baez came in that inning and had the bases loaded with 2 out when C Richard Martinez cleared the bases with a clutch double. The Rocks stranded 1 in the 9th. RP Matt Langwell pitched a scoreless inning for the win. Four K-Tribe batters had 2 hits. Martinez's double came in his only AB of the game.

Blue Rocks 4, K-Tribe 3 (7/G2)

CF Norris 2-3, 2B, RBI, 2 RS -- .241
DH Hosmer 1-3, 2 RBI (10), K -- .417, keep it up...
C Graterol 0-2, BB, RBI, K -- .000
RF Ortiz 1-4, RS, SB (7) -- .229

Caldera 6 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, BB, 7 K, WP -- W, 1-0, 3.68 ERA
Bowden IP, K -- SV, 1, 3.38 ERA

* The Rocks rallied in the 6th to take the twinbill-shortened game. The Rocks broke the ice in the 3rd with a Patrick Norris RBI double and Eric Hosmer RBI single. Alex Caldera was solid through 4 but the Indians broke through in the 5th as 4 hits scored 3 runs to give Kinston the lead. Hosmer had an RBI force play that turned into an error to tie the game in the bottom of the inning and, 3 batters later, Juan Graterol took a bases-loaded walk to make it 4-3 Rocks. Barry Bowden pitched a perfect 7th for his 1st save. RP Brett Brach took the loss for Kinston. Six Tribe batters had a hit each as DH Karexon Sanchez drove in 2 runs (7). The Rocks are 6-9. A 3-game set at the Winston-Salem Dash (A ChiSox) starts Friday.

A - Burlington: Bees 4, Clinton 2

2B D. Batista 3-4, 2B (3), RBI (5), SB (3), E (8) -- .263, already deciding he's not cut out for SS?
LF Caldwell 3-4, 2 2B, RS, CS (2) -- .192
3B F. Cruz 1-4, 2 RBI -- .140
1B Lewis 1-3, BB, 2B (3), RBI (9), K, RS -- .235
CF Richardson 1-2, RS -- .224, left in 3rd
CF Testa 1-2, S -- .303
C Myers 1-3, BB, K, PB (4) -- .222

Paukovits 6 IP, UER, 0 H (!), 2 BB, 6 K -- W, 1-1, 3.46 ERA
Wooley 1 2/3 IP, ER, 4 H, 2 K -- 7.45 ERA
Mozingo 1 1/3 IP, 3 K -- SV, 1, 3.86 ERA

* The Bees pitching, led by Bryan Paukovits, was lockdown and the offense showed up for once, at least enough to salvage the series finale. Joey Lewis ripped an RBI double in the 1st but got thrown out at the plate on the ensuing Gerard Hall single to end the inning. No other batter reached base until the 4th, when the Bees rallied and Fernando Cruz hit a 2-run single for his first ribbies of the season. Paukovits had only allowed a walk going into the 5th as Deivy Batista hit an RBI double to make it 4-0 Bees. Paukovits allowed a 2-out walk in the 5th and a Batista error was followed by a run-scoring passed ball on Wil Myers. The no-hitter was intact when Nick Wooley came in for the 7th and he kept it going until RF James Jones led off the Clinton 8th with a single. The Kings had 3 more hits in the inning to score a run before Harold Mozingo came in to strand the bases full. Mozingo sat down all 4 he faced to finish off his 1st save. SS Gabriel Noriega had Clinton's only RBI in the game. LF Kalian Sams had 2 OF assists at the plate. Starter Taylor Stanton allowed 4 ER over 6 1/3 IP to take the loss. The Bees are 4-11. A 3-game home set with the Cedar Rapids Kernels (A Angels) starts Friday.

Royals on the Farm 4/21

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 5, Round Rock 4 (11)

1B Ka'aihue 2-5, K -- .306
CF Lough 2-4, BB, 2B (3), 2 RS -- .271
RF Parraz 1-2, 2 BB, S, 2B (3), 3 RBI (6), K, RS -- .173
LF Coats 1-4, BB, RBI, K -- .316
C Howell 1-5, RBI (2), 2 K -- .308
SS Aviles 0-4, BB, RS -- .256

Thompson 2 IP, H, K -- 5.40 ERA
Bullington 3 IP, ER, 2 H, 4 BB, 2 K, WP -- 1.38 ERA
Marte 1 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 2 K -- 3.60 ERA
Holland 2 1/3 IP, BB, K -- BS, 1, 5.59 ERA
B. Wood 2 IP, H, 2 K -- W, 1-0, 3.38 ERA

* The Royals blew a 4-2 lead but prevailed in 11. Bryan Bullington replaced Brad Thompson in the 3rd and stranded the bases loaded. The Express broke the ice in the 4th and Omaha left 'em loaded in the 5th. Former Royals farmhand Jonah Bayliss came in to pitch for Round Rock with 2 on and 2 out in the 6th and gave up a bases-loaded, 3-run double to Jordan Parraz followed by a Buck Coats RBI single to make it 4-1. Victor Marte allowed a run in the 6th to cut the lead to 2 and then walked in a run in the 7th before Greg Holland came in and walked in the tying run. Jeff Howell hit the game-breaking RBI single in the 11th and Blake Wood faced the minimum in his 2 innings of work for the win. RP Roy Corcoran took the loss for Round Rock. LF Collin DeLome was the only Express batter with 2 hits. RF Andrew Locke drove in 2 runs. RP Roman Colon has cleared waivers and accepted his assignment to Omaha. Anthony Lerew will start Thursday's game 3.

AA - NWA: off day

* The Naturals start a 4-game home set to kick off the Diamond Series with the Arkansas Travelers (AA Angels) Thursday. Edgar Osuna starts the opener.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: rainout

* The game will be made up as part of a Thursday double dip. Chris Dwyer and Alex Caldera will start.

A - Burlington: Clinton 15, Bees 1

C Myers 2-4, K -- .216
RF Oriental 1-4, HR, RBI (3), 2 K, RS -- .174
CF Richardson 0-4, K -- .214
Five regulars hitting below .200

Mitchell 1 2/3 IP, 9 R (7 ER), 7 H, BB, K, 3 HRA -- L, 0-3, 11.32 ERA, long trail to come back from injury
Runion 3 1/3 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 3 K -- 13.50 ERA, what's his excuse? Time to hit the Indy leagues
Odenbach 2 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, BB, 3 K, HRA, WP -- 4.15 ERA
Hodge IP, BB, K, WP -- 3.12 ERA

* The Bees are not good. Clinton did its damage in 3 innings to run away with the game. Matt Mitchell gave up 2 2-out doubles, a walk and 3-run homer in the 1st. He then gave up 2 more homers in the 2nd as Clinton slapped up 5 runs to make it 9-0. Rene Oriental provided the Bees' only offense with a solo homer in the 4th for his 1st for the organization. Sam Runion actually pitched 3 scoreless innings but got lit up in the 6th as he and Dusty Odenbach allowed the last 6 LumberKings runs. The Bees only had 3 hits. They are now 3-11. Starter Jonathan Hesketh got the win with 1 ER allowed over 5 IP. Four 'Kings had multiple hits led by a 4-5 night from DH Dennis Raben, who had 3 doubles (4), his 4th homer and drove in 3 runs (8). Clinton had 3 3-run homers.

Royals on the Farm 4/20

AAA - Omaha: Round Rock 1, O-Royals 0 (10)

2B Falu 2-5, 2B, 2 SB (4), E (4) -- .327
SS Aviles 1-4, BB -- .282
DH Ka'aihue 0-4, 3 K -- .295
CF Lough 1-4, 2B (2) -- .255
RF Parraz 0-3, HBP, K -- .160

Chen 8 IP, 5 H, BB, 8 K, pickoff -- 1.31 ERA
Rosa 1 2/3 IP, ER, 3 H, BB -- L, 1-1, 1.04 ERA

* Bruce Chen and former O-Royal SP Andy Van Hekken had an unlikely pitchers' duel that went to the pens before Round Rock scored the game's only run in the bottom of the 10th. Omaha left 2 in scoring position in the 2nd and Round Rock stranded 2 in the 4th. The Royals stranded 2 more in both the 5th and 8th. Scott Thorman led off the Omaha 10th with a single but was caught stealing before Irving Falu hit a double as the rally went for naught. The Express loaded the bases off Carlos Rosa with 1 out in the 10th and Matt Kata hit a sac fly to end it. RP Gary Majewski pitched a scoreless inning for the win. 1B Chris Shelton was 3-3 for Round Rock and was the only Express batter with more than a hit. Omaha is 5-7 and 3 games back. Brad Thompson starts for Omaha in Wednesday's game 2.

AA - NWA: Corpus Christi 2, Naturals 1

2B Giavotella 2-3, BB, 2 E (4) -- .310
C Pina 2-4, picked off -- .378, performed well thus far
1B C. Robinson 0-3, BB, K, SB -- .256
RF Van Stratten 1-3, BB, 2B (3), 2 K, SB (2) -- .242

Coleman 2 2/3 IP, ER, 3 H, 2 BB, K -- 2.45 ERA, 65 pitches
R. Hardy 2 1/3 IP, 4 H, 2 K, pickoff -- 0.00 ERA
Sisk 2 IP, ER, H, 2 BB, 2 K -- L, 1-1, 2.25 ERA
B. Hardy IP, BB, 2 K -- 0.00 ERA, who gets to Omaha first, Blaine or Federico?

* The Hooks and Naturals played a nip-and-tuck game as Corpus Christi prevailed in the series finale. DH Koby Clemens hit an RBI single off Louis Coleman in the 1st but Coleman stranded the bases full. The Naturals' only run scored on a wild pitch in the 3rd but stranded 2. Manny Pina singled in the 4th but was picked off before Nick Van Stratten doubled. The Naturals missed another chance by stranding 2 in scoring position in the 5th. Like the Omaha game, the gamebreaker was a sac fly as Wladimir Sutil lifted one off Brandon Sisk in the 6th. The Naturals got 2 on in the 9th but couldn't get it tied as RP Henry Villar got the last 2 outs for his 1st save. RP Jared Wells pitched 3 1/3 scoreless for the win. 2B German Duran and 1B James Van Ostrand had 2 hits for the Hooks. The Naturals are 7-5 and a game back. They have Wednesday off.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Kinston 4, Blue Rocks 0 (3-hitter)

C S. Perez 3-4, 2B (2) -- .379
1B Hosmer 0-3, BB, K -- .415, snaps 11-game hit streak
RF Ortiz 0-4, 2 K, OF assist at third -- .220
Three hitters in the Rocks lineup are hitting under .100

Melville 3 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 5 BB, 3 K -- L, 1-1, 8.68 ERA
Keating 3 1/3 IP, 2 H, 6 K, WP, E -- 2.35 ERA
Bowden 2 IP, 3 K -- 4.15 ERA

* Wilmington once again struggled on offense as the K-Tribe got a 3-hit shutout from Nick Hagadone and T.J. McFarland. The only scoring came in the 4th as Tim Melville walked in 2 runs as part of a 4-run rally before Patrick Keating got the final out. The Rocks loaded the bases in the 5th but left them that way. Wilmington stranded 2 more in the 8th. 2B Jason Kipnis was 2-5 for the Tribe and 3B Kyle Bellows drove home 2 runs (5). The Rocks are 5-7 and 3 games out. Chris Dwyer starts Wednesday's game 3.

A - Burlington: Clinton 4, Bees 3 (10)

CF Richardson 2-6, 3 K, RS, SB (7) -- .231
RF Oriental 2-5, 2 K -- .167
1B Lewis 1-4, BB, RBI (8), 2 K -- .227
SS Hall 0-2, 3 BB, RBI (11), 2 K, SB (4), E (2) -- .238
DH Stovall 1-5, 2B (2), RBI (6), 2 K, RS, SB -- .184
C Bonilla 1-3, 2 BB, K, SB, CS (2), 2 PB -- .261
The Bees stranded 13, count 'em, 13.

Sample 5 2/3 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 6 H, 5 BB, 3 K, WP -- 4.40 ERA
Lafferty 3 1/3 IP, ER, 2 H, 6 K, HRA -- L, 1-1, 3.09 ERA

* A big 9th wasn't big enough for Burlington as Clinton pulled it out in 10. The Bees stranded 2 in the 3rd. Tyler Sample got a double play to get out of trouble in the 3rd but he faltered in the 4th as Clinton plated 2 runs. The LumberKings scored another run in the 5th to make it 3-0. The Bees stranded 2 in the 6th and 8th and the game stayed 3-0 into the 9th. Fernando Cruz and Ryan Stovall led off the inning with doubles to end the shutout and the Bees loaded the bases with 1 out. Gerard Hall drew a walk to force home a run and Joey Lewis hit the big game-tying single. Hall was thrown out at third on the play, however, and Jose Bonilla struck out looking to leave the lead run at third. Brendan Lafferty struck out the side after a Hall error in the 9th. The Bees left 2 in scoring position in the 10th and SS Nick Franklin led off the Clinton 10th with his 3rd homer of the season off Lafferty to end the game. RP John Housey pitched a scoreless inning for the win. 1B Dennis Raben had 3 hits and Franklin had 2 hits for Clinton. The Bees are 3-10.

Royals on the Farm 4/19

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 14, Albuquerque 6

2B Falu 4-6, K, 2 RS, CS (2) -- .319, how seriously does front office take Irving?
DH Aviles 3-5, 2B (2), 3B, 3 RBI (4), K, RS -- .286, that's the Mike of old
SS Betemit 3-4, SF, RBI (8), 2 RS -- .286
1B Ka'aihue 2-3, 2 BB, HR (4), 3 RBI (12), 3 RS -- .325, really? KC can't use his bat anywhere?
LF Lough 2-5, 2 RBI (6), RS -- .255
C Clark 1-4, SF, 2B, 2 RBI (3), RS -- .143
CF Duarte 1-5, 2B, 2 RBI, K, RS -- .200, haven't typed his name in a while
3B Maddox 1-3, 2 BB, SF, RBI (7), K, 3 RS -- .283
RF Parraz 0-5, 2 K -- .170, only one who didn't get in on party

Humber 5 IP, 5 ER, 10 H, BB, 3 K, 2 HRA -- W, 1-1, 6.75 ERA, not the prettiest way to get first Omaha W
Marte 2 IP, 2 H -- 1.08 ERA
C. Hayes IP, H -- 0.00 ERA
Herges IP, ER, 2 H, HRA -- 5.14 ERA

* Five and six-run rallies added up in part to a big Omaha win on Monday. Wilson Betemit hit a bases-loaded sac fly in the 1st but Phil Humber gave up a solo homer in the 2nd to tie the game. Kila Ka'aihue broke the tie with a 2-run shot in the 3rd for his 4th of the season but Humber gave up a 2-run homer in the 4th to tie the game again. Omaha raised the bar by scoring 5 in the 5th on a 2-run Mike Aviles triple, a Ka'aihue RBI single, a David Lough RBI single and a Cody Clark sac fly. Humber did give up 2 runs in the 5th before stranding the bases full with an 8-5 lead. Omaha put it away in the 7th with a 6-run rally on a David Lough RBI single, Clark RBI double, a 2-run Jose Duarte double, a Marc Maddox sac fly and an Aviles RBI double. Matt Herges allowed a solo homer in the 9th but closed the door. Isotopes SP Scott Elbert took the loss with 8 ER allowed in 4-plus IP. 1B John Lindsey had 4 hits for Albuquerque (he's hitting .568) while LF Xavier Paul had a 3-hit, 2 RBI game plus an OF assist at second. Two others had 2 hits as DH Jay Gibbons drove 2 home. A 4-game set at the Round Rock Express (AAA Astros) starts Tuesday as Bruce Chen starts for Omaha. Omaha is 5-7.

AA - NWA: Naturals 6, Corpus Christi 4 (10)

2B Giavotella 3-5, SF, 2 RBI (5), K, RS, SB (2) -- .282
C Pina 2-4, BB, 2B (4), RBI (6) -- .364
DH Mejia 2-5, RBI (7), K -- .238
1B C. Robinson 2-4, BB, 2B (3), K, RS -- .275
CF D. Robinson 1-5, BB, 3B (3), RBI (2), 2 K, RS -- .326
SS McConnell 1-3, S, SF, 2B (3), RBI (3), K -- .280
RF Van Stratten 0-4, BB, K -- .233
NWA stranded 12.

Crow 6 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 3 K, 2 HRA, WP -- 3.12 ERA
Swaggerty 3 1/3 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K -- W, 1-1, 5.68 ERA

* The Naturals rallied late to pick up the win in 10. Ernesto Mejia hit a 2-out RBI single in the 1st and a Chris McConnell sac fly in the 2nd made it 2-0 Naturals. Aaron Crow had sat down 7 straight before serving up a 1-out solo homer in the 3rd but Johnny Giavotella hit an RBI single in the 4th before NW Arkansas left the bases full. Crow appeared to start to tire in the 5th as he worked around 2 walks. The Hooks tied it in the 6th as 1B Koby Clemens hit a 2-out, 2-run homer. Crow was left in as the Hooks scratched out another run in the 7th to make it 4-3 Corpus Christi. The first 2 Naturals reached on singles in the 9th and Manny Pina came through with a 1-out game-tying double before Nick Van Stratten grounded into an inning-ending double play. Ben Swaggerty stranded the bases loaded in the 9th and Derrick Robinson had the key hit in the 10th with an RBI triple. A Giavotella sac fly made it 6-4 Nats. Swaggerty stranded 1 in the 10th to finish a nice relief outing. RP Erick Abreu allowed 2 ER in 1 IP to take the loss. Three Hooks had 2 hits, as Clemens was 2-5 with his 5th HR and 2 RBI (11). Naturals RP Federico Castaneda was named Texas League Pitcher of the Week for April 12-18 after pitching 6 1/3 scoreless innings out of the pen. He's the first Nat to be named as such since Blake Wood in August 2008. The Naturals are 7-4 and tied for first.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 4, Kinston 1

1B Hosmer 1-2, 2 BB, HR, RBI (8), RS -- .447
C S. Perez 0-2, BB, RS, pickoff -- .320, teams combined for 5 hits

Montgomery 6 IP, UER, 2 H, 3 BB, 8 K, 2 WP, E -- 0.50 ERA
Baumann 3 IP, H, 6 K, pickoff -- W, 1-0, 1.08 ERA

* The Rocks used some late magic to get past the Tribe in a pitchers' duel. Mike Montgomery struck out 2 in the 1st but hit trouble in the 4th as Kinston plated a run on 2 errors and 2 wild pitches with only 1 hit in the inning. Montgomery finished strong before departing after 6. When Kinston SP Kelvin De La Cruz got pulled with a no-hitter going into the 7th, the Rocks cashed in as Eric Hosmer slammed his 1st homer of the season off RP Santo Frias in the 7th to tie the game. The Rocks loaded the bases with 2 out in the 8th and SS Ron Rivas made a 2-run error before the Rocks scored a 3rd run on a wild pitch to make it 4-1 Wilmington. Buddy Baumann took the drama out of the game by sitting down the last 7 Indians. De La Cruz allowed only a walk with 4 Ks over 6 IP. Frias took the loss with 4 runs (1 ER) allowed over 1 2/3 IP. Three Indians had a hit each. Montgomery was deservedly named Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for April 8-18 after going 1-0 with a 0.75 ERA over that time. RP James Thompson's injury is a calf strain. The Rocks are 5-6 and 2 games back.

A - Burlington: Peoria 2, Bees 1

DH Myers 1-4, 3B, RBI (5), K -- .191
C Bonilla 1-3, picked off -- .250
CF Richardson 0-3, BB, K, RS, SB (6), OF assist at third -- .217

Herrera 5 IP, ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 6 K -- 2.57 ERA
Lehmann 2 IP, ER, 3 H, BB, K, WP -- L, 0-1, 5.87 ERA
Mozingo IP, 2 K -- 4.76 ERA

* The Bees got a run off rehabbing big leaguer Ted Lilly in the 1st but that was all they would get. Hilton Richardson led off the game with a walk and Wil Myers hit a 1-out RBI triple to spot the Bees a 1-0 lead. Lilly struck out the side otherwise. The game stayed 1-0 until the Chiefs tied it in the 4th as SS Hak-Ju Lee led off with a walk, stole second and third, and scored on a single. Mike Lehmann allowed the go-ahead run in the 6th and the Bees didn't have a base runner after the 3rd. Lilly allowed an ER on 3 hits over 7 IP for the win. 3B Matt Cerda had 2 hits and his 6th RBI for Peoria. The Bees are 3-8. A 3-game set at the Clinton LumberKings (A Mariners) starts Tuesday.

Royals on the Farm 4/18

AAA - Omaha: Albuquerque 11, O-Royals 5

DH Ka'aihue 2-5, RBI (9), K, RS -- .297
CF-LF Lough 2-4, RBI (4), OF assist at third -- .239
RF Parraz 2-4, RBI (3), K -- .190
C Howell 2-4, 2B, RBI, RS -- .500
2B Falu 1-4, BB, RBI (2), RS, SB (2) -- .268
SS Aviles 0-5 -- .233

Hernandez 5 IP, 10 ER, 10 H, BB, 2 K, 4 HRA -- L, 1-1, 7.31 ERA, ouch
Holland 2 IP, ER, 3 H, 3 K -- 7.36 ERA
C. Hayes IP, nothing -- 0.00 ERA

* Gaby Hernandez was left in to get torched and the Isotopes doubled up the O-Royals. Things looked good for Omaha early as the Royals scored 3 in the top of the 1st on RBI singles by Kila Ka'aihue, David Lough and Jordan Parraz. Hernandez never did pitch that great, tho, as the Isotopes answered with 4 in the 1st including a 3-run homer from RF Prentice Redman. Hernandez did throw a 1-2-3 2nd but then gave up back-to-back homers to DH Jay Gibbons and Redman in the 3rd to make it 7-3 Albuquerque. Jeff Howell hit an RBI double and Irving Falu singled him home to cut it to 7-5 in the 4th and Omaha left 2 in scoring position in the 5th. Redman stepped up again in the 5th and crushed a 2-run homer as part of a 3-run inning to make it 10-5. The Isotopes tacked on another run in the 7th and that was it. RP Brent Leach hurled 3 1/3 scoreless innings to get the win. Redman was 3-4 with 3 HR (5) and 6 RBI (15). Gibbons had 4 RBI (12) and 1B John Lindsey had 3 hits as well. Omaha is 4-7. Phil Humber will pitch the series finale for Omaha Monday.

AA - NWA: Naturals 3, Corpus Christi 1

3B Mertins 3-4, 3B, 2 RBI (6), RS, E (2) -- .229
2B Giavotella 2-5 -- .235
LF Orlando 1-4, RBI (6) -- .222
CF D. Robinson 1-5, 2 K -- .341
1B C. Robinson 0-4, BB, K -- .250
RF Van Stratten 0-4 -- .269

Teaford 5 2/3 IP, ER, 2 H, 5 K -- W, 3-0, 2.63 ERA
Castaneda 3 1/3 IP, 2 H, 3 K -- SV, 2, 0.00 ERA

* Everett Teaford and Federico Castaneda allowed only an ER on 4 hits as the Naturals got the win. Teaford was perfect through 5 and NWA scattered 6 hits through the early innings but made nothing of them. Kurt Mertins broke the stalemate with a 2-run triple in the 6th and scored on a Paulo Orlando single. Teaford lost the perfecto, the no-no and the shutout in the 6th as a 1-out triple and RBI single cut the lead to 3-1. Castaneda came on to strand 2 and the Hooks got the leadoff batter on in the 9th but Castaneda slammed the door for his 2nd save. RP Erick Abreu allowed 3 ER in 1/3 IP to take the loss. 2B Marcos Cabral had 2 hits for the Hooks. C Ben Theriot was brought up to shore up the catching corps as Ryan Eigsti was put on the DL with an arm fracture. Aaron Crow starts Monday's game for the Naturals. NWA is 6-4 and a game back of Springfield.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Potomac 8, Blue Rocks 0 (4-hitter)

2B F. Garcia 2-3 -- .250
RF Ortiz 0-4, K, CS (2) -- .243
DH Hosmer 1-3 -- .444
C S. Perez 0-3, K, picked off runner -- .348

Cuevas 4 1/3 IP, 5 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 2 K, HRA, WP -- L, 0-2, 8.68 ERA
R. Pena 3 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, K, HRA, WP -- 5.87 ERA
Basurto IP, K -- 0.00 ERA

* It wasn't a good day for the Rocks' pitching staff as the P-Nats ran away with the game. Jairo Cuevas allowed 2 runs in the 1st and then served up a 2-run homer in the 4th to make it 4-0. Cuevas and Riquy Pena allowed another run in the 5th and then Pena allowed a run in the 7th and 2 in the 8th. The Rocks' 4 hits were scattered as Potomac SP Evan Bronson pitched 5 scoreless for the win. 2B Steve Lombardozzi and 3B Tim Pahuta had 3 hits for the P-Nats. Pahuta hit his 3rd homer and drove in 4 runs (7) while Lombardozzi stole 2 bases (4) and scored 3 times. Mike Montgomery takes the hill as the Rocks start a 3-game set with Kinston Monday. C Juan Graterol was moved up from Burlington to take Ben Theriot's roster slot. RP James Thompson was also placed on the DL with an unspecified injury. Wilmington is 4-6.

A - Burlington: Peoria 10, Bees 3

CF Richardson 2-4, 3B, HR (2), RBI (3), 2 RS, SB (5) -- .233
1B Lewis 1-4, HR (4), RBI (7), K, RS, E (2) -- .250
SS D. Batista 1-3, SF, RBI (4), E (7) -- .244
C Myers 0-4, 2 K -- .186
LF Testa 0-4 -- .290

Lamb 4 IP, 3 UER, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K, pickoff -- L, 0-2, 0.71 ERA
Odenbach 2 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, 2 K -- 2.70 ERA
Runion 2 IP, 6 R (4 ER), 6 H, BB, K -- 15.75 ERA

* Four Bees errors helped lead to 5 unearned runs as the Chiefs pounded Burlington. Hilton Richardson led off the game with a triple and scored on a Deivy Batista sac fly to give the Bees a 1-0 lead. Lamb pitched 3 scoreless innings but hit trouble in the 4th as he allowed a 2-out, 2-run double and RBI single to make it 3-0. The runs were unearned because of a Joey Lewis throwing error earlier in the inning on a pickoff play. Richardson hit a solo homer in the 6th for his 2nd of the season but the Chiefs got the run back off Dusty Odenbach in the bottom of the inning. Lewis clubbed his 4th homer of the season in the 7th to cut it to 4-3 but the Chiefs put the game away with 2 in the 7th off Sam Runion and then 4 more in the 8th off Runion. Chiefs SP Nick Struck allowed an ER over 5 IP for the win. Five Chiefs had multiple hits led by a 3-5 night from 3B Greg Rohan, who doubled and drove in 4 runs (12). He also stole his 1st base. Kelvin Herrera starts Monday's series finale versus rehabbing Ted Lilly. The Bees are 3-8 and in last place.

Royals on the Farm 4/17

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 2, Albuquerque 0

LF Coats 2-4, 2B (3), RS -- .323
C Clark 2-3, S, PB (2) -- .125
SS Aviles 1-4, RBI -- .280
1B Ka'aihue 1-4 -- .281
CF Lough 0-4 -- .214
RF Parraz 1-4, 2B (2), 2 K -- .158

Lerew 5 IP, 4 H, 4 K -- W, 1-1, 4.00 ERA
Bullington 3 IP, H, 2 K -- 0.90 ERA
B. Wood IP, H -- SV, 2, 4.50 ERA

* Anthony Lerew made his first start a good one as he combined with Bryan Bullington and Blake Wood on a 6-hit shutout. Mike Aviles hit an RBI single in the 1st but Omaha stranded 2. The Isotopes left 2 in scoring position in the 4th. Buck Coats led off the 7th with a double and scored on an error to make it 2-0 Omaha. Wood put two on in the 9th but got out of it for his 2nd save. Albuquerque SP Josh Towers took the loss despite only an ER allowed over 6 IP. DH Prentice Redman had 2 hits for the Isotopes. As you may have seen, Alex Gordon's time in Omaha lasted 1 game, so he's back with the Royals as Chris Getz hit the DL. RP Chris Hayes has been activated from the DL. Omaha is 4-6. Gaby Hernandez starts Sunday afternoon's game 3.

AA - NWA: Naturals 4, Missions 3

CF D. Robinson 2-4, S, RBI, RS, SB (5) -- .361
C Pina 2-3, HBP, 2B (3), K, RS -- .346
DH Mejia 1-4, HBP, 2 RBI (6), 2 K -- .212
2B Giavotella 0-4, BB, RBI (3) -- .207
1B C. Robinson 1-4, S, 2B (2), K, RS -- .281
RF Van Stratten 1-3, S, 2B (2), K, OF assist at home -- .318

Paulino 3 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, K, WP -- 5.87 ERA
Villa 1 1/3 IP, 2 H, BB, K -- W, 1-0, 9.82 ERA
B. Hardy 3 IP, H, K -- 0.00 ERA, may be on fast track with the way Royals relievers are
Sisk IP, UER, 2 H, K, E -- SV, 1, 1.50 ERA

* The Naturals held off the Missions for the 1-run win. Clint Robinson hit a 2-out double in the 1st and scored on an Ernesto Mejia single to break the ice. Eduardo Paulino worked past a leadoff triple in the 1st and the Nats made it 2-0 as Johnny Giavotella hit an RBI groundout in the 3rd. Paulino squandered the lead by giving up a 2-run double in the bottom of the frame. The Naturals threatened in the 4th but came away empty. Paulino got in trouble again in the 4th but Nick Van Stratten threw out a runner at the plate to keep the game tied at 2. Mejia hit an RBI groundout in the 5th to put the Naturals back on top and Derrick Robinson hit an RBI single in the 6th to make it 4-2 NWA. Brandon Sisk made an error to allow an unearned run in the 9th but got the last 2 outs to pick up his 1st save. Starter Wynn Pelzer took the loss for San Antonio. Three Missions had 2 hits and DH Logan Forsythe drove in 2 runs (7). The Naturals are 5-4. C Ryan Eigsti suffered a broken arm on a HBP Friday and is on the DL.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Potomac 7, Blue Rocks 3 (completion of Fri. game)

1B Hosmer 2-3, BB, RBI (6), RS, E (2) -- .448
C Theriot 2-4, K -- .333
3B Taylor 1-4, 3B, RBI (2) -- .125
SS R. Wood 1-3, BB, HR, RBI, K, RS -- .125
RF Ortiz 1-5, K, OF assist at home -- .290

Dwyer 4 IP, 5 R (3 ER), 8 H, 3 BB, 3 K, pickoff -- L, 0-1, 5.63 ERA
Keating IP, nothing -- 4.15 ERA
Caldera 4 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 6 H, BB, 5 K -- 3.12 ERA

* Potomac jumped on Chris Dwyer and took the suspended Friday game this evening. Patrick Norris led off the Rocks 1st with a triple and scored on an Eric Hosmer groundout. The P-Nats tied the game in the 2nd on 3 hits and a Hosmer throwing error. The Nationals took command with 3 runs in the 3rd on 4 hits. Two walks and a Norris error made it 5-1 Potomac in the 4th. Ryan Wood led off the Rocks 5th with his 1st homer of the season and action was suspended Friday with 2 on and 2 out. Hosmer singled to load the bases as the first batter today but Jamie Romak grounded out to kill the threat. Alex Caldera took the mound for Wilmington and Potomac scored 2 in the 6th on 3 hits, a walk and Jamar Walton error. Jason Taylor hit an RBI triple in the 8th but that was all for Wilmington's offense in the game. RP Cory VanAllen finished the 5th and got the win with 2 1/3 scoreless IP. Four Nationals had 3 hits, including hot prospect RF Michael Burgess, who is repeating the level after struggling in 2009. He was 3-5 with his 2nd double and 5th RBI to move to .314.

Blue Rocks 7, Potomac 2 (7/Sat.)

2B Alfaro 2-3, 3B, 3 RBI, RS -- .300
1B Hosmer 2-4, RBI (7), SB (2) -- .455, bat staying hot
C S. Perez 1-2, S -- .400

Hodgson 4 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 3 K -- 3.68 ERA
M. Baez 2 IP, H -- W, 1-0, 1.80 ERA
Bowden IP, 3 BB -- 7.71 ERA

* The Rocks bounced back to churn out 7 runs of their own in the 7-inning win. Eric Hosmer got it started with an RBI fielder's choice in the 1st and a P-Nats error scored another run in the 2nd to make it 2-0 Wilmington. Ivor Hodgson gave up a sac fly in the 3rd and back-to-back doubles in the 4th tied the game at 2. Juan Rivera scored on a wild pitch in the 4th to regain the lead for Wilmington and the Rocks pushed across 3 runs in the 5th on a bases-loaded J.D. Alfaro triple. Another wild pitch scored Adrian Ortiz for an insurance run in the 6th and Barry Bowden walked 3 Nationals in the 7th but got a double-play ball to work out of any trouble. P-Nats starter A.J. Morris took the loss with 3 runs (1 ER) allowed over 3 IP. 1B Tyler Moore was 2-2 with a walk and his 3rd double for Potomac. The Rocks are 4-5.

A - Burlington: Peoria 7, Bees 6

LF Testa 2-2, 2 BB, 2 RBI (6), RS -- .333
1B Lewis 2-4, 2B (2), HR (3), 2 RBI (6), 2 K, 2 RS -- .250
SS Hall 1-2, 2 BB, 2B (6), RBI (10), K, RS, SB (3) -- .294
CF Richardson 0-5, K, RS, SB (4) -- .205
C Myers 1-3, BB, RS -- .205, 3/4 SB against

Wooley 4 IP, 7 ER, 10 H, 3 BB, 5 K, 2 WP -- L, 0-1, 7.88 ERA
Paukovits 4 IP, H, 4 K -- 6.43 ERA

* A 6-run Chiefs 4th turned around a 5-1 Bees lead for good. Nick Wooley walked in a run in the 1st to help Peoria to a 1-0 lead and the Chiefs stranded 2 in the 2nd. Burlington got to Peoria SP Su-Min Jung in a big way in the 3rd as Gerard Hall hit an RBI double, Joey Lewis hit an RBI double, and Carlo Testa hit a single that scored the 2 base runners plus himself thanks to 2 Chiefs errors on the play. Wooley got the first out in the 4th but the wheels fell off as the rest of the inning went strikeout (runner reached on wild pitch third strike), RBI single, single, 2-run triple, RBI single, flyout, single, 2-run triple, K to make it 7-5 Peoria. Bryan Paukovits struck out the side in the 5th and Lewis led off the Bees 6th with his 3rd homer of the season. The Bees stranded 2 in the 7th but didn't threaten in either the 8th or 9th. Jung got the win as all 5 runs were unearned he allowed over 5 IP. 2B Logan Watkins had 3 hits while 2 other Chiefs had 2 hits. Two others had 2 RBI. The Bees are 3-7.

Royals on the Farm 4/16

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 8, Albuquerque 1

DH Gordon 3-4, HBP, HR, RBI, K, 4 RS -- .750
1B Ka'aihue 2-2, 3 BB, 2 2B (3), 2 RBI (8), RS, E -- .286, .412 OBP
CF Lough 2-3, 2 BB, RBI (3), RS, SB -- .237
2B Aviles 2-6, K -- .286
RF Parraz 2-5, 2B, K, SB -- .147
LF Thorman 2-5, RBI (3), K -- .250
SS Betemit 1-5, 3B, RBI (7), 2 K, RS -- .257
Omaha stranded 12.

B. Thompson 4 IP, UER, 4 H -- 6.52 ERA
Rosa 3 IP, H, 2 BB, 2 K, pickoff -- W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA
B. Wood IP, BB -- 5.40 ERA
Herges IP, H, 2 BB, K -- 4.50 ERA

* Omaha took off from a 1-1 tie to leave the Isotopes in the dust. Alex Gordon started his rehab stint in AAA in style with a solo homer in the 1st. The Isotopes scratched out a run on a 2-out Kila Ka'aihue error to tie the game after 1. Ka'aihue atoned with an RBI double in the 3rd and the Royals clung to the 2-1 lead through 6. They loaded the bases with none out in the 7th and scored a run on a Wilson Betemit double play before a run-scoring wild pitch and Scott Thorman single stretched the lead to 5-1. Ka'aihue ripped an RBI double in the 7th before Betemit tripled him home and scored on a David Lough single to make it 8-1. Matt Herges stranded the bases loaded in the 9th. Starter John Ely took the loss with 2 ER over 6 IP. The Isotopes scattered 6 hits among 6 different hitters. Gordon has (obviously) been moved to Omaha to continue his rehab. RP Josh Rupe got the call to KC as Roman Colon was DFA'd. C Edwin Bellorin has gone home to Venezuela after a death in the family.

AA - NWA: San Antonio 2, Naturals 1 (7/G1)

DH C. Robinson 1-3, RBI (4) -- .240
CF D. Robinson 1-2, BB, RS, SB (3) -- .345
2B Giavotella 0-3 -- .227
RF Van Stratten 1-3, SB -- .316

Santiago CG, 2 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 4 K -- L, 0-2, 4.09 ERA

* After missing a chance to take the lead in the 7th in the doubleheader-shortened game, Mario Santiago allowed the winning run in the bottom of the inning to finish it. Clint Robinson hit an RBI groundout in the 1st as Derrick Robinson scored to give the Nats the early lead. Santiago allowed the game-tying run in the 3rd but didn't allow a Mission to reach base in any other inning but the 7th. The Naturals got runners to second and third with 2 out in the 7th but Anthony Seratelli struck out to end the threat. Santiago walked the leadoff batter in the 7th, the Missions sacrificed the runner to second and an intentional walk was followed by an unintentional walk to load the bases. C Luis Martinez then lifted a sac fly to center to end the game. Missions SP Simon Castro allowed only an ER on a hit and walk over 6 IP to take a tough no-decision. RP Craig Italiano got the win. Each team had 3 hits.

San Antonio 4, Naturals 0 (4-hitter)

1B C. Robinson 2-3, K -- .286
CF D. Robinson 1-3, K, SB (4) -- .344
2B Giavotella 1-3, K, E (2) -- .240

Osuna 4 2/3 IP, 4 UER, 5 H, 4 K, HRA -- L, 1-1, 0.00 ERA
Coleman IP, K -- 1.93 ERA
R. Hardy 1/3 IP, K -- 0.00 ERA

* A 4-run 5th made for a doubleheader sweep for San Antonio. The Naturals had 2 of their 4 hits in the 1st but made nothing of it as Derrick Robinson singled and stole second but was thrown out at third after an overthrow on the play. The first 2 Naturals singled in the 4th but, again, NW Arkansas could do nothing with them. A Johnny Giavotella error and two singles loaded the bases with 1 out in the 5th off Edgar Osuna and C Mitch Canham came through with a 2-out grand slam for his 1st homer of the season. The last 12 Nats went down consecutively to end it. Starter Jeremy Hefner worked 5 scoreless innings for the win. Canham's 4 RBI gave him 7 on the season. The Naturals are 4-4. Jeff Howell was called up to Omaha.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Potomac 5, Blue Rocks 2 (susp./5)

* The game will be made up before Saturday's game, which will be shortened to 7 innings. Chris Dwyer got tagged in his start.

A - Burlington: Wisconsin 9, Bees 0 (1-hitter)

CF Richardson 1-4, 2B, 2 K -- .235
DH Myers 0-2, HBP -- .194
LF Testa 0-2, BB, CS (2) -- .280

Mitchell 4 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, 4 BB, 2 K, WP -- L, 0-2, 6.23 ERA
Kelley 2 1/3 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, BB, 2 K, HRA, WP -- 12.71 ERA
Hodge 2 2/3 IP, ER, H, 2 BB, 3 K -- 3.52 ERA

* Rattlers pitchers Jake Odorizzi and Damon Krestalude combined on a 1-hitter with 11 Ks between them as Wisconsin salvaged the series finale. A Wil Myers HBP broke up the perfect game in the 4th. Meanwhile, Matt Mitchell saw a runner thrown out at the plate to end the Wisconsin 1st and another Rattler was thrown out at the plate in the 2nd as Mitchell escaped a rough inning. He loaded the bases to start the 3rd but escaped with only 1 run allowed. He gave up 2 doubles to start the 5th and got pulled for Scott Kelley, who gave up a 2-out RBI triple and run-scoring wild pitch as Wisconsin stretched the lead to 6-0. Wisconsin tacked on 2 more in the 7th and Krestalude carried on Odorizzi's no-hitter into the 9th. Fernando Cruz and Jose Bonilla made outs to put the Rattlers on the verge of history, but Hilton Richardson stepped up for a double to kill the no-no. Deivy Batista popped out and that was it. Four Rattlers had multiple hits led by a 3-4 night from DH Peter Fatse, who had his 1st homer and 5 RBI of the season. RF Franklin Romero drove in 2 runs. The Bees are 3-5. A 3-game set at the 3-5 Peoria Chiefs (A Cubs) starts Saturday.

Royals on the Farm 4/15

AAA - Omaha: Nashville 1, O-Royals 0 (3-hitter)

2B Falu 2-4 -- .281
SS Aviles 1-4, 2B, 2 K -- .267
CF Lough 0-3, K -- .200
RF Parraz 0-2, BB -- .103
Ka'aihue DNP

Chen 7 IP, H, 2 BB, 6 K -- 2.13 ERA, I think we saw all we needed of Chen in KC last season, but that's a nice outing
Holland 2 IP, ER, 3 H, WP -- L, 0-1, 8.44 ERA

* Bruce Chen and Marco Estrada had a kind of unexpected pitchers' duel and the game was decided in the 9th. Actually, neither team got a runner past second until the 9th. Mike Aviles doubled in the 1st but that ended up being Omaha's best chance. Greg Holland allowed a leadoff single in the 9th and a sac bunt and wild pitch got the runner to third before RF Brendan Katin drove in the game's only run with a sac fly. Irving Falu got to second in the bottom of the 9th but RP Chris Smith finished it off. Estrada allowed 2 hits and 2 walks over 7 IP to actually underperform Chen. Omaha is 2-5 and 4 games back. A 4-game set at the Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA Dodgers) starts Friday. Brad Thompson starts the opener for Omaha. Despite a great start in his first outing of 2010, they're moving Bryan Bullington to the pen to put Anthony Lerew in the rotation.

AA - NWA: postponed (rain)

* The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader Friday. Blake Johnson was put on the DL with a blister. Lefty Rowdy Hardy was activated to take his place.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: off day

* The Rocks play host to the Potomac Nationals starting Friday. They are 3-4. Potomac is 2-4.

A - Burlington: Bees 11, Wisconsin 4

DH Bonilla 2-3, BB, 2B, RBI (2), K, 2 RS -- .286
SS D. Batista 3-5, 2B (2), K, 3 RS, 2 E (6) -- .265
2B Hall 1-4, BB, 2B (5), 3 RBI (9), RS -- .310
CF Richardson 1-5, HR, 2 RBI, K, RS -- .233
LF Testa 1-3, 2 BB, 2B (2), 2 RBI (4), RS, SB -- .304
3B Stovall 1-4, RBI (5) -- .261
C Myers 1-3, BB, 2B (2), K, 2 RS -- .206

Sample 4 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 6 BB, 4 K, 2 WP -- 5.19 ERA, some control problems
Lafferty 4 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, BB, 5 K, WP -- W, 1-0, 3.24 ERA

* A 6-run 1st gave the Bees all they needed despite 6 walks from Tyler Sample. All the runs came with 2 outs as Carlo Testa hit a 2-run double, Jose Bonilla hit an RBI single that scored 3 thanks to a Wisconsin error, and Ryan Stovall singled home a run. Gerard Hall, who lasted 2 games in his pro debut in 2009 before breaking his ankle, is making the most of his 2010 as he ripped a 2-run double in the 2nd to make it 8-0. Sample had a quiet 1st and 2nd but got tagged for 2 runs in the 3rd as he walked 3. He walked 2 more in the 5th before getting pulled as Brendan Lafferty stranded the bases loaded. Lafferty had some control problems of his own at times as the Timber Rattlers scored a run in the 6th to cut it to 8-3. Deivy Batista led off the Bees 6th with a double and scored on a Hall groundout. Hilton Richardson polished it off with a 2-run homer in the 7th for his 1st of the season. The Rattlers got a run in the 8th but Lafferty staggered to the finish as he stranded the bases full in the 9th. Wisconsin SP Efrain Nieves took the loss with 8 runs (6 ER) over 3 IP. Wisconsin CF D'Vontrey Richardson hit 2 doubles with 2 RBI. SS Michael Marseco drove in 2. Burlington is 3-5. The series wraps Friday.

Royals on the Farm 4/14 - Melville time

Wouldn't it be great if JoGui could keep this up all season? Ah, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

AAA - Omaha: Nashville 3, O-Royals 2

3B Maddox 1-3, HBP, 2 RBI (6), 2 K -- .370
SS Aviles 1-4, K -- .273
1B Ka'aihue 0-4, 2 K -- .231
CF Lough 0-4 -- .219
RF Parraz 0-4, K -- .111

Humber 7 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 6 K, 2 HRA -- L, 0-1, 5.73 ERA, not a bad start
Marte 2 IP, K -- 1.42 ERA

* Each team got 1 inning of offense and the Sounds' trumped the Royals'. Phil Humber had a rough 1st as RF Brendan Katin hit a 2-run shot followed by a solo homer by 1B Joe Koshansky to make it 3-0 Sounds. Marc Maddox hit a 2-run single in the 3rd and the Royals stranded 2 in the 6th as Sounds SP Chuck Lofgren had a good start. The last 8 Royals went down in order. Lofgren moved to 2-0 with the win. 2B Eric Farris had 2 hits for Nashville. Katin's 2 RBI gave him 8 on the season. Bruce Chen is slated to start Thursday's series finale. Omaha is 2-5.

AA - NWA: off day

* The Naturals are 4-2 and a game up on first. They're headed to San Antonio for a 3-gamer.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 1, Kinston 0 (2-hitter)

RF Ortiz 3-4, BB, 3B, RBI (4), SB (5), picked off -- .308
CF Norris 2-4, BB, RS, SB (4) -- .226
LF Romak 2-4 -- .333
3B Gordon 0-3, BB, K, SB -- .235
1B Hosmer 1-4, 2 K -- .423
C S. Perez 1-4 -- .389
The Rocks stranded 10.

Melville 5 IP, H, BB, 8 K, WP -- W, 1-0, 7.94 ERA, very nice bounceback start
R. Pena 2 IP, H, BB, K -- 4.50 ERA
Baumann 2 IP, 5 K -- SV, 1, 1.69 ERA

* Tim Melville was lockdown in his second start after a first start in which he didn't make it out of the opening frame. Melville, like Mike Montgomery the night before, struck out the side in the 1st and the only run of the game scored in the 3rd when Adrian Ortiz singled home Patrick Norris. Melville coasted but was pulled after 5 and the bullpen held strong. Riquy Pena stranded 2 in the 7th and Buddy Baumann struck out 5 of the 6 batters he faced for a dominant outing. Tribe SP Nick Hagadone took the loss despite giving up only an unearned run with 6 K over 5 IP. The Rocks are 3-4 and a game back. They have Thursday off.

A - Burlington: Bees 8, Wisconsin 6

2B Hall 3-4, 2 2B (4), 4 RBI (6), RS -- .320
SS D. Batista 2-5, 2B, K, E (4) -- .207
1B Lewis 2-4, 2 K, 2 RS -- .250
C Myers 1-4, SF, HR, 2 RBI (4), RS, 2 PB (3) -- .194, hopefully gets him started, 1/2 SB against
DH Stovall 1-4, 2B, RBI (4), 2 K, RS -- .263
LF Caldwell 1-4, RBI, 2 K -- .182
CF Richardson 1-5, 2 K, 2 RS, SB (3) -- .240

Herrera 5 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 6 K, HRA -- W, 1-0, 3.00 ERA
Hodge 2 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, K -- 3.60 ERA
Runion IP, 2 ER, 3 H, K -- 13.50 ERA, sigh, just to recap, was drafted ahead of Nats' Jordan Zimmermann, Marlins' Mike Stanton, among others
Lehmann IP, K -- SV, 1, 6.35 ERA

* A 5-run 1st helped Kelvin Herrera and the Bees survive the opener with the T-Rats. Herrera gave up his runs early as 1B Chris Dennis clubbed a 2-run shot in the 1st. The Bees responded in a big way, tho, as Gerard Hall hit a 2-out, bases-loaded, 3-run double, Ryan Stovall doubled him home and Allen Caldwell hit an RBI single to make it 5-2 Bees. Wil Myers hit a solo homer in the 2nd for his 1st (hopefully of many) this season. Hall smoked another RBI double to give the Bees a 5-run lead. The Bees left the bases full. Things got a little shaky in the 7th as Mitch Hodge came in for his second inning of work and gave up a 2-run Dennis single to cut the lead to 3. Sam Runion came in for the 8th and gave up 2 runs (1 on a passed ball charged to Myers) and the Bees' lead was down to 1 at 7-6. Myers got the run back with a sac fly in the 8th and Mike Lehmann sat the Rattlers down in order in the 9th for his 1st save. Wisconsin SP Del Howell allowed 7 ER over 1 2/3 IP to take the loss. LF Khristopher Davis was 4-5 for the Timber Rattlers with a double and 2 RS. Dennis was 3-5 with his 2nd homer and 4 RBI (7). The Bees are 2-5.