Royals on the Farm 8/5

So Jose Guillen is finally moved out of the way to make room for Kila in the lineup....about time they decided to figure out what he can do. This should have happened when Jose Guillen didn't get signed by the Royals bidding against themselves a few years ago. We could have figured out Kila long ago.

AAA - Omaha: O-Royals 4, Portland 3

RF Miller 2-4, HR (15), 2 RBI (48), RS -- .240
C Clark 2-3 -- .236
SS Lucas 1-3, BB, HR (12), RBI (40), K, 2 RS -- .335
DH Mertins 1-4, GW RBI (23), K -- .235
CF Dyson 0-4, 3 K, CS (2) -- .269
LF Lough 0-3, BB, K -- .254
3B Moustakas 0-4 -- .255

Castaneda 5 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 5 K, HRA, pickoff -- 3.86 ERA
G. Hernandez 3 IP, 4 H, BB, 2 K -- 5.37 ERA
Rupe IP, nothing -- W, 2-3, 2.40 ERA

* Omaha came back with 2 late runs to get a walkoff win Thursday. Jai Miller hit his 15th homer of the season for a 2-run shot in the 2nd as he continues a nice start to August. Portland answered with a 3-run homer off Federico Castaneda in the 3rd as that was his only real mistake. Gaby Hernandez came out of the pen (KC priming him for a September callup?) to strand 2 in the 6th and Ed Lucas hit his 12th homer of the season to tie it in the 7th. Lucas drew a leadoff walk in the 9th and Miller hit a 1-out single. Irving Falu was intentionally walked to load the bases and Kurt Mertins made 'em pay with a walkoff single to end it. Omaha is 59-53. Edgar Osuna starts game 3 Friday. Phil Humber benefitted from Jose Guillen's disposal as he was moved up to KC.

AA - NW Arkansas: Tulsa 11, Naturals 6

3B Romak 2-4 -- .316
CF Orlando 1-4, 3B (6), RBI (49), K, RS -- .317
C Pina 1-4, RBI (29), K, RS -- .253
DH T. Smith 1-4, RBI (41) -- .298
SS Seratelli 1-3, BB, RBI (33), K, 2 RS, 3 E (11) -- .262
LF D. Robinson 1-5 -- .291
2B Giavotella 1-4, BB -- .306
1B Hosmer 0-4, K -- .306
RF Van Stratten 1-3, BB, 2 RS, OF assist at second -- .286

Caldera 4 2/3 IP, 7 ER, 9 H, 3 BB, 3 HRA -- L, 3-2, 5.12 ERA, yowch, left with shoulder injury
Paulino 2 2/3 IP, ER, 4 H, 4 BB, K -- 4.48 ERA
Sisk 1 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 2 H, BB, K, HRA -- 4.85 ERA

* Tulsa was up, 7-0, before NWA got on the board as the Drillers finally beat the Nats. Tulsa got a solo homer in the 2nd then a 3-run homer in the 3rd, this one by Nats killer DH Charles Blackmon (his 8th). Tulsa scored again in the 4th and then got a solo homer in the 5th and another run to make it 7-0. Alex Caldera suffered the barrage then left with an apparent shoulder injury in the 5th. The Naturals scored a run on an error in the 6th and then tried to climb back in the game with 4 in the 7th on a Paulo Orlando RBI triple, Manny Pina RBI single, Anthony Seratelli RBI single and run-scoring passed ball to cut it to 7-5. Tulsa got a run back in the 8th but Tim Smith hit an RBI single to cut it back to 8-6. Blackmon blasted another 3 run homer in the 9th to polish off the win. NWA is 24-16 and a game up on the Drillers. A 4-game home set with the Arkansas Travelers (17-23, AA Angels) starts Friday.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Salem 11, Blue Rocks 6

DH Myers 3-4, 2B (10), RBI (18), 2 RS -- .396
RF Francis 1-3, BB, HR (10), 2 RBI (44), K, 2 RS -- .272
2B Navarro 1-4, 3B (4), 2 RBI (24) -- .247
C S. Perez 1-4, 2B (17), RBI (37), K, RS -- .256
LF Ortiz 0-4, K -- .295
SS Colon 1-4, 2B (6), RS -- .242

Paukovits 4 IP, 6 ER, 7 H, 4 BB, 2 K, HRA, WP, 2 E -- 5.13 ERA
Mozingo 3 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, BB, 3 K -- L, 3-2, 4.79 ERA
Thompson IP, 2 ER, H, 2 BB, K, HRA -- 7.75 ERA

* The Blue Rocks blew an early 6-2 lead in the opener with Salem. Christian Colon hit a 1-out double in the 1st, scored on a Wil Myers single, then Salvador Perez hit an RBI double and Rey Navarro hit a 2-run triple to make it 4-0 Rocks. Salem got 2 runs back off Bryan Paukovits in the 2nd but the Rocks scored 2 on a Nick Francis 2-run shot (his 10th) in the 3rd. Salem scored a run in the 3rd and then plated 3 in the 4th to tie the game. Harold Mozingo gave up 3 runs in the 7th and James Thompson gave up a 2-run homer in the 8th. The last 12 Rocks went down consecutively. The Rocks are 21-19. Buddy Baumann starts Friday's game 2.

A - Burlington: Beloit 5, Bees 0 (5-hitter)

RF Testa 2-4, E (4) -- .268
CF Merrifield 1-4, K, OF assist at home -- .209
1B Kuebler 0-3, BB, 2 K -- .263

E. Pimentel 6 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 3 K, HRA -- L, 9-4, 3.50 ERA
B. Anderson 1/3 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 2 H, BB -- 54.00 ERA, ejected Wednesday, rough night Thursday
M. Mitchell 1 2/3 IP, H, BB, 2 K, WP -- 5.53 ERA

* Beloit set up a chance at a 4-game sweep with a shutout win Thursday. The Bees left the bases full in the 1st and Beloit scored a run in the 2nd. Whit Merrifield helped Elisaul Pimentel out with an assist at the plate to end the 3rd but Pimentel gave up a solo homer in the 6th to make it 2-0 Beloit. Bees manager Jim Gabella was ejected in the 7th and Brian Anderson made his Bees debut but was pulled with 1 out and the bases loaded. Matt Mitchell threw a run-scoring wild pitch and gave up a 2-run single. The Bees stranded 2 in the 8th and went down in order in the 9th. The Bees are 15-22. The series wraps Friday. Matt Morizio is returning to the Bees as a RP.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Idaho Falls is down, 9-4, in the 8th

3B Culver 2-3, RBI (14), SB (7) -- .238
RF Adams 2-3, BB, 2B (5), K, RS -- .303
SS Trapp 2-4, RS, E (20) -- .257
1B Watts 2-4, 2B (9) -- .319
DH David 0-2, 2 SF, 2 RBI (9), K -- .291
CF Beltre 1-2, 2 BB, RBI (22), RS, SB (3) -- .241
LF Ferguson 0-3, BB, K, RS, SB (4) -- .298
2B Zebroski 0-3, 2 K -- .200

Alexander 3 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, BB, K, WP, HRA -- 6.21 ERA
Rivers 1 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 3 K -- 5.63 ERA
Blauer 1 1/3 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 3 H, 2 K -- 5.87 ERA

* Three 3-run Orem rallies off three different pitchers have the Owlz on top going into the late innings. Malcom Culver hit an RBI single in the 2nd but Orem scored 3 off Scott Alexander in the inning. IF left the bases full in the 3rd but Kevin David hit a sac fly in the 5th. Orem scored 3 off Alex Rivers that inning, then scored 3 off Chad Blauer in the 6th to make it 9-2. Geulin Beltre hit an RBI forceout and David added his 2nd sac fly of the game in the 7th, and that's where the game sits in the 8th. IF's tops in OPS: Murray Watts .931 (.314/.391/.540, 17 RS, 8 2B, 3B, 7 HR, 35 RBI, 17 BB/28 K, 1 E in 36 G/137 ABs, best offensive '10 draftee thus far); Dale Cornstubble .839 (.375/.432/.406, 2B, 7 RBI, 4 BB/8 K, 4 E in 9 G/32 ABs, not getting a lot of PT, but Royals' best name from draft has produced at plate, short sample size aside); Cheslor Cuthbert .821 (.269/.321/.500, 10 RS, 4 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 3 BB/13 K, 1 E in 12 G/52 ABs, remember he's only 16); Reggie Taylor .770 (.281/.395/.375, 3 2B, 5 BB/12 K in 11 G/32 ABs); and Yowill Espinal .764 (.307/.378/.386, 24 RS, 4 2B, 2 3B, HR, 21 RBI, 15 BB/36 K, 12/16 SB, 20 E in 37 G/140 ABs, good offensive numbers other than SLG, he's only 19). Others....Kevin David .757 (7 2B, 6 BB/21 K, 4 E in 23 G/77 ABs, getting bulk of C PT), Tim Ferguson .719 (hit for .748 OPS in July, 9 BB/41 K in 39 G/158 ABs, yikes), Tom Zebroski .561. Tops in WHIP: Greg Billo 1.21 (3-4, 4.40, 6 HRA, 7 BB/44 K in 47 IP, nice K rate and K/BB, Pioneer League is a little hitter friendly); Mike Mariot 1.21 (2-1, 3.64, 4 HRA, 13 BB/43 K in 42 IP, good K rate, '10 draftee has already had some bright moments); Nick Graffeo 1.43 (0-1, 2.66, 10 BB/23 K in 20 1/3 IP, holding his own I guess); Alex Rivers 1.47 (1-2, 4.40, 4 SV, 3 BB/15 K in 14 1/3 IP); and Matt Morizio 1.53 (1-1, 3.06, HRA, 8 BB/18 K in 17 2/3 IP, converted C makes top 5 on team despite an ungood WHIP). Others...Chad Blauer 1.57 (4 BB/20 K in 21 2/3 IP), Leondy Perez 1.71 (7.15 ERA, 3 HRA, 14 BB/30 K in 34 IP), Brian Peacock 1.71 (2.89 ERA, 3 HRA, 8 BB/7 K in 18 2/3 IP), Scott Alexander 1.82 (1-4, 6.00, 4 HRA, 16 BB/34 K in 39 IP, top '10 draftee at IF is struggling), Jason Mitchell 1.83, Jordan Roualdes 1.89, Tyler Graham 2.09.

Rookie - Burlington: rainout

* The game will be made up as part of a Friday doubleheader. The B-Royals' blog reports the Royals have signed NDFA RH Jake Ramsey out of Oral Roberts U in Tulsa. It also reports they're already discussing possible Tommy John surgery for 12th rounder P Daniel Hernandez. That didn't take long, but I guess they're holding off for now. B-Royals' tops in OPS: Ryan Stovall .890 (.318/.377/.514, 22 RS, 12 2B, 4 3B, 3 HR, 16 RBI, 14 BB/25 K, 10/15 SB, 6 E in 37 G/148 ABs); Luis Piterson .737 (.275/.308/.430, 23 RS, 11 2B, 4 HR, 22 RBI, 5 BB/24 K, 10/14 SB, 9 E in 36 G/149 ABs, not getting on base, hit for .551 OPS in 25 July games); Ryan Jenkins .713 (.248/.313/.400, 15 RS, 10 2B, 2 HR, 16 RBI, 10 BB/16 K, 3 E in 29 G/105 ABs); Anthony Howard .673 (.238/.304/.369, 8 RS, 4 2B, 6 BB/25 K, 4/6 SB in 24 G/84 K, Stovall is only one getting on base in Burlington); and Alex Llanos .660 (.256/.308/.353, 23 RS, 13 2B, 15 RBI, 12 BB/40 K, 11/16 SB in 39 G/156 ABs). Not the prettiest picture. Others...Alex McClure .586 (slugging .276, 9 BB/35 K in 39 G/145 ABs), Drew Robertson .444 (only 9 AB), and Geoff Baldwin .406 (really struggling this season). Tops in WHIP: Chas Byrne 0.67 (0-0, 1.07, 3 SV, HRA, 4 BB/33 K in 25 1/3 IP, can't complain about that); Leonel Santiago 0.97 (5-2, 1.51, 2 HRA, 12 BB/47 K in 53 2/3 IP, having nice second US season); Willian Avinazar 1.02 (3-1, 2.28, 2 HRA, 9 BB/43 K in 43 1/3 IP, also doing well); Crawford Simmons 1.10 (3-1, 3.19, 6 HRA, 13 BB/52 K in 48 IP, having nice debut campaing despite HRA); and Claudio Bavera 1.13 (2-2, 2.63, 1 SV, HRA, 3 BB/18 K in 24 IP). Others...Robert Penny 1.22, Jonathan Dooley 1.35, Cole Lohden 1.39, Mike Giovenco 1.88.

Rookie - AZL: The Royals dropped Wednesday's game, 6-2, to the Angels. Henry Moreno added an RBI groundout in the 9th.

The Royals are down, 7-2, to the Indians in the 5th

1B Moreno 2-2, 2B (15), RBI (23), RS -- .347
RF Alcantara 2-2 -- .261
2B V. Soto 0-2, RBI (14) -- .278
CF Conner 0-1, HBP, K -- .208
SS Antonio 0-2, E (13) -- .259
LF Blanco 0-1, K -- .185
C Marquez 0-2, K, PB (8) -- .171

Melville 1 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, K -- 10.80 ERA
E. Diaz 1 2/3 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 2 H, BB, 2 K, HRA, WP -- 4.97 ERA
Jo. Soto 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, K, HRA -- 4.15 ERA

* The Tribe has scored in each of the first 4 innings to surge to the lead on the Royals. The Indians scored a run in each of the first 3 innings and then scored 4 in the 4th as Tim Melville had a tough rehab start and Eric Diaz and Jorge Soto also suffered. Henry Moreno hit an RBI double and scored on a Victor Soto forceout as the Royals got on the board in the 4th. We'll see if they can continue the comeback... AZL tops in OPS for the Royals: Henry Moreno .950 (.333/.374/.576, 19 RS, 14 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 22 RBI, 5 BB/22 K, 7 E in 26 G/99 ABs); Mike Antonio .761 (.265/.303/.458, 8 RS, 5 2B, 4 3B, HR, 6 RBI, 5 BB/14 K, 4/8 SB, 12 E in 20 G/83 ABs, getting rough intro to pro ball but has some good parts to the game); Darian Sandford .725 (.294/.372/.353, 14 RS, 3 XBH, 8 BB/19 K, 13/15 SB in 21 G/68 ABs, Park U product doing OK); Daniel Mateo .715 (.238/.278/.437, 11 RS, 9 2B, 5 3B, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 6 BB/29 K, 4/5 SB, 15 E in 32 G/126 ABs, hit for .735 OPS in July, turns 19 in a few days); and Ysmelin Alcantara .708 (.244/.301/.407, 3 2B, 3 HR, 6 BB/26 K, 3 E in 26 G/86 ABs). Others...Cameron Conner .588, Jin-Ho Shin .563 (only hitting .189, 18 BB/31 K in 28 G/90 ABs), Alex Marquez .554, Jerico Blanco .414, Mike Liberto .348. Tops in WHIP: Dylan Lindsey 0.84 (1-0, 1.69, HRA, BB/5 K in 10 2/3 IP); Brennon Martin 0.86 (been moved up already); Rudy Brown 1.07 (2-1, 1.78, HRA, 7 BB/25 K in 25 1/3 IP); Robinson Yambati 1.10 (4-2, 3.38, 8 BB/45 K in 42 2/3 IP, good peripherals, having nice season); and Yordano Ventura 1.20 (2-2, 3.69, HRA, 10 BB/36 K in 31 2/3 IP). Others....Tyler Gatrell 1.27 (0.60 ERA, 8 SV, 7 BB/26 K in 15 IP, very nice), Nick Rogers 1.53 (only 1.88 ERA, 6 BB/23 K in 14 1/3 IP).