Royals on the Farm 9/3 and 9/4

Gonna keep 'em short since I'm doubling up tonight.

AAA - Omaha: Oklahoma City 3, O-Royals 1 (Fri.)

RF Parraz 2-3, 2 2B (27), RBI (59) -- .260
3B Moustakas 1-4 -- .295
LF Lucas 0-3, BB, 2 K, RS -- .308

Mendoza 6 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, BB, 4 K, HRA -- L, 10-9, 4.10 ERA
Rupe 2 IP, 2 H, 2 K -- 2.98 ERA

* All 4 of the game's runs were scored in a 2-inning span. Esteban German singled and stole 2 bases en route to scoring the game's first run in the 4th and OKC added another run in the inning to make it 2-0. Jordan Parraz hit an RBI double in the 5th but the RedHawks got a solo homer that inning to get the run back. Omaha stranded 2 in the 8th.

O-Royals 2, Oklahoma City 0 (4-hitter)

SS Falu 3-4, 2B (14), RS, SB (15) -- .272
LF Lucas 1-3, BB, RBI (50), K, SB (6) -- .308
RF Parraz 1-3, HBP, HR (11), RBI (60), K, RS, CS (5) -- .260
3B Moustakas 0-4, K -- .290

G. Hernandez 6 1/3 IP, 2 H, BB, 8 K -- W, 10-6, 4.91 ERA, responded well to first start in a while
Coleman 2 1/3 IP, 2 H, 2 K -- 2.23 ERA
Collins 1/3 IP, K -- SV, 4, 1.40 ERA

* Omaha won't be playing postseason baseball but is still finishing its best season in a while. Saturday's 4-hit shutout is a nice late-season highlight. Omaha stranded 2 in the 4th but got an Ed Lucas RBI single in the 6th to take the lead. Jordan Parraz went solo in the 7th for his 11th of the season to make it 2-0. Three RedHawk hits came in the 7th as Louis Coleman came in and stranded 2. Tim Collins got the last out for his 4th save. Omaha is 79-63 and 3 games back with 2 to play. With 80 wins it will be the best Omaha season since 1999. Anthony Lerew starts game 3 Sunday.

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 5, Arkansas 1 (Fri.)

3B Romak 2-3, HR (6), RBI (16), K, 2 RS -- .283
DH C. Robinson 2-4, 2B (40), HR (29), RBI (95), K, RS -- .332
1B Hosmer 1-3, BB, HR (13), RBI (33), RS, picked off -- .316
LF Orlando 1-4, HR (12), RBI (62), K, RS -- .308
CF D. Robinson 1-4 -- .283
2B Giavotella 0-4, K -- .324
C Manny Pina picked off 2 runners.

B. Johnson 6 IP, ER, 6 H, BB, 6 K, balk -- W, 5-3, 3.81 ERA
Swaggerty IP, 2 K -- 3.97 ERA
Keating 2 IP, 2 BB, 5 K -- 3.18 ERA

* A 3-run 7th helped the Naturals ice the win Friday. Eric Hosmer broke the ice with a solo homer in the 4th for his 13th AA longball and Jamie Romak went solo in the 5th for his 6th NWA homer. Blake Johnson had another fine start but allowed a run in the 7th to get pulled for Ben Swaggerty. Clint Robinson and Paulo Orlando hit solo shots in the 7th for their 29th and 12th, respectively, and a run-scoring error made it 5-1 Nats. Patrick Keating struck out the side in the 8th and then worked around 2 walks to K 2 more in the 9th.

Tulsa 5, Naturals 2

DH C. Robinson 2-4, K -- .333
RF Orlando 1-4, 2B (22), RBI (63) -- .308
1B Hosmer 0-3, BB, RBI (34), 2 K, RS -- .311
CF D. Robinson 1-4, RS -- .283
2B Giavotella 1-4, 2B (34) -- .324

Montgomery IP, 3 UER, 3 H, K, E -- L, 5-4, 3.47 ERA
R. Hardy 6 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 6 H, BB, K, E -- 3.44 ERA
Sisk IP, nothing -- 6.52 ERA
Barrera IP, H, 2 K -- 1.88 ERA

* Tulsa kept NWA from clinching the second-half title with the win. A 3-run 1st was all the Drillers needed as a 2-out Mike Montgomery error made all 3 runs unearned as he stranded 2 and didn't return for the 2nd. A Rowdy Hardy error helped Tulsa in a 2-run 5th after Eric Hosmer hit an RBI groundout in the 4th. Paulo Orlando ripped an RBI double in the 9th but the Nats would leave the bases loaded. NWA is 42-26 and 2 games up on first with 2 to play. John Lamb starts Sunday's game 3.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: off Friday

Blue Rocks 6, Frederick 3

1B Mejia 3-4, 2B (13), RS -- .295
LF Ortiz 2-4, BB, HR (2), RBI (34), 2 RS -- .289
DH Myers 1-3, BB, RBI (35), K -- .338
3B Prasch 1-3, BB, 2B (12), RBI (18), K -- .201
2B Navarro 1-4, RBI (38), K -- .239
CF Norris 0-2, BB, SF, RBI (41), K -- .244
SS Colon 1-5, 2B (11), RS, E (17) -- .271
C S. Perez 1-4, K, RS -- .283

W. Smith 7 IP, 3 R (1 ER), 9 H, 9 K -- W, 4-1, 2.80 ERA
Chapman 2 IP, 2 H, 3 K -- SV, 1, 5.50 ERA, first pro save

* A 5-run 1st was all Will Smith needed, but the win didn't keep Wilmington from being booted from the playoff race. A run-scoring error and RBI double gave the Keys a 2-0 lead in the 1st but Wilmington answered with 5 runs on a leadoff homer by Adrian Ortiz (his 2nd of the season), a Wil Myers RBI single, an Eddie Prasch bases-loaded walk, a Rey Navarro RBI single and Patrick Norris sac fly. Ortiz scored on a wild pitch in the 4th to make it 6-2. Smith allowed another run in the 5th but he and Kevin Chapman got the rest done. The Rocks are 35-31 and 2 1/2 games back with 2 to play. Game 2 with the Keys (30-38, A-Adv. O's) is Sunday as Tim Melville starts.

A - Burlington: Cedar Rapids 6, Bees 5 (Fri.)

C Theriot 3-4, 2B (11), RS, PB (3) -- .283
DH D. Batista 2-4, RBI (28), K, RS -- .232
3B F. Cruz 2-4, RBI (22) -- .217
CF H. Richardson 2-3, BB, 2B (13), HR (5), RBI (37), RS, SB (32) -- .199, needed more nights like this
1B Kuebler 1-4, 2B (7), RBI (21), RS -- .273
2B Hall 1-4, RBI (41) -- .225
RF Merrifield 1-5, 2 K, CS (3) -- .238
SS McClure 0-3, BB, S, K, RS, E (4) -- .232

Odenbach 5 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 4 BB, 4 K -- 5.21 ERA
Byrne 2 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 4 H, BB, 4 K -- BS, 1, L, 0-1, 7.71 ERA
R. Wood IP, H, 2 K -- 6.75 ERA

* An 8th inning run was the difference for the Kernels. Cedar Rapids scored 3 in the 2nd off Dusty Odenbach but the Bees picked up their starter with a 4-run 4th on a Jake Kuebler RBI double, Deivy Batista RBI single, and RBI singles from Fernando Cruz and Gerard Hall. Chas Byrne gave up 2 triples in a 2-run Kernels 6th but the Bees tied it in the 7th on Hilton Richardson's 5th homer of the season. Byrne gave up another triple in the 8th and it led to the go-ahead run. The Bees stranded 1 in the 9th.

Bees 6, Clinton 1

SS McClure 2-4, 2 RBI (13), K, RS -- .243
C Theriot 2-3, SF, RBI (18) -- .294
LF Richardson 2-4, 2B (14), K, 2 RS -- .202
CF Merrifield 2-5, 2B (8), K, RS -- .243
RF Testa 0-2, BB, SF, RBI (50), RS -- .276
3B D. Batista 0-3, SF, RBI (29), E (24) -- .230

Sample 5 1/3 IP, 3 H, 6 BB, 7 K -- W, 6-10, 4.69 ERA, man, how did he walk so many and not give up a run?
Hodge 1 2/3 IP, ER, H, 2 BB, 3 K, 2 WP -- 6.34 ERA
Morizio 2 IP, K -- 4.86 ERA

* The Bees poured it on early to take the opener with the LumberKings. Alex McClure hit an RBI single and Ben Theriot and Deivy Batista hit sac flies in the 1st to make it 3-0 Bees. A run-scoring error and Carlo Testa sac fly extended it to 5-0 in the 2nd. Tyler Sample left the bases full in the 4th and McClure singled in a run off KU product Nick Czyz in the 4th to make it 6-0. Sample left 'em full again in the 5th and was pulled after walking 2 with 1 out in the 6th. Clinton finally got on the board off Mitch Hodge in the 7th but Matt Morizio followed with 2 perfect innings to finish it. The Bees are 22-43. Game 2 versus the LumberKings (37-31, A Mariners) is Sunday.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Chukars 5, Orem 2 (Fri.)

CF Conner 2-3, 2 BB, RBI, K, RS, 2 SB (3) -- .300
LF Pickett 4-4, 2 RS, SB, picked off -- .333
2B Espinal 0-4, BB, RBI (25), K, RS, SB (14) -- .264
SS Trapp 0-4, SF, RBI (17), 3 K -- .245
DH Watts 0-2, 2 BB, K -- .276
IF stranded 10.

Blauer 6 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 8 K, E (2) -- 5.74 ERA
Carl 3 IP, H, 7 K -- W, 1-0, 5.17 ERA, looks like he was dealing

* IF turned it on late to beat the Owlz. Chad Blauer allowed 2 runs in the 1st but blanked the Owlz over the remainder of his 6 IP. Idaho Falls squandered a few chances and the 2-0 lead held into the 7th. Cameron Conner singled in a run to break up the shutout in the 7th and the Chukars added 3 more on a 2-run Orem error and another run-scoring error. Justin Trapp added a sac fly in the 8th. Edwin Carl followed Blauer by striking out the side in the 7th, striking out 2 in the 8th and K'ing 2 more in the 9th to put it on ice.

Chukars 11, Orem 10

SS Trapp 3-4, BB, RBI (18), K, RS, SB (17), CS (6) -- .253
C Cornstubble 2-4, 2B (2), RBI (8), K, RS, PB (3) -- .300
RF Polonia 2-4, RBI (6), K, RS, picked off, E (3) -- .207
1B Culver 2-4, BB, K, 2 RS -- .218
DH Watts 1-5, GS (14), 4 RBI (53), K -- .275
2B Espinal 0-4, BB, RBI (26), RS -- .259
3B Figueroa 0-2, 2 BB, RBI (3), RS -- .205
CF Conner 1-5, 3B, K, 2 RS -- .267

Garrido 2 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 3 H, 2 K -- 6.26 ERA
Caldwell 2 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, K, HRA, WP -- 9.28 ERA
Graffeo 1 1/3 IP, 6 ER, 7 H, 4 K, WP -- 4.05 ERA
Penny 3 2/3 IP, 2 H, BB, 5 K -- W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, Chukar debut

* A 9-run IF 6th turned around a 10-2 Orem lead in a wild one for the Chukars. Orem scored 2 off Santiago Garrido in the 1st and Yowill Espinal cut into the lead with an RBI groundout that inning. Allen Caldwell gave up a sac fly in the 3rd but Cameron Conner tripled and scored on a Justin Trapp single in the bottom of the inning. Orem took off from there with a solo homer in the 4th (but stranded the bases full, same for IF), 3 runs off Nick Graffeo in the 5th and 3 more off Graffeo and Robert Penny in the 6th. The Chukars loaded the bases with 0 out in the 6th and got a bases-loaded walk from Correy Figueroa, a Juan Polonia RBI single, 2 run-scoring wild pitches, a huge grand slam from Murray Watts (his 14th pro homer) and Dale Cornstubble go-ahead RBI double. Penny was solid down the stretch to finish it. IF is 9-24. The series ends Sunday. Penny and Cole Lohden joined the Chukars from rookie Burlington. IF Mike Liberto has also been added to the Chukar roster for his 4th assignment already as a Royals farmhand.

Rookie - Burlington: The B-Royals finished 34-34

B-Royals OPS leaders (* - led team)
Ryan Stovall .815 (.303*/.359*/.456*, 33 RS, 15 2B*, 5 3B*, 4 HR, 24 RBI, 20 BB*/41 K, 12/20 SB, 9 E in 61 G*/241 ABs*, appeared better on D this year, solid at the plate, but not in chance at A-ball)
Ryan Jenkins .745 (.273/.333/.412, 21 RS, 14 2B, 3 HR, 23 RBI, 15 BB/30 K, 3/6 SB, 4 E in 47 G/165 ABs)
Luis Piterson .702 (.263/.302/.400, 37 RS*, 15 2B*, 6 HR*, 27 RBI*, 9 BB/36 K, 13/22 SB, 10 E in 60 G/240 ABs -- started hot, slid from there)
Alex Llanos .670 (.259/.308/.362, 32 RS, 15 2B*, 3 3B, HR, 26 RBI, 16 BB/60 K, 17/25 SB, 5 E in 60 G/232 ABs -- still not dazzling)
Anthony Howard .651 (.220/.304/.348, 14 RS, 5 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 14 BB/46 K in 43 G/141 ABs)
Others of note... Yunior Figueroa .599 (9 XBH, 2 BB/26 K, 20 E led team in 54 G), Alex McClure .575 (9 BB/35 K, .305 OBP, 6 E in 40 G/148 ABs), Geoff Baldwin .460 (ugly season, .213 SLG, only batted .184, 5 XBH, 13 BB/73 K*, 16 E in 50 G, a year to forget), Drew Robertson .339 (ungood pro debut).

WHIP leaders for the B-Royals
Chas Byrne 0.71 (1-0, 0.81*, 6 SV*, HRA, 5 BB/38 K in 15 G/33 2/3 IP)
Crawford Simmons 1.04 (6*-2, 2.77, 7 HRA*, 19 BB/70 K* in 14 starts/78 IP -- should get a shot at Burlington (A) to start 2011)
Robert Penny 1.06 (1-1, 1.75, 5 SV, HRA, 12 BB/36 K in 19 G/46 1/3 IP)
Willian Avinazar 1.08 (6*-3, 2.63, 4 HRA, 11 BB/67 K in 13 starts/72 IP, nice season)
Leonel Santiago 1.11 (6*-3, 2.78, 5 HRA, 17 BB/66 K in 14 starts/81 IP*, couple bad starts late made stellar numbers little less impressive)
Others of note...Jonathan Dooley 1.31 (4-6*, 4.37, 5 HRA, 12 BB/40 K in 59 2/3 IP), Claudio Bavera 1.31 (led team with 21 appearances), Mike Giovenco 1.65 (0-5, 6.39, 23 BB*/47 K in 43 2/3 IP), Jake Ramsey 1.88 (6.75 ERA, 3 BB/6 K in 8 IP)