Royals on the Farm 7/1 -- Here's July, Montgomery makes good return on his birthday

Just gonna do quick month's end wrapups....top 3 and others....not doing the rookie leagues since they only have a few games under the belt...

AAA - Omaha: Storm Chasers 6, Albuquerque 0 (3-hitter)

SS Aviles 2-4, GS (9), 4 RBI (18), RS -- .342, he may have AAA down
3B Arias 2-3, SF, RBI (10), K, RS, SB (3) -- .208
LF Lough 2-2, 2 BB -- .313
C Clark 0-4, RBI (6) -- .262
2B Giavotella 1-3, BB, 2B (24), RS -- .327
DH Robinson 0-4, K -- .327
CF Cain 1-4, K, RS -- .303
1B Ka'aihue 0-3, BB, RS -- .306

Montgomery 6 2/3 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 7 K -- W, 3-4, 5.38 ERA
M. Santiago 1 1/3 IP, H -- 5.68 ERA
Chavez IP, 2 K -- 3.93 ERA

* Mike Montgomery looked good for the first scoreless start he has posted in at least his last 10 starts, giving himself a nice 22nd birthday present, as Omaha shut out the Isotopes. Mike Aviles set off some early fireworks with a grand slam in the 3rd for his 9th AAA homer. Montgomery faced no significant threats over his 6 2/3 IP of work. A run-scoring error and Joaquin Arias sac fly finished the scoring in the 8th. Jesse Chavez and Mario Santiago pitched well to finish it. Omaha is 45-37. Game 3 is Saturday as Sean O'Sullivan makes his third rehab start. P Blake Johnson has been released.

Omaha OPS leaders
1. SS Mike Aviles 1.091 -- .342/.357/.734, 17 RS, 2 2B, 3B, 9 HR, 18 RBI, 3 BB/11 K, 3/4 SB, 1 E in 20 G/79 ABs -- it's a small sample size but he's playing well
2. 1B Clint Robinson .968 -- .327/.399/.569, 55 RS, 21 2B, 17 HR, 54 RBI, 35 BB/51 K, 1/2 SB, 3 E in 78 G/297 ABs -- .838 OPS in June was lowest of season, hit .297 in month
3. 1B Kila Ka'aihue .897 -- .306/.420/.478, 26 RS, 9 2B, 6 HR, 37 RBI, 32 BB/35 K in 47 G/157 ABs -- hit .319 with .969 OPS in June, seems to have found power stroke again
Others -- OF Lorenzo Cain .880 (.303/.371/.509, 47 RS, 19 2B, 5 3B, 9 HR, 43 RBI, 21 BB/63 K, 8/11 SB in 72 G/271 ABs, hit .317 with .965 OPS (best month yet) in June, we'll see if they get him to KC in July)... 2B Johnny Giavotella .843 (.327/.384/.459, 48 RS, 24 2B, 3B, 6 HR, 56 RBI, 29 BB/44 K, 9/12 SB, 9 E in 81 G/333 ABs, hit .398 (!!) with 1.041 OPS in June, hottest among Royals farmhands, we'll see if they get him to KC in July (wait, that sounds familiar))... OF David Lough .839 (.313/.359/.480, 51 RS, 18 2B, 6 3B, 4 HR, 33 RBI, 18 BB/29 K, 9/12 SB, 3 E in 63 G/252 ABs, battled some injuries in month, only posted .721 OPS in 19 games)... Irving Falu .759 (still hitting .305, hanging around the fringe)

Omaha WHIP leaders
1. Everett Teaford 0.90 -- 2-1, 3.25, 3 HRA, 7 BB/26 K in 27 2/3 IP -- settling back in at AAA
2. Robinson Tejeda 1.23 -- 0-2, 2.41, 2 HRA, 5 BB/23 K in 18 2/3 IP -- trying to work way back into picture
3. Brandon Sisk 1.26 -- 1-0, 1.42, 4 BB/7 K in 6 1/3 IP -- still finding AAA legs
Others -- Jeff Suppan 1.34 (7-4, 4.88, 2 CG, 1 ShO, 16 HRA, 24 BB/54 K in 94 IP, 3-0, 3.06, 8 BB/20 K in 35 1/3 June IP)... Luis Mendoza 1.39 (5-3, 2.75, 2 SV, 4 HRA, 29 BB/33 K in 75 1/3 IP, mediocre numbers, nice ERA)... Mike Montgomery 1.49 (3-4, 5.38, 9 HRA, 49 BB/72 K in 85 1/3 IP, tonight's start helps, 7.59 ERA, 12 BB/17 K in month)... Vin Mazzaro 1.64... Jeremy Jeffress 1.81

AA - NW Arkansas: San Antonio 4, Naturals 1

CF Robinson 2-5, 2B (4), RBI (9), K, SB (28) -- .260
RF Myers 2-3, BB -- .296
LF Francis 2-4, RS, SB (4), CS (2) -- .269
SS Colon 1-4 -- .253
2B Bianchi 1-3, BB, K -- .273
C S. Perez 1-4, K, E (7) -- .263

Miner 4 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, BB, 4 K, HRA -- L, 1-4, 5.94 ERA
Paulino 3 2/3 IP, ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 2 K, WP -- 6.17 ERA
Baez IP, H -- 4.84 ERA

* The Naturals' woes were prolonged by the Missions on Friday. NWA mounted a rally in the 1st but Christian Colon was tagged out at the plate to end the inning. The Nats squandered a 2-on, 0-out situation in the 2nd and San Antonio got 2 runs off Zach Miner in the 3rd. The Missions added 2 more off Miner and Eduardo Paulino in the 5th. Derrick Robinson doubled in a run in the 5th but the Nats stranded 2 in the 7th (Nick Francis caught stealing third to end the inning) and they didn't get another good chance. The Naturals are 1-7 on a 7-game skid. Will Smith will try to help the Nats avoid the sweep on Saturday.

NWA OPS leaders
1. IF Anthony Seratelli .865 -- .292/.412/.453, 56 RS*, 6 2B, 4 3B*, 8 HR, 39 RBI, 44 BB/48 K, 18/20 SB, 4 E in 69 G/236 ABs -- hit for nice .918 OPS in June, 19 BB/24 K in month
2. 3B Mario Lisson .843 -- .247/.332/.511, 36 RS, 13 2B, 11 HR*, 29 RBI, 19 BB/49 K, 5/5 SB, 11 E in 54 G/174 ABs -- .750 OPS in June
3. OF Tim Smith .825 -- .294/.342/.483, 33 RS, 10 2B, 2 3B, 8 HR, 39 RBI, 14 BB/31 K, 8/10 SB, 2 E in 58 G/201 ABs -- hit .337 with .967 OPS in June, one of hottest players in organization over the month, 5 HR, 26 RBI in month
Others -- OF Wil Myers .793 (.289/.377/.416, 24 RS, 12 2B, 3 HR, 18 RBI, 23 BB/43 K, 5/7 SB in 45 G/166 ABs, recovered from leg injury to post .827 OPS for best mark of season in June, getting back on track)... IF Jeff Bianchi .684 (.707 OPS in June as numbers rebounded some)... C Salvador Perez .676 (.659 OPS in June, must be something defensively to make all star team with mediocre plate numbers)... IF Christian Colon .669 (.283 BA/.766 June OPS was best of season so far, 15 BB/7 K in month)... OF Derrick Robinson .628 (27/34 SB, .588 OPS in June, swiped 15 bases in month)

NWA WHIP leaders
1. Kelvin Herrera 0.76 -- 2-0, 1.61, 4 SV, 4 HRA, 1 BB/28 K in 22 1/3 IP -- Absolute Zero looking good in first taste of AA
2. Kevin Chapman 0.95 -- 0-0, 0.71, 4 BB/16 K in 12 2/3 IP -- so far so good
3. Heath Rollins 1.26 -- 1-2, 3.57, 1 SV, 4 HRA, 26 BB/27 K in 45 1/3 IP
Others -- Patrick Keating 1.26 (7 SV*, 7.71 ERA in June before hitting shelf)... Buddy Baumann 1.41 (3-2, 4.08, 26 BB/54 K in 57 1/3 IP, 5 BB/20 K in 22 solid June IP, had a couple good starts in month)... Chris Dwyer 1.53 (2-8, 6.16, 2 CG, 5 HRA, 43 BB/65 K in 73 IP, 6.21 ERA, 17 BB/31 K in 29 June IP)... Will Smith 1.62 (5-7, 4.52, 9 HRA, 26 BB/46 K in 81 2/3 IP, 4.37 ERA in June, second straight month with .304 OAV)

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 3, Salem 0

DH Ferguson 1-3, 2 RBI (26) -- .205
1B Whittleman 1-2, BB, 2B (18), RBI (37), K, 2 RS -- .237
CF Prades 1-4, K -- .292
LF Testa 0-3, BB, RS, SB (7) -- .254
3B Stovall 0-3, 2 E -- .000, 2011 Rocks debut

Marks 5 IP, 4 H, 4 BB, 7 K -- W, 4-5, 4.64 ERA
Sample 2 IP, 2 H, BB, K, WP -- 4.33 ERA
Paukovits 2 IP, H, 2 K, WP -- SV, 2, 3.16 ERA

* The Rocks turned the tables on the Sox to get a shutout win of their own on Friday. Justin Marks worked out of trouble in the 2nd then stranded 2 in the 3rd and left the bases loaded in the 5th. Tim Ferguson hit an RBI groundout in the 5th and the Rocks added 2 in the 7th on a John Whittleman RBI double and Ferguson RBI single. Tyler Sample stranded 2 in the 7th and Bryan Paukovits stranded 2 in the 8th. Wilmington is 4-5. A 4-game set at the Potomac Nationals (4-5) starts Saturday. Elisaul Pimentel will start. IF Alex McClure broke some bones in his hand during Tuesday's game and hit the DL.

Wilmington OPS leaders
1. 1B John Whittleman .766 (behind Nick Francis and Rey Navarro, now in AA) -- .237/.339/.427, 32 RS, 18 2B, 3 3B, 8 HR*, 37 RBI, 41 BB/65 K, 1/1 SB, 10 E in 74 G/253 ABs -- there's room for more production in Wilmington with promotions starting, hit for only .672 OPS in June
2. OF Yem Prades .720 -- .292/.328/.392, 9 RS, 9 2B, HR, 8 RBI, 5 BB/32 K, 5/6 SB in 32 G/120 ABs -- he's a free swinger, .751 OPS in June, hit .305 in month
3. OF Carlo Testa .714 -- .254/.333/.381, 26 RS, 16 2B, 3 3B, HR, 21 RBI, 20 BB/65 K, 7/9 SB, 1 E in 56 G/197 ABs -- hit .213 with lowly .587 OPS in June, that's Carlo's worst month I can remember
Others -- OF Whit Merrifield .691 (.263/.336/.356, 41 RS*, 16 2B, 3 HR, 26 RBI, 28 BB/58 K, 14/22 SB, 1 E in 71 G/270 ABs, hit .211 with .584 OPS in June, also a rough month)

Wilmington WHIP leaders
1. Noel Arguelles 0.97 -- 2-3, 2.32, 6 HRA, 5 BB/41 K in 13 starts/66 IP -- that's an eye-popping K/BB ratio, .215 OAV and 0 BB/10 K in 21 2/3 June IP, K rate still not great
2. Ryan Dennick 1.04 -- 1-2, 3.60, 3 SV, 2 HRA, 5 BB/27 K in 25 IP -- been good out of pen
3. Mike Mariot 1.06 -- 5-1, 2.91, 4 SV, 4 HRA, 13 BB/38 K in 16 G (2 starts) and 46 1/3 IP -- 6.32 ERA, .303 OAV in 15 2/3 June IP
Others -- Elisaul Pimentel 1.13 (4-5, 3.72, 1 CG, 6 HRA, 17 BB/54 K in 13 starts/75 IP, 0.96 ERA in June, 3 BB/24 K in 28 IP)... Jake Odorizzi 1.15 (5-4, 2.87, 4 HRA, 22 BB/103 K in 15 starts/78 1/3 IP, eyepopping K/BB AND K rate for Jake, .250 OAV and 3.75 ERA in month, Godspeed in AA)... Justin Marks 1.30 (20 BB/74 K in 75 2/3 IP, 5.40 ERA, 3 BB/26 K tho in June)... Tyler Sample 1.36... Tim Melville 1.58 (solid starts here and there)

A - Kane County: Beloit 6, Cougars 4

3B Cuthbert 2-4, HR (5), 2 RBI (18), RS -- .314
DH Franco 2-5, 2B (7), K, RS -- .233
LF Fletcher 2-4, 2B (13) -- .331
1B Kuebler 2-4, K, RS -- .184
C Jones 1-4, HR (4), 2 RBI (16), K, RS -- .231
CF Eibner 0-2, 2 BB, 2 K -- .221

L. Santiago 5 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 7 K, HRA, WP -- 3.01 ERA
Garrido 2 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, BB, 2 K -- BS, 1, L, 0-2, 6.91 ERA
Byrne 1 1/3 IP, BB, K -- 3.38 ERA

* The Cougars lost the lead in the 8th and ended up losing the game as well. Cheslor Cuthbert started the scoring with a 2-run homer in the 3rd for his 5th of the season. Travis Jones matched the feat in the 4th with a 2-run homer for his 4th of the season. Leonel Santiago was steady until the 5th when the Snappers scored 2, and they would add a run before Santiago was pulled in the 6th. Santiago Garrido ran into trouble in the 8th as a 2-out, 2-run double gave Beloit the lead. KC didn't threaten after stranding 2 in the 5th. KC is 6-2. The series ends Saturday as Leondy Perez starts. IF Ryan Stovall got bumped up to Wilmington.

Kane County OPS leaders
1. OF Brian Fletcher .930 -- .327/.377/.553, 23 RS, 12 2B, 2 3B, 6 HR, 29 RBI, 9 BB/30 K, 4/6 SB, 5 E in 40 G/150 ABs -- posted OPS of more than 1.100 in only 10 games as he got back in the groove, would like to see him moved up before season's end
2. IF Ryan Stovall .902 -- .307/.356/.546, 27 RS, 15 2B*, 5 3B*, 8 HR*, 31 RBI*, 15 BB/45 K, 5/8 SB, 9 E in 57 G/205 ABs -- hence the callup
3. 3B Cheslor Cuthbert .830 -- .307/.365/.465, 14 RS, 4 2B, 3B, 4 HR, 16 RBI, 11 BB/19 K, 3 E in 30 G/114 ABs -- .809 OPS in June was lowest of season, but he did improve the OBP, he's looking decent and supposedly doesn't turn 19 until November
Others -- OF Brett Eibner .807 (.227/.292/515, 10 RS, 2B, 6 HR, 12 RBI, 6 BB/17 K, 0/2 SB in 18 G/66 ABs -- hit .217 with .749 OPS in June but he has picked it up recently, give it time)...

KC WHIP leaders
1. Allen Caldwell 0.97 -- 2-0, 1.74, HRA, 4 BB/16 K in 10 1/3 IP, former position player looks to have potential out of pen
2. Greg Billo 1.02 -- 5-1, 1.64, 1 SV, HRA, 14 BB/66 K in 15 G (6 starts) and 65 2/3 IP -- .224 OAV overall, 3 BB/22 K in 21 1/3 June IP, still a Pipeline favorite
3. Leonel Santiago 1.04 -- 6-6, 2.90, 4 HRA, 16 BB/79 K in 15 starts/93 IP -- .236 OAV overall, 2 BB/23 K in 26 June IP
Others -- Chase Boruff 1.07 (1.34, 1 SV, 12 BB/32 K in 33 2/3 IP)... Jason Adam 1.09 (2-3, 4.11, 7 HRA, 14 BB/40 K in 9 starts/46 IP, 0-3, 5.53 ERA in June, 9 BB/28 K in the month is solid tho in 27 2/3 IP)... Sugar Ray Marimon 1.14 (3-5, 3.68, 6 HRA, 20 BB/54 K in 13 starts/66 IP, only 14 2/3 IP in June before hitting shelf)... Leondy Perez 1.28 (2-7, 2.85, 2 HRA, 15 BB/59 K in 14 starts and 79 IP, 2 BB/12 K in 22 1/3 June IP, .317 OAV in June)... Yordano Ventura 1.40

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Chukars 7, Casper 6 (10/Thu.)

CF Sandford 3-4, S, 2 RBI (8), RS, CS (3), E (2) -- .324
C Escobar 3-5, 2B (3), RBI -- .344
1B Moreno 2-5, 2B (4), K, RS, 2 E (4) -- .233
DH Davis 2-3, 2 BB, 2B (4), 2 RS -- .429
LF Chism 1-6, 2B (3), RBI (4), K, RS -- .297
RF Alcantara 1-5, RBI (5), RS, E -- .256

Dooley 5 IP, 3 R (1 ER), 6 H, 3 BB, 2 K, HRA, balk -- 5.79 ERA
Jo. Sanchez 1 2/3 IP, 2 BB -- 15.43 ERA
Giovenco 1 1/3 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 2 H, 3 BB, 3 K -- 2.84 ERA
Fassold 2 IP, H, 2 BB, 5 K, WP -- BS, 1, W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA

* The Chukars gave up 3 late runs to force extras but regrouped to win in 10. Casper scored 2 in the 2nd off Jonathan Dooley but Darian Sandford hit an RBI single in the 3rd to cut it in half. IF stranded 2 in the 5th and Casper scored a run in the bottom of the inning to make it 3-1. Ysmelin Alcantara hit an RBI single and Edul Escobar doubled in a run to tie it in the 6th. Two Casper errors scored runs in the 7th and Tyler Chism doubled in a run to make it 6-3 Chukars. The Ghosts cut it to 6-4 in the 8th, then scored 2 in the 9th off Mike Giovenco and Cody Fassold to tie the game. Sandford hit the go-ahead single in the 10th and Fassold stranded 2 in the bottom of the inning to pick up his 1st pro win. IF is 6-5 and a game out of first. The series ends tonight as IF is down, 7-4, in the 7th.

Rookie - Burlington: B-Royals 13, Bristol 3

RF Pickett 4-5, RBI (3), 3 RS -- .410
LF Rodriguez 3-3, BB, 2B (2), 2 RBI (3), 2 RS, SB (2) -- .364
2B-SS Trapp 2-4, BB, S, 2B (2), 3B, RBI (9), K, 4 RS, E -- .244
SS Antonio 1-2, BB, SF, 2B (6), 3 RBI (7), RS, SB, E (3) -- .378
1B Watts 1-5, GS (6), 4 RBI (13), RS -- .227
C Shin 1-4, HBP, K, RS -- .250

Murray 4 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, 6 K, HRA -- 2.89 ERA
R. Brown 2 1/3 IP, ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K -- 1.29 ERA
Graham 2 1/3 IP, H, 5 K, WP -- W, 1-0, 0.87 ERA

* A 9-run 3rd helped the Royals to their 2nd win of 2011. Justin Trapp led off the game with a triple and scored on a Mike Antonio sac fly. The Sox tied it on a homer in the 2nd but the Royals got in business in the 3rd by loading the bases with 0 out. Antonio took a bases-loaded walk, Murray Watts cranked a grand slam (his 6th homer at Burlington), Jovan Pickett hit a 2-run single and Trapp and Jose Rodriguez hit RBI doubles to make it 10-1. Rodriguez and Antonio knocked in runs and an error scored another run in the 5th to make it 13-1. Rudy Brown took over for Matt Murray in the 5th and allowed 2 runs, but stranded the bases full in the 6th. Tyler Graham came in to strand 2 in the 7th and then stranded 1 in the 9th but was awarded the win. The B-Royals are 2-9. Game 3 is Saturday. No announced starter on the team site.

Rookie - AZL: Cubs 5, Royals 2 (Thu.)

DH Lane 1-3, BB, HR, RBI (8), K, RS -- .435, first pro homer
SS Arteaga 0-4, RBI, 2 K -- .212
3B Cuckovich 1-3, BB, 3 SB (11) -- .417
CF Jerrell Allen had an assist at third.

E. Diaz 5 IP, 4 ER, 8 H, BB, 5 K, 2 WP, 2 pickoffs -- L, 0-3, 9.53 ERA
Stueve 3 IP, ER, 4 H, 5 K -- 1.08 ERA

* The Cubs piecemealed their way past the Royals. Humberto Arteaga hit an RBI groundout in the 1st but the Cubs scored single runs in the 2nd and 3rd to take the lead off Eric Diaz. They did it again in the 5th and 6th off Diaz and Andrew Stueve to make it 4-1. Travis Lane led off the 7th with his 1st pro homer and then got stranded after drawing a walk in the 9th. The Royals are 2-7. They are off today.