Royals on the Farm 7/24

AAA - Omaha: Round Rock 3, Storm Chasers 1

2B Giavotella 2-4, 2B (30) -- .342
1B Robinson 2-4, 2B (23), RS -- .316
SS Zawadzki 1-3, RBI (35), K -- .247
LF Lough 1-4, CS (5) -- .317
RF-CF Cain 0-3, BB -- .318
DH Ka'aihue 0-4, 2 K -- .278

O'Sullivan 6 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, BB, 5 K -- L, 2-2, 4.31 ERA
Pucetas 2 IP, ER, 3 H, BB -- 5.67 ERA
Chavez IP, K -- 3.48 ERA

* Sean O'Sullivan's solid start went for naught as the offense needed him to shut down the Express and he couldn't get it done. Neither team did much until the 5th, when Round Rock stranded 2 and Omaha got a 2-out RBI single from Lance Zawadzki. O'Sullivan finally allowed 2 runs in the 6th and Omaha stranded 2 that inning. Kevin Pucetas allowed an insurance run and the Chasers didn't have any answers. Omaha is 55-46. The series ends Monday with Vin Mazzaro starting.

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 11, Springfield 7

C S. Perez 2-4, BB, GS (8), 4 RBI (37), RS -- .273
DH Bianchi 2-5, 2 RBI (40), K, SB (13) -- .273
3B Navarro 2-5, RBI (9), K, RS -- .293
SS Colon 2-5, HR (7), RBI (52), 2 RS -- .255
CF Robinson 2-4, SF, 2B (6), RBI (14), CS (10) -- .274
LF Orlando 2-4, BB, 3B, 2 K, 2 RS -- .321
1B Romak 2-5, 2 K, RS -- .264
2B Seratelli 1-1, 4 BB, 3 RS, SB (27) -- .293
The Nats stranded 10.

W. Smith 7 1/3 IP, 4 ER, 8 H, 2 BB, 4 K -- W, 9-7, 3.99 ERA
Keating 1 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 2 H, BB, 3 K, HRA -- 6.16 ERA

* The Naturals made a run at blowing a 10-1 lead but held on for the win Sunday. Christian Colon got it started with a solo homer in the 1st for his 7th of the season and the Nats heaped on 4 more runs in the 2nd on a Derrick Robinson sac fly, a run-scoring error, and 2-run Jeff Bianchi single to make it 5-0. Springfield scored a run in the 4th but Paulo Orlando tripled and scored on an error in the 6th to make it 6-1. Salvador Perez seemingly put the big nail in the coffin with a grand slam in the 7th for his 8th of the season. Will Smith allowed 3 runs in the 8th before getting pulled. Rey Navarro added an insurance run with an RBI single in the 8th and Patrick Keating served up a 3-run homer in the 9th before finally finishing it. NW Arkansas is 15-14. The series finale is Monday with Jeremy Jeffress starting.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Kinston 7, Blue Rocks 5

3B Whittleman 3-5, HR (16), RBI (50), K, RS, SB (2) -- .240
DH Testa 2-4, 2 2B (21), K, RS -- .259
C T. Jones 2-3, 2B, RS -- .333
2B Batista 0-2, BB, SF, RBI (20), 2 K -- .207
LF Merrifield 1-4, BB, 2B (23), picked off, E (4) -- .262
CF Prades 1-4, BB, 2 RS, SB (7) -- .271
The Rocks stranded 11.

Melville 3 1/3 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 4 BB, 4 K, WP -- 4.18 ERA, also hit 3 batters
E. Pimentel 1 2/3 IP, BB, 3 K -- 3.67 ERA, don't really get giving him a turn in the pen, hasn't been lockdown but has been passable in 8 of last 10 starts
Dennick 2 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 3 K -- BS, 2, L, 1-4, 3.82 ERA
Odenbach IP, ER, K -- 3.16 ERA

* A tenuous 5-4 lead fell apart late as Kinston swept the Rocks. Carlo Testa doubled and scored on an error in the 1st and a Deivy Batista sac fly in the 2nd made it 2-0. Tim Melville allowed an RBI triple that scored the hitter as well as a Whit Merrifield error on the play tied the game. John Whittleman smacked his 16th homer in the 3rd and a run-scoring error and run-scoring wild pitch in the 4th made it 5-2 Rocks. Melville allowed a run, then walked in another run before getting pulled in the 4th and Elisaul Pimentel stranded the bases full. The Rocks stranded 2 in the 7th and Ryan Dennick allowed 2 RBI doubles in the 7th to turn the lead around. The Rocks stranded the bases full in the 8th after a 42-minute mid-rally rain delay, and Dusty Odenbach allowed an insurance run in the 8th. The Rocks stranded 1 more in the 9th. Wilmington is 10-19. A 4-game home set with the Potomac Nationals (16-12) starts Monday. Mike Mariot will start the opener.

A - Kane County: Cougars 7, South Bend 5

3B Cuthbert 2-4, BB, 2B (9), 4 RBI (34), K -- .332
CF Eibner 2-5, 2B (4), HR (8), 2 RBI (18), 2 K, 2 RS -- .184
RF Beltre 3-5, RBI (25), 2 K, 2 RS -- .245
LF Pickett 1-3, BB, 3B, RS -- .357

J. Mitchell 5 IP, 4 R (2 ER), 7 H, 3 K -- W, 1-0, 3.60 ERA
Rogers 2 IP, ER, H, K, HRA -- 1.69 ERA
Boruff 2 IP, H, 5 K, balk -- SV, 3, 2.08 ERA

* The Cougars made a 6-0 early lead stick to help Jason Mitchell to a win in his Kane County debut. Cheslor Cuthbert started it with a 2-run double in the 1st, and the Cougs poured on 4 runs in the 2nd on a Geulin Beltre RBI single, Brett Eibner RBI double and 2-run Cuthbert single, putting him on pace for 18 RBI for the game. Of course....it didn't last, but I'm sure he'll take a 4 RBI game. Mitchell allowed 2 runs in the 3rd but Eibner slammed his 8th homer of the season in the 4th to make it 7-2. Mitchell allowed 2 more runs in the 5th and Nick Rogers served up a solo homer in the 6th but the Cougars put the brakes on the South Bend offense from there. Rogers and Chase Boruff retired 9 straight and Boruff struck out the last 2 with a runner at second to pick up his 3rd save. KC is 17-12. The rubber match of the set is Monday as Greg Billo will start.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Chukars 6, Helena 5 (Sat.)

DH Espy 3-4, SF, 2B (11), 2 RBI (20), K, RS, SB (2) -- .327
2B Mateo 1-3, SF, 2B (4), 2 RBI (16), K -- .347
1B Moreno 2-4, K, RS, E (9) -- .252
3B Threlkeld 1-4, 2B (7), RBI (11), K -- .255
C T. Smith 1-3, RBI (2), RS -- .087

Dooley 6 IP, ER, 4 H, BB, 4 K -- W, 1-3, 8.47 ERA, put together good start for 1st 2011 win
Patton 2 IP, H, BB, K -- 4.57 ERA
Fassold IP, 4 ER, 5 H, K, HRA, E -- 3.38 ERA

* Idaho Falls held off a furious Brewer rally in the 9th to come away with the victory. Richard Espy hit a sac fly in the 1st, Tyler Smith singled in a run in the 2nd, and Mark Threlkeld doubled in a run in the 3rd to piece together a 3-0 Chukars lead. Daniel Mateo added a sac fly in the 5th, and Jonathan Dooley had retired 11 straight entering the 5th when 3 Helena hits scored a run. Espy singled in a run and Mateo hit an RBI double to make it 7-1 IF in the 7th. Cody Fassold gave up an RBI single and 3-run homer in the 9th but he got it finished.

Chukars 9, Helena 1

C Escobar 2-4, 2 HR (3), 4 RBI (9), 2 RS -- .349
3B Threlkeld 2-5, 2 2B (9), 2 RBI (13), K, RS -- .262
2B Mateo 1-5, 2B (5), 2 RBI (18), 2 K -- .340
CF Chism 1-2, 3 BB, HR (5), RBI (18), 2 RS, 2 SB (5) -- .277

Brooks 6 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, 7 K -- W, 2-1, 4.09 ERA
Cuevas 2 IP, BB, 2 K, 2 WP -- 3.00 ERA
Jo. Sanchez IP, H, K -- 6.48 ERA

* Aaron Brooks pitched well and the Chukars used an early barrage to defeat the Brewers yet again. The first 2 Chukars reached in the 2nd, and Edul Escobar went deep for a 3-run shot for his 2nd of the season to make it 3-0 IF. Tyler Chism followed with a 2-out solo homer (his 5th) and Daniel Mateo hit a 2-run double to make it 6-0 before the inning was done. Escobar went deep again in the 3rd for his 3rd homer and second of the game to make it 7-0. Brooks' only damage came on a 3rd inning 1-run rally. Mark Threlkeld hit a 2-out, 2-run double in the 4th and it was up to the pitching staff from there. Brooks, Gary Cuevas and Jose Sanchez finished it without incident to finish the win. IF is 15-18. A 3-game set at the Missoula Osprey (20-12, Rookie D-Backs) starts Monday. Brian Peacock is set to start.

Rookie - Burlington: B-Royals 4, Elizabethton 3

RF Bonifacio 2-3, HBP, 2B (10), SB (2) -- .328
3B Hamblen 1-3, BB, RBI, RS, 2 CS (3) -- .038
C Swab 0-3, BB, RBI (2), E (3) -- .163
2B Trapp 1-5, GW RBI (26), 2 K -- .290
SS Antonio 1-4, RS -- .280

Ridings 5 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, BB, 7 K -- 3.38 ERA
Culver 1 2/3 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, HRA -- 7.11 ERA
Rivers 1 2/3 IP, H, 4 K -- W, 1-1, 1.02 ERA

* Burlington launched a small comeback in the 6th then got a walkoff single in the 9th on Sunday. Lane Adams tripled and scored on a wild pitch in the 1st and the score stayed 1-0 until the 6th, when Matt Ridings gave up 2 runs and Malcom Culver served up a solo homer to make it 3-1 Twins. Kenny Swab took a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the inning and Derek Hamblen hit an RBI forceout to tie the game. The Royals stranded 2 in the 8th but put 2 in scoring position with 1 out in the 9th, and Justin Trapp came up with a walkoff single to end it. Burlington is 13-20. Game 2 is Monday.

Rookie - AZL: Royals 7, D-Backs 6 (Sat.)

C Jenkins 3-3, 2B, 3 RBI, RS, E -- 1.000
SS Arteaga 2-5, RBI (11), 2 RS -- .234
3B Morales 1-2, 3 BB, 2B (2), RBI (4), RS -- .286
1B Gaylord 1-3, BB, RBI (12) -- .216
RF J. Blanco 0-3, SF, RBI (16), K -- .280
LF D'Andre Toney had an assist at third.

Lumpkins 4 2/3 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 5 H, 4 BB, 3 K, WP -- 6.86 ERA
J. Morales 2 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 3 K -- 5.00 ERA
Witt 2 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, K, HRA -- W, 1-2, 9.60 ERA

* Two Royals relievers were able to stave off the Diamondbacks Saturday as Christian Witt picked up his 1st pro win. The Royals got a runner at the plate to end the D-Backs 1st and answered with 4 runs in the bottom of the inning on RBI doubles by Adrian Morales and Ryan Jenkins, a Brian Gaylord RBI single and Jerico Blanco sac fly. The D-Backs got 2 runs in the 2nd off Stephen Lumpkins. The Royals added 3 in the 4th on a Humberto Arteaga RBI single and 2-run Jenkins single that made it 7-2. The D-Backs got a 2-run triple off Max Morales in the 6th. Witt served up a 2-out, 2-run homer in the 9th but got the last out to pick up the win. The Royals are 10-16. They play the Padres tonight.