Royals on the Farm 8/31 -- Cougars, Chasers are first to clinch playoff spot

AAA - Omaha: Storm Chasers 12, New Orleans 2

RF Cain 5-5, 3 RBI (80), SB (16), E (7) -- .317, gave 'em a dose on Wednesday
DH Mertins 3-5, 3B, RBI (3), K, 2 RS, SB -- .271
2B Y. Navarro 3-5, K, 2 RS, 2 E (10) -- .250
CF Dyson 2-5, BB, HR (3), 3 RBI (24), K, 3 RS -- .289
SS Falu 2-5, BB, 3B (9), 3 RBI (46), 2 RS -- .295
LF Lough 1-5, BB, RBI (63), RS, SB (14) -- .314
Omaha stranded 12.

Mendoza 6 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 6 K -- W, 12-5, 2.18 ERA
Miner 2 IP, H, BB, K -- 1.66 ERA
Castaneda IP, H, K, WP -- 0.00 ERA, back from the Mexican League

* Round Rock scored first but Omaha did all the scoring thereafter as the Chasers trimmed the magic number to a measly 1, and later clinched the division title with a Memphis loss. The Express started the game with 3 straight doubles to get two quick runs off Luis Mendoza, but the Omaha ace would only allow 1 more hit over the next 5 innings. Lorenzo Cain started a good personal night with an RBI single in the 1st, and Omaha added 5 in the 2nd on a 2-run Jarrod Dyson single, an Irving Falu RBI single, a David Lough RBI groundout and another Cain RBI single. Falu ripped a 2-run triple in the 3rd and scored on yet another Cain single to make it 9-2. Dyson led off the 5th with his 3rd homer and Kurt Mertins tripled in a run and scored on an error in the 6th. Zach Miner and Federico Castaneda took it home from there. Omaha is 78-60. Mendoza was named PCL Pitcher of the Year Wednesday. I can't believe his season line, but it's a well-deserved honor. He leads the league in ERA, WHIP and opponent BA. How can he be this good at AAA and so bad when he gets to the majors? The series ends Thursday. Jeff Suppan will start. For some reason, KC called up RP Jesse Chavez. He wasn't bad for Omaha, but he wasn't great either. The Chasers will head to the playoffs for the first time this century. It's been since 1999.

AA - NW Arkansas: Arkansas 11, Naturals 5

DH T. Smith 3-4, HR (9), 2 RBI (44), K, RS -- .303
3B Lisson 3-4, 2 2B (19), HR (14), RBI (44), 2 RS, E (16) -- .281
CF Orlando 1-5, HR (4), RBI (24), 2 K, RS -- .311
C Eigsti 1-4, 2B (6), RBI (8), 3 K -- .283
SS Colon 1-5 -- .257
RF Myers 0-4, K, E (7) -- .257

E. Pimentel 3 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 5 H, 3 BB, 3 K, 2 HRA -- L, 0-1, 12.00 ERA, rough Nats debut
Lafferty 3 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, BB, K, WP, balk -- 4.50 ERA
Paulino IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 BB -- 5.46 ERA
Dobies 2 IP, ER, H, 2 K, HRA -- 5.89 ERA

* The Travelers broke out the bats to beat the Naturals Wednesday. Back-to-back homers scored 4 runs and proved a rude welcome to Elisaul Pimentel in the 1st. Arkansas added another run in the 2nd but Tim Smith smacked his 9th homer in the 2nd to get NWA on the board. Arkansas stranded 2 in the 3rd but scored 1 in the 4th and 2 in the 5th. Ryan Eigsti hit an RBI double in the 5th but the Travs would add 3 more runs. Paulo Orlando led off the 8th with his 4th homer and Smith singled in a run. Mario Lisson led off the 9th with his 14th homer but that's as close as NW Arkansas would come. NWA is 34-31 and now tied with Tulsa for first. Game 3 is Thursday. Chris Dwyer will start. Rehabbing C Matt Treanor was flipped to the Rangers...I have to say, he seemed serviceable at the MLB level. Not the future like Salvador Perez, tho.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Myrtle Beach 2, Blue Rocks 1

3B Stovall 2-4, RBI (17), SB (6) -- .245
DH Testa 2-4, 2B (25), RS -- .287, like to see him get moved up to help NWA push
C Jul. Rodriguez 1-4, K -- .227

Marks 6 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 2 K, 2 WP -- 4.18 ERA
Dennick 2 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 3 H, 2 K, E (2) -- BS, 3, L, 3-7, 4.36 ERA
Stueve IP, nothing -- 0.00 ERA

* Wilmington couldn't hold a narrow lead late. Neither Justin Marks nor Pelicans SP Chad Bell cruised, necessarily, but the game was scoreless going into the 6th. Carlo Testa led off the Rocks' half of that inning with a double and scored on a Ryan Stovall single to break the ice. The Pelicans got 2 RBI doubles off Ryan Dennick in the 8th, though, to take the lead. Wilmington got a single in the 9th but would get no more. The Rocks are 27-38. The series finishes Thursday. Mike Mariot will start. IF John Whittleman got moved up to AAA before the game.

A - Kane County: Cougars 4, Cedar Rapids 3

3B Franco 2-5, 2B (14), RBI (27) -- .255
DH Eibner 2-5, 3B (2), 2 K, 2 RS -- .215
RF Beltre 2-4, 3B (4), RBI (38), RS -- .255
CF Llanos 2-4, K, SB (13) -- .251
2B Espinal 2-4, K, RS -- .194
SS Calixte 1-4, RBI (29), E (21) -- .208

J. Mitchell 5 2/3 IP, 3 H, BB, 4 K -- W, 3-0, 1.05 ERA
A. Cruz 2 1/3 IP, UER, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K, WP -- 2.73 ERA
Rogers IP, 2 ER, 3 H, K -- SV, 8, 2.54 ERA

* Jason Mitchell had a good start and the Cougars held on to get a big win as they clinched a playoff slot. Brett Eibner led off the 2nd with a triple and scored on a Geulin Beltre groundout to get it started. KC missed out on a bases-loaded, 0-out situation in the 3rd, but got an Orlando Calixte RBI single in the 4th. Mitchell was perfect through 3 and never faced a strong threat. The Cougars left the bases loaded again in the 5th but Beltre tripled and scored on an error in the 6th. Antonio Cruz came in to strand 2 in the 6th, then struck out 2 with the bases loaded in the 7th. Cruz allowed a run in the 8th but the Cougars got it back in the 9th on an Angel Franco RBI double. Nick Rogers used every bit of the 3-run lead in the 9th as he allowed 2 runs before shutting the door for his 8th save. KC is 35-30 and 63-71 overall. The win clinched an MWL wild-card slot, but the Cougs are only 2 1/2 games back of Clinton for the top divisional spot and the teams start a set Saturday. Game 2 with Cedar Rapids is Thursday. Greg Billo will start.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Orem 6, Chukars 3 (Tue.)

C Escobar 2-4, 2B (12), RBI (18), RS -- .300
RF Davis 2-4, 2 2B (16), RBI (37), K -- .329
SS Antonio 2-4, 2B, K, RS -- .500, IF debut
2B Piterson 2-5, K -- .283
LF Elder 1-4, HR (7), RBI (24), RS -- .302
DH Gallagher 0-4, 2 K -- .000, IF debut, guess they wanted him to get some more ABs before season wraps
1B Espy 1-4, BB, K -- .312

E. Diaz 5 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 5 H, 3 BB, 5 K, HRA, 2 WP -- L, 0-2, 12.00 ERA
Dooley 3 IP, ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 3 K -- 7.50 ERA
Fassold IP, 2 K -- 4.43 ERA

* Orem put up 3 in the 1st Tuesday and didn't look back. The Owlz nicked Eric Diaz for a 2-run homer and another run to grab the early momentum. The Chukars loaded the bases with 0 out in the 1st but the next 3 struck out to squander the chance. Idaho Falls scored 2 in the 4th on RBI doubles by Edul Escobar and Runey Davis to gouge the lead. Orem had an answer with 2 in the 5th, though, and after IF left the bases loaded again in the 5th, Chris Elder clubbed his 7th homer in the 6th to cut it to 5-3. Orem got the run back in the 8th and the Chukar offense did no more. IF is 12-17. Pitchers Aaron Brooks and Edwin Carl were named to the 2011 Pioneer League all-star team.

Rookie - Burlington: The B-Royals finished 24-44.

OPS rundown
OF Jorge Bonifacio .825 -- .284/.333/.492, 26 RS, 20 2B, 4 3B, 7 HR, 30 RBI, 16 BB/58 K, 5/11 SB, 1 E in 62 G/236 ABs -- 18-yr-old defending DSL Royals player of the year did all right in U.S. debut
OF Lane Adams .814 -- .281/.353/.461, 31 RS, 9 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 20 RBI, 17 BB/45 K, 9/10 SB, 2 E in 43 G/167 ABs -- didn't do so hot in A-ball with KC, but held his own in Appy League
1B Murray Watts .803 -- .222/.342/.461, 32 RS, 10 2B, 15 HR, 44 RBI, 41 BB/72 K, 1/2 SB, 7 E in 65 G/230 ABs -- same here, didn't hit much better in Appy League but slugged a bunch better
IF Mike Antonio .783 -- .262/.322/.461, 30 RS, 11 2B, 10 HR, 37 RBI, 17 BB/25 K, 10/15 SB, 25 E in 55 G/206 ABs -- moved up to Idaho Falls
IF Justin Trapp .777 -- .259/.345/.432, 45 RS, 13 2B, 4 3B, 7 HR, 41 RBI, 29 BB/64 K, 31/38 SB, 22 E in 63 G/243 ABs -- only .607 OPS in August, had his best season as a pro, tho
Others....Steven Brooks .700 (best mark among '11 newbies at Burlington)...Adrian Bringas .651 (improved every month, had .693 OPS in August)...Jin-Ho Shin .641 (better than his .480 in the AZL last season)...Kenny Swab .631 (hit .320 with .793 OPS in August)

WHIP rundown
Matt Murray 1.00 -- 2-4, 3.40, 1 CG, 5 HRA, 10 BB/58 K in 12 starts and 53 IP -- good pro debut
Nick Graffeo 1.00 -- 4-2, 2.04, 4 SV, 4 HRA, 16 BB/53 K in 17 G (6 starts) and 53 IP -- good enough to start season in Kane County in 2012, I'd bet
Alex Rivers 1.02 -- 1-1, 1.02, 1 SV, 4 BB/19 K in 9 G and 17 2/3 IP -- moved up to A ball
Matt Ridings 1.14 -- 3-4, 3.92, 5 HRA, 11 BB/60 K in 14 starts and 66 2/3 IP -- also good pro debut, will he and Murray be in Cougars rotation in 2012?
Tyler Graham 1.28 -- 2-1, 3.09, 2 SV, 3 HRA, 17 BB/38 K in 14 G and 32 IP -- also moved up
Others...Cory Hall 1.29 (2 SV, 12 BB/31 K in 35 2/3 IP)...Abel Gonzalez 1.31 (1 SV, 2 HRA, 5 BB/25 K in 29 IP, decent pro debut)...Eric Cantrell 1.43 (finished strong despite 0-5 record, 22 BB/47 K in 51 2/3 IP)...Andrea Pizziconi 1.59 (21 BB/22 K in 39 2/3 IP)...Andrew Ferguson 1.65 (15 BB/33 K in 36 1/3 IP)...Malcom Culver 1.86 (8.03 ERA, 8 HRA, 23 BB/38 K, transition to pitcher a bumpy one)...Angel Baez 2.06 (yikes)...David Middendorf 2.65 (11.42 ERA in pro debut)...Robinson Yambati 3.11 (0-5, 18.85, 11 BB/9 K in 17 2/3 IP, up and comer bottomed out in 2011)