30 April 2011

Royals on the Farm 4/30 -- Arguelles gets 1st pro win

I'll provide the April wrap in tomorrow's report.

AAA - Omaha: Storm Chasers 7, Iowa 6

3B Moustakas 1-3, 2 BB, 2 RBI (18), E (6) -- .229
SS Falu 1-3, S, 3B (2), 2 RBI (5), RS -- .250
C Pina 1-2, BB, RBI (4), K, RS -- .190
DH C. Robinson 1-5, RBI (16), K -- .333
C May 1-1, 2B, RBI (2) -- .111
1B Hosmer 1-3, 2 BB, K, RS -- .410
CF Cain 0-4, BB, 3 K -- .241
RF Lough 1-4, S, RS -- .301
Omaha stranded 10.

Mazzaro 5 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 6 H, 2 BB, 10 K -- 4.66 ERA
Teaford 2 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, 2 K -- W, 2-1, 3.26 ERA
Texeira 1 1/3 IP, ER, 3 H, 2 BB, K, HRA -- 7.71 ERA
Chavez 1/3 IP, K -- SV, 2, 0.00 ERA

* Omaha held off a late Cubs charge to get back on the right track Saturday. Vin Mazzaro made the start and allowed a run on 2 hits in the 1st. Omaha stranded 2 in the 1st but loaded the bases with 1 out in the 3rd and Mike Moustakas cracked a 2-run single. Mazzaro allowed the tying run in the 4th and the go-ahead run in the 5th to make it 3-2 Iowa. Clint Robinson hit a 2-out RBI single in the 5th to tie it but Omaha stranded 2 more. Manny Pina singled in the go-ahead run in the 6th as Omaha left the bases full. Omaha got some elbow room in the 7th as Irving Falu hit a 2-run triple and Lucas May doubled him home to make it 7-3. Kanekoa Texeira replaced Everett Teaford with 1 out and the bases loaded in the 8th and allowed 2 to score before leaving 'em loaded. Texeira served up a solo homer in the 9th but Jesse Chavez came in to strand 2 for his 2nd save. CF Tony Campana had 3 hits and two other Cubs had 2 hits. Omaha is 14-8. Jeff Suppan (2-2, 4.87) will start Sunday's game 4.

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 3, Arkansas 0 (4-hitter)

DH Lisson 1-4, RBI (12), K, SB -- .310
1B Seratelli 1-4, RBI (5), CS -- .245
2B Bianchi 0-4, RBI (8), 2 K -- .271
CF D. Robinson 1-4, BB, RS, SB (9) -- .254
SS Colon 1-3, S, RS, 2 SB (6) -- .208

M. Santiago 6 IP, 2 H, BB, 6 K, WP -- W, 2-0, 1.42 ERA, heck of a spot start
Paulino 2 IP, 3 K -- 4.15 ERA
Keating IP, 2 H -- SV, 3, 6.52 ERA

* Mario Santiago made a strong start as the Nats got a shutout win over the Travelers. Neither team threatened until the 4th when Christian Colon led off with a single, stole second with 1 out, and scored on a Mario Lisson single. Jeff Bianchi hit an RBI groundout in the 6th and, after NWA left 'em loaded in the 7th, Anthony Seratelli singled in a run in the 8th to make it 3-0. Patrick Keating brought the tying run to the plate with 1 out in the 9th but got out of the jam for his 3rd save. Angels top prospect CF Mike Trout was 0-4 to drop to .268. NW Arkansas is 11-9. The teams play again Sunday afternoon. Chris Dwyer (1-2, 4.15) starts.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 3, Winston-Salem 1

2B Navarro 1-4, 3B (4), 2 RBI (11), K -- .416
LF Merrifield 1-3, BB, 2B (6), 2 RS -- .311
RF Francis 0-4, K -- .260, hit streak snapped

Arguelles 5 1/3 IP, UER, 5 H, 5 K, 2 WP, pickoff -- W, 1-0, 1.02 ERA
Mariot 3 2/3 IP, H, 2 BB, 4 K, WP -- SV, 1, 0.63 ERA, he and Noel have been dynamic duo

* Noel Arguelles picked up his 1st pro win with the help of strong backing from Mike Mariot as the Rocks took down the Dash. Arguelles gave up a 2-out RBI triple in the 2nd as the Dash grabbed the lead. With 2 out and 2 on in the Rocks 3rd, Rey Navarro kept a strong season going with a 2-run triple to turn the lead around. Arguelles stranded 2 in the 4th and the teams took turns stranding runners from there. Whit Merrifield drew a leadoff walk in the 8th, advanced on a wild pitch and sac bunt, then scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-1 Rocks. Mariot worked around a walk in the 9th for his 1st save. Winston-Salem SP Terry Doyle allowed 2 ER over 7 IP but took the loss to drop to 0-3. SS Dan Wagner had 2 hits for the Dash. Wilmington is 14-7. Elisaul Pimentel (2-0, 7.53) starts Sunday's matinee series finale.

A - Kane County: Cougars 5, Burlington 1

CF Llanos 2-5, 2 HR (4, one a huge GS), 5 RBI (15), 2 K, 2 RS -- .294, probably his best game as a pro
RF Beltre 2-4, 2B -- .190
LF Adams 2-4, K, RS, SB -- .177
SS Hall 1-4, K, RS -- .302

Marimon 8 IP, ER, 4 H, 5 K, WP -- W, 1-2, 4.18 ERA, Sugar Ray was sweet Saturday
Boruff IP, BB, 2 K -- 0.90 ERA

* Alex Llanos was nearly a 1-man show on offense and Sugar Ray Marimon had his best start of the season to lead the Cougars to the win Saturday. The Cougars stranded 2 in the 2nd but Llanos went deep in the 3rd for his 3rd homer of the season. That was all the action the game would see through the middle innings as Marimon took a 1-hitter into the 8th. He may have been left in an inning too long as he allowed a leadoff double in the 8th and a 1-out single tied the game for the Bees. Marimon survived with the tie intact and things looked possibly headed for extras. The Cougars had 1 on with 2 out in the 9th when pinch-hitter Ryan Stovall was intentionally walked and Gerard Hall singled to load the bases. Llanos stepped up to the plate and smoked a grand slam to left off RP Zach Thornton for his 4th homer of the season and 2nd of the game to put KC up, 5-1. The first 2 Bees reached in the bottom of the 9th and manager Vance Wilson was ejected, but Chase Boruff sat down the next 3 to lock it down. Burlington SP A.J. Griffin allowed an ER over 7 IP with 8 K to move his ERA to 1.38. SS Wade Kirkland had 2 hits and the Bees' only RBI. KC is 8-15. The win snapped a 6-game skid. A 3-game home set with the Cedar Rapids Kernels (14-8, A Angels) starts Sunday. Leondy Perez (0-3, 4.42) starts.

29 April 2011

Royals on the Farm 4/29 -- Odorizzi shines



AAA - Omaha: Iowa 4, Storm Chasers 3

LF Lough 2-4, HR (3), 2 RBI (11), K, RS -- .304
1B Hosmer 2-4, K, SB (3) -- .412, he's knocking at the door already
C Pina 2-4, 2B, K -- .175
DH C. Robinson 1-4, HR (7), RBI (15), K, RS -- .342
CF Cain 1-4, BB, 2 K, RS, SB (4) -- .260
3B Moustakas 0-4, K -- .225, not quite knocking yet
2B Giavotella 0-4, K -- .299

Montgomery 6 IP, ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 5 K, WP -- 2.67 ERA, nice start, anyway
Pucetas IP, nothing -- 2.12 ERA
B. Hardy 1 1/3 IP, ER, H, K -- 1.93 ERA
Mendoza 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, BB, HRA, WP -- BS, 1, L, 1-1, 3.09 ERA

* Omaha's 9-game win streak looked headed for 10 but was not to be as the I-Cubs scored 3 in the 9th to steal the win. The Chasers had a big 1st as Lorenzo Cain led off with a single, David Lough went deep for his 3rd homer of the season, and Clint Robinson hit a 2-out solo shot for his 7th of the season to make it 3-0. Mike Montgomery didn't exactly cruise but didn't face much trouble, either, until the 5th when a 2-out RBI double got Iowa on the board. Blaine Hardy was pulled for Luis Mendoza with 1 on and 1 out in the 9th and things went south quick as a single was followed by a 3-run homer from 3B Marquez Smith to turn the game around on 1 swing of the bat. The last 9 Chasers went down in order. Smith's homer was his 2nd of the season. Omaha is 13-8. Vin Mazzaro (1-0, 5.02) starts Saturday's game 3.

AA - NW Arkansas: Arkansas 6, Naturals 3

C S. Perez 1-4, RS -- .271
2B Mertins 1-3, BB, K, RS, SB -- .250, team only had 2 hits
CF D. Robinson 0-3, S, K -- .254
SS Colon 0-4, K, E (2) -- .203, not that long ago he was ripping it up to start season

Rollins 3 1/3 IP, 5 ER, 3 H, 4 BB, 3 WP -- L, 0-2, 6.35 ERA, had some control probs
Sisk 2 1/3 IP, ER, 3 H, 3 K -- 5.40 ERA
Mozingo 2 1/3 IP, H, BB, 2 K -- 13.50 ERA

* NWA had a 3-1 lead at one point but Arkansas turned it around quickly to get a comeback win. Two Arkansas errors helped the Naturals score both of their 3rd inning runs to take a 2-0 lead before leaving 2 in scoring position. Heath Rollins gave a run back in the 3rd and another Travelers error in the 4th scored the Nats' other run to make it 3-1. Rollins hit a rough patch in the 4th as 2 runs were in and 2 were on when Brandon Sisk came in. Two singles scored 3 more runs to make it 6-3. The last 13 Naturals went down in order. Arkansas SP Orangel Arenas picked up the win to move to 3-0. C Alberto Rosario had 2 hits and DH Luis Jimenez drove in 3. The Naturals are 10-9. Mario Santiago (1-0, 2.08) will start Saturday.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 4, Winston-Salem 0 (5-hitter)

2B Navarro 2-4, 2 2B (7) -- .425
CF Ferguson 2-4, 2B (3), K, 2 RS, SB (3) -- .200
C Bonilla 1-4, HR (2), 2 RBI (7), 2 K, RS -- .182
3B Whittleman 1-4, HR (5), RBI (16), RS -- .250
LF Merrifield 1-4, 2B (5), K -- .310
DH Francis 1-2, 2B (8), K -- .274, 13-game hit streak, pulled in 5th

Odorizzi 7 IP, 3 H, 10 K -- W, 1-0, 2.25 ERA, that's why they wanted him for Greinke
Lafferty IP, 2 H, BB, K -- 3.48 ERA
Chapman IP, 2 K -- SV, 5, 4.91 ERA

* Jake Odorizzi had his best start yet as a Royals farmhand and the Rocks rolled to a 4-0 win Friday. John Whittleman got it started with a leadoff homer in the 2nd for his 5th of the season. The Rocks squandered two doubles in the 3rd but Jose Bonilla cranked a 2-run homer in the 4th for his 2nd of the season to make it 3-0. Tim Ferguson hit a 1-out double in the 6th, advanced on a 2-out wild pitch and scored on another wild pitch to push the lead to 4-0. Odorizzi retired 15 straight at one point but appeared to tire in the 7th as he stranded 2. Brendan Lafferty worked a nice 8th but was pulled after putting the first 2 on in the 9th. Kevin Chapman came in to sit the next 3 down to finish his 5th save. The Rocks are 13-7 with command on first place. Noel Arguelles (0-0, 1.46) starts game 2 Saturday.

A - Kane County: Burlington 2, Cougars 1 (11)

3B Stovall 2-5, 2 K -- .382
CF Llanos 0-4, BB, SF, RBI (10), K -- .287
SS Hall 1-3, BB, S, 2B (6), K -- .305
KC stranded 12.

L. Santiago 8 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, 8 K -- 3.90 ERA, good start goes for naught
Byrne 2 IP, ER, 2 H, K, HRA -- L, 0-1, 4.09 ERA

* Seven full innings of scoreless baseball came to an abrupt end on a walkoff homer in the 11th. Leonel Santiago gave up a walk and double in the 1st but Alex Llanos lifted a sac fly in the 3rd to tie the game at 1. Santiago retired 12 in a row after the RBI double. The Cougars stranded 2 in the 7th and then loaded the bases with 0 out in the 8th but got a forceout at home and 2 Ks to fail to bring a runner home. Santiago retired his 12 in a row, allowed a single, then retired the last 10 he faced. Gerard Hall hit a 2-out double in the 11th to put 2 in scoring position but Llanos grounded out to end the threat. Chaz Byrne then gave up a leadoff walkoff homer in the 11th to 1B Josh Whitaker for his 1st of the season. Bees SP Blake Hassebrock worked 6 1/3 IP of an unearned run on 2 hits with 11 Ks to keep his ERA at 0.00 after 22 1/3 IP. The Bees only had 4 hits. KC is 7-15. The series ends Saturday as Sugar Ray Marimon (0-2, 5.74) starts.

28 April 2011

Royals on the Farm 4/28 -- Hosmer, Moustakas, Duffy step up



AAA - Omaha: Storm Chasers 7, Iowa 0 (3-hitter)

1B Hosmer 4-5, 2B (5), HR (2), 2 RBI (12), 2 RS -- .408, wow
3B Moustakas 2-5, 2 HR (4), 4 RBI (16), 2 RS -- .237, hopefully bat starting to come around
2B Giavotella 3-4, BB, RS -- .315
CF Cain 2-4, HBP, RBI (4), RS -- .261
LF Lough 1-4, BB, 2B (5), K, RS -- .293
DH C. Robinson 0-5, K -- .347
Omaha stranded 11.

Duffy 6 IP, H, 8 K -- W, 1-0, 0.90 ERA, wow
Shell IP, H, K -- 8.38 ERA
Holland IP, nothing -- 2.00 ERA
Chavez IP, H, K -- 0.00 ERA

* Danny Duffy and 3 relievers combined on a 3-hitter as the Chasers kept the good times rolling. Things were quiet until the 3rd when Mike Moustakas hit a 2-out, 3-run homer (his 3rd) to make it 3-0. Duffy was perfect through 3 2/3 IP. Lorenzo Cain singled in a run in the 4th and Eric Hosmer and Moustakas went back-to-back to start the 5th (their 2nd and 4th, respectively) to make it 6-0. Duffy's 1 hit allowed was the only baserunner he allowed as the bullpen took over in the 7th. Hosmer polished it off with an RBI double in the 8th. RF Brad Snyder had 2 hits for the I-Cubs. Omaha is 12-7 and now on a 9-game tear. Mike Montgomery starts game 2 Friday.

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 5, Springfield 2

CF D. Robinson 2-3, BB, 2 pickoffs -- .266, 2 pickoffs?
1B Romak 1-4, HR (3), 2 RBI (13), 2 K, RS -- .281
3B Lisson 1-3, HBP, HR (6), 2 RBI (11), 2 K, 2 RS -- .333
RF Van Stratten 1-4, RBI (7), K -- .241
SS Colon 1-4, 3B, RS -- .215
DH Bianchi 0-4, 2 K -- .288
C S. Perez 1-4 -- .273

W. Smith 7 1/3 IP, ER, 8 H, 4 K, HRA -- W, 1-2, 6.48 ERA, that's more like it
B. Johnson 1 2/3 IP, UER, 2 H, BB, 2 K, E -- SV, 2, 0.00 ERA

* Will Smith had a good start and the Naturals took out the Cardinals. Smith got in and out of the first jam of the game in the 4th. Anthony Seratelli drew a 2-out walk in the 5th and Mario Lisson made it count with a 2-run shot for his 6th of the season. Christian Colon tripled in the 6th and Jamie Romak slugged a 2-run shot (his 3rd) to make it 4-0 Nats. Lisson was hit by a pitch with 2 out in the 7th, advanced on a balk and wild pitch and scored on a Nick Van Stratten single to make it 5-0. Smith gave up a leadoff homer in the 7th but Blake Johnson took over to strand 2 in the 8th. Johnson made a throwing error to help the Cards plate a run in the 9th but he finished it for his 2nd save. 1B Matt Adams had 3 hits, including his 4th homer, and RF Alex Castellanos continued to terrorize the Nats with 2 hits. NWA is 10-8 and tied for the division lead. A 4-game set at the Arkansas Travelers (8-8, AA Angels) starts Friday as Heath Rollins (0-1, 4.65) starts game 1.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: rainout

* The game will be made up June 14. A 3-game set with the Winston-Salem Dash (8-11, A-Adv. White Sox) starts Friday. Jake Odorizzi will start.

A - Kane County: Burlington 6, Cougars 4

3B Stovall 2-5, HR (2), RBI (13), RS -- .380
RF Aparicio 2-3, BB, 2B (2), RBI (2), RS, SB -- .429
LF Fletcher 2-3, 2B (5), 3B (2), RS -- .359, left game in 7th
C Jenkins 1-4, BB, RBI (4), 3 K, PB (2) -- .282
SS Hall 0-4, SF, RBI (9), K -- .304

Billo 4 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, BB, 6 K, HRA -- 2.45 ERA, I still like him, he's Pipeline certified
Keck 3 IP, ER, 2 H, 3 BB, K -- 0.82 ERA
Boruff IP, 3 UER, 2 H, BB, 2 K -- BS, 1, L, 2-1, 1.00 ERA

* An error factored in big to the Cougars' loss Thursday. Greg Billo stranded 2 in the 1st and Kane County drew first blood in the 3rd on a Gerard Hall sac fly, but left the bases full. The lead lasted 2 batters into the bottom of the 3rd as Billo teed up a solo homer and then an RBI single to make it 2-1 Bees. Julio Aparicio came through with an RBI double in the 4th to tie it. Kane County surged ahead in the 5th as Ryan Stovall clubbed his 2nd homer to lead off the inning and Brian Fletcher followed with a triple and scored on a Ryan Jenkins single to make it 4-2 Cougs. Burlington nicked Jon Keck for a run in the 6th but Keck stranded 2 and the lead held into the 8th. Chase Boruff staggered that inning to give up a single and RBI double before getting 2 outs. An intentional pass was followed by a 2-run error by LF Lane Adams that provided the winning margin. KC went down in order in the 9th to end it. 1B Josh Whitaker had 3 hits, including 2 doubles, and 2 RBI. Two other Bees had 2 hits. KC is 7-14. Leonel Santiago (2-2, 5.03) pitches Friday's day game 2.


27 April 2011

Royals on the Farm 4/27



AAA - Omaha: off day

* A 4-game home set with the Iowa Cubs (10-9) starts Thursday. Vin Mazzaro (1-0, 5.02) makes the start.

AA - NW Arkansas: Springfield 3, Naturals 2 (7/G2 late Tue.)

2B Seratelli 1-3, HR (2), RBI (4), RS -- .282
RF Van Stratten 1-3, HR (2), RBI (6), K, RS -- .255
DH Bianchi 1-3, 2B (6), K -- .322
CF D. Robinson 0-3, K -- .241
SS Colon 0-3, 2 K, E -- .211

Dwyer 6 IP, 3 R (1 ER), 3 H, BB, 4 K -- L, 1-2, 4.19 ERA

* The Naturals outhit the Cards, 5-3, but got outscored on the scoreboard as Springfield split the Tuesday twinbill. The Cards got a run in the 1st on a walk and double but Nick Van Stratten matched it with a solo homer in the 3rd (his 2nd of the season). A 2-out Christian Colon error in the 3rd ended up costing the Naturals dearly as RF Alex Castellanos followed with a 2-run triple to put Springfield up for good. Anthony Seratelli slugged a 2-out solo homer in the 7th (his 2nd) to cut the lead to 1 but Van Stratten grounded out to end it. Castellanos had all 3 of Springfield's RBI to run his season total to 15.

Springfield 4, Naturals 3 (Wed.)

1B Romak 1-4, HR (2), 2 RBI (11), K, RS, E -- .283
3B Lisson 1-3, HR (5), RBI (9), 2 K, RS -- .333
CF D. Robinson 1-3, BB, K, RS -- .246
DH Colon 1-4 -- .213
SS Bianchi 0-3, S, K -- .306
C S. Perez 0-4 -- .275

Lamb 5 IP, 2 UER, 4 H, BB, 4 K, HRA -- 3.86 ERA
Paulino 2 IP, 2 K, balk -- 4.91 ERA
Baumann 1 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, K, HRA, WP -- L, 0-1, 9.58 ERA
B. Johnson 0 IP, BB, WP -- 0.00 ERA

* A late flurry of scoring ended with a squeeze play making the difference in another Springfield win. John Lamb stranded 2 in the 1st and an error would haunt NWA again in the 3rd, as Jamie Romak made a 2-out throwing error and Castellanos followed with his 6th homer, a 2-run shot, to make it 2-0 Cards. Cards SP Nick Additon was perfect through 6 but Derrick Robinson and Christian Colon broke that up with 7th inning singles. The Nats left 'em both in scoring position. Mario Lisson went solo with 2 out in the 8th for his 5th homer to cut the lead in half. Buddy Baumann gave up a leadoff homer in the bottom of the inning to give the Cards some insurance they would need. Romak came up to the plate with 1 on and 2 out in the 9th and totally redeemed himself with a 2-run homer (his 2nd) to tie the game. Baumann gave up a leadoff double in the 9th and was pulled for Blake Johnson with 1 out. A wild pitch got the would-be winning run to 3rd and C (and 9th hole hitter) Nick Derba executed the squeeze play to bring the winning run home. Additon allowed 2 ER with 7 K over 8 IP but got the ND as his ERA dropped to 2.60. Castellanos was 3-4 with the homer and 2 RBI (17) to move to .309. NWA is 9-8. The series wraps Thursday as Will Smith (0-2, 10.61) tries to recover from a couple bad starts.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Lynchburg 3, Blue Rocks 2 (9/comp. of Tue. game)

2B Navarro 2-3, HBP, 2B (5), E (3) -- .420
1B Whittleman 1-4, HR (4), RBI (15), RS -- .258
3B Batista 0-3, SF, RBI (5), 2 K -- .167
LF Merrifield 0-3, BB, 2 K -- .308
DH Francis 1-4 -- .261, 11-game hit streak

Sample 2 1/3 IP, 2 H, BB, K -- 1.72 ERA, rain ended his outing early
Paukovits 3 2/3 IP, 3 R (1 ER), 4 H, 2 K -- L, 0-1, 3.38 ERA
Herrera 2 IP, nothing -- 1.04 ERA

* The Rocks' errors total of 4 was more than either team scored as Lynchburg took the completed Tuesday game tonight. The Rocks stranded 2 in the 1st but Tyler Sample stranded 2 in the 2nd. Play was suspended Tuesday with 1 out in the bottom of the 3rd, and resumed Wednesday evening. Bryan Paukovits took the mound tonight and ran into trouble in the 4th as Lynchburg scored 3 runs on 3 hits, a Rey Navarro error and Jose Bonilla passed ball. Deivy Batista hit a sac fly in the 5th but the Rocks would strand 2. John Whittleman led off the 9th with his 4th homer of the season and a 2-out Carlo Testa single went for naught. 3B Joe Leonard led the Hillcats with 2 hits (both doubles) and his 8th RBI.

Lynchburg 5, Blue Rocks 2 (7/reg. Wed. game)

LF Merrifield 1-2, BB, SF, 2B (4), RBI (7), RS -- .313
RF Francis 1-2, BB, 2B (7), RBI (14), SB (3) -- .268, make that a 12-game hit streak
1B Lewis 0-2, BB, 2 K -- .275

Marks 6 IP, 5 ER, 8 H, BB, 2 K, HRA, pickoff -- L, 1-1, 6.20 ERA

* The Rocks garnered only 3 hits as the Hillcats had a 2-win day. Nick Francis hit an RBI groundout in the 1st, but Lynchburg scored 2 on 4 hits off Justin Marks in the 2nd. Whit Merrifield hit a sac fly in the 3rd. Lynchburg took the lead in the 4th and wouldn't give it up as they added 2 runs in the 5th on a 2-run shot by DH Joseph Terdoslavich. Other than the 2 runs, the Rocks' only highlight was Francis stretching his hit streak to 12 with a 3rd inning double. SS Andrelton Simmons was 3-3 and a homer short of the cycle. He had 2 RBI (6). The Rocks are 12-7. Jake Odorizzi starts Thursday's matinee series finale.

A - Kane County: Cedar Rapids 5, Cougars 4

3B Stovall 2-4, RBI (12), K, RS -- .378
DH Aparicio 1-4, 2B, RBI, 2 K -- .250, season debut
2B Espinal 1-4, RBI (6), K, RS -- .200
CF Llanos 1-3, BB, K, RS -- .311
LF Fletcher 0-4 -- .347

Hayenga 6 IP, 5 ER, 9 H, 2 BB, 4 K, WP -- L, 1-1, 5.85 ERA
Hodge 2 IP, H, K -- 3.86 ERA

* Cedar Rapids got the 3-game sweep as 4 early runs helped fuel another Kernels victory. Keaton Hayenga gave up an RBI double in the 1st, then allowed 3 straight singles to start the 2nd before a 2-run double made it 4-0 Kernels. Yowill Espinal got KC off ground zero with an RBI single in the 3rd and Ryan Stovall did the same before a throwing error scored Espinal to cut the lead to 4-3. The Cougars stranded 2 in the 4th and Cedar Rapids plated a run that inning to make it 5-3. Julio Aparicio hit a 2-out RBI double in the 5th but he would be the last Cougar to reach. The last 13 KC batters went down consecutively. Four Kernels had 2 hits as 3B Jeremy Cruz had 2 doubles (3) and 3 RBI (6) to move to .304. Kane County is 7-13. The Cougars travel to play the Burlington Bees (13-5, A Athletics) for 3 games starting Thursday. Greg Billo (0-0, 1.69) will start game 1. Crawford Simmons was placed on the DL as Aparicio joined the squad.

26 April 2011

Royals on the Farm 4/26



AAA - Omaha: rainout

* The finale with Nashville was a washout today. The Storm Chasers have Wednesday off. The game with Nashville will be made up June 22.

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 4, Springfield 3 (7/G1)

C S. Perez 2-3, 2B (4), HR (2), RBI (3), RS -- .298
LF Seratelli 2-3, 2B (4), RS -- .278
RF Van Stratten 2-3, 2B, 2 RS -- .250
SS Colon 1-4, RBI (12), picked off -- .222
CF D. Robinson 0-1, BB, 2 S -- .255
2B Bianchi 0-4, K -- .321

Osuna 5 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 7 K, 2 HRA -- W, 3-0, 4.67 ERA
M. Santiago IP, nothing -- 2.08 ERA
Keating IP, BB, K -- SV, 2, 7.27 ERA

* The Naturals finally got a game in and took the opener with the Cardinals. Edgar Osuna gave up a leadoff homer in the 1st but a Cards error scored the tying run in the 3rd and a wild pitch scored Nick Van Stratten to make it 2-1 Naturals. Osuna stranded the bases full in the 3rd but NWA stranded 2 in the 4th. Christian Colon singled in Van Stratten in the 5th to make it 3-1 but Osuna couldn't hold it as he gave up a 2-run homer that inning. Salvador Perez provided what would be the gamebreaker with a solo homer in the 6th for his 2nd of the season. Perez ended up notching the final out with a caught-stealing to end the game. The game went through a rain delay or two to drag it out.

I'll rehash the nightcap on the morrow, as it is just getting started.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: tied at 0 in the 3rd (suspended)

* The game will be finished as part of a double dip on Wednesday. Justin Marks is set to pitch the regular game. They'll probably finish Tuesday's game with a mishmash of pitchers.

A - Kane County: Cedar Rapids 8, Cougars 4

LF Fletcher 4-4, 2B (4), RBI (12), RS -- .366, looking good
3B Stovall 2-4, RBI (11), E (3) -- .366
CF Llanos 2-4, BB, 2B (6), RS -- .310
SS Hall 0-4, 3 K -- .327

L. Perez 1/3 IP, 6 R (5 ER), 5 H, BB -- L, 0-3, 4.42 ERA
Wooley 4 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 5 K, WP -- 4.63 ERA
Odenbach 1 2/3 IP, 3 H, BB, 2 K -- 1.93 ERA
Byrne 2 IP, BB, 3 K -- 4.00 ERA

* A 6-run 1st was disastrous for the Cougars as Cedar Rapids just had to hang on from there. Brian Fletcher started a great day at the plate personally with an RBI double in the 1st to put Kane County up, 1-0. Leondy Perez started for KC and his outing went single, double, RBI groundout, RBI single, RBI double, error (on Ryan Stovall), 2-run double, HBP, walk, pulled. Nick Wooley allowed another run on a wild pitch before finally putting the inning to a merciful end. The Cougars loaded the bases with 0 out in the 3rd and a Ryan Jenkins double play ball scored a run before Stovall singled in a run to cut it to 6-3. The Kernels plated a run off Wooley in the 4th and Dusty Odenbach allowed an inherited runner to score in the 5th as the Kernels got more breathing room. KC loaded the bases with 0 out again in the 8th and a Lane Adams DP scored the Cougars' fourth run but that was it for their offensive output. Kane County is 7-12. The series wraps with a Wednesday day game. Keaton Hayenga (1-0, 5.14) is set to start.

25 April 2011

Royals on the Farm 4/25



AAA - Omaha: Storm Chasers 2, Nashville 1

1B Hosmer 3-4, RBI (10), RS, SB (2) -- .380
2B Giavotella 2-4, 2B (3), RBI (13), K -- .290
RF Lough 1-4, 2 K, RS -- .296
CF Cain 0-4, 2 K -- .238
3B Moustakas 0-4, K -- .225
DH C. Robinson 0-4, 2 K -- .373

Teaford 6 IP, ER, 3 H, 3 K -- 2.65 ERA, 95 pitches, another solid outing
Mendoza 3 IP, H, 3 K -- W, 1-0, 1.80 ERA

* Omaha came from behind on a night when the offense just wasn't clicking, but the Chasers got the win anyway. Omaha was shut out on 3 hits through 5 but Everett Teaford was up to the task in being perfect through 4. He did hit a rough patch in the 5th as 3 hits scored Nashville's only run and Omaha manager Mike Jirschele got ejected in the inning. Eric Hosmer tied it with an RBI single in the 6th and played a key role in the 9th as the 1-1 tie held. Hosmer led off the 9th with a single, stole second with 2 outs and scored on a big Johnny Giavotella double that made it 2-1 Omaha. Luis Mendoza pitched a perfect 9th for his 1st 2011 win. Nashville SP Frankie De La Cruz allowed an unearned run with 7 Ks over 7 IP but took a no-decision. LF Caleb Gindl had 2 hits for the Sounds. Omaha is 12-7 and on an 8-game tear. They go for the sweep Tuesday morning in a matinee finale. Danny Duffy is the announced starter on the Omaha World-Herald site while Mike Montgomery is listed on MiLB.

AA - NW Arkansas: Mother Nature 3, Naturals 0

* A third straight rainout will result in the Naturals playing 2 with Springfield on Tuesday. Chris Dwyer and, for yet another day, Edgar Osuna, are set to start for NWA.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 8, Lynchburg 1

LF Testa 2-4, S, 2B (2), 2 RBI (4), RS -- .250
2B Navarro 3-5, RBI (9), RS, SB (4), picked off -- .409
CF Merrifield 3-5, K, OF assist at first -- .323
1B Lewis 1-5, HR (2), 2 RBI (6), 2 K, RS -- .286
RF Francis 2-5, 2B (6), 2 RS -- .262
C Eigsti 1-2, 2 BB, RBI (3), RS -- .333
DH Ferguson 1-4, BB, RBI (11), K, 2 RS -- .200
3B Whittleman 0-3, BB, SF, RBI (14), K -- .258

Melville 7 IP, ER, 5 H, 2 BB, K -- W, 2-2, 3.80 ERA
Baez 2 IP, 3 H, 3 K -- 1.69 ERA

* The Rocks rode a solid Tim Melville outing to a runaway win over the Hillcats. Joey Lewis got it started with a 2-run homer in the 2nd (his 2nd) but the Rocks would leave the bases full. Nick Francis made the rare dash home from second on a John Whittleman sac fly in the 3rd, and Melville allowed his only run on 2 hits in the bottom of that inning. Rey Navarro got the run back with an RBI single in the 4th and Melville held the line at 4-1. Ryan Eigsti hit an RBI single in the 8th and the Rocks poured on 3 more in the 9th on a Tim Ferguson RBI forceout and 2-run Carlo Testa double. Two Cats had 2 hits. Wilmington is 12-5. Game 2 is Tuesday as Tyler Sample (1-1, 2.03) starts. The Rocks already beat the Hillcats' best prospect, SP Arodys Vizcaino, tonight. He's #7 on the BA list for the Braves.

A - Kane County: Cedar Rapids 6, Cougars 1

1B Watts 1-3, BB, RBI (7), 2 K -- .231
CF Llanos 0-4, 2 K -- .299
LF Fletcher 0-4, 2 K, OF assist at second -- .328
3B Stovall 0-3, 2 E -- .351
SS Hall 1-3, 2B (5) -- .354

Marimon 2 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 4 K -- L, 0-2, 5.74 ERA
Keck 2 1/3 IP, UER, H, 2 BB, 2 K -- 0.00 ERA
Mitchell 3 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 5 H, 2 BB, K -- 5.40 ERA

* The Cougars got rolled by the Kernels Monday. KC stranded 2 in the 1st and the Cougars made 2 errors in the inning as Cedar Rapids took a 1-0 lead. Sugar Ray Marimon allowed another run in the 3rd and didn't last the inning. Cedar Rapids tallied another run in the 5th off Jon Keck to make it 3-0 and Murray Watts hit a 2-out RBI single in the 6th but that was all a stagnant Cougar offense could muster. Matt Mitchell had a rough 6th as the Kernels pulled away with 3 runs as the Cougars had yet another error in the inning (4 on the game). Four Kernels had 2 hits, meanwhile the Cougars had 4 as a team. CR also had 6 steals on the game, including 4 by CF Travis Witherspoon (12 on the season). KC is 7-11. Game 2 is Tuesday. Leondy Perez (0-2, 2.00) is set to start.


24 April 2011

Royals on the Farm 4/24



AAA - Omaha: Storm Chasers 7, Nashville 3

RF Lough 2-5, 2B (4), 3B (3), 2 RBI (9), K, RS -- .299
CF Cain 2-5, 3B, RBI (3), K, RS -- .263
C Pina 1-3, BB, 2 RBI (3), K -- .121
1B Hosmer 0-4, SF, RBI (9), K -- .358
LF Blanco 1-1, 3 BB, 2B (4), RBI (3), 2 RS, SB (7) -- .250
3B Moustakas 1-5 -- .239
DH C. Robinson 1-4, BB, 2B (6), K, 2 RS -- .397

Suppan 6 IP, 2 UER, 3 H, 2 K, HRA -- W, 2-2, 4.87 ERA
Pucetas 2 IP, H, 2 K -- 2.25 ERA
Texeira IP, ER, 2 H, BB, K -- 9.00 ERA, Omaha debut

* The Chasers got to rehabbing Nashville SP Zack Greinke then tagged the bullpen for 5 more runs to grab a 7-3 win. Jeff Suppan gave up a 2-run homer in the 1st as the Sounds took the lead, but Omaha stranded 2 off Greinke in the 2nd and got back-to-back triples from Lorenzo Cain and David Lough in the 3rd. An Eric Hosmer sac fly both tied the game and spelled the end of Greinke's outing. Omaha took command in the 4th as Manny Pina singled in 2 runs and Lough tagged an RBI double to make it 5-2. Suppan didn't face any more serious trouble and Omaha added 2 in the 8th on a Gregor Blanco RBI double and Cain RBI single. Kanekoa Texeira allowed a run in the 9th in his first ever Omaha appearance but finished the game. Greinke's ERA inflated to 6.75 with the outing. DH Brendan Katin hit his 5th homer with 2 RBI (12). Omaha is 11-7 and 1 1/2 games up on first. Game 3 is Monday as Everett Teaford pitches for the Chasers.

AA - NW Arkansas: rainout

* This rainout with Arkansas will be made up May 23. A 4-game set at the Springfield Cardinals (6-10) starts Monday as Edgar Osuna is scheduled to start for a third straight day.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 11, Winston-Salem 10

3B Whittleman 3-4, BB, 2B (4), GS (3), 5 RBI (13), K, RS -- .271
RF Francis 3-5, 2B (5), HR (4), 2 RBI (13), 4 RS, SB (2), E (3) -- .250
1B Lewis 3-5, 3 2B (4), K, RS -- .295
CF Ferguson 1-3, BB, HBP, HR (2), 2 RBI (10), K, RS -- .196
LF Merrifield 2-5, HBP, RBI (6), K -- .298
SS McClure 2-5, K, 2 RS, CS (2) -- .148
C Bonilla 1-5, RBI (5) -- .167

E. Pimentel 6 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, BB, 5 K, 2 HRA -- W, 2-0, 7.53 ERA
Chapman 2 IP, 4 R (3 ER), 4 H, 3 BB, K -- 5.68 ERA
Dennick IP, ER, H, K, HRA -- SV, 1, 1.59 ERA

* Seven early runs almost weren't enough for the Rocks but they hung on to outlast the Dash Sunday. Nick Francis doubled in a run in the 1st followed by a bases-loaded HBP by Tim Ferguson and Jose Bonilla RBI forceout that made it 3-0. Elisaul Pimentel gave a run back in the 1st but Wilmington responded with 4 in the 2nd on a John Whittleman grand slam for his 3rd homer of the season. Pimentel let the lead slip a little with a 2-run homer allowed in the 2nd. Francis went deep in the 4th for his 4th homer of the season but Pimentel allowed 2 runs that inning to cut it to 8-5. Wilmington squandered a bases-loaded situation in the 5th but Whittleman hit an RBI double in the 6th to stretch the lead back to 4. Whit Merrifield singled in a run in the 7th but the Dash weren't done. Kevin Chapman came in for the 7th and the Dash tallied 4 runs on 4 hits, 2 walks and a Francis error to cut it to 10-9. Ferguson got the Rocks some needed insurance with a solo homer in the 8th for his 2nd of the season. Ryan Dennick allowed a solo homer in the 9th before getting the final out. Three Dash hitters had multiple hits, including 3B Austin Yount (Robin's nephew), who had 2 hits and 2 RBI (5). Wilmington is 11-5. A 4-game set at the Lynchburg Hillcats (4-11, A-Adv. Braves) starts Monday. Tim Melville starts the opener.

A - Kane County: off day

* A 3-game set at the Cedar Rapids Kernels (10-6, A Angels) starts Monday. Sugar Ray Marimon (0-1, 5.54) starts for the Cougars.


23 April 2011

Royals on the Farm 4/23



AAA - Omaha: Storm Chasers 9, Nashville 0

CF Cain 3-4, BB, HR, RBI (2), K, 2 RS, SB (3) -- .242
DH C. Robinson 2-4, BB, RBI (14), RS -- .407
3B Moustakas 1-4, BB, 3B, 3 RBI (12), 2 K, 2 RS -- .242
1B Hosmer 2-4, BB, K, 2 RS, SB -- .381
SS Zawadzki 2-5, 2B (2), 3B (2), K -- .163
RF Orlando 1-4, 2 RBI (8) -- .217
2B Giavotella 1-5, 2 RBI (12), K, RS -- .277
LF Lough 0-4, BB, RS -- .290

Mazzaro 7 IP, 5 H, BB, 5 K -- W, 1-0, 5.02 ERA, those are the kind of outings that get you a #5 rotation slot, but Sean-O has been holding his own in KC...
Chavez 2 IP, H, BB -- 0.00 ERA

* Vin Mazzaro was on top of his game and the Storm Chasers routed the Sounds to grab sole possession of first place. Omaha wasted no time as the first 3 batters drew walks and Mike Moustakas cleared the bases with a 3-run triple before scoring on a Clint Robinson groundout to make it 4-0. Nashville SP Mark Rogers had another rough outing versus Omaha as the Chasers tacked on 4 more runs in the 3rd. They loaded the bases with 0 out again, and Johnny Giavotella stroked a 2-run single before Paulo Orlando did the same to make it 8-0. Lorenzo Cain tacked on the final run with his 1st organizational homer in the 8th. Mazzaro's roughest inning was the 6th, when he gave up 2 hits, but he was never in dire straits until putting the first 2 on in the 8th. Jesse Chavez came in to put out the fire and finished the game. DH Jeremy Reed had 2 hits for the Sounds. Omaha is 10-7. Game 2 is Sunday as Jeff Suppan faces.....former Royal Zack Greinke, who is rehabbing with the Sounds.

AA - NW Arkansas: rainout

* The game will be made up May 21 when the teams meet once again. Sunday's game will be played as scheduled to finish the set with the Travs as Edgar Osuna takes the mound.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 10, Winston-Salem 2 (7/G1)

1B Whittleman 2-3, BB, 2B (3), RBI (8), RS -- .255
2B Batista 2-4, RS -- .189
LF Merrifield 1-2, 2 BB, 2B (3), 3 RBI (5), 2 RS -- .313
C Bonilla 1-4, HR, 2 RBI (4), RS -- .161
SS Navarro 1-4, 2B (4), RBI (8) -- .426
CF Ferguson 1-3, SF, 2B (2), RBI (8), RS -- .174
3B Frost 1-3, RBI (3), K, RS -- .167

Arguelles 4 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 4 K, WP -- 1.46 ERA
Mariot 2 2/3 IP, 2 H, 2 K -- W, 3-0, 0.84 ERA

* Nine late runs blew open a tight game as the Rocks rolled past the Dash. A run-scoring double play put Wilmington on top in the 1st but Noel Arguelles gave up a run on 2 hits in the bottom of the inning. Arguelles and ChiSox prospect P Cameron Bayne retired 18 straight from the 2nd thru the 4th but the Rocks surged ahead in the 5th. Adam Frost singled in a run before Whit Merrifield hit a bases-loaded double that scored 3 to make it 5-1. Mike Mariot came in with the bases loaded and 1 out in the 5th and only allowed 1 run before getting out of the jam with a double play. John Whittleman doubled in a run in the 6th and Jose Bonilla cracked a 2-run homer for his 1st of the season to make it 8-2. Rey Navarro doubled in a run and Tim Ferguson hit a sac fly to finish the scoring. Mike Mariot pitched well out of the pen to finish the victory for his 3rd win of the season. Bayne got rocked for 7 runs over 5 IP to drop to 2-1. 2B Daniel Wagner had 2 hits for the Dash.

Winston-Salem 3, Blue Rocks 2 (8/G2)

RF Francis 2-4, 2B (4), HR (3), 2 RBI (11), 2 K, RS -- .218
LF Merrifield 0-4, K -- .288
2B Navarro 0-3, BB -- .404

Odorizzi 6 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, BB, 10 K, HRA -- 3.46 ERA, I'll take that line, tho
Herrera IP, ER, 3 H, HRA -- L, 1-1, 1.35 ERA

* Jake Odorizzi's good start went for naught as the Dash made a late comeback and won it in 8. Nick Francis hit an RBI double in the 1st and then went deep in the 3rd for his 3rd homer of the season to make it 2-0. Odorizzi stranded 2 in the 3rd but took a 2-hit shutout into the 6th. With 1 out and 1 on, DH Ian Gac slammed a 2-run homer (his 6th) to tie it. Kelvin Herrera stranded 2 in the 7th but gave up a walkoff shot to lead off the 8th as Chicago OF prospect Jared Mitchell ended it. Gac's 2 RBI gave him 16 on the season. The Rocks are 10-5. The series wraps Sunday afternoon as Tim Melville (1-2, 5.02) starts.

A - Kane County: Cougars 10, Clinton 3 (7/G1)

LF Fletcher 4-4, HR (2), 2 RBI (10), 2 RS -- .350, nice
RF Beltre 2-4, 3B, 2 RBI (3), K, 2 RS -- .218
3B Stovall 2-3, HBP, 2B (4), 2 RBI (10), K, RS, CS (2) -- .419
2B Espinal 1-4, RBI (4), K, RS -- .188
DH Llanos 0-4, RBI (9), K, RS -- .317
1B Watts 1-3, BB, RBI (6), RS, E (2) -- .239
SS Hall 1-2, BB, RBI (8) -- .357

L. Santiago 6 IP, ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 6 K -- W, 2-2, 5.03 ERA
Hodge IP, 2 R (1 ER), 2 H, 3 K, WP -- 4.66 ERA

* An 8-run inning propelled the Cougars to the win in the first of 2 Saturday. Leonel Santiago had a solid start but allowed a run in the 2nd on 2 hits and a walk. Santiago stranded 2 in the 4th but Kane County got to work in the bottom of the inning. Murray Watts singled in a run, Geulin Beltre singled in 2, Ryan Stovall singled in a run, Gerard Hall joined the RBI single parade, Alex Llanos hit an RBI groundout, and Yowill Espinal and Brian Fletcher added 2 more RBI singles to make it 8-1. Stovall doubled in a run in the 5th but the Cougs left the bases loaded. Fletcher led off the 6th with his 2nd homer of the season to finish the rout. Mitch Hodge allowed 2 in the 7th but it was too little, too late for Clinton. Three 'Kings had 2 hits.

Clinton 3, Cougars 2 (7/G2)

2B Espinal 1-2, BB, 3B, RBI (5), RS -- .200
LF Fletcher 1-3, RBI (11), K, E (4) -- .349
CF Llanos 1-3, RS, SB (3), picked off, OF assist at second -- .317
1B Stovall 0-3, K -- .382

Simmons 3 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, BB, 4 K, WP -- L, 0-3, 6.97 ERA
Billo 3 1/3 IP, 3 H, BB, 3 K -- 1.69 ERA

* Each team's one-inning rally ended up with the LumberKings on top to earn the split. An Alex Llanos pickoff helped thwart a Kane County rally in the 1st and Crawford Simmons ran into trouble in the 3rd. A Brian Fletcher error helped fuel a 3-run Clinton inning. Greg Billo came in to strand the bases full in the 4th and a baserunning gaffe would help do in the Cougars. Gerard Hall led off the 6th with a double but got thrown out at third on a fielder's choice before Yowill Espinal hit an RBI triple and scored on a Brian Fletcher groundout. The Cougars stranded 2 in the 7th to fall 1 run short. Three Kings had 2 hits. Kane County is 7-10 and has Easter Sunday off.



22 April 2011

Royals on the Farm 4/22 -- Clint. Robinson.



AAA - Omaha: Storm Chasers 3, Memphis 2

1B C. Robinson 3-4, 2 HR (6), 2 RBI (13), K, 2 RS -- .400
2B Giavotella 1-4, 2B (2), RBI (10), K -- .283
CF Cain 1-4, 2B (2), 2 K -- .172
3B Moustakas 1-4, K, RS -- .241
DH Hosmer 0-3, BB, K -- .373
LF Lough 0-2, BB, S -- .310

Montgomery 6 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 4 K, HRA, balk -- 3.00 ERA
Hardy 3 IP, 2 K -- W, 1-0, 1.13 ERA

* Omaha got a big hit off a former Royals farmhand to sweep the Redbirds. The Chasers squandered 2 walks in the 1st and Memphis pushed across a run in the 2nd. Omaha loaded the bases with 1 out in the 2nd but couldn't get a runner home. Mike Montgomery gave up a solo homer in the 3rd but Clint Robinson matched it in the bottom of the frame for his 5th homer of the season. Montgomery stranded 2 in the 4th and Robinson threw out a runner at the plate in the 5th to keep it 2-1 Memphis. A run-scoring error tied it in the 6th but Omaha would strand 2 more. The Storm Chasers wasted another scoring chance in the 7th but, with recently traded RP Victor Marte taking the mound for Memphis in the 8th, Robinson greeted him with his 2nd homer of the night and 6th of the season. Blaine Hardy retired all 9 batters he faced to get the win. 3B Matt Carpenter had 2 hits for the Redbirds. Omaha is 9-7. A 4-game set at the Nashville Sounds (7-8, AAA Brewers) starts Saturday with no named starter I can find at the moment on the Omaha website.

AA - NW Arkansas: Arkansas 6, Naturals 4 (7/G1)

DH Colon 2-4, 2B (2), RBI (11) -- .229
SS Bianchi 2-4, K, picked off -- .360
3B Lisson 1-2, BB, HR (4), 3 RBI (8), 2 RS -- .357
CF D. Robinson 1-4 -- .275
C Perez 0-3, E (3), picked off runner -- .273
RF Nick Van Stratten had an assist at the plate.

W. Smith 4 IP, 4 ER, 10 H, BB, 3 K, HRA -- L, 0-2, 10.61 ERA, yikes
M. Santiago IP, UER, H, BB, K -- 2.25 ERA
Mozingo IP, ER, 2 H, 2 K, WP, balk -- 32.40 ERA
Sisk IP, BB -- 6.00 ERA

* The Naturals made it close late but dropped the first of 2 with the Travs Friday. Will Smith gave up a run on 2 hits before recording an out then gave up 2 runs on 3 XBH in the 2nd. The Naturals stranded 2 in the 2nd and Smith allowed another run in the 3rd before Nick Van Stratten ended the rally with an assist at the plate. Smith worked around 2 hits in the 4th before getting pulled for Mario Santiago, who allowed another run in the 5th. Christian Colon got NWA on the board with a 2-out RBI single in the bottom of that inning, but pulled a Berroa on a Jeff Bianchi single and made the third out at third. Mario Lisson stepped up with 2 out and 2 on in the 6th and slammed a 3-run homer (his 4th) to cut the lead to 5-4 but Brandon Sisk allowed an insurance run in the 7th. Bianchi was picked off at first with 2 on and 1 out in the bottom of the inning and Jamie Romak popped out to end it. C Orlando Mercado had 3 hits and 2 RBI (5) and 2 others had 2 hits. CF Mike Trout was 1-4 to drop to .300.

Naturals 6, Arkansas 1 (7/G2)

LF T. Smith 2-3, 2B (2), HR, 3 RBI (4), 2 RS, OF assist at third -- .333
2B Seratelli 1-3, HR, 2 RBI (3), RS -- .242
3B Mertins 1-3, HR, RBI (4), K, RS -- .286
RF Myers 1-3, RS -- .261
CF D. Robinson 0-3, 2 K -- .259
SS Colon 0-2, BB, K -- .220
DH Bianchi 0-2, S, K -- .346

Rollins 3 IP, ER, 2 H, K -- 4.61 ERA
B. Johnson 3 IP, 3 H, BB, 3 K -- W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA
Keating IP, H, 2 K -- 8.22 ERA

* The longball was the weapon of choice in game 2 for the Naturals. Heath Rollins gave up a triple and sac fly in the 1st but that was all the Travelers would get. Anthony Seratelli and Kurt Mertins went back-to-back in the 2nd as Seratelli's 2-run shot and Mertins' solo shot were their 1st homers of the season. Tim Smith connected for a 3-run dinger in the 3rd to make it 6-1 NWA. Blake Johnson worked around a double and walk in the 6th and Patrick Keating finished it. SS Darwin Perez had 2 hits. CF Trout was 0-3 with a K to drop to .283. The Naturals are 8-6. Game 3 of the series is Saturday night. Edgar Osuna (2-0, 4.38) will start for NW Arkansas.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: rainout

* The rainout will be made up as part of a Saturday doubleheader. Noel Arguelles will start one game. I assume Jake Odorizzi will start the other, but we'll see.

A - Kane County: rainout

* The Cougars' game will also be made up Saturday. Crawford Simmons and Leonel Santiago will likely start for KC.

21 April 2011

Royals on the Farm 4/21



AAA - Omaha: Storm Chasers 1, Memphis 0

3B Moustakas 1-3, BB, RBI (9) -- .241
RF Lough 1-3, BB, RS -- .321
CF Cain 0-4 -- .160
1B Hosmer 0-3, BB -- .393
DH C. Robinson 0-4, 2 K -- .373
2B Giavotella 0-3, K -- .286

Duffy 4 1/3 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 5 K -- 1.29 ERA, 86 pitches
Holland 2 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 5 K -- W, 1-0, 2.25 ERA
Mendoza 2 2/3 IP, H, BB -- SV, 1, 2.25 ERA

* Danny Duffy and two relievers made a 1st inning run stick as Omaha beat the Redbirds again. Duffy stranded 2 in the 1st and Mike Moustakas hit an RBI single in the bottom of the inning. Duffy stranded 2 more in the 3rd and Greg Holland got 2 key strikeouts in relief in the 5th to help keep Omaha on top. Holland left the bases loaded in the 6th and Luis Mendoza got a lineout double play with 2 on and 1 out in the 7th. Mendoza finally had a 1-2-3 inning in the 9th to pick up his 1st save of the season. Omaha is 8-7. They go for the sweep Friday as Mike Montgomery (1-1, 3.00) starts. P Louis Coleman will make his KC debut as RP Kanekoa Texeira has been demoted to Omaha.

AA - NW Arkansas: rainout

* The Naturals and Arkansas will play a doubleheader Friday to make up for the rainout. Heath Rollins and Will Smith will start for the Nats.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 7, Winston-Salem 6

RF Testa 2-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, K, 2 RS -- .222
CF Ferguson 1-4, HR, 2 RBI (7), K, RS -- .163
3B Batista 1-4, 2B (4), 2 RBI (4), K, E (2) -- .152
2B Navarro 1-4, RBI (7), RS -- .440
LF Merrifield 1-4, BB, 2 K, SB (5) -- .304

Marks 5 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, BB, 6 K, HRA -- W, 1-0, 5.65 ERA
Lafferty 2 2/3 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 4 H, 3 BB, 5 K, WP -- 3.86 ERA
Chapman 1 1/3 IP, H, BB, 3 K -- SV, 4, 2.08 ERA

* An early onslaught gave Wilmington the series-opening win. Justin Marks had a rough 1st as the Dash racked up 3 runs on 3 XBH. The Rocks struck back in the 2nd as Carlo Testa hit a 2-out RBI double and Deivy Batista followed with a 2-run double to tie the game. Rey Navarro singled in a run in the 3rd and Tim Ferguson clubbed a 2-run homer for his 1st of the season and 2nd as a pro to make it 6-3 Blue Rocks. Marks worked in and out of trouble in the 3rd and the Rocks got Testa's 1st homer of the season to lead off the 4th to make it 7-3. Marks and Brendan Lafferty worked out of a couple jams but Lafferty allowed a run in the 7th. Lafferty and Kevin Chapman allowed 2 runs in the 8th to cut the lead to 1, and Chapman survived a walk in the 9th to pick up his 4th save. RF Jose Martinez and DH Ian Gac had 3 hits each for the Dash. CF and former LSU standout Jared Mitchell had 2 hits and 2 RBI. The Rocks are 9-4. Game 2 is Friday night. Jake Odorizzi (0-0, 3.86) starts for Wilmington.

A - Kane County: Cougars 8, Clinton 4

LF Fletcher 2-4, HBP, 3 RBI (8) -- .304
SS Hall 3-4, 2B (3), RBI (7), K, 2 RS -- .350
CF Llanos 2-5, RBI (8), K, RS -- .339
2B Espinal 2-3, 2 BB, RS, SB (2) -- .182
1B Watts 1-4, BB, RBI (5), K -- .233
RF Adams 0-4, SF, RBI (2), K -- .194
3B Stovall 1-4, 2B (3), RBI (8), 2 K -- .393
KC stranded 10.

Hayenga 5 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 3 K -- 5.14 ERA
Odenbach 2 IP, H, 4 K -- W, 1-1, 2.35 ERA
Boruff 2 IP, BB, 4 K -- 1.13 ERA

* Kane County scored 7 unanswered runs to come back and beat the LumberKings. The Cougars stranded 2 in the 1st and Keaton Hayenga allowed a run in the 2nd. Gerard Hall tied it with a 2nd inning RBI double but the Kings answered with 3 in the 4th on 4 hits. Kane County rallied back in the 5th as Brian Fletcher took a bases loaded HBP, Lane Adams hit a sac fly and Murray Watts singled home the tying run. Fletcher hit a 2-out, 2-run single in the 6th to break it open, and the Cougars would add 2 more in the 7th on a Ryan Stovall RBI double and Alex Llanos RBI single. DH Tim Morris had 3 hits with his 3rd SB and 2 RS. Kane County is 6-9 and 5 games back. Crawford Simmons (0-2, 6.75) will start game 2 for KC Friday night.

20 April 2011

Royals on the Farm 4/20



AAA - Omaha: Storm Chasers 10, Memphis 4

DH C. Robinson 4-4, BB, 2B (5), 2 RBI (11), 2 RS -- .404, have a feeling KC fans will never get to see Clint in the majors for the Royals, something will have to give
RF Lough 2-5, HR (2), RBI (7), 2 RS -- .321
LF Blanco 2-5, RBI (2), 2 K, SB (5) -- .206
1B Hosmer 2-3, 2 BB, 2B (4), 3 RS -- .415, may be up before Moustakas if he keeps this up
3B Moustakas 1-3, 2 BB, HR (2), 2 RBI (8), 2 RS -- .235, first Werner Park HR for Chasers
2B Giavotella 1-5, 2B, 2 RBI (9), RS -- .302
SS Zawadzki 1-4, BB, RBI (5), K, E (4) -- .119
CF Cain 0-4, BB, 2 K -- .190, slow start
Omaha stranded 10.

Pucetas 5 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K, HRA, pickoff -- W, 2-0, 2.57 ERA
B. Hardy 2 IP, 2 H, BB, 4 K -- 1.80 ERA
Shell 2 IP, ER, 2 H, 3 K, HRA -- 9.35 ERA

* Omaha broke out the bats as all the big names factored in to a daygame victory for the Chasers. They jumped on SP Raul Valdes for 5 in the 1st on a bases-loaded 2-run single by Clint Robinson, a 2-run Johnny Giavotella double and a wild pitch that allowed Giavotella to score. Mike Moustakas took new pitcher Jason Buursma out of the park in the 3rd for a 2-run shot (his 2nd of 2011 and the first Omaha homer in the new park) to make it 7-0 and Gregor Blanco singled in a run before Omaha left the bases full. Omaha squandered a bases-full, no-out situation in the 4th and Memphis tallied 3 off Kevin Pucetas in the 5th thanks to a 3-run homer by LF Daryl Jones. Lance Zawadzki singled in a run in the 6th and David Lough went deep in the 7th for his 2nd homer of the season to make it 10-3. Steven Shell was greeted with a leadoff homer in the Memphis 8th but that was all the Redbirds could come up with. 2B Freddie Bynum had 3 hits and Jones and DH Matt Carpenter had 2 hits. Omaha is 7-7. Game 3 is Thursday night. Danny Duffy will start for the Storm Chasers.

AA - NW Arkansas: off day

* The 2011 Diamond Series starts Thursday as the Naturals play host to the Arkansas Travelers (6-6, AA Angels) for the first of 4. Will Smith (0-1, 11.81) starts game 1 for NWA. The Travs roster features Angels top prospect Mike Trout.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Kinston 4, Blue Rocks 1

SS McClure 2-4, 2B, 2 K -- .119
RF Francis 1-4, HR (2), RBI (9), RS -- .191
DH Navarro 1-4 -- .457
LF Testa 0-3, BB, 3 K -- .143

Sample 5 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 5 K -- L, 1-1, 2.02 ERA
M. Baez 3 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 K, 2 WP -- 2.08 ERA

* The Rocks had a second straight subpar game as the Tribe took the series finale. Tyler Sample allowed a run in the 2nd and then another in the 5th before stranding the bases full. K-Tribe SP Marty Popham (a fill-in starter for Kinston, to boot) gave a perfect game to the bullpen in the 5th but Nick Francis led off that inning with his 2nd homer of the season to get the Blue Rocks on the board. Wilmington stranded 2 in the 6th and 7th and Kinston got 2 insurance runs off Manauris Baez in the 8th. Popham's 4 perfect innings lowered his ERA to 3.48 but didn't get him a win. C Doug Pickens had 3 hits for Kinston. The Rocks are 8-4 but still atop the division standings. A 4-game set at the Winston-Salem Dash (6-5, A-Adv. ChiSox) starts Thursday. Justin Marks (0-0, 5.79) will start for Wilmington.

A - Kane County: Burlington 8, Cougars 3 (7/G1)

SS Hall 2-3, 2 RBI (6), RS -- .294
CF Llanos 1-4 -- .354
LF Fletcher 1-4, 2 K, SB (4), E (3) -- .300

L. Perez 6 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, BB, 4 K, balk -- L, 0-2, 2.00 ERA
Byrne IP, 4 R (1 ER), 4 H, K -- 5.14 ERA

* Six late runs turned a narrow Cougars lead into a 5-run Cougars loss in the first of 2 with the Bees Wednesday. The Cougars grabbed the lead on a run-scoring error in the 3rd and the Bees took the lead after C Ryan Jenkins was ejected after grounding out to end the 3rd. Leondy Perez gave up a 2-run double in the 4th but Gerard Hall hit a 2-run single in the bottom of the inning to make it 3-2 KC. Perez balked in a run and gave up a sac fly in the 6th, then things fell apart for RP Chaz Byrne with 2 outs in the 7th. Two doubles, a single and 3 runs on 2 consecutive errors made it 8-3 Bees. The Cougars got the first 2 on in the bottom of the 7th but couldn't get either home. 3B Nino Leyja had 3 hits, 3 runs scored and 3 errors (7) for Burlington.

Bees 6, Cougars 1 (7/G2)

3B Stovall 2-3, 2B (2), 3B (2), RBI (7), K -- .417
SS Hall 1-2, RS -- .306, that's all the hits for the Cougs in game 2
CF Llanos 0-3 -- .333
1B Watts 0-3, 2 K -- .231
DH Fletcher 0-2, BB -- .288

Wooley 3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 BB -- L, 0-1, 4.70 ERA
Mitchell 2 IP, 4 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, K, HRA -- 5.14 ERA
Keck 2 IP, 2 H, 4 K -- 0.00 ERA

* In game 2 the Bees didn't wait around until the late innings to take command. Two walks came back to bite Nick Wooley in the 3rd as he gave up a 2-out, 2-run single to break a scoreless game. Matt Mitchell allowed an RBI single and a 3-run homer in the 5th as the Bees made it 6-0. Ryan Stovall broke up the shutout with a 2-out RBI triple in the 6th. Starter A.J. Griffin allowed an ER with 4 K over 6 IP to improve to 2-0 with a 1.37 ERA. 1B Tony Thompson had 2 hits and 3 RBI (14) for Burlington while RF Royce Consigli had 2 hits and DH Jose Rivero had the 3-run HR (2). Kane County is 5-9. They play host to the Clinton LumberKings (A Mariners) for the first of 3 Thursday. Keaton Hayenga (1-0, 4.00) will start game 1.


19 April 2011

Royals on the Farm 4/19



AAA - Omaha: Storm Chasers 2, Memphis 0 (4-hitter)

LF Lough 2-4, K, RS -- .313
1B Hosmer 1-2, 2 BB, K, RS -- .400
3B Moustakas 1-3, S, K -- .229
CF Cain 1-3, BB, SB (2) -- .235
DH C. Robinson 0-4, K -- .349
2B Giavotella 0-2, BB, SB -- .313

Teaford 6 IP, H, 3 BB, 4 K -- W, 1-1, 3.27 ERA
Chavez 3 IP, 3 H, BB, K -- SV, 1, 0.00 ERA

* Everett Teaford pitched a pretty good game as he and Jesse Chavez teamed up to shut down the Redbirds. The Chasers loaded the bases but got nothing out of it in the 1st and Teaford allowed his only hit over 6 IP in the Memphis 1st. A throwing error by P Brandon Dickson allowed the first Omaha run to score in the 6th and another error by C Tony Cruz allowed another run to cross the plate. Chavez stranded 2 Redbirds in the 8th and got a lineout double play in the 9th to end it. 2B Freddie Bynum had 2 hits for Memphis. Omaha is 6-7 and 1 game back. Kevin Pucetas (1-0, 2.00) starts game 2 Wednesday.

AA - NW Arkansas: Corpus Christi 5, Naturals 3

3B Lisson 2-3, BB, HR (3), RBI (5), K, RS, picked off -- .346
C S. Perez 2-4 -- .293
SS Colon 1-4, HR (2), RBI (10), RS -- .205
1B Romak 1-4, RBI (9) -- .302
CF D. Robinson 1-4, BB, 2 K, SB (7) -- .277
RF Myers 0-4, K -- .256
DH Bianchi 1-3, BB, 3B (2), K, RS -- .348

Lamb 4 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, BB, 5 K, HRA -- L, 0-1, 5.56 ERA
Paulino 1 1/3 IP, H, BB, K -- 6.00 ERA
Baumann 2 IP, ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K, WP -- 9.00 ERA

* John Lamb took the loss as the Hooks overcame NW Arkansas. Christian Colon went deep in the 1st for his 2nd homer of the season but Lamb gave up a run without the benefit of a hit in the bottom of the 1st. Mario Lisson provided more power in the 2nd with his 3rd homer of the season to make it 2-1 NWA. Lamb gave up a 2-run homer in the 3rd to turn the lead around. The Naturals stranded 2 in the 4th and the Hooks added another run in the bottom of the inning to make it 4-2. Eduardo Paulino stranded the bases loaded in the 5th. Jamie Romak singled in a run in the 8th but Buddy Baumann allowed an insurance run in the inning. The Nats went down in order in the 9th. The Naturals are 7-5. They have Wednesday off.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Kinston 7, Blue Rocks 3

LF Merrifield 2-4, 2B (2), RS -- .310
RF Francis 1-4, RBI (8), 2 K, OF assist at second -- .186, make that 7 OF assists already
SS McClure 0-4, RBI (4), K -- .079
2B Navarro 0-3, SF, RBI (6), K -- .476

Melville 4 1/3 IP, 4 ER, 12 H, 3 BB, 4 K -- L, 1-2, 5.02 ERA
Paukovits 3 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 BB -- 3.86 ERA
Dennick IP, BB -- 0.00 ERA

* Kinston churned out 17 hits to snap the Rocks' 7-game win streak. Tim Melville loaded the bases with 0 out in the 1st, then struck out the side to pull the Houdini. He wasn't as lucky in the 2nd as the Tribe scored a run, then added 2 in the 3rd. The Rocks loaded the bases with 0 out in the 3rd, then got an Alex McClure RBI groundout, a Rey Navarro sac fly and Nick Francis RBI single to tie the game. Melville allowed another run before getting pulled in the 5th and Bryan Paukovits gave up 2 runs in the 7th. The Tribe added another insurance run in the 8th and the last 8 Rocks went down in order. Six Indians had multiple hits led by a 4-hit game from 2B Justin Toole, who had 4 RBI (6). The Rocks are 8-3. The series ends Wednesday as Tyler Sample pitches the matinee.

A - Kane County: rainout

* The Cougars and Bees will play a doubleheader Wednesday. Leondy Perez and Nick Wooley will start the games for Kane County.

18 April 2011

Royals on the Farm 4/18 -- Myers in CF?, Rocks on a tear



AAA - Omaha: Storm Chasers 8, Nashville 3

2B Giavotella 3-5, RBI (7), K, 2 RS -- .326
CF Lough 2-4, SF, 2B (3), 3B (2), 3 RBI (6), 2 RS -- .295
DH C. Robinson 2-2, 2 BB, RBI (9) -- .385
1B Hosmer 1-4, 2B (3), 2 RBI (8), K, RS -- .396
3B Moustakas 1-3, BB, RBI (6) -- .222

Suppan 5 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 BB -- W, 1-2, 6.91 ERA
Mendoza 2 IP, H, BB, 2 K -- 2.89 ERA
Coleman 2 IP, H, BB, 5 K -- 3.86 ERA

* Jeff Suppan survived a rough 1st as the Storm Chasers got a comeback win Monday. Nashville tallied 3 in the 1st on a walk, hit batsman and 2 hits off Suppan. David Lough led off the Omaha 1st with a triple and scored on a Johnny Giavotella single but the Chasers stranded 2. Omaha surged ahead in the 2nd as Lough ripped a 2-run double followed by an Eric Hosmer 2-run double and Mike Moustakas RBI single that made it 6-3. Suppan worked out of trouble in the 5th but handed the ball to Luis Mendoza for the 6th. Mendoza stranded 2 in the 7th and Clint Robinson hit a 2-out RBI single in the bottom of the frame. Louis Coleman struck out the side in the 8th and the Storm Chasers got another insurance run in the 8th on a Lough sac fly. Coleman stranded the bases full in the 9th to finish the game. Two Sounds had 2 hits. Sounds SP Mark Rogers allowed 6 ER over 1 1/3 IP. Omaha is 5-7. A 4-game home set with the Memphis Redbirds (4-7, AAA Cardinals) starts Tuesday.

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 5, Corpus Christi 1

C S. Perez 4-5, 2B (3), RBI (2), RS, E (2) -- .270, hopefully this gets him started
RF Van Stratten 2-4, RBI (5), K -- .250
LF D. Robinson 2-4, BB, K, 2 SB (6) -- .279
CF Myers 1-5, HR (2), 2 RBI (8), K, RS -- .282, he must look good in the OF or they're throwing him in to see what happens
DH Mertins 1-4, BB, RBI (3), 2 K, RS -- .267
SS Colon 0-3, 2 BB, RS, SB (4) -- .200, streaky
2B Bianchi 1-4, BB, 2B (5), RS -- .349
NWA stranded 12.

Dwyer 6 IP, ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K -- W, 1-1, 5.40 ERA, 86 pitches, solid start
B. Johnson 3 IP, H, BB, 2 K -- SV, 1, 0.00 ERA, has been lockdown this season thus far

* Chris Dwyer had his first good start of 2011 and Blake Johnson provided rock solid support out of the pen as the Naturals got the win. Dwyer allowed all 3 hits he would give up in the 1st as the Hooks scored a run. The Naturals picked him up in the 4th with 3 runs on a Salvador Perez RBI double, Kurt Mertins RBI single and Nick Van Stratten RBI single. Wil Myers blasted a 2-run homer in the 5th for his 2nd of the season to make it 5-1. Dwyer retired the last 7 he faced and Johnson retired the last 8 he faced for his 1st 2011 save. NWA is 7-4. They go for the sweep Tuesday as John Lamb (0-0, 4.05) starts.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 5, Kinston 3

C Bonilla 2-4, 2 RBI -- .150
2B Navarro 2-3, BB, RBI (5), 2 RS -- .513
LF Merrifield 2-5, 2B, 2 K, 2 RS -- .289
RF Francis 1-4, 2B (2), RBI (7), K, OF assist at third -- .179, that's 6 OF assists already
CF Ferguson 1-3, BB, RBI (5), K -- .182
DH Testa 0-3, BB, K, SB (2) -- .182

E. Pimentel 5 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 5 K -- W, 1-0, 7.56 ERA
Lafferty 2 2/3 IP, H, 2 K -- 2.70 ERA
Chapman IP, 3 K -- SV, 3, 3.00 ERA, dominant save

* Wilmington got most of what it needed in the 1st as the Rocks won their 7th straight. The Rocks loaded the bases with 2 out in the 1st and Tim Ferguson took a walk before Juan Bonilla singled in 2 runs to put Wilmington up, 3-0. Rey Navarro hit an RBI single in the 2nd to make it 4-0. Elisaul Pimentel had a solid start but finally faltered in the 4th as 3 hits scored 2 runs. Brendan Lafferty allowed an inherited runner to score in the 6th but the 4-3 lead held. The Rocks left the bases loaded in the 6th but Nick Francis doubled in a run in the 7th to make it 5-3. Kevin Chapman struck out the side in the 9th for his 3rd save. 1B Chase Burnette had 3 hits, including 2 doubles, for the Indians. Wilmington is 8-2. The series continues Tuesday as Tim Melville starts.

A - Kane County: Cougars 4, Burlington 3

LF Fletcher 2-4, RBI (5), 2 K, SB (3) -- .304
3B Stovall 2-4, 3B, RBI (6), 2 K, SB -- .389
C T. Jones 1-4, RBI, 3 K -- .048
DH Llanos 0-3, BB, 2 K, RS, SB (2) -- .364
1B Watts 0-2, 2 BB, 2 K, RS -- .250

Marimon 4 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K -- 5.54 ERA
Keck 2 IP, 2 BB, K -- 0.00 ERA
Odenbach IP, ER, 3 H -- BS, 1, 3.18 ERA
Boruff 2 IP, H, BB, 2 K, WP -- W, 2-0, 1.50 ERA

* The new Royals Midwest League affiliate pieced together four 1-run innings to defeat the former Royals Midwest League affiliate in the first meeting with their old selves. Things didn't start favorably for the Cougars as Sugar Ray Marimon gave up a 2-run double in the 1st. Brian Fletcher cut the lead in half with an RBI single in the 1st and a run-scoring Bees error in the 3rd tied the game. Marimon never cruised, exactly, but he wasn't really challenged after the 1st. Travis Jones broke the tie with an RBI single in the 6th, but Lane Adams was nailed at the plate on the play. Dusty Odenbach couldn't hold the lead as the Bees scored a run on 3 hits in the top of the 7th to tie it. Ryan Stovall put the Cougs back up with an RBI single in the 8th. The Cougs looked a little shaky in the 9th with 2 2-out errors but Chase Boruff got the final out for his 2nd 2011 win. Three Bees had 2 hits as DH Royce Consigli had 2 RBI (7). The Cougars are 5-7. Game 2 is Tuesday afternoon. Leondy Perez (0-1, 0.00) starts.

17 April 2011

Royals on the Farm 4/17



AAA - Omaha: Storm Chasers 4, Nashville 1 (7/G1)

2B Giavotella 2-3, 2 RBI (6) -- .324
3B Moustakas 1-2, BB, RBI (5), 2 RS, 2 E (5) -- .211
DH C. Robinson 1-3, 2B (4), RBI (8), K -- .333
1B Hosmer 1-3, RS -- .366
CF Cain 0-3 -- .182
LF Lough 1-2, BB, 3B, RS -- .297

Montgomery 6 IP, UER, 2 H, 5 BB, 6 K -- W, 1-1, 3.00 ERA, other than BB, nice start
Holland IP, BB, K -- SV, 1, 3.00 ERA

* A pair of 2-run innings and some good pitching from Mike Montgomery added up to an Omaha win in the first of 2 with Nashville Sunday. Two Mike Moustakas errors in the 3rd helped the Sounds take a 1-0 lead but Johnny Giavotella hit a 2-run single in the 4th to make it 2-1. David Lough led off the 6th with a triple, scored on a Moustakas single, and Clint Robinson followed with an RBI double to make it 4-1. Greg Holland stranded 1 in the 9th for his 1st 2011 save.

Nashville 5, Storm Chasers 3 (7/G2)

DH Hosmer 3-3, BB, 2 RBI (6) -- .409
LF Blanco 2-2, BB, 2 2B (3), 2 RS, 2 SB (3) -- .185
1B C. Robinson 2-4, K -- .351
RF Lough 0-3, SF, RBI (3), OF assist at second -- .275
CF Cain 1-3, BB, RS, SB -- .214
3B Moustakas 1-4 -- .214
2B Giavotella 0-4 -- .293

Mazzaro 5 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, 3 BB, 4 K, HRA, WP -- 9.82 ERA
Shell 2 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, BB, 2 K, HRA -- L, 1-2, 10.80 ERA

* Two late runs helped Nashville split the doubleheader. Vin Mazzaro gave up a solo homer in the 2nd and back-to-back RBI doubles in the 3rd to spot the Sounds a 3-0 lead. Eric Hosmer had another good game as he singled in the Chasers' first run in the 3rd. Mazzaro stranded the bases full in the 4th and then stranded 2 in the 5th. A David Lough sac fly and Hosmer RBI single in the 5th tied the game but Omaha stranded 2. Steven Shell came in for the 6th and let the game slip away as the Sounds scored 1 in the 6th and 1 in the 7th. Omaha stranded 2 in the 7th. Nashville DH Mat Gamel had 3 hits and four other Sounds had 2, including 3B Taylor Green, who hit 2 HR to make it 3 on the season. Omaha is 3-7. The series wraps up Monday. Jeff Suppan gets the start.

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 12, Corpus Christi 9

1B Romak 3-5, 2B (4), HR, 2 RBI (8), K, 3 RS -- .343
2B Seratelli 3-5, 3 2B, 2 RS -- .240
C Theriot 2-2, BB, 2 S, 2B, 4 RBI, PB -- .500
SS Bianchi 2-5, 2B (4), RBI (7), K, RS, SB (2) -- .359
RF Myers 1-4, SF, HR, 2 RBI (6), RS -- .294
PH-CF D. Robinson 1-2, 2 RBI (5), RS -- .256
3B Mertins 1-3, SF, RBI (2), 2 RS -- .269
CF-LF Van Stratten 0-3, 3 BB, RS -- .219
DH Colon 0-4, BB, S, RS -- .216

Osuna 6 2/3 IP, 6 ER, 10 H, BB, 4 K, 2 HRA -- W, 2-0, 4.38 ERA, not a pretty line
Sisk 2/3 IP, 2 ER, H, BB, K -- 7.20 ERA
Keating 1 2/3 IP, ER, H, BB, K, HRA -- SV, 1, 9.45 ERA

* It wasn't pretty but the Naturals snapped a losing skid with a big 7th. Wil Myers got his 1st homer of the season in the 1st and a Kurt Mertins sac fly and Ben Theriot RBI single in the 2nd made it 3-0 NWA. Edgar Osuna gave the lead away with 1 swing in the 2nd as a 3-run shot by 3B David Flores tied the game. Theriot squeeze bunted home a run in the 4th but Osuna allowed a run in the 5th to retie it at 4. The Naturals jumped on RP Pat Urckfitz in the 7th as Myers hit a bases-loaded sac fly, Jeff Bianchi ripped an RBI double, Derrick Robinson got a pinch-hit 2-run single, and Jamie Romak went deep for a 2-run homer for his 1st of the season to make it 10-4 Naturals. Osuna served up a 2-run homer before getting pulled in the 7th and Patrick Keating gave up a 3-run homer to the first batter he faced in the 8th to cut the lead to 10-9. Some insurance finally came in the 9th as Theriot hit a 2-run double to make it 12-9. Keating survived the 9th for his 1st save of the season. NWA is 6-4. Game 2 is Monday night. Chris Dwyer is set to start.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 6, Potomac 0 (3-hitter, 7/G1)

DH Lewis 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI (4), RS -- .292
C Eigsti 2-3, HR, 2 RBI, K, RS -- announcing his presence with authority in his '11 debut
3B Batista 1-3, 2B (3), RBI (2), K -- .222, 7-8-9 hitters doing work in this one
LF Merrifield 1-3, BB -- .258

Arguelles 4 IP, 2 H, BB, 5 K -- 0.00 ERA, can't complain
Mariot 3 IP, H, 5 K -- W, 2-0, 1.13 ERA

* Noel Arguelles and Mike Mariot teamed up to hold Potomac quiet in the first of 2 Sunday. Ryan Eigsti got the scoring started in his first AB of 2011 with a solo homer in the 3rd. Arguelles stranded 2 in the 4th and Nick Francis tripled and scored on an error that inning before Joey Lewis hit a 2-run double to make it 4-0 Wilmington. Eigsti singled in a run in the 6th and Deivy Batista added an RBI double. Mariot struck out 4 of the last 6 Nationals to finish the win.

Rocks 6, Potomac 5 (7/G2)

SS Navarro 2-3, RBI (4), K -- .500
LF Testa 2-2, BB, RS, SB -- .250, Pipeline favorite hasn't been getting steady PT
3B Frost 1-3, 3B, 2 RBI, K, RS -- .167
CF Merrifield 1-2, BB, SF, RBI (2), RS, 2 SB (4) -- .273
RF Francis 1-3, HR, RBI (6), RS, E (2) -- .171
DH Whittleman 1-3, HR (2), RBI (7), K, RS -- .294

Odorizzi 3 IP, 4 R (2 ER), 4 H, 2 BB, 4 K, WP, E -- 3.86 ERA, underwhelming
Baez 2 1/3 IP, UER, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 K -- W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA
Herrera 1 2/3 IP, BB -- SV, 1, 0.00 ERA

* The Blue Rocks used a 4-run rally to build a lead and made it stick to sweep the doubleheader from Potomac. Jake Odorizzi didn't have a good day as the P-Nats scored 2 in the 1st thanks in part to errors by Odorizzi and RF Nick Francis. The struggles continued in the 2nd as Potomac added 2 more runs on 3 hits and a walk to make it 4-0. Francis led off the 2nd with his 1st homer of the season and Rey Navarro singled home a run in the 3rd to cut the lead to 4-2. John Whittleman led off the 4th with a solo homer (his 2nd) off former Rocks SP Alex Caldera, who didn't last the inning. Adam Frost gave the Rocks the lead with a 2-run triple off RP Carlos Martinez and Whit Merrifield lifted a sac fly to make it 6-4 Rocks. Another Rocks error factored into the action in the 5th as the Nationals scratched out a run off Manauris Baez to cut the lead to 1. Kelvin Herrera entered in the 6th with 1 out and 2 on and got a lineout double play to escape the jam. He got another twin killing in the 7th to help finish the P-Nats off. Wilmington is 7-2 after the sweep. They move on to the first of 3 in a home set with the Kinston Indians (2-7) Monday. Elisaul Pimentel is set to start.

A - Kane County: Cougars 6, Clinton 1

1B Watts 3-5, 2 RBI (4), K -- .265
LF Fletcher 3-5, 2B (3), K, 2 RS, 2 SB -- .286, has impressed thus far
CF Llanos 2-4, BB, 2B (4), RBI (7), K, picked off -- .390, ditto
SS Hall 2-4, 3B, 2 RBI (4), RS -- .267
C Jenkins 2-4, BB, 2B (2), 2 RS -- .400
2B Espinal 0-5, RBI (3), 2 K -- .176
KC stranded 11.

L. Santiago 6 IP, ER, 3 H, BB, 5 K, HRA -- W, 1-2, 6.59 ERA, nice start
Hodge IP, H, BB, 2 K -- 4.15 ERA
Byrne 2 IP, H, 3 K -- 4.50 ERA

* The Cougars salvaged the series finale with a 15-hit barrage. Brian Fletcher got a 2-out single in the 1st, stole second and scored on a Murray Watts single to give Kane County an early lead. Gerard Hall hit an RBI single and Yowill Espinal hit an RBI groundout in the 2nd to make it 3-0 KC. Leonel Santiago took a 2-hit shutout into the 5th but allowed a solo homer that inning to put the LumberKings on the board. That would be all he would allow, tho. The 1st inning situation repeated itself in the 7th as Fletcher singled, stole second and scored on a Watts single. Mitch Hodge stranded 2 in relief of Santiago in the 7th and the Cougars got some insurance in the 8th as Hall tripled home a run and Alex Llanos doubled in another tally to make it 6-1. Chaz Byrne allowed a double but nothing more over the last 2 innings to bring it home. DH Tim Morris had 2 hits for Clinton. Kane County is 4-7. This is odd to type for the first time, but a 3-game home set with the division-leading Burlington Bees (A Athletics) starts Monday. Sugar Ray Marimon will start game 1.

Royals on the Farm 4/16 -- Omaha opener goes well

Ah, nothing like a touch of illness to make the weekend great....

AAA - Omaha: Storm Chasers 2, Nashville 1

1B Hosmer 3-3, BB, 2B (2), RS -- .368
LF Lough 2-4, 2B (2), K -- .286
3B Moustakas 1-4, 2B, RBI (4), K, RS -- .194
2B Giavotella 1-3, BB, 3B, RBI (4) -- .294
CF Cain 0-3, BB, 2 K -- .250
Omaha stranded 10.

Duffy 4 2/3 IP, H, BB, 7 K -- 1.86 ERA, 76 pitches, nice line but not efficient pitch-wise
Teaford 1/3 IP, H -- 7.20 ERA
Mendoza 2 IP, ER, 3 H, 2 BB, K, WP -- 3.68 ERA
Hardy 0 IP, H, 2 BB -- 3.00 ERA
Chavez IP, K -- W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA
Coleman IP, 3 K -- SV, 2, 5.40 ERA, another dominant save

* It took six pitchers, but Omaha eked out a home opener victory over the Sounds on Saturday. Omaha left the bases full in the 1st and Duffy got a lineout double play to escape a small jam in the 3rd. David Lough got gunned down at the plate for the second out of the Omaha 3rd but Mike Moustakas came through with an RBI double followed by an RBI triple by Johnny Giavotella to make it 2-0 Storm Chasers. Luis Mendoza gave up a run-scoring wild pitch in the 6th but stranded the tying run 90 feet away. Nashville's best shot came in the 8th when Blaine Hardy loaded the bases with 0 out and was pulled for Jesse Chavez, who got a K and 4-6-3 double play to pull the Houdini. Louis Coleman slammed the door with 3 Ks in the 9th for his 2nd save. 3B Chris Nowak had 2 hits for Nashville. Omaha is 3-6. The teams play a double dip today. Vin Mazzaro and Mike Montgomery start the games for the Chasers.

AA - NW Arkansas: San Antonio 8, Naturals 3

1B Romak 2-3, BB, RBI (6) -- .300
RF Van Stratten 1-3, BB, HR, RBI (4), K, RS -- .241
SS Colon 0-3, BB, K, RS -- .242
CF D. Robinson 0-4, K -- .243
DH Bianchi 1-3, BB, 2B (3), 2 K, RS -- .353
C S. Perez 0-4, K -- .188

Rollins 4 2/3 IP, 5 ER, 4 H, 5 BB, 2 K, HRA -- L, 0-1, 5.06 ERA
Santiago 3 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 4 BB, 2 K, HRA -- 2.45 ERA, that's 9 walks, 4 K combined if you're adding

* Hard times continued for NW Arkansas as the Missions got the sweep with another offensive night. The Nats stranded 2 in the 1st but Nick Van Stratten led off the 3rd with his 1st longball of the season to put them on top. Heath Rollins gave up a solo shot in the bottom of the frame, however, to tie it. Some trouble on the basepaths spoiled a would-be Nats rally in the 5th as a batter interference call and rundown at third cost NWA two outs. Rollins ran into trouble in the 5th as a bases-loaded sac fly and HBP before Mario Santiago came in to allow a 2-run single to make it 5-1 Missions. Jamie Romak singled home a run in the 6th and a double-play ball scored Jeff Bianchi to cut it to 5-3, San Antonio got a run back in the 6th and then added 2 more in the 8th to put it away. SS Beamer Weems had 3 hits and 2 RBI (11) for SA as he improved to .457. Two others had 2 RBI. NWA is 5-4 but still a game up on first. They head to Corpus Christi today for the first of 3 with the Hooks (AA Astros). Edgar Osuna starts for the Naturals.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: rainout

* The game with Potomac was washed away and will be made up in a doubleheader today. Jake Odorizzi and Noel Arguelles will pitch the games, so it would be a nice day to head out to Frawley if you're a Royals' fan in Delaware or the surrounding area. C Juan Graterol has been placed on the DL to make room for C Ryan Eigsti. Former Royals farmhand P Alex Caldera will start game 2 for the P-Nats.

A - Kane County: Clinton 6, Cougars 4 (7/G1)

CF Llanos 2-3, SF, HR (2), 2 RBI (6), RS -- .371
C Jenkins 2-3, 2B, RBI (3), K, RS, E (2) -- .375
LF Fletcher 1-3, BB, HR, RBI (4), K, RS, E (2) -- .265
1B Watts 1-4, 2 K -- .231

Hayenga 4 IP, 4 R (3 ER), 3 H, 3 BB -- 4.00 ERA
Odenbach 2 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 3 H, 2 BB, 2 K -- L, 0-1, 1.93 ERA

* The Cougars built a 4-run lead then watched it evaporate in the 5th as the LumberKings took the first of 2 with the Cougs Saturday. Brian Fletcher hit a 2-out solo homer in the 1st for his 1st longball of the season, then Alex Llanos hit a sac fly in the 2nd to make it 2-0. Ryan Jenkins hit a 2-out RBI single in the 3rd and Llanos went solo in the 4th for his 2nd homer of the season to make it 4-0. Keaton Hayenga stranded 2 in the 3rd but had a 1-hitter working going into the 5th. Things changed dramatically as he loaded the bases with 0 out and a 2-run error by SS Gerard Hall got Clinton on the board. Dusty Odenbach came in and gave up a 2-run double to tie it, an RBI single and sac fly to make it 6-4 'Kings. CF Julio Morban and 1B Tim Morris had 2 hits each for Clinton as Morban knocked in 2 runs.

Clinton 2, Cougars 1 (7/G2)

3B Stovall 2-3, 2B, RBI (5), K, CS -- .357
LF Adams 2-3, 2B (2), RS -- .278
CF Llanos 1-2, BB, K -- .378
1B Watts 0-3, K -- .207

Billo 3 2/3 IP, UER, 2 H, 4 BB, 5 K, balk, pickoff -- 2.45 ERA
Simmons 2 2/3 IP, ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 5 K -- L, 0-2, 6.75 ERA

* The Cougars put on a late rally to tie it but couldn't pull out a win as Clinton got a walkoff hit to end it. Both teams had a chance early but couldn't get a run home. A 2-out throwing error by C Travis Jones ended up costing the Cougs as Greg Billo gave up an RBI single before getting pulled. KC left 2 in scoring position in the 6th but Ryan Stovall came up clutch with a 2-out RBI double in the 7th to tie the game. Crawford Simmons got in trouble in the bottom of the inning by putting the first 2 LumberKings on, then gave up a walkoff single to CF Julio Morban. Starter Seon Gi Kim pitched 5 1/3 scoreless for Clinton with 4 K. Morban had 2 hits for a good game in both ends of the twinbill. The Cougars are 3-7 going into today's series finale. Leonel Santiago (0-2, 10.57) starts for KC.


15 April 2011

Royals on the Farm 4/15 -- Rain spoils Omaha home opener, Naturals SLAUGHTERED



AAA - Omaha: rainout

* Friday's scheduled home opener with Nashville was pushed back to Saturday. Saturday's game has been pushed back to a Sunday twinbill. Danny Duffy will start Saturday. Omaha is 2-6 and 3 games back of the division-leading Sounds.

AA - NW Arkansas: San Antonio 26, Naturals 5

LF T. Smith 3-4, 2B, RBI, RS -- .389
DH-P Romak 2-4, 2B (3), RBI (5), RS -- .259
2B Bianchi 1-4, BB, RBI (6), K, RS -- .355
SS Colon 1-5, RBI (9), K -- .267
CF D. Robinson 1-3, 2 BB, 2 K, RS -- .273
C S. Perez 1-4, K -- .214

W. Smith IP, 6 ER, 6 H, BB, K, 2 HRA -- L, 0-1, 11.81 ERA, 38 pitches, yowch
Mozingo 2/3 IP, 5 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, HRA -- 67.50 ERA, season debut, 34 pitches, yowch
Paulino 2 2/3 IP, 5 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 3 K, HRA -- 7.04 ERA
Baumann 1 2/3 IP, 7 ER, 7 H, 3 BB, 2 K, 2 HRA -- 10.29 ERA
Theriot IP, 3 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, HRA -- 27.00 ERA
Romak IP, H -- 0.00 ERA, fitting that a position player had best pitching line of night for NWA

* I wish that score was a typo. I had to put slaughtered in all CAPS in the post title because this game was brutal. Here's Will Smith's outing: double, RBI single, double, RBI single, 2-run homer, solo homer, walk, DP, K. That's it. The Nats scratched out a run in the 2nd but RP Harold Mozingo got a rough introduction to the 2011 season in the Missions 2nd. A 2-run homer and 3 doubles were part of a 5-run inning as San Antonio made it 11-1. Jeff Bianchi singled in a run and Jamie Romak doubled in a run in the 3rd but the Missions weren't done. Tim Smith doubled in a run in the 5th but the Missions cracked back with 7 off Eduardo Paulino and Buddy Baumann, including a grand slam by RF Dan Robertson. Christian Colon singled in a run in the 6th. The Missions committed overkill with 3 in the 6th and 5 in the 7th to push it to 26-5. CF Blake Tekotte also had a grand slam in the game. Only 1 Mission didn't have a multi-hit game and they racked up 7 HR. 1B Cody Decker had 4 hits, including 2 HR, and 6 RBI. Mozingo was activated from the DL as RP Eric Basurto took his place on the shelf. Basurto's injury was stated as to his shoulder. C Ryan Eigsti was also activated from the DL and moved to Wilmington.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 5, Potomac 4

2B Navarro 4-5, 2B (2), RS, SB (3), CS -- .533, he's "rey"king
LF Merrifield 2-4, BB, RS -- .250
SS McClure 1-4, BB, HR, 2 RBI (3), 2 RS, SB (3) -- .115
RF Francis 1-4, RBI (5), 2 K, OF assist at third -- .138, getting it done defensively tho
DH Whittleman 1-4, 2B (2), RBI (6), K -- .286
The Rocks stranded 10.

Marks 6 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 5 K, HRA, pickoff -- 5.79 ERA
Sample 3 IP, 2 BB, K -- W, 1-0, 1.17 ERA

* The Rocks had the magic working in the 7th as they got a big comeback win over the P-Nats. Justin Marks made his first organizational start but gave up a solo dinger in the 1st to put the Rocks down quickly. Nick Francis tied it with an RBI single in the bottom of the 1st but Marks and Nationals SP Dan Rosenbaum dueled from there. The game was tied into the 6th when Marks faltered to give up a 3-run triple, but a Francis assist at third in the inning would factor in big in the end. The Rocks would put 2 on with 1 out in the 7th and, after a passed ball scored Deivy Batista, Alex McClure came up clutch with a 2-run shot for his 1st homer of the season. John Whittleman stepped up with a 2-out RBI double to give the Rocks a 5-4 lead. Tyler Sample came on in the 7th and induced 2 late double plays, including 1 to end the game for his first win of the season. Two P-Nats had 2 hits, including 2B Jeff Kobernus, who hit his 1st homer of the season. 1B Steven Souza had the 3-run triple. The Rocks are 5-2. Game 2 is Saturday as Jake Odorizzi (0-0, 2.25) makes the start.

A - Kane County: rainout

* Friday's game will be made up as part of a Saturday doubleheader. Keaton Hayenga and Greg Billo will start the two games.

14 April 2011

Royals on the Farm 4/14

Didn't mention the fact that the Royals flipped RP Victor Marte to St. Louis yesterday. No big deal, all in all.

AAA - Omaha: Round Rock 7, O-Royals 5

1B C. Robinson 2-3, HBP, HR (4), RBI (7), RS -- .333, left game after HBP in 8th
CF Cain 2-5, 2B, RBI, OF assist at home -- .400, Omaha debut
DH-1B Hosmer 1-4, HR, 2 RBI (4), 2 K, RS -- .314
LF Lough 1-5, RBI (2), RS, OF assist at second -- .258
2B Giavotella 1-3, S, K -- .290

Pucetas 5 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, BB, 4 K, HRA -- 2.00 ERA
Holland 2 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, K, HRA -- BS, 1, 3.60 ERA
Coleman IP, 3 R (2 ER), 2 H, BB, K -- BS, 2, 6.75 ERA

* The Storm Chasers blew not 1 but 2 saves on Thursday as their woes continued. Eric Hosmer went deep in 1st for his 1st homer of the season as the 2-run shot gave the Chasers an early lead. That lasted until Kevin Pucetas served up a 2-run homer in the 4th to tie the game. Lorenzo Cain earned his 1st organizational RBI in the 5th with a run-scoring double in the 5th and Clint Robinson led off the 6th with his 4th homer of the season to make it 4-2 Storm Chasers. The lead lasted 2 batters as Greg Holland came on in the 6th and gave up a 2-run homer to retie the game. Omaha regained the lead on a David Lough fielder's choice in the 7th, but Louis Coleman loaded the bases with 1 out in the 8th and gave up a killer 3-run triple to C Kevin Cash, Round Rock's #9 hitter. The Chasers went down in order in the 9th. Three Express batters had 2 hits. Omaha is 2-6. The Chasers bid good riddance to Round Rock and will open Werner Park Friday with the first of 4 versus the Nashville Sounds (AAA Brewers). There's no announced starter on the Chasers' site, but I'm thinking Danny Duffy? With Robinson Tejeda put on the DL with some inflammation, Blake Wood got called up to the KC pen.

AA - NW Arkansas: San Antonio 7, Naturals 4

2B Bianchi 2-4, RBI (5), K, RS -- .370
RF Van Stratten 0-2, SF, RBI (3) -- .261
LF Myers 0-3, 2 K -- .300
SS Colon 0-3, BB, RS -- .280
CF D. Robinson 0-4, K -- .267
C S. Perez 1-4, RS -- .208

Lamb 3 2/3 IP, ER, 3 H, 5 BB, K, WP, 2 pickoffs -- 4.05 ERA, 73 pitches, not on top of his game yet, obviously
B. Johnson 2 IP, H, BB, 2 K -- 0.00 ERA, another good outing
Sisk 1 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, K, HRA -- 4.15 ERA
Keating IP, 4 ER, 4 H, K, HRA -- BS, 2, L, 0-1, 10.80 ERA

* It was a night of blown leads in the upper Royals' minors as the Naturals lost an 8th inning lead in a major way. John Lamb had pickoffs in a laborious first couple innings of work to keep the Missions off the board but gave up a run in the 3rd after laboring again. Jeff Bianchi got NWA on the board with a 4th inning RBI single and a run-scoring error gave the Nats a 2-1 lead. Lamb didn't survive the 4th but Blake Johnson kept the lead intact. Brandon Sisk stranded the bases full in the 6th and a run-scoring wild pitch and Nick Van Stratten sac fly in the 7th stretched the lead to 4-1. Sisk was pulled after giving up a homer and double to start the 8th but Patrick Keating fared no better as a 2-out, 2-run double, RBI single and 2-run homer flipped the lead to 7-4 San Antonio. The Naturals went down in order in the 9th. Missions SP Casey Kelly allowed 2 runs (1 ER) over 6 IP but didn't factor in the decision. 1B Cody Decker and 3B Blake Tekotte had 3 hits for the Missions. NWA is 5-2 as the 5-game win streak is snapped. Game 2 is Friday night. Will Smith (0-0, 2.08) is set to start for the Naturals.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: off day

* The Rocks are 4-2. They play host to the Potomac Nationals (2-3) in the first of 3 Friday. Justin Marks (0-0, 5.40) will start with Tyler Sample playing piggyback after a few innings.

A - Kane County: Cougars 1, Quad Cities 0 (10, 3-hitter)

SS Hall 3-4, 2B, K, RS -- .227
RF Llanos 2-5, K, SB -- .344
2B Espinal 1-5, GW RBI (2), K -- .227
The Cougars were 1-11 with runners in scoring position.

L. Perez 5 IP, 2 H, BB, 5 K, WP -- 0.00 ERA
Wooley 4 IP, H, 5 K, pickoff -- 3.86 ERA, nice
Boruff IP, BB -- W, 1-0, 2.25 ERA

* A good start from Leondy Perez resulted in a no-decision as the teams combined for 11 hits in 10 innings until Yowill Espinal finally laid the game to rest. Perez stranded 2 Bandits in the 2nd but innings came and went without any scoring. The Cougars got a runner to third a couple times but couldn't get one home. KC stranded 2 in the 9th but Gerard Hall hit a 1-out double in the 10th and Espinal hit a 2-out walkoff single to end it. 2010 Cards 2nd rounder Jordan Swagerty K'd 9 over 7 IP but took the ND as well. SS Greg Garcia had 2 hits. Rest of the team? 1-29. Kane County is 3-5 after averting the sweep. A 3-game set at the Clinton LumberKings (A Mariners) starts Friday with Keaton Hayenga (1-0, 1.80) getting the start.

13 April 2011

Royals on the Farm 4/13



AAA - Omaha: Round Rock won Tuesday's game, 3-2, in 13

* Steven Shell took the loss as 3 hits scored a run in the bottom of the 13th. Johnny Giavotella picked up his 3rd hit of the game in the top of the inning to improve to .333.

Round Rock 2, Storm Chasers 0

1B Hosmer 1-3 -- .323
3B Moustakas 1-3, K -- .188
RF Lough 1-4, K -- .269
DH C. Robinson 0-3 -- .296
2B Giavotella 0-4 -- .286

Suppan 5 1/3 IP, ER, 6 H, 2 K, HRA -- L, 0-2, 7.71 ERA
Mendoza 2 2/3 IP, ER, 2 H, K, HRA -- 3.38 ERA

* Omaha's offensive struggles continued as Jeff Suppan's solid start went for naught. Omaha had 1 hit after the 4th. Suppan worked around 2 hits in the 2nd but hung strong until giving up a leadoff homer to Taylor Teagarden in the 6th. Luis Mendoza came in to strand 2 in the inning but gave up a solo homer in the 7th to make it 2-0 Express. Irving Falu's 8th inning single was Omaha's final hit, and Paulo Orlando reached on an error in the 9th but went nowhere. Round Rock starter Neil Ramirez K'd 5 over 6 IP to get his first 2011 win. 3B Brian Barden had 2 hits. Omaha is 2-5. The series wraps Thursday night. Danny Duffy starts the series finale.

AA - NW Arkansas: off day

* NW Arkansas is 5-1 and tied with Midland for the best record in the Texas League. The Naturals are 2 games up on first in the TL North. The first road trip of the season starts Thursday with the first of 3 at the San Antonio Missions (AA Padres). John Lamb will start.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 2, Kinston 1

CF Merrifield 1-3, BB, RBI, K, CS -- .208
1B Whittleman 0-3, RBI (5), K -- .292
2B Navarro 1-4, 3B (3), K, RS -- .480
LF Testa 0-3, 2 K -- .000

Melville 6 IP, ER, 5 H, BB, 7 K, HRA, pickoff -- W, 1-1, 3.60 ERA, nice
Herrera 2 IP, H, 3 K -- 0.00 ERA
Chapman IP, 2 K -- SV, 2, 4.50 ERA

* The Blue Rocks made the most of 3 hits and 2 walks as they pulled out the 3-game sweep of Kinston. Tim Melville gave up Kinston's only run of the game on a solo homer in the 2nd but otherwise shone on Wednesday. The problem was Kinston SP Drew Pomeranz (5th overall pick in the 2010 draft) no-hit the Rocks through 5 innings. In the 6th, Adam Frost reached on a forceout, stole second and advanced to third on an error, and then scored on a Whit Merrifield single that broke up the no-no and shutout and sent Pomeranz to the showers. Rey Navarro led off the 7th with a triple and scored on a John Whittleman groundout to make it 2-1 Rocks. Melville handed the ball off to Kelvin Herrera in the 7th and he pitched 2 solid innings before making way for Kevin Chapman, who struck out the final 2 Indians to finish it. 1B Justin Toole had 2 hits for Kinston. Pomeranz had 8 Ks over 5 2/3 IP and took the no-decision. The Rocks are 4-2 and 1 1/2 games up on first in the Carolina League Northern division. They have Thursday off. Juan Graterol was pulled from the game with an apparent leg injury in the 6th.

A - Kane County: Quad Cities 2, Cougars 1

CF L. Adams 1-4, 2B, RBI, K, E -- .125
LF Fletcher 1-3, BB, K, RS -- .296
C Jenkins 1-3, K -- .308
SS Hall 1-3, picked off -- .111, Cougs had 4 hits
DH Llanos 0-2, BB, HBP, 2 K -- .333
1B Watts 0-4, 3 K -- .227
RF Geulin Beltre had an OF assist at third.

Marimon 5 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 3 H, 4 BB, 4 K -- L, 0-1, 6.00 ERA
Mitchell 3 IP, 4 H, 2 BB -- 0.00 ERA, 0 runs allowed, but not a good day on the WHIP
Byrne IP, 2 K -- 0.00 ERA

* One swing of the bat made the game as a key hit in the 5th gave the Bandits all they needed for yet another win. Sugar Ray Marimon actually took a no-hitter 1 out into the 5th but with 2 on and 1 out, QC LF Virgil Hill hit a 2-run double, but was thrown out at third on the play. Only one of the Cougars' 4 hits went for any good as Lane Adams hit an RBI double in the 7th. RP Boone Whiting retired the last 6 in a row for the Bandits for his 1st save. Lee's Summit native and Quad Cities starter Trevor Rosenthal struck out 6 over 7 innings to get his 1st win of the season. KC is 2-5 and 3 games out. The Bandits go for the sweep in Thursday's matinee series finale. Leondy Perez (0-1, 0.00) starts for KC.

12 April 2011

Royals on the Farm 4/12 -- Eibner getting thumb checked



AAA - Omaha: tied at 2 going into the 13th

DH C. Robinson 2-5, BB, RBI (6) -- .333
2B Giavotella 2-4, BB, RBI (3), K -- .304
RF Lough 2-6, K, RS -- .273
CF Orlando 2-4, BB, K, SB, OF assist at home -- .333
3B Moustakas 1-6, 2 K -- .172
1B Hosmer 1-6, K, RS -- .321
Omaha stranded 12.

Montgomery 4 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 5 K, WP -- 5.00 ERA, 73 pitches, better than opening night but still finding his AAA legs
B. Hardy 2 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, K, pickoff -- 3.00 ERA
B. Wood 2 IP, H, 2 K -- 0.00 ERA
Coleman IP, ER, H, 2 BB, K, WP -- BS,1, 3.00 ERA
Chavez 2 1/3 IP, 3 H, BB, K, WP -- 0.00 ERA

* Omaha's 2 runs have come in the 1st inning and they've been shut out on 7 hits since. Clint Robinson and Johnny Giavotella hit RBI singles in the 1st but the Storm Chasers left 2 in scoring position. Omaha left the bases loaded in the 3rd, and Mike Montgomery didn't work a clean inning until his last one, the 4th. Blaine Hardy lost the shutout with a Round Rock run in the 6th but Omaha gave a 2-1 lead to Louis Coleman to start the 9th. A sac fly ended up tying the game and it went to extras. Paulo Orlando kept the Chasers alive with an assist at the plate in the 10th and it's in the 13th currently. I'll finish it tomorrow with the exciting conclusion. Jeff Suppan is set to start Wednesday's game 3.

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 14, Corpus Christi 4

LF Myers 3-5, BB, 2B (2), 3 RBI (4), 2 RS, SB (2) -- .333
CF D. Robinson 3-6, 2 RBI (3), 2 RS -- .308
2B Mertins 3-4, BB, 3 RS -- .375
1B Romak 2-5, 2B (2), 3 RBI (4), K -- .227
DH Bianchi 2-4, SF, RBI (4), 2 K, RS -- .348
C S. Perez 2-5, 2B (2), K, 2 RS -- .200
SS Colon 1-3, HBP, S, 2 RBI (8) -- .318, pulled in 8th
3B Lisson 1-1, 2 BB, S, HBP, HR (2), 2 RBI (4), 3 RS -- .455
RF Van Stratten 1-3, 2 BB, RS -- .286

Dwyer 3 1/3 IP, 4 ER, 8 H, 2 BB, 2 K, WP -- 8.59 ERA, another underwhelming outing
M. Santiago 3 2/3 IP, H, 3 K -- W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA
Paulino 2 IP, H, WP -- 1.80 ERA

* NW Arkansas broke out the bats in cranking out 14 runs on 18 hits and 6 walks and rolling over the Hooks. It didn't start out favorably for NWA as Corpus Christi tagged Chris Dwyer for 2 in the 1st on 3 hits and a walk. Jeff Bianchi answered with a sac fly in the 1st and the Nats took command in the 2nd. A run-scoring error started the rally as Derrick Robinson hit a bases-loaded RBI single, Christian Colon hit an RBI groundout, Wil Myers slapped a 2-run double and Jamie Romak singled home a run to make it 7-2. Dwyer allowed another run in the 3rd but NWA loaded the bases with 0 out in the bottom of the inning and Colon took a HBP with Myers adding an RBI single to make it 9-3. Dwyer didn't survive the 4th as he allowed another run and Mario Santiago finished the inning. Mario Lisson kept the pressure on with a 2-run homer in the 4th (his 2nd) to make it 11-4. After an inning off the Naturals got back to work in the 6th on a Derrick Robinson RBI single, then added 2 in the 7th on a Romak 2-run double. Santiago and Eduardo Paulino took care of the rest. DH Brandon Barnes had 3 hits and 2 RBI for the Hooks. The Nats are 5-1. With the 3-game sweep in hand, the Naturals have their first day off Wednesday. Behold, I give you Nick Van Stratten's opening night catch. Nice.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Blue Rocks 7, Kinston 6

1B Whittleman 3-5, 3B, 2 RBI (4), 2 K, RS -- .333
RF Francis 2-5, 3 RBI (4), K, 2 RS -- .136
CF Ferguson 1-5, 2 RBI (4), K -- .190
2B Navarro 2-5, K, RS, SB (2), 2 E -- .524
LF Merrifield 1-5, 2 K, RS -- .190
The Rocks stranded 10.

E. Pimentel 3 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 7 H, BB, K, 2 HRA -- 12.00 ERA
Paukovits 3 1/3 IP, UER, 3 H, BB, 3 K, E -- 0.00 ERA
Dennick 2 2/3 IP, 2 H, BB, 2 K -- W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA

* A big 7th inning rally helped the Rocks come from behind to get the win. Nick Francis singled home a run in the 1st before the Rocks stranded 2. Elisaul Pimentel gave up a 2-run homer in the 2nd to swing the lead to the K-Tribe but John Whittleman hit a 2-out RBI single in the 3rd to tie the game. Pimentel continued to take damage in the 3rd as a 2-run homer and a run-scoring Rey Navarro error made it 5-2 Indians. With 2 on and 2 out in the 7th, the Rocks came up with some magic as Francis hit a 2-run single, Whittleman followed with an RBI triple and Tim Ferguson singled him home to make it 6-5 Rocks. Kinston evened it thanks to two Rocks errors in the bottom of the frame but Ferguson hit an RBI forceout in the 9th to make it 7-6 Wilmington. Ryan Dennick made it through the 9th to pick up the win. CF Tyler Holt was 3-3 and two other Indians had 2 hits, including LF Bo Greenwell, the son of former Red Sox OF Mike Greenwell, who hit his 1st homer of the season. The Rocks are 3-2. The series ends Wednesday morning as Tim Melville starts for the Rocks.

A - Kane County: Quad Cities 5, Cougars 3

2B Espinal 2-3, S, RBI -- .235
LF Llanos 2-4, 2B (3), RS -- .360
SS Hall 1-4, RBI (2), K -- .067
1B Watts 0-2, 2 BB, 2 K -- .278

L. Santiago 3 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, BB, 5 K, 2 WP -- L, 0-2, 10.57 ERA
Hodge 4 1/3 IP, ER, 4 H, BB, 2 K, 2 WP, E -- 4.70 ERA
Boruff IP, H, BB, K -- 3.00 ERA

* A 3-run 4th fueled the Bandits' second straight win over Kane County. Both teams stranded 2 in the 1st but Gerard Hall put the Cougars on top with an RBI single in the 2nd. The Bandits tied it off Leonel Santiago in the 3rd and then capitalized on a would-be third-out third strike that ended up as a wild pitch in the 4th to rally for 3 runs to chase Santiago from the game. Yowill Espinal singled in a run in the 5th and an error scored another run to cut the lead to 4-3. KC stranded 2 in the 6th and Mitch Hodge pitched well but gave up an insurance run in the 8th. The last 7 Cougars went down in order. Five Bandits had 2 hits. KC is 2-4. Wednesday features another matinee between the teams as Sugar Ray Marimon gets the start for Kane County. Brett Eibner has headed back to Arizona for a look at his left thumb, which was injured during a diving catch in the second game of his pro career. According to the Kane County Chronicle, they're hoping it's just a jammed knuckle.