Royals on the Farm 6/10 -- Rocks throw another gem

The draft update post I mentioned yesterday is gonna have to wait a little bit. I haven't been horribly overenthused about the Royals' moves on day 2, rds 4-30. 16/27 picks were pitchers, and they didn't get a shortstop until rd 15. They picked all pitchers from rds 4-8, passing up some decent position prospects. Like I said yesterday, I know you can't really have too much pitching, but it would be nice to infuse some top-10-round position talent into the system, too. We'll see how it all shakes out. It just seems like the front office is obsessed with pitchers who are like 6-4 and 250 lbs., but ignore the fact they have a 5-6.00 ERA in college. They can't get college batters out but are gonna step it up that much in the pros? I have my doubts...

AAA - Omaha: off day

The O-Royals start their College World Series 15-game road trip today with the first of 4 at the Iowa Cubs (30-30). Lenny DiNardo (4-1, 3.02) is the probable starter versus I-Cubs righty Kevin Hart (1-3, 3.43). Iowa's roster features Cubbie prospects righty Jeff Samardzija (top Cubs pitching prospect, 3-2, 4.05 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 1 CG, 7 HRA, 13 BB/38 K in 10 games (9 starts) and 46 2/3 IP), righty Esmailin Caridad (3-7, 4.68, 1.45, 9 HRA, 23 BB/46 K in 12 starts/65 1/3 IP), and righty Mitch Atkins (3-7, 7.73, 1.59, 13 HRA, 25 BB/60 K in 12 starts/64 IP). Newly demoted Iowa 1B Jake Fox has torn up the PCL, hitting .424 with a 1.384 OPS, 41 RS, 14 2B, 17 HR, 51 RBI, 17 BB/28 K and 3 E in 41 games/151 ABs. The Royals have a new member of the bullpen as Chris "Disco" Hayes brings his submariner style to the team through the road trip. I say it's about time. Here's hoping he can get AAA outs, too.

AA - NW Arkansas: rainout

The washout forces two straight twinbills for the Naturals and Arkansas Travelers. Last night's scheduled starters -- Blake Wood and Jordan Walden -- will start one game of tonight's double dip.

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

RF Lough 2-4, HR (2), 2 RBI (25), RS -- .316
CF D. Robinson 2-4, RBI (20), 2 RS, 2 SB (32) -- .231
SS Bianchi 2-4, RBI (25), K -- .307
DH Moustakas 1-4, 2B (13), RBI (27), RS -- .267
2B Giavotella 0-4, K -- .206
1B C. Robinson 0-3, K -- .282

Liotta 5 IP, H, 2 BB -- W, 2-2, 4.75 ERA, everybody getting into the shutout act
Godin 2 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 2 K, WP -- 1.76 ERA
Chavez 2 IP, BB -- SV, 1, 2.61 ERA

*** Ray Liotta and two relievers helped the Rocks set some history with their 4th straight shutout. The pitching staff is up to a franchise record 38 straight scoreless innings and the franchise has never had 4 straight shutouts. The Rocks jumped on Salem SP Casey Kelly for 3 runs in the 1st as Mike Moustakas ripped an RBI double and David Lough blasted a 2-out, 2-run homer for his 2nd of the season. Jeff Bianchi singled home a run in the 3rd to make it 4-0 and Liotta encountered little resistance in his 5 innings of work. Jason Godin stranded 2 in the 6th and Wilmington added another run in the 7th on a Derrick Robinson RBI fielder's choice. Salem loaded the bases with none out in the 8th and Chris Chavez was brought in to replace Godin. Chavez got a flyout and double play to pull the Houdini and escape the jam. He then got another double play in the 9th to finish his 1st save of the season. Kelly took the loss with 4 ER allowed on 6 hits and 4 Ks over 5 IP to drop to 0-2 with a 3.78 ERA. SS Zach Borowiak was 2-3 with a walk to move to .286.

The Rocks are on a 6-game roll and are 33-26 and still 5 1/2 games out as Lynchburg won't relent its hold on the division lead. They have today off. The Rocks bullpen has a 30 1/3 IP scoreless streak going, too.

A - Burlington: Beloit 4, Bees 2

LF Van Stratten 3-4, BB, 2B (11), K, OF assist at second -- .350
DH Fontaine 1-4, 3B, RBI (5), K -- .232
CF Dyson 1-4, BB, K, RS, CS (3) -- .382
RF Francis 0-5, 3 K -- .295
SS Rivera 1-4, K, E -- .231, back from suspension
* The Bees stranded 11.

Melville 5 2/3 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 6 H, 2 BB, 3 K -- L, 1-3, 4.50 ERA
Saito 3 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, BB, 6 K -- 3.92 ERA

*** A 2-run 9th helped Beloit take the series opener. Chase Fontaine hit an RBI triple in the 2nd to put the Bees up but Beloit tied it off Tim Melville in the 3rd on 3 hits. Burlington left the bases full in the 3rd and then stranded 2 in the 5th. Derrick Saito allowed an inherited runner to score in the 6th on an Antonio Jimenez error at third. The Bees stranded 2 in the 7th and the game went to the 9th with Beloit ahead, 2-1. Two doubles and a single helped score 2 insurance runs off Saito but Jarrod Dyson scored on a wild pitch in the Bees 9th before Nick Francis struck out to end it as RP Joe Testa went 2 2/3 IP for his 5th save. RP Blake Martin pitched 2 hitless innings for the win to move to 1-0 with a 6.75 ERA. Starter Michael Allen worked 4 1/3 IP of an unearned run allowed on 6 hits and 2 walks with 5 Ks to move his ERA to 5.63. Everybody in the Beloit lineup had a hit as 2B Drew Thompson was 2-3 with a walk and RS to move to .200.

The Bees are 25-33. The teams play a twinbill today. Sam Runion (2-4, 7.09) is scheduled to start one game and Zach Peterson (3-2, 3.82) the other. Snappers lefty Michael Tarsi (1-1, 4.15) is set to start versus Runion. IF Angel Franco must have been sent back to short-season ball to make room for Rivera.