Royals on the Farm 7/16

Well, Tony Pena Jr. is reportedly gone....DFA'd....which hopefully leads to his outright release. He was jettisoned to make room for Alex Gordon coming off the DL. Actually, all it took was dealing one of our top pitching prospects and a throw-in reliever to another AL team for a slightly less crappy SS to get rid of TPJ. After we gave up a promising pitching prospect to get TPJ himself. Great work, there, Dayton. Feather in the cap. Also, Mitch Maier is headed back to Omaha after playing OK defense, from the limited amount I saw, but not getting it done at the plate, to the tune of a .500-.600 level OPS. Another AAAA player, it seems. The Star reports the Royals will send TPJ to Omaha when he clears waivers. Maybe they'll convert him to a reliever like all the TPJ lovers and Royals kool-aid drinkers out there hope they would.

AAA - Omaha: Memphis 11, O-Royals 6

LF Thorman 3-5, 2 RBI (39), RS -- .289
2B Hulett 3-5, 2B (17), 2 K, RS -- .290
DH Aldridge 2-5, 3B (2), RBI (41), K -- .296
RF Falu 2-5, RBI (29), RS -- .260, actually been a bright spot on a dismal team, along with Aldridge and Thorman
C House 2-5, 2B (15), K, RS -- .257
CF Raines 2-3, BB, RS, SB (8), OF assist at home -- .212
1B Ka'aihue 0-2, 2 BB, SF, RBI (37), E (3) -- .258, Kila, lines like this don't kill me, it's still a .400 OBP, but they aren't gonna get you called up
SS Lisson 0-5, K, E (10) -- .249, double digit E's at two levels
* Omaha stranded 11.

Davies 3 2/3 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 6 H, BB, 6 K, WP -- 2.28 ERA, 96 pitches, yeesh
Hamulack 1 2/3 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, 2 K -- 5.87 ERA
Yabuta 2/3 IP, H -- 4.08 ERA
Waechter 2 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, K -- L, 0-1, 9.39 ERA
V. Marte IP, 3 R (2 ER), 3 H, BB, K, WP -- 4.29 ERA

*** Memphis scored 7 runs in the last 2 innings to take command of a tied game and blow the O-Royals out of the proverbial water. Three hits scored a Redbirds run off Kyle Davies in the 1st but Omaha matched it on a Kila Ka'aihue sac fly before stranding two in the bottom of the frame. Scott Thorman singled home a run in the 3rd but Davies had a shaky 4th. Ka'aihue started it off with an error and 2 doubles brought in 2 runs to make it 3-2 Memphis. Davies was pulled with 2 out and 2 on before Tim Hamulack got out of the jam. Thorman hit an RBI single in the 5th to tie it but Memphis regained the lead off Hamulack and Yas Yabuta in the 6th as Tim Raines Jr. bailed the Royals out by gunning down a runner at the plate to end the inning. Omaha stranded 2 in the 6th but tied it at 4 in the 7th on a run-scoring Redbirds error. Doug Waechter's rehab outing went south in the 8th as Memphis scored 4 runs on 5 hits to take the lead for good at 8-4. Irving Falu hit an RBI single in the 8th but the Royals stranded 2 and Victor Marte allowed 3 runs in the 9th to help the Redbirds put it away. Cory Aldridge hit an RBI triple in the 9th but that was Omaha's last gasp. RP Royce Ring blew his 2nd save but picked up the win with an ER allowed over 1 2/3 IP to move to 5-1 with a 2.48 ERA. Starter Blake Hawksworth allowed 2 ER on 6 hits with a K over 4 IP to move his ERA to 3.95. Six Redbirds had multiple hits, as 1B Brian Barden was 4-5 with 2 doubles (4), 4 RBI (9), and 2 RS to move to .266 and C Matt Pagnozzi had his 2nd error, 2 hits and 4 RBI (18) to move to .241. LF Allen Craig was 3-5 with his 13th double, 1st triple and 3 RS to move to .270.

The O-Royals are 36-54. Game 2 is tonight as Heath Phillips (4-7, 6.10) faces Redbirds lefty Evan MacLane (3-8, 3.63). I'm waiting for Dayton Moore to sign Kala Ka'aihue, Kila's younger brother, who the Braves recently released (presumably to make room at AA for 1B prospect Freddie Freeman) and at one point was higher-touted as a prospect. He was hitting for a .568 OPS this season in 69 games in the AA Southern League. He hit for an .874 OPS there a year ago, but also plays 1B. His career OPS is over .850 in the minors, plus he's only 24. The one time I advocate it, Moore won't do it. You watch. IF Luis Hernandez cleared waivers, shockingly!, and is headed to Omaha. OF Tommy Murphy was released after hitting only .228 with Omaha. He did lead the team with 16 SBs, tho. Sidney Ponson's rehab period is done, but KC hasn't activated him yet. I noticed Ryan Shealy, Shane Costa and Chris Lubanski have all been removed from Omaha's roster page. Strange.

AA - NW Arkansas: Springfield 4, Naturals 3

CF Dyson 2-3, 2B (2), 3B, K, RS -- .265
1B C. Smith 1-4, HR (14), 2 RBI (58), 2 K, RS -- .254
SS Bianchi 0-3, BB, K -- .317
RF Lough 0-4, K -- .333
2B Mertins 1-4, 2 K, RS -- .281
3B Lucas 0-0, 4 BB -- .292

R. Hardy 5 IP, 4 ER, 8 H, 2 BB, 5 K, HRA, E -- L, 0-1, 7.20 ERA, 97 pitches
Nicoll 3 IP, 4 K -- 3.63 ERA

*** Rowdy Hardy's return to AA went much like the bulk of his last stint there and NWA couldn't overcome a 1-run deficit from the 4th on. The Naturals struck first as Jarrod Dyson led off the game with a single and scored on a 3-base Springfield error. Springfield RF Tyler Henley tied it in the 2nd with a leadoff homer for his 8th of the season but, after Dyson was thrown out at home in the 3rd, Corey Smith clubbed a 2-run homer for his 14th of the season to make it 3-1 Naturals. Hardy loaded the bases with no outs in the Springfield 3rd and got 2 outs before walking home a run to cut the lead to 1 before escaping the jam. Three hits scored 2 Cardinal runs in the 4th to give Springfield the 4-3 lead. The Naturals were no-hit the rest of the way by four Springfield pitchers and stranded 2 in the 9th to end it as RP Francisco Samuel picked up his 21st save. SP Scott Gorgen worked 5 2/3 innings of 3 runs (2 ER) allowed on 4 hits and 5 walks with 6 Ks to improve to 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA. CF James Rapoport was 2-4 with his 38th RBI, a K and RS to move to .270. Henley committed his 4th error and his 2 RBI gave him 46 on the season as he was 1-3 to move to .332.

The Naturals are 12-6 and 1 1/2 games up on first. Game 2 is tonight as Anthony Lerew (4-4, 5.28) faces Cards righty Lance Lynn (8-2, 3.54).

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

2B Giavotella 1-3, BB, RBI (32), SB (14) -- .232
CF D. Robinson 1-4, RS, SB (42) -- .228
DH Moustakas 0-4 -- .258
1B C. Robinson 0-3, HBP, K, picked off -- .278

Godin 6 IP, UER, 4 H, 6 K, picked off runner -- W, 2-0, 1.93 ERA, nice
Sisk 2 IP, H, BB, 4 K -- 2.40 ERA
Abreu IP, BB, 2 K -- SV, 12, 1.69 ERA

*** Jason Godin had a great start and the Rocks got past the Pelicans to avoid a 4-game sweep. An Antonio Jimenez error helped the Pelicans score their only run in the 2nd but the Pelicans made 3 errors in the bottom of the inning to help the Rocks tie it as Paulo Orlando stole home. Godin retired 13 of the last 14 he faced and picked off the 1 guy that did reach base, and the Rocks took the lead on a Johnny Giavotella RBI single in the 5th. Brandon Sisk and Juan Abreu followed Godin's lead with 3 scoreless innings of relief. MB starter Richard Sullivan took the loss despite only 2 runs (1 ER) allowed on 4 hits and a walk with 2 Ks over 7 IP to fall to 2-6 with a 3.88 ERA. Five Pelicans had a hit each.

The Rocks are 9-11 and 3 1/2 games out. A 3-game home set with the Frederick Keys (11-9, A-Adv. O's) starts tonight with Danny Duffy (6-3, 3.69) trying to break out of a funk versus Keys righty and Orioles prospect Pedro Beato (5-5, 4.84). The Rocks are 5-4 versus the Keys.

A - Burlington: Beloit 9, Bees 1

CF Norris 2-3, 3B, RBI (13), CS (6) -- .253
1B D. Wood 2-4, K -- .255
LF Van Stratten 1-3, BB, 2B (19), OF assist at second -- .317
DH Hosmer 0-4 -- .254
RF Francis 0-4, 2 K -- .266

Runion 5 IP, 6 ER, 11 H, BB, 4 K, HRA -- L, 3-6, 6.37 ERA, just can't miss bats enough, according to Fangraphs, OAV is .327
B. Hardy 1 2/3 IP, 3 UER, 3 H, BB, 3 K -- 2.35 ERA
Bowden 2 1/3 IP, BB, 2 K -- 2.58 ERA

*** The Bees offense was inert as the Snappers pounded Sam Runion for another 9-run night. Things started going wrong in the 3rd when Beloit scored 2 runs on 3 hits. Patrick Norris pulled a Berroa and got thrown out trying to steal third to end the 3rd and the Snappers pushed in 3 runs in the 4th on 5 hits and a sac fly before leaving the bases full. 1B Daniel Rams slugged his 2nd homer of the season in the 5th to make it 6-0 and then scored 3 runs off Blaine Hardy and Barry Bowden in the 7th to finish their scoring. Norris hit an RBI triple in the 8th but that was all the offense would get. Starter Brad Tippett got the win for Beloit with 7 IP of 4 hits and a walk allowed with 3 Ks to improve to 8-3 with a 2.43 ERA. Four Snappers had multiple hits as SS James Beresford was 4-5 with his 24th RBI and a RS to move to .304, 2B Drew Thompson had 2 hits and 2 RBI (14) along with his 9th error, and CF Aaron Hicks drove in 3 runs (12).

The Bees are 8-11 and 5 1/2 games out. They try to avoid the sweep tonight as Tim Melville (3-4, 3.78) faces Snappers righty Daniel Berlind (2-9, 4.56).

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Chukars 4, Helena 3

SS D. Batista 2-4, 2B (2), RBI (21), SB (4), E (6) -- .306
CF H. Richardson 2-4, K, 2 RS, SB (8), E (2) -- .400
RF Caldwell 2-4, RS -- .254
1B Morales 1-4, 3B, 2 RBI (5), K, E (3) -- .216
C Theriot 1-3, BB, 2B (2), RBI (7) -- .276
DH Cooper 1-3, BB, 2 K, RS, picked off -- .139

Halliman 4 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 5 K -- 3.14 ERA, best he's pitched as a pro
Wooley 4 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 6 H, 5 K -- W, 1-0, 5.02 ERA, first pro W
White IP, K -- SV, 2, 1.64 ERA

*** IF used a 2-run 8th to overcome 3 errors to even the series with the Brew Crew. Pernell Halliman left the bases loaded in the 1st and then did it again in the 4th and the game remained scoreless until Nick Wooley gave up 2 runs in the 5th on 2 hits and 2 errors. Deivy Batista hit an RBI single in the 5th but the Chukars left 2 in scoring position and Helena got the run back in the 6th on a hit batsman and triple. Ben Theriot hit a 2-out RBI double in the 6th to cut the lead back to 1. Wooley left the bases full in the 7th and Jason Morales had the big hit with a 2-run triple off Brewers '09 1st rounder Eric Arnett in the 8th. Morales also had a big defensive play in the 6th to nail a runner at the plate trying to score on a foul flyout. Cole White pitched a perfect 9th for his 2nd pro save. Arnett blew his 1st save and took his 1st pro loss with 2 ER allowed in 2 IP to fall to 0-1 with an 8.31 ERA. Starter Jake Odorizzi worked 5 2/3 IP of 2 ER allowed on 6 hits and a walk with 6 Ks to move his ERA to 3.71. Three Brewers had multiple hits as LF Chris Ellington was 3-4 with a HBP and his 19th RBI to move to .315.

IF is 13-7 and 2 games up on first. Game 3 is tonight as Bryan Paukovits (1-1, 4.76) faces Helena righty Damon Krestalude (2-2, 4.09).

Rookie - Burlington: Pulaski 7, B-Royals 5

RF Del Rosario 2-5, RBI (11), K, 2 SB (9), OF assist at second -- .373
LF-2B V. Soto 1-4, 3 RBI (5), 2 SB (5) -- .194
2B R. Wood 0-1, K -- .178
SS Espinal 1-2, 3 BB, RS, E (9) -- .268
C F. Cruz 1-4, BB, RS, PB (3) -- .242
DH Moctezuma 1-3, S, K -- .300
* The Royals stranded 10.

Billo 5 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 5 H, 2 BB, 2 K, HRA -- 2.75 ERA, one day Billo break cage and then HE GET THIS
Baumann 1 2/3 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 2 H, 2 K, HRA, 2 WP -- BS, 1, 1.80 ERA
Kelley 1 1/3 IP, 3 R (2 ER), H, 3 BB, 2 K -- L, 0-1, 2.25 ERA

*** Two more Royal errors factored in as Burlington lost its 6th in a row. Yowill Espinal scored on an error in the 1st and another error scored a Royal run in the 2nd to make it 2-0 early before Burlington left the bases full. Luis Del Rosario hit a 2-out RBI single in the 4th to make it 3-0 but the Royals left 2 in scoring position. Pulaski finally got to Greg Billo in the 4th for a run on 2 hits and a sac fly, but Billo gave up a leadoff homer to SS Gabriel Noriega (his 2nd) in the 5th to cut the lead to 1. The score stayed 3-2 into the 7th when 2 Buddy Baumann wild pitches and an error scored a run before CF Jarrett Burgess hit a solo homer for his 2nd of the season to make it 4-3 Pulaski. Victor Soto hit a 2-run single in the 8th to give the Royals a 5-4 lead but Scott Kelley walked the bases loaded in the 8th and Espinal made a run-scoring error before a Noriega single made it 7-5 Mariners. The Royals went down in order in the 9th. RP Brian Moran pitched a scoreless 1 2/3 IP for the win to move to 1-0 with a 5.79 ERA. Starter Brandon Maurer worked 2 innings of 2 runs (1 ER) allowed on 3 hits, 2 walks and 4 Ks to move his ERA to 4.50. Noriega and 1B Jharmidy DeJesus had 2 hits for Pulaski. Noriega's 2 RBI gave him 12 on the season as he improved to .313.

The B-Royals are 7-16 and 8 games out while on a 6-game skid. The series is set to wrap this afternoon but is in a rain delay. Carlos Fortuna (1-2, 4.86) is starting versus Pulaski righty Jean Tome (1-2, 8.15).

Rookie - AZL: Royals 12, Brewers 0 (4-hitter)

1B G. Baldwin 3-4, BB, 2B (2), 2 HR (3), 3 RBI (9), 4 RS -- .246, very nice, first multi-HR game as pro
C E. Escobar 3-5, 2B, 3 RBI (5), K, RS -- .259
CF Llanos 3-4, BB, 2B (4), 3B, RBI (12), RS, OF assist at third -- .292
RF L. Adams 2-5, RBI, K, 2 RS -- .300, first pro RBI
LF Polonia 2-4, SF, RBI (6), K, 2 RS, SB (5) -- .255
3B Figueroa 1-4, BB, 2B (2), RBI (11), RS, SB (3) -- .247
SS Trapp 1-5, RBI, 3 K, SB -- .100, also first pro RBI
DH Stovall 0-5, 3 K -- .250

Fisher 2 IP, H, BB, 2 K -- 0.00 ERA, rehab
C. Rodriguez IP, H, BB, 3 K -- 3.38 ERA, rehab
Avinazar 5 IP, 2 H, BB, 3 K -- W, 2-1, 4.56 ERA
Keck IP, K -- 4.76 ERA

*** Four pitchers combined on a 4-hitter and the Royals offense more than took care of the rest in an easy win. Alex Llanos threw out a runner at third to end the Brewers 1st and the Royals jumped ahead with 3 runs on a Yunior Figueroa RBI double and Geoff Baldwin's 2-run homer for his 2nd as a pro. Llanos hit an RBI triple in the 2nd and the Royals scored 2 in the 4th on an Edul Escobar RBI double and Justin Trapp RBI single before stranding 2. Willian Avinazar left the bases full in the 5th and the Royals scored 3 that inning on a Juan Polonia sac fly, run-scoring wild pitch and Escobar RBI single to make it 9-0. Avinazar and Jonathan Keck retired the last 14 Brewers in a row. The Royals tacked on a Lane Adams RBI single in the 6th and 2 runs in the 8th on Baldwin's 3rd homer of the season and 2nd of the game and another Escobar RBI single. Brewers SP Blakeney Billings took the loss with 6 ER allowed on 7 hits and 2 walks with 4 Ks over 4 IP to fall to 0-4 with a 10.80 ERA. SS Carlos George was 2-4 with his 11th error and 6th SB to move to .264.

The Royals are 7-14 and 7 games out. They play the Brewers again tonight.