KC Royals - KIDS Edition

[SubGod22]

I have no doubt it'll be fairly soon. He won't get more than two more starts in Wilmington. Maybe they're waiting for official word on Lamb to see if he will go under the knife. Even if he doesn't, it doesn't look like he'll be pitching any time soon.

Promote him now, and maybe he'll be ready by mid/late next year or 2013. But he needs to face more of a challenge that the CL isn't doing that for him.

[RoyalShock]

The KC front office tweeted today that Lamb will undergo TJ surgery tomorrow.

http://twitter.com/#!/Royals/status/76348806551183360

[SubGod22]

With that news, I'd be surprised if Odorizzi isn't moved to AA soon.

[SubGod22]

Homer-Happy Zephyrs Blast Storm Chasers

OMAHA, Neb. - The New Orleans Zephyrs hit seven home runs, scored 17 runs over the final three innings and generally made life miserable for the Omaha Storm Chasers for much of the 3 hours and 21 minutes it took to complete Thursday's 22-6 ballgame at Werner Park. It was the most runs New Orleans has ever scored and the most runs an Omaha team has allowed since extensive records started being kept in 1988.
Matt Dominguez went 4-for-4 with two homers and five RBI, Ruben Gotay went 4-for-6 with a homer and six RBI and four other Zephyrs went yard as well. The power supply was plenty enough for veteran righthander Chris Sampson (2-0), who allowed three runs over six innings to earn the win.

Monty pitches this evening.

Late homers sink Naturals Thursday

Miner was charged with three runs (one earned) on four hits in four innings. He walked one and fanned five, including an impressive start that saw him strike out the side in the Frisco first. Brigham allowed three runs and six hits in five innings, walking four and striking out three.

Osuna goes tonight

ROCKS SUFFER UGLY 7-6 LOSS IN ROAD TRIP FINALE

Kinston, NC - The Blue Rocks' worst road trip of the season fittingly came to a close with an ugly narrow loss as Wilmington (29-23) fell to the Kinston Indians (27-25), 7-6. The Blue Rocks rallied from a pair of three-run deficits to forge a tie in the seventh inning, but made four errors, allowed 15 hits and saw one of their top hitters, John Whittleman, ejected. The Blue Crew went 1-6 on the road trip, losing three of the games by just one run. With Frederick's 6-5 defeat of Myrtle Beach, Wilmington slipped to 1.5 games back of the first-place Keys in the Carolina League's Northern Division.

Arguelles pitches tonight.

KC won (24-30) DSL PPD (1-4)

[SubGod22]

Cain's Homer Completes Chasers Comeback

OMAHA, Neb. - Lorenzo Cain's two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning broke a 4-4 tie, sending the Chasers to a 6-4 victory and a Werner Park-record crowd of 8,020 home happy Friday night. The win propelled Omaha to a six-game lead over the Iowa Cubs entering their four-game series in Des Moines beginning Saturday night.
The eighth-inning rally started quietly, as Clint Robinson flied out to center and Kila Ka'aihue worked a full-count walk. Manager Mike Jirschele sent Paulo Orlando in to pinch run at first hoping that Cain could find a gap, but instead the centerfielder launched the first pitch he saw over the wall in deep left, giving the Storm Chasers the lead for good. It was Cain's fourth long ball of the season.

With Cain's home run, reliever Jeremy Jeffress (1-1) earned his first victory in a Storm Chasers uniform. Jeffress struck out four batters in 1.2 innings of work, including the final two with the bases loaded in the top of the eighth, making Cain's heroics possible. Jeffress and Cain were both key pieces of this offseason's Zack Greinke trade with the Milwaukee organization.

As they had been doing all series long, New Orleans hit two home runs to produce their four runs. Third baseman Matt Dominguez, coming off a 4-for-4, two homer night Thursday, put the Zephyrs on the board with a two-run shot off Omaha starter Mike Montgomery in the second. Mike Cervenak added a two-run homer in the fifth, putting the Zephyrs in front 4-2 at the time. Montgomery finished his evening after 6.1 innings, allowing four runs on three hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Both home runs immediately followed bases on balls.

Monty continues to struggle... Cubs Claim Series Starter Over Storm Chasers

Dyson extended his hitting streak to 11 games while Giavotella has now hit safely in 10 straight and Lough went 1-for-4 to push his hitting streak to nine games.

Camp Delivers in Clutch as Cubs Beat Chasers

Trailing 8-6, the Storm Chasers tied the game in the eighth inning on a two-run home run by Kila Ka'aihue, his first since rejoining the team just about a month ago.

Mazzaro pitches tonight.

Naturals battle back, fall in extras

SPRINGDALE, AR - Ben Theriot drove in four runs and Christian Colon had a game-tying home run in the ninth, but Midland got seven runs in the tenth inning to send the Naturals to a heartbreaking 16-9 loss Saturday evening at Arvest Ballpark.
Working in his third inning of relief, Eduardo Paulino (1-2) allowed a leadoff single to Jeremy Barfield to start the tenth. Matt Sulentic came on to pinch run. Petey Paramore drew a one-out walk and then Tyler Ladendorf drove him in with an RBI single. Jermaine Mitchell followed and hit an RBI single to put Midland (23-31) up 11-9.

On the ensuing play, Naturals' shortstop Jeff Bianchi bobbled a potential double-play grounder off the bat of Grant Green. Ladendorf singled and everyone else was safe. After Paulino got Stephen Parker looking for the second out, Michael Spina's fly popped out of Naturals' center fielder Nick Van Stratten's grasp, scoring Mitchell to make it 13-9. Adam Heether followed with a three-run homer to left to cap Midland's big inning.

The offensive display was made possible in part by the Naturals (24-25), who were down 9-8 when Christian Colon ripped a leadoff homer in the ninth to tie the ballgame and complete their second comeback of the night.

Dwyer looks more and more like a good bullpen guy every time out. Bats alive as Naturals win, snap skid

SPRINGDALE, AR - Three Naturals turned in multi-hit efforts, led by Tim Smith, who had one homer and came within centimeters of another as Northwest Arkansas beat Midland 8-3 Sunday at Arvest Ballpark.
Smith's homer came during a five run fifth. Tied at two, Derrick Robinson worked a walk to leadoff the frame and swiped second. Christian Colon followed and drove in Robinson with an RBI double into the left field corner. Colon moved to third on a wild pitch from Midland starter Fabian Williamson (0-1), and Wil Myers, freshly activated from the disabled list, doubled home Colon for the 4-2 lead. Anthony Seratelli followed with a single to center, and Smith followed with a three-run bomb to right to put the Naturals up 7-2.

That would be enough as the Naturals would add one more in the seventh when Smith drove in Seratelli, who had been hit by a pitch off Midland reliever Paul Smyth. Smith launched a ball in the same direction as his homer, but the ball was ruled by umpires to have bounced off of the matting of the outfield wall for a double.

Nice to see Myers is back in action. Will Smith will pitch this evening.

WILMINGTON OFFENSE M.I.A. TO OPEN HOMESTAND

Arguelles allowed one run in his five innings on the hill for Wilmington. The southpaw, who was pitching without the comfort of piggyback partner Michael Mariot for the first time all season, failed to reach the sixth inning for just the second time in his last seven starts.

OFFENSE MISSING AGAIN AS ROCKS BLANKED BY POTOMAC

Wilmington starter Elisaul Pimentel had matched the Potomac southpaw pitch for pitch through eight frames. Pimentel allowed just one base-runner over the first seven innings and allowed only one man to reach scoring position throughout his career-long eight-inning outing.

But the right-hander gave way to his bullpen in the final frame, and Kevin Chapman (0-2) ran into immediate danger. The left-handed reliever yielded a lead-off single to Cutter Dykstra, and then back-to-back bunt base-hits to Eury Perez and Jeff Kobernus. That loaded the bases with nobody out. Destin Hood followed by lifting a fly ball to deep right, but as it drifted foul Wilmington outfielder Yem Prades alertly decided to let it drop rather than letting the go-ahead run score on a sacrifice fly.

WILMINGTON SWEPT AWAY BY P-NATS

Wilmington starter Tim Melville cruised through his first four frames, holding the P-Nats scoreless. But he ran into trouble in the fifth, surrendering three runs to break up a scoreless tie.

Cutter Dykstra opened the scoring with a one-out RBI double to left. Eury Perez followed with a run-scoring triple to the right-center field alley. He came around to score one batter later on Jose Lozoda's sacrifice fly to left.

Sample will pitch today.

Holland, Odorizzi among KC Minors honorees

KANSAS CITY -- Greg Holland and Jake Odorizzi were among those honored when the Royals announced their Minor League Pitcher and Player of the Month awards for May on Friday.

Omaha (Triple-A) -- Pitcher Greg Holland: 1-0, one save, 2.13 ERA, 16 strikeouts, 12 2/3 innings pitched; First baseman/designated hitter Clint Robinson: .366 batting average, 23 runs, five home runs, 20 RBIs.

Northwest Arkansas (Double-A) -- Pitcher Buddy Baumann: 1-1, 2.52 ERA, .209 batting average against; Utility player Anthony Seratelli: .325 batting average, 21 runs, .462 on-base percentage.

Wilmington (High A) -- Pitcher Jake Odorizzi: 3-0, five starts, 36 strikeouts, eight walks; Outfielder Carlo Testa: 27-for-88, 10 doubles, .466 slugging percentage.

Kane County (Class A) -- Pitcher Greg Billo: 3-1, 0.91 ERA, 29 strikeouts; Outfielder Geulin Beltre: .326, 10 runs, 11 RBIs, nine extra-base hits

[SubGod22]

Mendoza and Jeffress team up to pitch Chasers past Cubs

Kila Ka'aihue's leadoff long ball in the eighth, his second home run in as many days, increased the lead to 3-1, which was more than enough room for Jeremy Jeffress to close the door on the Cubs.


The hard-throwing right-hander bounced back from Sunday's loss to earn his first Triple-A save with two scoreless innings during which he struck out three and yielded one hit.

Pucetas starts for Omaha next.

Smith's 11th inning RBI single wins it

With the score knotted up at three, Colon was able to drive a single through the middle to start the 11th and move to second on a wild pitch by Midland reliever Neil Wagner (0-3). Wagner got Wil Myers looking, intentionally walked Anthony Seratelli to set up a potential double play. That never materialized, as Smith fouled off several pitches before finally getting one he could handle. He lined a 3-2 pitch from Wagner into center as Colon easily beat an off-line throw.

No game today. However, Chen and Davies will start each game of a DH scheduled for tomorrow.

ROCKS ROUTED FOR FIFTH STRAIGHT SETBACK

Wilmington, DE - The Wilmington Blue Rocks' offensive woes continued on Monday night, and the Kinston Indians enjoyed no such problem in an 11-1 rout at Frawley Stadium. The Rocks have now dropped five consecutive contests and 10 of their last 11 to fall 5.5 games behind first-place Frederick in the Carolina League Northern Division standings.
Kinston earned the wire-to-wire victory by pummeling Wilmington starter Tyler Sample. Sample (3-4) lasted just 4.1 innings, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits while walking a pair. Every Kinston starter had at least one hit, and all but Bo Greenwell had an extra-base knock.

Odorizzi throws tonight.

KC lost again. (25-32)
DSL Royals are now 2-4 after winning yesterday.

[SubGod22]

Chasers Rally in Ninth to Down Cubs

Trailing 6-5 going into the ninth inning, the Storm Chasers received a leadoff double from Jarrod Dyson, who advanced to third on a base hit by Johnny Giavotella that chased Marcos Mateo from the hill. Left-hander Scott Maine took over and struck out David Lough before Mike Moustakas doubled to knock in the tying run. Clint Robinson was intentionally passed to load the bases for Kila Ka'aihue, who walked to force in Giavotella with the go-ahead run. Maine then walked Joaquin Arias to push across another run and was removed from the game after issuing the last of seven free passes by four different relievers.

Monty will take the hill Thursday.

Chen and Davies are starting both games today for NWA.

TWO BIG FRAMES HELP WILMINGTON END SKID

Whit Merrifield started the contest in style for Wilmington. The normal outfielder, who shifted to second base on Tuesday, snuck a fly ball just inside the left-field foul pole for a lead-off home run. He was the first of four straight Rocks to reach safely in the bottom of the first. Carlo Testa followed with a bloop-single to right-center and Rey Navarro was hit on the right hip with a pitch. That set up Nick Francis' two-run double down the left-field chalk that put Wilmington in front, 3-0.

It was enough for the Rocks pitching staff, which allowed hits, but wiggled out of jams all night. Starter Jake Odorizzi worked five one-run frames, fanning five as he scattered eight hits. The right-hander put two men on in the first, but stranded them at the corners by getting all three outs on whiffs.

The trend continued when the Wilmington bullpen entered in the sixth, as Michael Mariot allowed a single and uncorked a wild pitch that moved Chase Burnette into scoring position before stranding him at second. The K-Tribe finished Tuesday with nine runners left on base and were just 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

The Blue Crew blew the game open in the home-seventh, sending eight batters to the plate. Deivy Batista, Merrifield and Testa all drove in single scores before Francis unloaded a two-run bomb that cleared the batter's eye in dead-center field.

Marks starts tonight.

KC won, Royals lost.

[SubGod22]

Dyson making noise on Draft anniversary

KANSAS CITY -- On the day the Royals made their 50th and final choice in the First-Year Player Draft, Jarrod Dyson was flashing some interesting statistics for Triple-A Omaha.

Dyson was the Royals' 50th pick in the 2006 Draft and he spent the first seven weeks of the season with Kansas City as a pinch-running specialist before being optioned to Omaha. For the Storm Chasers, he went 2-for-17, but boosted his average to .316 in his first 19 games with a .416 on-base percentage. He also scored 21 runs and swiped 12 bases in 13 tries.

"He just needed to play, see some pitches," Royals manager Ned Yost said.

Naturals fall to Travs in game one

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR - Kansas City Royals starter Bruce Chen allowed four runs over two innings in a rehab start and the Naturals' offense wasn't able to catch up as the Travelers prevailed by a 4-1 final in game one of a twi-night twinbill at Dickey-Stephens Park.
North Little Rock (26-26) started the game with four consecutive hits against the veteran major league southpaw, beginning with Mike Trout's infield single. Trout advanced to second when Chen threw wildly to first base and then stole third base.

Darwin Perez followed with an RBI double to give the Travs a 1-0 lead. The next batter, third baseman Luis Jimenez, doubled to right field to score Perez, and Ryan Mount singled to left, advancing Jimenez to third base. Still with no outs, Gabe Jacobo hit a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Jimenez for a 3-0 lead. Chen then tried to pick Mount off at first base, but threw wildly allowing Mount to get to third. Roberto Lopez hit the Travs' third double of the inning, scoring Mount for a four-run lead.

Limited to 45 pitches for the game, Chen (0-1) got the loss pitching two innings, giving up four runs on five hits, and striking out two without a walk.

Naturals' miscues open door for Travelers

Starting another big leaguer on a rehab assignment for game two, Kyle Davies (0-1) allowed four runs over two innings, although only two were earned as errors and passed balls plagued the Naturals (26-27) all evening.

Davies lasted into the third, allowing a double to Jimenez to start that frame followed by a single to Mount before he was lifted in favor of Kevin Chapman, a hard-throwing lefty making his Double-A debut. Chapman fanned Jacobo but Roberto Lopez was able to get Jimenez in on a sacrifice fly to make it 4-0.

Chapman was impressive otherwise, allowing one hit and recording four of his six outs via the strikeout.

Miner pitches today.

ROCKS OFFENSE BACK INTO HIBERNATION DURING LOPSIDED LOSS

Wilmington, DE - The Wilmington Blue Rocks offense disappeared again on Wednesday, and the result was not pretty. One night after the Blue Crew seemed to snap out of a prolonged funk at the plate, the Rocks managed just two hits in a 9-1 rout at the hands of the Kinston Indians. The loss was the team's 11th in its last 13 games.
Wilmington scored its only run of the night in the fourth inning, and it came appropriately enough on an out. The Rocks put runners at second and third with no outs courtesy of two singles by Whit Merrifield and Yem Prades and a double-steal. Rey Navarro failed to advance either man when he flied out to shallow right, and Nick Francis only brought one home with his RBI chopper to short. When Tim Ferguson lined out to short one batter later, the Rocks only inning when a runner moved into scoring position came to a close.

Things were not much prettier on the other side of the ball for the Blue Crew. Starter Justin Marks lasted just five frames, allowing four runs in the process. The left-hander's outing started out strong, as he retired the side in order over the first two innings. He even wiggled out of consecutive inning-opening singles unscathed in the third. But Jeremie Tice pierced his sense of invisibility in the fourth when he launched a two-run bomb to right that gave Kinston the lead.

Pimentel pitches tonight.

KC and the Royals both lose bad.

[Awesome Sauce Malone]

the only news to care about

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/06/09/2938904/royals-call-up-moustakas.html

[SubGod22]

Aviles to Omaha. My guess is Kila is removed from the 40 man roster.

[SubGod22]

A good site for info on the farm is Pine Tar Press. I'm going to start checking it out more as well as my normal locations for all things Royals. They have a number of articles relating to the kids that the update quite a bit.

[SubGod22]

Storm Chasers Baseball Ready for TV Debut

OMAHA, Neb. - The wait is over for Kansas City Royals fans ready to take a look at the talent stockpiled in Major League Baseball's No. 1-ranked farm system. Time Warner Cable Metro Sports and the Omaha Storm Chasers are teaming up to televise three games live from Werner Park this summer, the cable television leader and top Kansas City Royals' affiliate announced Thursday.
Storm Chasers home games on June 13, June 27 and July 25 will air across the region on Time Warner Cable Metro Sports in the Kansas City area, in Lincoln, Neb., as well as on Cox Channel 2 in Omaha, reaching more than one million viewers. Chasers radio broadcaster Mark Nasser will deliver the television play-by-play alongside former Kansas City Royals pitcher Al Fitzmorris.

"We are excited to form a partnership with Time Warner Cable and Metro Sports to be able to showcase Storm Chasers baseball throughout the Midwest," said Storm Chasers Vice President/General Manager Martie Cordaro. "We hope fans locally will come out to be a part of the first TV games in Werner Park history and we hope to put on a great show for fans watching on television throughout the region."

Doesn't help us all, but maybe some on here.
RedHawks Hold Off Storm Chasers

OMAHA, Neb. - The Oklahoma City RedHawks scored four early runs and held on to defeat the Storm Chasers 4-3 Thursday night, taking advantage of a depleted lineup after Omaha third baseman and cleanup hitter Mike Moustakas was called up to the major leagues just before game time.
Drew Locke's two out, bases-clearing double in the top of the fourth proved to be the decisive blow, as Clint Robinson and the Storm Chasers offense couldn't quite put enough runs on the board to keep pace. Robinson belted his 14th home run of the season in the sixth to cut it to 4-2, and a run-scoring double play in the eighth made it 4-3, but the Storm Chasers could not complete the rally. They left nine men on base and were just 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

Lefthander Mike Montgomery (2-3) suffered through his seventh-straight winless start, as walks yet again were his biggest nemesis. The Pacific Coast League's bases on balls leader with 41, Montgomery's three walks all eventually came around to score. He finished the game equaling his career-high with 109 pitches over seven innings, giving up four runs on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts.

Mario Santiago starting for Omaha tonight.

Travs hold off Naturals' late charge

After Trevor Reckling shut down the Naturals in the top of the second, Arkansas tacked on four more runs in the home half of the inning. Alberto Rosario drew a bases-loaded walk before Darwin Perez hit a two run single and Mount drove in another run. By the time the inning was over, the Travelers had taken a 6-0 lead.

Heath Rollins relieved Miner in the bottom of the third and allowed an unearned run when Kurt Mertins' fielding error allowed Angel Castillo to score.

The Naturals (26-28) broke through in the top of the fourth on Anthony Seratelli's two-run homer to left. One inning later, the Naturals loaded the bases with nobody out to chase Reckling from the game. Jose Perez (2-0) uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Derrick Robinson to score the Naturals' third run, but he was able to escape the inning without further damage.

Dwyer and Osuna will start the two games today.

ROCKS GAME CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN

Wilmington, DE - Due to the torrential rain that fell at Frawley Stadium on Thursday night, the Wilmington Blue Rocks' game with the Kinston Indians was cancelled in the third inning. A struggling Rocks offense had raced out to an early 3-1 advantage, but the wet weather left the field unplayable. Since the Rocks and K-Tribe do not meet again in the first half of the 2011 season, the contest will not be rescheduled. No stats from the abbreviated action will count.

Melville pitches tonight.

[SubGod22]

Storm Chasers Double Their Way Past OKC

OMAHA, Neb. - By all accounts, this one shouldn't have needed to be a nail-biter. The Omaha Storm Chasers collected 14 hits, six of them doubles, but were unable to score after the third inning and had to hang on for a 5-4 victory over Oklahoma City Friday night. Omaha pitchers allowed just six hits to the RedHawks, but matched a season high by walking eight batters.
The Storm Chasers charge was led by centerfielder Lorenzo Cain, who was batting in the five hole with Kila Ka'aihue getting the day off. Cain tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the first with an RBI double, ripped an RBI single to make it 5-2 Storm Chasers in the third, then added another two-base hit in the seventh but was stranded at third with the bases loaded to end the inning. He finished the game 3-for-3 with a walk and two RBI, raising his batting average to .299 on the season.

After Cain's first double tied the score in the first, the bottom of the Chasers lineup provided the pop in the second. No. 8 hitter Manny Pina drilled a pitch into the right-center gap for a double, followed by yet another two-bagger by No. 9 hitter Paulo Orlando to give the Storm Chasers the lead for good.

Chasers Can't Hold Lead, Fall in 11

OMAHA, Neb. - The Omaha Storm Chasers looked like they would cruise to victory Saturday, but a troublesome seventh inning proved costly in a 6-4 loss that took 11 innings and 3 hours, 55 minutes to complete. Oklahoma City quietly put together a 17-hit attack, including four base hits in the decisive 11th frame to knock off the Storm Chasers, who had just five hits of their own.
The Chasers got off to a quick start in this one. Centerfielder Lorenzo Cain was hit by Oklahoma City starting pitcher Sergio Perez to lead off the bottom of the first, and second baseman Johnny Giavotella followed with a two-run home run to leftfield, his fourth long ball of the season. Meanwhile, Jeff Suppan cruised through the first four innings, including a stretch of eight straight retired to begin the game.

Clint Robinson pushed the Omaha lead to 3-0 with his 15th home run of the season in the fourth, and after Oklahoma City nudged back to within 3-1 the Storm Chasers capitalized on an error and wild pitch to make it a 4-1 ballgame after five.

Late Sacrifice Fly Lifts Chasers Over RedHawks

OMAHA, Neb. - Mike Aviles brought home pinch runner Jarrod Dyson with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth inning, giving the Storm Chasers a 5-4 win over visiting Oklahoma City Sunday afternoon at Werner Park. The win puts Omaha at seven games over .500 (35-28) for the fifth different time this season.
Clint Robinson had a big day for the Chasers, belting two home runs and doubling to the gap - all three extra-base hits went to left-center - before being replaced by the pinch-running Dyson after the two-base hit. His two-run, opposite-field home run in the first inning made it 2-1 Omaha, while his nearly identical solo blast in the third inning increased the Storm Chasers margin to 3-1. His leadoff double in the bottom of the eighth was followed by a groundout by Kila Ka'aihue and the Aviles sac fly.

Robinson has now hit five home runs over his past five games, increasing his team-leading totals to a .356 average with 17 home runs and 50 runs batted in. It was his third multi-homer game of the season and 11th of his minor league career, dating back to 2007.

Robinson slugs fifth homer in five days

With top prospects Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas suiting up in Kansas City, slugger Clint Robinson seems to be taking it upon himself to carry the Omaha Storm Chasers on his shoulders.

The first baseman went 3-for-4 with two homers, three RBIs and two runs scored as Triple-A Omaha held on for a 5-4 victory over the Oklahoma City RedHawks on Sunday.

Robinson, who extended his hitting streak to 12 games in the win, has five homers and nine RBIs over his last five games. Sunday's outing raised his average to .356 and he is batting a scorching .372 in June.

"In the Minors, each person is trying to get to the big leagues and everyone knows what they need to do to get there," Robinson said. "We know we can still win without Mike and Eric, because it's not about one or two guys, it's about the whole team.

"We obviously miss them because they are great guys with big numbers, but we know we have to find ways to win without them. I was in the middle of the lineup when they were here and my job is still the same."

Looks like Chen is making the start in Omaha today.

Osuna masterful as Naturals earn split

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR - Edgar Osuna blanked the Arkansas Travelers over five dominant innings, carrying the Naturals to a 3-0 win in game two of Friday's doubleheader at Dickey-Stephens Park. With the win, the Naturals earned a split of the twin bill.
After Mike Trout singled to open the bottom of the first, Osuna (5-2) retired 11 consecutive Traveler hitters before yielding a two-out base hit to Ryan Mount in the fourth. Those were the only two runners Osuna put on base, as he needed just 67 pitches to breeze through his five innings of work.

The southpaw capped his outing by striking out the side in order in the bottom of the fifth as he finished with a season-high eight strikeouts without allowing a walk. It was the first scoreless outing of the year for Osuna, who earned his first win since May 22 - when he also beat the Travelers (29-27).

Balanced attack beats Travelers

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR - The Naturals plated three runs in the first inning and led the entire way as they outlasted the Travelers for a 6-4 win Saturday night at Dickey-Stephens Park in the finale of a six-game series.
The game began at approximately 8:35 local time after a rain-induced 85 minute rain delay, and the Naturals (28-29) wasted no time wielding their bats after the timeout.

Wil Myers' ground rule double got things started with two out. Anthony Seratelli followed and was plunked by a pitch from Travs' starter Orangel Arenas, the first of four Naturals to get hit by a pitch Saturday.

Tim Smith followed with an RBI single that got the Naturals on the board, and Salvador Perez and Jeff Bianchi each followed with RBI singles of their own to give the Naturals the early 3-0 advantage.

Late Sacrifice Fly Notches Win

SPRINGDALE, AR - Kurt Mertins' bases loaded sacrifice fly in the bottom of the twelfth inning scored Anthony Seratelli, sending the Naturals to a 7-6 win over the Tulsa Drillers in the opener of a pivotal four-game series at Arvest Ballpark.
As the game ticked away towards the four hour mark, Seratelli led off with a single off of Drillers' closer Adam Jorgenson. Tim Smith followed and singled to deep short, moving Seratelli over to second. Jorgenson was lifted in favor of Keith Weiser. Wieser's first batter, Jeff Bianchi, bunted beautifully up the third base line and scooted into first ahead of the throw to load the bases. Mertins got a 2-0 fastball from Weiser and lined it to right, and Drillers' right fielder Bronson Sardinha's throw was offline, scoring Seratelli easily.

Willy Lebron is making his first start for NWA today.

HOMERS BLAST BLUE ROCKS TO WIN

Winston-Salem, NC - Tim Melville (6-6) tossed six scoreless innings and home runs by Yem Prades and Ryan Eigsti combined to generate three runs as the Wilmington Blue Rocks (31-28) bested the Winston-Salem Dash (28-33) at BB&T Ballpark on Friday night, 4-1. The Blue Crew began its final road trip of the first half with just its third win since May 25.
Winston-Salem starter Cameron Bayne (5-4) danced through danger in the first inning. He loaded the bases with one out on two walks and a hit batter, but induced a fielder's choice force at the plate from John Whittleman and a weak groundout to second from Prades. In the second, first baseman Joey Lewis' second career triple, a well-hit ball into the right-field corner, set the stage for Eigsti's line drive over shortstop and a 1-0 Wilmington lead.

Rey Navarro began the third with a double to right, but stood at third base with two outs when Prades stood in. The Cuban defector came through with his first RBIs as a professional when he homered to left-center field to make it a 3-0 game.

During that time, Melville allowed just one hit and whiffed two through the opening two innings. But the prospect needed a bit of a gift to emerge from the third unscathed. With men at first and second, Jared Mitchell grounded a ball to second. While Navarro's shovel to Alex McClure covering at second was in time, the shortstop's relay to first clearly came after Mitchell reached. Base umpire Aaron Roberts did not see it that way. He gave a delayed, emphatic out signal to end the inning, prompting an argument from manager Julio Vinas, who was ejected.

OFFENSE EXPLODES IN 9-4 WIN

Winston-Salem, NC - Nick Francis tied a franchise record unreached since 2007 with five hits as the Wilmington Blue Rocks (32-28) pounded the Winston-Salem Dash (28-34) on Saturday night, 9-4. The Blue Crew posted its first back-to-back wins since May 24-25 and guaranteed a series victory in the process. Wilmington amassed a season-high 18 hits, including eight in 20 tries with runners in scoring position.
The Blue Rocks never trailed on the night, grabbing a two-run lead in the first inning on RBI singles by Francis and Jose Bonilla. Carlo Testa's RBI double made it 3-0 an inning later before Winston-Salem got on the board with a sacrifice fly by Nick Cioli in the bottom of the second. Thereafter, Wilmington starter Tyler Sample (4-4) found his form.

The hard-throwing tall righty retired 11 in a row at one point. He struck out seven and walked just one over seven innings of work. Tim Ferguson's sac fly made it 4-1 in the fifth while his two-run homer to left-center catapulted the squad to a 6-1 advantage in the seventh. Cioli singled in a pair of scores in the bottom half of the inning as Sample departed with a 6-3 lead.

TWO-OUT THUNDER DOOMS BLUE CREW

Winston-Salem, NC - One pitch. Jake Odorizzi retired the first two batters of the second inning, both on strikeouts looking. His two-strike pitch to Jason Bour thereafter dipped a little low, and that one pitch opened the door. The Wilmington ace's subsequent offering gifted Bour a full-count free pass as he became the first of five straight two-out baserunners, all of whom scored, and the Winston-Salem Dash (29-34) went on the thump the Wilmington Blue Rocks (32-29), 10-1. Odorizzi (5-1) allowed seven of the runs in three innings of work for his first loss.
Tyler Saladino, who was a late scratch on Saturday night due to fatigue from a day's worth of charity work with Habitat for Humanity, provided Sunday's second-inning exclamation point with a three-run homer. In the third, Bour's first home run of the year, a two-out shot to left with a man aboard, made it 7-0. Odorizzi walked a season-high four in suffering his first setback since Aug. 8, 2010 at Clinton when he was with Low-A Wisconsin in the Brewers' system

We'll see how he bounces back from this performance. Marks will pitch today.
FOUR ROCKS NAMED CAROLINA LEAGUE ALL-STARS

The Carolina League All-Stars will play against the California League All-Star team on Tuesday, June 21 at John Thurman Field in Modesto, CA. Potomac's Matt LeCroy will manage the squad while Kinston's Aaron Holbert will serve as coach, and Potomac's Allan Wood is the athletic trainer. The contest has been labeled the 2011 California-Carolina League All-Star Smash.

[RoyalShock]

CRob needs to be traded ASAP. He's blocked in KC and I don't see how his value will ever be higher.

I wonder if the KC brass are feeling like Giovatella is forcing their hand? I'm not sure what the roster implications are, but I'd like to see how he does in KC's lineup, particularly now that Escobar is showing improvement.

[SubGod22]

CRob needs to be traded ASAP. He's blocked in KC and I don't see how his value will ever be higher.

I wonder if the KC brass are feeling like Giovatella is forcing their hand? I'm not sure what the roster implications are, but I'd like to see how he does in KC's lineup, particularly now that Escobar is showing improvement.

I feel bad for CRob. He continues to produce and if it weren't for Hosmer would be in KC by now. I'm not sure why KC is holding on to him as he has to have some trade value. A power left handed bat who hits for average. He hasn't proven it at the MLB level but is ready.

I don't know how much longer Giavotella can remain in Omaha. Getz is doing alright, but Giavotella appears to be the future and is producing. After the All Star break?