June 04, 2012; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals second baseman Johnny Giavotella (9) connects for a single in the fourth inning of the game against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-US PRESSWIRE

After watching Reno score three runs in the top of the 3rd inning, Omaha came back with four runs of their own and another two runs in the 4th inning to win 6-3. Johnny Giavotella and Tony Abreu (the 2-3 hitters) went a combined 4-for-8 with five RBIs.

Doug Davis rebounded from the rough 3rd inning to complete six innings and earn the victory. He allowed those three runs on six hits and three walks. He struck out eight and picked off a base runner.

It was a cool 111 degrees in Tulsa, as NW Arkansas lost 6-4. Noel Arguelles struggled through four innings, as he allowed six runs (five earned) on seven hits and five walks, a hit batter, and two wild pitches. Sam Runion made his Double-A debut with 1.1 scoreless innings of relief.

On offense, the Naturals out-hit the Drillers 11-9, but went 4-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Their 3-4 hitters, Brian Fletcher and Kevin Kouzmanoff, went a combined 4-for-9 with three runs scored.

Wilmington beat Winston-Salem, 9-4. Matt Ridings was the beneficiary of alot of offense. He allowed three runs on five hits over 6.1 innings. He struck out four.

The Blue Rocks collected 11 hits, with Geulin Beltre hitting a two-run homerun (2-for-4). Murray Watts and Orlando Calixte also collected two hits in the win (Watts drove in three runs), while Whit Merrifield went 3-for-4.

Despite scoring five runs in the top of the 5th inning, Kane  County lost to Beloit, 8-6. The Cougars scored a run in the top of the 7th inning to tie the game, but Casey Fassold allowed a run in the bottom of the inning. That was the only run he allowed over three innings of relief while striking out five.

Tim Ferguson went 2-for-4 with two runs scored while also throwing a runner out at second base.

Bubba Watch: Bubba Starling went 0-for-5 in Burlington’s 3-2 loss at Elizabethton in 11 innings.

The Storm Chasers collected five hits, with two each coming from Max Ramirez and Mitch Maier (the seventh and eighth hitters in the lineup).

Guess what? NW Arkansas is playing Springfield again (this is the third series in a span of 16 days, which will total 12 games) and they of course lost (considering they haven’t won a game). The Naturals lost 4-2 as Noel Arguelles returned from the inactive list (reliever Bryan Paukovits was placed on the DL) and allowed four runs in the top of the 6th inning. He faced five batters in the 6th inning and did not record an out. His final line looked like this: 5IP, 7H, 4R, 3BB, 3K. Brendan Lafferty entered with the bases loaded and allowed two runners to score.

The Naturals scored two runs in the bottom of the 9th inning. They had the tying run on second base and the winning run on first, but pinch-hitter Paulo Orlando struck out.

Blue Rocks first baseman Matt Fields

After allowing a run in the top of the first inning, Wilmington starter Brooks Pounders was on cruise control, as the Blue Rocks won their series opener against Carolina, 6-2. Pounders allowed that one run on four hits over six innings. He struck out six.

The Blue Rocks offense scored two runs each in three innings: the fourth, sixth, and seventh. Matt Fields hit his 12th homerun of his short career with the KC Royals, as he went 2-for-4. Cheslor Cuthbert and Orlando Calixte also collected two hits in the win. Those three were the Blue Rocks 4-5-6 hitters in the lineup.

Wilmington made two roster moves today. Pitcher Leondy Perez came off the DL after a few months there (and making three appearances in the AZL). Outfielder Roman Hernandez, who has not played since July 16th, went on the DL.

Kane County was swept by Wisconsin, as they lost Friday’s finale, 4-1. There were a little over 10,000 fans in attendance to see the Cougars collect just two hits. They didn’t pick up their first hit until Tim Ferguson singled with one out in the 6th inning.

Bryan Brickhouse was the hard luck loser, as he allowed one run on three hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out six.

Bubba Watch: Bubba Starling went 1-for-4 with a double, a walk, and a run scored in Burlington’s 9-7 victory. He also grounded into a double play. His double came in the Royals six-run 5th inning.

The Express comeback negated the solid start from Doug Davis, who allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits over six innings. He struck out five. Tommy Hottovy then followed with two hitless innings of relief before Round Rock got to the rest of the Storm Chasers bullpen.

David Lough, Anthony Seratelli, and Derrick Robinson each picked up two hits. Tony Abreu went 3-for-6 in the loss.

NW Arkansas lost again to Springfield, this time by a score of 8-3. The Cardinals scored four runs in the first and eighth innings. Sugar Ray Marimon took the loss, as he allowed four runs on four hits (two homeruns) and two walks over five innings.

The Naturals collected six hits with Paulo Orlando and Brian Fletcher having two each. Jason Kendall started behind the plate and went 0-for-1 (he caught three innings).

Whit Merrifield

Wilmington picked up the sweep at Salem with a 4-1 victory on Sunday. Whit Merrifield led off the game with a homerun for the Blue Rocks. Matt Fields (2-for-3) hit a two-run homerun in the Blue Rocks three run 4th inning.

Brooks Pounders picked up his third Carolina League victory, as he allowed two runs on four hits and four walks over 5.2 innings.

Kane County scored four runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back en route to their 6-2 win at Dayton. Jorge Bonifacio hit the first of his two homeruns in the first inning (a three-run shot).

Aaron Brooks picked up the win, as he allowed two runs on six hits over seven innings. He struck out six. Jason Mitchell followed with two scoreless innings of relief to pick up the save (he allowed just one hit).

Bubba Watch: Bubba Starling went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts in Burlington’s 9-3 win.

Veteran Doug Davis courtesy of Minda Haas (Royal Blues)

Omaha lost to OKC in a hot day game, 7-6 in ten innings. Doug Davis got the start (it was suspected that he might make the start for the KC Royals on Tuesday night, but no such luck). Davis left with the lead (6IP, 9H, 5R, 0BB, 5K).

Francisley Bueno allowed a run in the 7th inning to tie the game and it would stay that way until the 10th inning when Fernando Martinez hit a solo homerun off Jeremy Jeffress. The Storm Chasers had their chance in the bottom of the 10th inning, but Mitch Maier flied out with the tying run on base (he struck out three times in five at-bats).

The top two in the Storm Chasers order, Irving Falu and Johnny Giavotella, went a combined 4-for-9 with three runs scored.

NW Arkansas has now lost six in a row, as they lost to Arkansas, 6-4. The Travelers scored three runs in the top of the 9th inning to take the lead for good. That negated the solid start from Sugar Ray Marimon, who allowed two runs on four hits and three walks over 6.2 innings. He struck out three.

Brian Fletcher hit a two-run homerun in the first inning to give the Naturals a quick 2-0 lead. It was his third homerun in two games.

Wilmington continues to struggle against Myrtle Beach (losing four of their last five), as they lost to the Pelicans, 7-2. The Blue Rocks collected just five hits, with one of the runs coming via Cheslor Cuthbert‘s solo homerun in the 8th inning.

Pelicans starter Luke Jackson struck out 12 over just five innings of work.

Kane County had Tuesday off and will begin a six-game road trip beginning against Bowling Green on Wednesday night.

Bubba Watch: Bubba Starling went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts in Burlington’s 4-2 win over Danville.

When the Zephyrs cut the deficit to 5-3 in the 7th inning, the Storm Chasers came right back with three runs of their own. Those three runs came via Wil Myers‘ 13th homerun in Triple-A. David Lough went 3-for-4 with a triple (his ninth of the season) and Anthony Seratelli drove in three runs.

In their first game following the All-Star Game, NW Arkansas lost to Corpus Christi, 3-1. Chris Dwyer put together a strong start (5.2IP, 5H, 2R, 3BB, 3K), but took the loss.

Yem Prades went 2-for-5 in the leadoff spot. Brian Fletcher collected his first double in Double-A.

Edwin Carl

The Wilmington Blue Rocks assured themselves of a series victory over Lynchburg, as they also took Game 2 tonight at home, 3-0. The two teams combined for just eight hits. It was all about the pitching, especially from the Blue Rocks and from an unexpected source. Chase Boruff got the start (just his third of the season) and allowed two hits over four innings. Edwin Carl followed with five scoreless innings of relief to pick up the win. He allowed one hit while striking out eight.

The game was scoreless until Cheslor Cuthbert drove in the game’s first run in the bottom of the 6th inning. Seldom-used Luis Piterson drove in two runs with a two out RBI single in the 7th inning.

Kane County has also assured themselves of a series victory over Burlington, as they also took Game 2 tonight at home, 8-1. The Cougars pounded out 16 hits and scored seven runs over the third and fourth innings. Seven of the nine starters had multi-hit games.

2012 draft pick Andrew Triggs allowed an unearned run on six hits over six innings to pick up his first professional victory. He struck out five. His errant pickoff throw caused the run to score. That followed the start of Kyle Smith, who pitched three shutout innings. He has not allowed a run in two starts for the Cougars.

Bubba Watch: Bubba Starling collected his first professional hit, a single in the first inning of Burlington’s 6-0 win in Johnson City. He played centerfield, batted third in the order, and went 1-for-4 with a walk.

June 04, 2012; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Will Smith (53) delivers a pitch in the fourth inning of the game against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-US PRESSWIRE

Omaha beat OKC, 5-1 behind the left arm of starter Will Smith. He allowed an unearned run on five hits over 7.2 innings. He struck out seven and did not walk a batter. Smith threw 103 pitches, 80 for strikes.

Max Ramirez and Kevin Kouzmanoff each had two hits. Every Storm Chaser had at least on hit except catcher Cody Clark.

Wilmington‘s offense came to life in Potomac, as they won 11-2. With the Blue Rocks leading 2-1 heading into the 5th inning, they scored three runs each over the next three innings to pull away. Cheslor Cuthbert hit a two-run homerun in the 6th inning (he went 2-for-4 with four RBIs). Orlando Calixte and Roman Hernandez also collected two hits. Those three combined to score seven runs.

That offense made a winner of Brooks Pounders, who picked up his first Carolina League victory. The bullpen combo of Cole White and Nick Graffeo threw 3.2 innings of scoreless relief.

Kane County lost to Beloit, 8-0. The Cougars collected just three hits in the loss. Matthew Summers of Beloit pitched a complete game.

The Cougars made two more errors, giving third baseman Michael Antonio 17 and second baseman Daniel Mateo 22 on the season.

2012 draft pick (19th round) Andrew Triggs made his Cougars debut with a scoreless inning of relief. He allowed a hit but struck out two.

*Bubba Starling still has not played in a game.

May 6, 2012; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Tommy Hottovy (46) delivers a pitch against the New York Yankees during the seventh inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-US PRESSWIRE

Omaha continued their hot streak Wednesday afternoon, as they finished up their four-game sweep in Iowa with a 5-2 victory. The Storm Chasers have now won eight in a row as they head to Nashville for a four-game series.

Veteran Doug Davis made his first start with Omaha and picked up his first victory, as he allowed two runs on six hits over 5.1 innings. Tommy Hottovy was once again dominant in picking up his sixth save of the season. He pitched two perfect innings while striking out three.

Irving Falu hit his fourth homerun of the season, batting from the leadoff spot. He went 2-for-5, as did Anthony Seratelli.

A four-run bottom of the first inning sent NW Arkansas to their fourth loss in a row, as they were swept by first-place Tulsa by a 6-2 final. The Naturals collected 11 hits, but went just 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position.

Mario Lisson collected three doubles and Paulo Orlando went 3-for-4, but neither scored a run.

Noel Arguelles took the loss. He allowed five runs on eight hits and two walks over 5.1 innings.

With the rain out on Tuesday, Wilmington and Salem played a doubleheader on Wednesday night. The Blue Rocks lost Game 1, 3-2 and Game 2, 3-0. The Blue Rocks collected just nine hits in the two games. Since Lynchburg won their doubleheader on Tuesday night, they clinched the first half crown in the Carolina League’s Northern Division.

After a fielding error on a sac bunt with one out in the top of the 7th inning, Nick Rogers entered the game. He ended up striking out the side, but allowed a two-run single that gave Salem the 3-2 lead.

Yordano Ventura started for the Blue Rocks and allowed one run (on a solo homerun) on four hits and three walks over five innings (he left with the lead). He struck out eight.

In Game 2, Brooks Pounders made his first start for the Blue Rocks. He was greeted rudely by Red Sox first baseman and CL All-Star Travis Shaw. Shaw homered in the first inning and doubled in two runs in the 3rd inning. Pounders only allowed four hits, two to Shaw, over six innings. He struck out six.

Kane County scored two runs in the top of the 9th inning to increase their lead over Quad Cities, only to see the River Bandits score three runs in the bottom of the 9th and win 6-5 in walk-off fashion in the 10th inning. Matt Ridings took the loss, as he allowed the walk-off double by Anthony Garcia (he recorded just one out).

Four of the Cougars’ five runs were driven in by Jorge Bonifacio, who went 2-for-5. Daniel Mateo also had two hits, while Dean Espy went 3-for-5.