Royals Farm Report: April 7

The Royals' minor league system is loaded, and it generated unprecedented media attention throughout the offseason. With the wait for the 2011 season finally over, three Kansas City affiliates took the field on the minor league version of opening day. Unfortunately, all three clubs lost. Inside, RC recaps the day's action.

AAA: Albuquerque 10, Omaha 5

L: Mike Montgomery (0-1, 9.00)
HR: Clint Robinson 2 (2)

The Omaha Storm Chasers opened a new chapter in club history on Thursday but unfortunately wound up on the losing end of their season opener against the Albuquerque Isotopes, 10-5. Mike Montgomery, making his first Triple-A start, took the loss after surrendering five runs (all earned) in 5.0 innings pitched.

The Storm Chasers actually got on the board first, thanks to a solo home run by Clint Robinson in the second inning. It was the first of two dingers on the day for the big designated hitter. Unfortunately, the Isotopes responded in the bottom of the second, plating four runs on five singles and a hit batter against Montgomery. The Chasers took advantage of some shoddy defense and well-timed hits in the top of the third, tying the game at 4-4.

However, the Isotopes came right back in their half of the inning, plating a run and taking a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. They added five more runs in the sixth against Omaha reliever Steven Shell, effectively putting the game out of reach.

On offense, every starter except shortstop Lance Zawadzki recorded a hit, and Eric Hosmer finished his Triple-A debut 2-for-5 with two sharp singles to center. The Storm Chasers and Isotopes square up again on Friday evening for the second game of their four-game set.

Other Notes: A scary moment occurred in the sixth inning, when right fielder David Lough collided with centerfielder Paulo Orlando on a fly ball in the gap. Lough was shaken up on the play and had to leave the game, but he was able to walk off the field under his own power.

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	AVG	Notes
Lough, RF	2	1	1	0	.500	BB, Left game in 6th inning
Falu, RF	2	0	2	0	1.000	Replaced injured Lough
Hosmer, 1B	5	1	2	0	.400	Fine Triple-A debut
Moustakas, 3B	5	1	1	1	.200	E (1)
Giavotella, 2B	5	0	1	0	.200	K
Robinson, DH	4	2	2	2	.500	2 HR (2), K
Pina, C	4	0	1	0	.250	K
Orlando, CF	4	0	1	0	.250
Blanco, LF	3	0	1	0	.333	2B (1), BB
Zawadzki, SS	5	0	0	0	.000	2 K

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Montgomery (L, 0-1)	5.0	6	5	5	2	3	0	9.00
Shell	1.0	5	5	5	0	1	0	45.00
Wood	1.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0.00
Holland	1.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0.00

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AA: San Antonio 3, NW Arkansas 2

L: Chris Dwyer (0-1, 6.75)
HR: Christian Colon (1)

NW Arkansas opened its Texas League title defense on Thursday against San Antonio, but unfortunately, the Missions outlasted the Naturals, 3-2. Chris Dwyer got tagged with the loss after allowing three runs on four hits and three walks over 4.0 innings pitched.

The Missions jumped on the young southpaw early, plating a pair of runs in the top of the first. The Naturals responded in the bottom of the first with a solo home run by Christian Colon, who was making his Double-A debut. The Missions took a 3-1 lead in the third inning, a score that stood until Colon stroked an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth.

Despite an excellent performance by the bullpen (no runs and just four hits over the final 5.0 innings), the Naturals couldn’t push across the tying run. They’ll match up again with the Missions on Friday night.

Other Notes: Prior to the game, the Naturals placed reliever Harold Mozingo and catcher Ryan Eigsti on the 7-day disabled list.

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	AVG	Notes
Robinson, CF	4	1	0	0	.000	SB (1), K
Colon, SS	4	1	2	2	.500	HR (1), CS (1)
Myers, RF	4	0	1	0	.250	K, CS (1)
Bianchi, 2B	2	0	1	0	.500	BB, SB (1)
Perez, C	2	0	0	0	.000	BB
Van Stratten, LF	3	0	1	0	.333	2 Assists
Romak, DH	4	0	0	0	.000	K
Mertins, 3B	3	0	0	0	.000
Seratelli, 1B	3	0	0	0	.000	K

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Dwyer (L, 0-1)	4.0	4	3	3	3	4	0	6.75
Johnson	3.0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0.00
Sisk	2.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0.00

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Low-A: Wisconsin 9, Kane County 3

L: Leonel Santiago (0-1, 11.25)
HR: Brett Eibner (1)

The Kane County Cougars on Thursday night dropped their first game as an affiliate of the Royals, 9-3. The Cougars took a brief 1-0 lead in the first inning, when Brett Eibner – in his first professional at bat – slammed an Austin Ross offering over the wall for a solo home run. Unfortunately, that was Kane County’s only real highlight.

The Timber Rattlers got to Kane County starter Leonel Santiago early, touching the young right-hander for three runs in the bottom of the first. They added three more in the bottom of the fifth, forcing Santiago from the game. Reliever Mitch Hodge wasn’t any better, as Wisconsin built up a 9-1 lead by the end of the sixth inning. The Cougars scratched across a pair of runs in the top of the seventh on RBI singles by Angel Franco and Ryan Jenkins, but it wasn’t nearly enough.

The Cougars and Timber Rattlers will play again on Friday night, in the second game of the clubs’ season-opening four-game series.

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	AVG	Notes
Llanos, DH	4	0	0	0	.000
Espinal, 2B	4	0	0	0	.000
Eibner, CF	3	2	1	1	.333	HR (1) in first AB, BB, K
Fletcher, LF	4	1	1	0	.250	3 K, E (1)
Watts, 1B	3	0	0	0	.000	BB, K, E (1)
Beltre, RF	4	0	2	0	.500
Franco, 3B	4	0	1	1	.250	E (1)
Jenkins, C	3	0	1	1	.333	K, PB (1)
Hall, SS	3	0	0	0	.000	K

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Santiago (L, 0-1)	4.0	7	6	5	2	5	1	11.25
Hodge	3.1	7	3	3	4	1	0	8.10
Odenbach	0.2	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.00