PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Royals game notes

Published on June 30, 2006 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


JUNE 30, 2006, 7:05 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (30-50) vs. Iowa Cubs (38-41)

HOME: 16-19 (35-37 in '05) AWAY: 14-31 (37-35 in '05) vs. Iowa: 2-3 (8-8 in '05)

TONIGHT: The Royals open a 4-game home stand vs. the Iowa Cubs with a 7:05 p.m. game at Rosenblatt Stadium. Omaha is coming off being swept in a 4-game series at Albuquerque, finishing 5-12 on the College World Series road trip. Tonight, the Royals annual Tribute to the Negro Leagues is presented by NP Dodge, KETV and US 93.3. Air-time is 6:45 p.m. on Magic 1490 and at www.Oroyals.com.

LAST NIGHT: Albuquerque rallied from a 7-1 deficit after two-and-a-half innings to defeat the Royals 10-7 and sweep the 4-game series, handing Omaha its 5th consecutive loss. The Isotopes scored 3 runs in the 3rd inning and 6 runs in the 4th, all off left-hander Donnovan Osborne (0-3), who was charged with 10 runs - 8 earned - on 11 hits in 3.0 innings. He came on in relief to begin the bottom of the 2nd, after Royals starter Runelvys Hernandez had worked a hitless 1st inning but suffered a blood blister on a toe of his left foot. Renyel Pinto (7-2) improved to 3-0 vs. the Royals, despite allowing 7 runs on 9 hits over 5.0 frames. Brad Clontz worked a scoreless 9th inning for his 14th save of the season and 3rd of the series.

ROYALS REPORT: Justin Huber went 3-for-5 with 3 RBI last night, finishing a triple shy of the cycle. He belted his 10th home run of the season, a 2-run shot that capped a 3-run 1st inning. It was Huber's 1st homer in his last 17 games; his 1st 9 came in 44 contests. *** Aaron Guiel was 4-for-5 and scored twice last night. Guiel is 7-for-12 with 2 home runs and 3 RBI over the past 3 games, pulling out of an 11-for-65 (.169) skid in his previous 18 tilts. *** Ruben Gotay hit a 3-run homer in the 3rd inning last night, putting Omaha ahead 7-1. In his last 5 games, Gotay is 7-for-17 (.412) with 9 RBI. *** Shane Costa went 0-for-3 with a walk last night, halting his 7-game hit string. He hit .400 (12-30) with 2 homers, 6 RBI and 8 runs scored during the streak. *** Chad Allen is 1-for-13 over his last 4 games after hitting at a torrid .413 (38-92) clip in his 24 prior starts. *** Andres Blanco is in a 5-for-40 (.125) slump. *** After last night's rough outing, Osborne's ERA jumped from 3.97 to 8.16 (13 ER in 14.1 IP). *** Shane Loux fired 3.0 innings of 1-hit relief last night. He has posted a 2.25 ERA (2 ER in 8.0 IP) over his last 4 outings. *** Joe Nelson finished last night's contest with a scoreless 8th inning, his 5th consecutive scoreless outing, covering 5.2 innings. *** In player moves today: right-hander Luke Hudson was called up by KC. In 13 games, including 2 starts, with Omaha Hudson was 2-0 with a 2.80 ERA and 1 save, walking just 7 batters in 35.1 innings. Hudson opened the season with KC, going 0-3 with an 8.74 ERA in 9 relief appearances in April Hudson, who was tonight's scheduled starter for Omaha, will be replaced by right-hander Kyle Middleton. He will make his Triple-A debut, after beginning the season at Double-A Wichita, where he was 5-3 with a 4.17 ERA and 1 save in 16 games (15 starts). And right-hander Chris Booker also joins Omaha to continue a rehab assignment for KC. The Royals claimed Booker off waivers from the Phillies on May 12. He had been placed on the disabled list by Philadelphia March 29 with left knee inflammation and had made 6 rehab appearances for Clearwater (A) and Scranton-Wilkes Barre (AAA) in April. The Royals put him on the disabled list with a groin injury on May 15. In 4 rehab outings for Wichita (AA) this month, Booker had no record and a 4.15 ERA.

STARTERS: RH Jae Kuk-Ryu (2-6, 3.84) vs. Kyle Middleton (0-0, 0.00)

Middleton makes his Triple-A debut. This is 7th season in the Royals' organization. He opened this season with Double-A Wichita, where he spent the 2004 and 2005 seasons. In 16 games (15 starts) for the Wranglers this season, the 26-year old right-hander went 5-3 with a 4.17 ERA and 1 save (86.1 IP, 108 H, 29 BB, 63 K, 8 HR). Middleton's last start was June 24 vs. Frisco, when he picked up the win (5.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R-2 ER, 4 BB, 8 K). Middleton was named to the 2005 Texas League All-Star team. He was 10-9 with a 5.31 ERA in 28 starts for the Wranglers, ranking 3rd in the league with 171.1 innings pitched. He was selected by KC in the 49th round of the 1999 draft out of Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton, Alabama.

PROBABLES FOR REMAINDER OF SERIES:

Sat., 6:05: LH Rich Hill (5-1, 1.91) vs. RH Brian Boehringer (1-4, 3.38)

Sun., 6:05: LH Ryan O'Malley (4-4, 4.50) vs. RH Denny Bautista (0-2, 6.88)

Mon., 6:05: LH Les Walrond (7-2, 3.55) vs. RH Ryan Baerlocher (3-3, 3.78)

Check out the Omaha Storm Chasers Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 30, 2006


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