Royals Game Notes
July 26, 2007 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
JULY 26, 2007, 6:00 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (50-54) @ Salt Lake Bees (53-51)
HOME: 33-18 (31-41 in ‘06) AWAY: 17-36 (22-50 in '06) vs. Salt Lake: 1-0 (2-2 in '06)
TONIGHT: The Royals visit Franklin Covey Field for a 6:00 p.m. doubleheader with the Salt Lake Bees. It's game 2 and 3 of a 4-game series, which Omaha leads 1-0. Air-time is 5:40 p.m. on News Talk 1420 KOTK and at www.Oroyals.com.
LAST NIGHT: The Royals and Bees were rained out, forcing tonight's twinbill.
ROYALS REPORT: Reliever Ryan Braun, who was optioned back to Omaha to make room for Scott Elarton, is expected to rejoin the team tonight. Elarton was released by KC yesterday, after going 2-4 with a 10.46 ERA in 9 starts. The parent club has not announced what move will be made to fill his roster and rotation spot. *** Over the past 7 games, Mike Aviles is 12-for-30 (.400) with 4 doubles, a triple, 3 home runs and 8 RBI. *** Ryan Shealy has hit in all 4 games of his 2nd rehab assignment for a strained left hamstring. He's 5-for-17 (.294) and Tuesday night collected the 1st double, as well as his 1st home run, of his current assignment. *** Shane Costa has put together a 10-game hit string. During the streak, he's batting .395 (17-43) with a home run, 4 RBI and 9 runs scored. Of his 7 hits in the last 3 games, 5 have been doubles. *** Roberto Giron's save Tuesday night was his 1st since June 1. Over his last 8 appearances, he has a 0.92 ERA (2 ER in 19.2 IP, 4 BB, 25 K). *** Angel Berroa is batting .483 (14-29) during his current 8-game hitting streak. He has also hit in 11 of the past 12 contests, batting .467 (21-45) with 4 home runs, 13 RBI and 13 runs scored. *** Omaha is 1-0-1 in twinbills this season.
GAME 1 STARTERS: RH Luke Hochevar (0-1, 4.50) vs. RH Kasey Olenberger (8-4, 4.51)
Hochevar, who was KC's 1st-ever number one overall pick in the 2006 draft, makes his 3rd start for Omaha. The 23-year old right-hander's last outing was last Friday vs. Memphis (5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 4 K); he was not involved in the decision in the Royals' 3-1 victory. Hochevar opened the season with Double-A Wichita. He was 3-6 with a 4.69 ERA in 17 games (16 starts) for the Wranglers (94.0 IP, 110 H, 26 BB, 94 K, 13 HR). At the time of his promotion, his 94 strikeouts led the Texas League. Hochevar's best month was June, as he posted a 3.23 ERA in 5 starts, although he had an 0-1 record to show for it. On June 26, Hochevar started for the North team in the 2007 Texas League All-Star Game. Earlier this month, he pitched for the U.S. team at the All-Star Futures Game in San Francisco, firing a scoreless inning. After signing with KC on August 4, 2006, Hochevar made 4 starts for Class-A Burlington (IA), going 0-1 with a 1.17 ERA. He also made 2 starts for Wichita in the playoffs last season, going 1-1 with a 9.82 ERA. Hochevar made just 3 starts in the Arizona Fall League for Grand Canyon before being shut down with shoulder soreness; he was 0-0 with an 8.64 ERA in those 3 outings. Entering this season, he was ranked by Baseball America as KC's #2 prospect, behind only Alex Gordon, and was tabbed as having the Best Curveball in the Royals' system. A Colorado native, he was a 3-year standout at the University of Tennessee, finishing his college career with a 25-10 record and a 3.05 ERA. His 287 career strikeouts ranked 2nd in school history. As a junior in 2005, he went 15-3 with a 2.26 ERA, helping lead the Vols to the College World Series. Following the season, he won numerous honors, including the Roger Clemens National Pitcher of the Year award. He was a supplemental 1st round pick of the Dodgers in the 2005 draft, but did not sign. His father, Brian, played pro basketball with the Denver Nuggets in 1979.
GAME 2 STARTERS: LH Tyler Lumsden (6-5, 6.45) vs. RH Pedro Liriano (3-11, 6.27)
Lumsden makes his 18th start and 19th appearance of the season. The 24-year old lefty's last start was last Saturday vs. Memphis, when he picked up his 1st win since June 2 in the Royals' 9-3 victory (5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R-1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K). In his previous 6 starts, Lumsden was 0-2 with a 10.22 ERA. That rough stretch followed a 3-start winning streak May 22-June 2, when he posted a 3.44 ERA. Entering this season, Lumsden was ranked by Baseball America as KC's #5 prospect and 2nd-best pitching prospect. He was acquired by KC along with right-hander Daniel Cortes from the Chicago White Sox last July, in a trade for reliever Mike MacDougal. After missing the entire 2005 season following surgery on his left elbow, Lumsden was terrific in 2006. In 20 starts for Double-A Birmingham, he was 9-4 with a 2.69 ERA, which ranked 4th in the Southern League. After the trade to KC, he made 7 appearances (6 starts) for Double-A Wichita, going 2-1 with a 3.06 ERA. Lumsden was selected by the White Sox as a sandwich pick between the 1st and 2nd rounds (34th overall) of the 2004 draft, out of Clemson. He compiled a 17-7 record in his 3 seasons at Clemson and pitched for the Tigers in the 2002 College World Series.
PROBABLES FOR REMAINDER OF SERIES:
Fri., 8:05: RH Matt Wright (6-3, 3.82) vs. RH Ervin Santana (0-1, 1.29)
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