PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

5/1 Royals Game Notes

Published on May 1, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


MAY 1, 2008, 9:05 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (14-10) at Sacramento (14-12)

HOME: 9-5 (45-27 in ‘07) AWAY: 5-5 (28-44 in '07) vs. Sacramento: 1-2 (2-2 in '07)

TONIGHT: The Royals visit the River Cats in the finale of a 4-game series at Raley Field in Sacramento. The River Cats lead the series 2-1. Following tonight's contest, the Royals will continue the 8-game road trip with a 4-game series at Fresno. Tonight's 1st pitch is 9:05 p.m., with the pre-game show on the air at 8:45 p.m. on News Talk 1420 KOTK and at www.oroyals.com.

WEDNESDAY: Rats! Joe Gaetti, son of former Major League star Gary "The Rat" Gaetti, had 3 hits including a 2-run homer and a double in his Sacramento debut, leading the River Cats to a 4-1 win over the Royals. Gaetti, called up from Double-A Midland on Tuesday, homered off Tyler Lumsden with a runner on base in the 2nd inning to break a scoreless tie. Lumsden (1-2), who also surrendered a solo shot by Landon Powell in the 5th inning, took the loss after allowing 4 runs on 9 hits in 6.0 innings. Sacramento starter Lenny DiNardo (1-0), just sent down by Oakland, tossed 6.0 scoreless stanzas, yielding 3 hits and no walks, while striking out 4. ‘Cats reliever Brad Ziegler, who hasn't allowed an earned run in 10.1 innings this season, got the final 4 outs yesterday to record his 2nd save.

ROYALS REPORT: The Royals' lone run yesterday came on Ryan Shealy's 7th inning home run, his 3rd round-tripper in as many games - all coming in this series at Raley Field. The 3-game homer streak is the longest for a Royals batter since Justin Huber went deep in 4 consecutive contests August 1-4, 2007. Shealy has homered in 4 of Omaha's last 5 games. His 8 home runs on the season lead the team and are tied for 4th in the PCL. Shealy also has a hit in 5 of the past 6 tilts, batting .364 (8-for-22) with 5 RBI and 7 runs scored. The hot streak has upped his average 49 points to .218. *** Jorge De La Rosa has been dealt by KC to the Colorado Rockies. In yesterday's deal, the Rockies get De La Rosa and cash while the Royals will receive a player to be named later. In 4 starts with Omaha this season, the 27-year old lefty was 3-0 and his 1.64 ERA ranks 3rd in the PCL. He was named PCL Pitcher of the Week for April 14-20, becoming the 1st Omaha pitcher to earn that weekly honor since Brett Laxton did so on July 14, 2002. De La Rosa credited Omaha pitching coach Tom Burgmeier for his success this season. De La Rosa was officially assigned to Colorado Springs, but is expected to start for the Rockies Saturday at Coors Field vs. the Dodgers. *** The Royals finished the 1st month of the season at 14-10 and in 1st place in the PCL's American Conference North, 3.5 games ahead of 2nd-place Iowa. It marks Omaha's 1st winning April since 2006 (12-10). It's the 1st time the Royals have been in 1st place at the end of April since 2003, when Omaha was 15-12 and 1.0 game in front of Colorado Springs in the former PCL Central Division. Omaha finished in 4th place that year. *** In 24 games this season, the Royals have mashed 42 taters - the team's home run total ranks 2nd in the league to Albuquerque (43 HR). *** Lumsden's ERA dropped almost a full run after yesterday's start, but is still at 8.59. In his 5 starts, he has allowed 7 home runs, tied for 2nd-most in the loop. *** Mike Aviles and Shane Costa both extended hitting streaks with 1 hit Wednesday and each used a familiar weapon - the double - to do it. Costa's 2-base knock came in the 1st inning, extending his hit string to 7 games (.333, 10-for-33, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 10 R). Aviles' double came in the 6th and ran his streak to a team-high 12 games (.404, 21-for-52, 3 HR, 11 RBI). With 12 two-baggers apiece, the Royals duo are tied for 2nd in the PCL in that category. *** Matt Tupman went 0-for-4 yesterday, halting the Omaha catcher's hitting streak at 4 games. *** Reliever Brad Salmon finished Wednesday's contest by firing 2.0 innings of 1-hit, scoreless relief. Salmon has not allowed a run over 3.0 innings in 2 appearances this series and owns a 2.45 ERA in 4 road games this season, but has a 6.97 ERA in 5 outings at Rosenblatt Stadium.

STARTERS: RH Matt Wright (0-1, 6.00) vs. RH Rich Harden (NR)

Wright makes his 5th start of the season. The 26-year old right-hander's last outing was last Saturday vs. Nashville; he was not involved in the decision in the Royals' 13-9 defeat (4.0 IP, 6 H, 7 R-4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 3 HR). The 3 homers he allowed in that game marked just the 2nd time in 32 games (25 starts) over the past 2 seasons with Omaha that he has given up more than 2 round-trippers. The other such game was last August 18 vs. Albuquerque, when he surrendered 6 gopher balls in an 11-4 loss; he gave up only 15 home runs in his other 27 games (20 starts) last season. Wright was signed by KC as a minor league free agent prior to 2007 and spent the entire campaign with Omaha, going 10-5 and ranking 7th in the PCL with a 4.06 ERA. In 21 starts last season, he was 7-3 with a 4.01 ERA; he went 3-2 with a 4.32 ERA in 7 relief outings. His one appearance vs. Sacramento last season was a May 9 start; he was not involved in the decision as the Royals lost 10-2 (4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HR). Wright pitched well in tight spots last season, holding opponents to a .216 average with runners in scoring position and .193 with runners in scoring position and 2 outs. He won 6 of his 7 decisions at Rosenblatt Stadium last year, although his ERA was actually better on the road than at home (3.89 to 4.24). Following the season, he was a member of the gold-medal winning USA Baseball Team at the World Cup in Chinese Taipei, going 1-0 with a 1.00 ERA in 2 games (1 start). Prior to 2007, he spent his 1st 7 professional seasons in the Braves organization. He was named to the Carolina League All-Star team in 2004, when he ranked 6th in Atlanta's system with 133 strikeouts for Myrtle Beach. Wright was selected by the Braves in the 21st round of the 2000 draft out of Robinson High School in Texas.

PROBABLES FOR SERIES AT FRESNO:

Fri., 9:05 p.m.: TBA vs. RH Brooks McNiven (NR)

Sat., 9:05 p.m.: RH Brandon Duckworth (1-1, 3.92) vs. RH Victor Santos (2-0, 4.23)

Sun., 4:05 p.m.: RH Kyle Davies (3-1, 1.80) vs. RH Nick Pereira (2-2, 5.47)

Mon., 2:05 p.m. LH Tyler Lumsden (1-2, 8.59) vs. RH Matt Palmer (1-3, 6.67)

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 1, 2008


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