7/24 Royals Game Notes
Published on July 24, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
TONIGHT: The Royals visit Cashman Field, taking on the Las Vegas 51s in a 9:05 p.m. game. It's game 3 of a 4-game series, which is tied 1-1. The pre-game show airs at 8:45 p.m. on News Talk 1420 KOTK and at www.oroyals.com.
LAST NIGHT: Mitch Jones has 5 RBI for Las Vegas, 4 coming on a 1st inning grand slam that keyed the 51s to an 11-6 victory. Mitch Maier knocked in 3 runs for the Royals, with his 2-run homer in the 6th cutting Las Vegas' lead to 6-5. But, the 51s scored 3 runs in their half of the 6th, getting 4 hits off Jeff Fulchino in his only inning of relief, to pull away. B.J. LaMura (1-1) picked up the win, allowing 3 runs on 8 hits over 5.0 frames. Brandon Duckworth (3-11) absorbed the loss, surrendering 6 runs on 7 hits and 5 walks in 5.0 innings.
ROYALS REPORT: Maier was recalled by KC today, as the Royals placed Joey Gathright on the disabled list with a bone bruise in his right shoulder. Maier hit .316 with 9 home runs, 41 RBI and 57 runs scored in 85 games with Omaha. The 26-year old center fielder was riding an 8-game hitting streak, hitting at a .343 clip (12-for-35) over that span, with 2 homers, 7 RBI and 7 runs scored. In 22 games in July, Maier was batting .356, has walked 14 times and scored 19 runs. This will be the 2nd trip to the big leagues for Maier. The Royals' 1st round pick (30th overall) in the 2003 draft out of the University of Toledo played in 5 games with KC in September 2006. *** Duckworth has taken the loss in 5 consecutive starts and has lost 12 of his last 13 decisions dating back to May 20th. He has given up 13 earned runs in 10.0 innings over his last 2 outings, jumping his ERA 70 points to 5.04. His 11 losses are 2nd-most in the PCL. Chris Narveson of Nashville leads the league with 12 losses. *** The grand slam off Duckworth in the 1st inning Wednesday night was the 6th hit off a Royals pitcher this season. That is the most grand slams surrendered by Omaha's staff since the 2005 season, when opposing batters homered 7 times with the bases full. Royals pitchers had served up just 3 slams over the past 2 campaigns combined. *** Ryan Shealy went 0-for-4 last night, halting his hitting streak at 12 games. It was the 3rd-longest hit string for a Royals batter this season - Mike Aviles had a 15-gamer and Maier strung together a 19-tilt string. Shealy has hit in 19 of his last 21 games, batting .400 (32-for-80) with 4 round-trippers and 14 RBI. *** Mike Stodolka had a season-best 4 hits last night and is riding a season-high, 8-game hit streak. Over that span, he's hitting at a torrid .500 pace (16-for-32) with 2 home runs, 6 RBI and 6 runs scored. The streak has upped his average from .232 to 278. *** Jason Smith has hit in 3 consecutive contests, going 5-for-14 (.357) with a homer and 3 RBI, after going 1-for-20 in his previous 5 games. *** Matt Tupman collected 2 more hits and 2 RBI Wednesday night. He's 7-for-17 (.412) with 4 doubles and 5 RBI over his last 4 games, on the heels of a 2-for-46 (.043) slide in his previous 14 contests. *** Prior to giving up 3 runs in 1.0 inning last night, Fulchino had not allowed a run in 3.2 innings over his last 3 relief appearances. *** Devon Lowery, the last pitcher to take the mound for Omaha last night, surrendered 2 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks in 2.0 frames, with no strikeouts. The right-hander owns a 4.05 ERA in July, after posting a 2.45 ERA in June and a 1.47 mark in May.
STARTERS: LH Dusty Hughes (2-0, 4.03) vs. RH Miguel Pinango (4-6, 5.71)
Hughes makes his 6th Triple-A start. The 26-year old lefty's last outing was last Saturday vs. Round Rock, when he got the win in Omaha's 9-2 rout (7.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 4 K). Hughes had a memorable Triple-A debut on June 22 at New Orleans, combining with Devon Lowery on a 5-hitter to lead the Royals to a 3-0 victory. He opened this season with Double-A Northwest Arkansas. In 20 games (4 starts) with the Naturals he was 5-2 with a 2.91 ERA and 3 saves. In 2007, Hughes was named by KC as Double-A Wichita's Pitcher of the Year, after he went 6-2 with a 3.08 ERA and 1 save in 25 games (16 starts). In 108.0 innings last year, he surrendered only 5 home runs. Following last season, he was 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA in 6 starts for the Surprise Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, earning AFL Pitcher of the Year honors in a fan vote. Last year was an impressive rebound by Hughes, who missed the entire 2006 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Entering this season, he was ranked by Baseball America as KC's #28 prospect. On April 12, 2004, he combined with Burlington (IA) reliever Jake Mullis on a no-hitter. In his 1st professional season, he was named the 2003 Pitcher of the Year for the Surprise Royals of the Rookie Arizona League, after going 5-2 and ranking 4th in the league with a 2.84 ERA. Hughes was selected by KC in the 11th round of the 2003 draft out of Delta State University in Mississippi, where he earned all-conference and team MVP honors as a junior and senior. He led the Statesmen to the Division II World Series in both 2001 and 2002. The Tupelo, Mississippi native was selected by the Marlins in the 50th round of the 2002 draft, but did not sign.
Pacific Coast League Stories from July 24, 2008
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- Outfielder One Of Four Players Added To Round Out 24-Man Roster Headed To Beijing In August - Fresno Grizzlies
- 7/24 Royals Game Notes - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Beavers place newly acquired pitcher Chad Reineke on active roster - Portland Beavers
- Royals Place Joey Gathright on 15-Day D.L., Recall Outfielder Mitch Maier - Omaha Storm Chasers
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- Angels Option Bulger to Salt Lake - Salt Lake Bees
- Oklahoma RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets
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