9/3 Game Notes
Published on September 3, 2006 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
TODAY: It's the penultimate game of the 2006 campaign, as the Royals host the Iowa Cubs, with a 1:35 first pitch at Rosenblatt Stadium. It's Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Day, featuring a breast cancer survivors walk on the field before the game. To show awareness, Royals players will wear pink wristbands. All kids are invited to run the pink bases after the game, as part of Family Fun Day, presented by KPTM Fox 42. It's also the final Hyundai Sunday; one lucky fan could drive away in a new Hyundai. Air-time for the game broadcast is 1:35 p.m. on Magic 1490 and at www.Oroyals.com.
LAST NIGHT: The Iowa Cubs crept to within a game of first place in the PCL's American Conference North. The Cubs smashed 5 home runs in an 8-2 romp over the Royals, while the first place Sounds were getting whipped 14-3 by Round Rock in Nashville. At Rosenblatt, 5 different Cubs went deep as Iowa pounded out 15 hits off 3 Royals pitchers. Cubs starter Jae-Kuk Ryu (8-8) gave up just 2 runs - 1 earned - over 8.0 innings for the win. Omaha managed just 5 hits off Ryu, while Andy Shipman hurled a perfect 9th inning. Kyle Middleton (0-8) absorbed another defeat, surrendering 10 hits and 4 runs in 6.0 stanzas.
ROYALS REPORT: Middleton's 1st career Triple-A victory will apparently have to wait until at least next season. The 26-year old right-hander finished 0-8 in 14 starts for Omaha, although his 5.33 ERA was not that high by PCL standards. He went 5-3 with a 4.17 ERA for Wichita to begin this season. *** The 5 home runs clouted by the I-Cubs last night marked the first time this season a Royals opponent had gone deep more than 4 times in a contest. *** Kerry Robinson coaxed 2 more walks Saturday night, scoring after his 6th inning free pass. "K-Rob" has walked 4 times in the first 2 games of this series and 11 times over the past 8 tilts. *** Shane Costa's double plated Robinson in the 6th and extended his hitting streak to 5 games. He's 7-for-20 (.350) with 4 RBI over that stretch and is hitting .342 in 52 games for Omaha on the season. *** Ricky Bell has also strung together 5 consecutive contests with at least 1 base knock. Bell is 7-for-21 (.333) and has driven in 2 runs. *** Paul Phillips went hitless in 4 at-bats Saturday night, halting his hit streak at 6 games, which had equaled his longest of the year. *** Omaha has finished with a 45-68 (.398) record in night games. With 2 day time affairs left to play, the Royals will try to improve on their 8-21 (.276) mark in the daytime.
STARTERS: RH Randy Wells (4-5, 5.29) vs. RH Bobby Keppel (6-6, 5.44) Keppel makes his 14th start (25th appearance) for Omaha. The 24-year old right-hander's last outing was a start at New Orleans last Tuesday, when he got the win in a 5-3 victory (5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 3 K). In 2 relief appearances vs. Iowa this season, Keppel is 1-0 and has fired 2.0 hitless innings Keppel opened the season in Omaha's rotation, going 3-4 with a 5.00 ERA in 9 starts before being called up by KC on May 25. He went 0-4 with a 5.50 ERA in 8 games (6 starts) for KC, before being sent back down to Omaha on July 3. In Keppel's 2nd stint here, 11 of his 1st 12 trips to the hill came in relief. However, this will be his 4th consecutive start. He's 2-1 with a 2.38 ERA (6 ER in 22.2 IP) over his last 6 games (3 starts), after going 0-1 with a 32.79 ERA (17 ER in 4.2 IP) in his 3 previous games. Keppel missed most of the 2005 season with a right shoulder injury, only making 5 starts for the Mets' Triple-A club at Norfolk. He went 2-1 with a 3.29 ERA, walking just 6 batters while striking out 19 in 27.1 innings. The St. Louis native was signed by KC as a minor league free agent on August 23, 2005 after being released by the Mets last May. Keppel was selected by the Mets in the 1st round (36th overall) of the 2000 draft, after being named the Missouri State High School Athlete of the Year in his senior year at Desmet Jesuit High.
PROBABLES FOR REMAINDER OF SERIES: Mon., 1:35: RH Wilton Chavez (6-4, 4.54) vs. RH Mike Wood (0-1, 5.91)
Pacific Coast League Stories from September 3, 2006
- Sidewinders reach 91 wins - Tucson Sidewinders
- Isotopes top RedHawks 7-4, win fourth straight - Albuquerque Isotopes
- RedHawks clinch second despite loss - Oklahoma City Comets
- Sounds clinch division title with 4-2 win - Nashville Sounds
- Z's shut out by Memphis - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Bees edge Beavers 8-6 - Portland Beavers
- Oklahoma RedHawks Game Notes Sept. 3 - Oklahoma City Comets
- 9/3 Game Notes - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Sidewinders Stifle Late Rally, Hold Off Rainers - Tucson Sidewinders
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