PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Fresno edges Omaha to gain series split

Published on May 18, 2004 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


OMAHA – The Omaha Royals bid to post their first winning series of the season came up short Tuesday, as Fresno gained a split of the four-game set with a 2-1 victory. The loss for Omaha gave the Royals a 3-5 record on all three of their home stands in 2004.

Fresno shortstop Cody Ransom must have felt like his bat was kidnapped Monday night when he struck out all four trips to the plate. But, you'll have to excuse Ransom if he felt like he was king of the world on Tuesday, as he went 4-for-4. That included a solo homer off Chris George (1-2) in the fourth inning that tied the contest at 1-all. It was the first home run allowed this season by George and it snapped a scoreless streak of 17-and-two-thirds-innings for the Omaha left-hander.

With one out in the top of the fifth, George just missed the strike zone on a couple of pitches to Dave Doster, before walking him. Jason Ellison's single to right sent Doster to third and Todd Linden drove in the deciding run with a sacrifice fly to deep center.

Three Fresno relievers combined to blank the Royals over the final five frames. Chad Zerbe (1-2) picked up his first win of the year with two scoreless innings. Hard-throwing Dave Aardsma added two shutout stanzas, working out of a jam in the eighth when the Royals had runners at first and second with one away. Aardsma fanned Corey Hart on a 2-2 slider and then got David DeJesus to hit a grounder to short for an inning-ending force play.

In the ninth, Fresno closer Dave Veres allowed a one-out single to Gookie Dawkins, but induced Alberto Castillo to ground into a 6-4 fielder's choice, then got Alexis Gomez on a worm-killer to second base to end the game and record his sixth save.

The Royals left seven runners on base and hit into three double plays, one off the bat of Paul Phillips, who went 0-for-4 to halt his hitting streak at eight games.

After an off day on Wednesday, the Royals open an eight-game road trip with the first of four at Tacoma on Thursday night. The pitching match-up: Royals RH Kris Wilson (2-5, 8.36) vs. Tacoma LH Matt Thornton (3-1, 6.18). The first pitch is at 8:05 p.m., with the pre-game show on the air at 7:45 p.m. on Fox Sports Radio 1490 and at www.Oroyals.com.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 18, 2004


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