PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Greinke garners first triple-A win over Grizzlies

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


OMAHA – The first pitch of the Omaha Royals game against the Fresno Grizzlies Monday night at Rosenblatt Stadium was delayed one hour-and-13-minutes by rain. What transpired after that may make some fans wonder how much longer the Kansas City Royals will resist calling Zack Greinke up to the big leagues.

Greinke (1-1) spotted Fresno a run on two hits and hit batter in the first inning. But, the Royals countered with two runs in their first at-bat off San Francisco pitching prospect Kevin Correia (0-3) and that was plenty for Greinke and two Omaha relievers, as the Royals won 2-1 to take a 2-1 lead in the series. Greinke scattered six hits and did not walk a batter. The 20-year old right-hander had a season high seven strikeouts in his longest outing of 2004, as he picked up his first Triple-A victory.

Fresno's Jason Ellison and Tony Torcato each had a hit in the first inning – with Ellison scoring on Torcato's two-out RBI single – and both would wind up with two hits in the game. The Royals tied it in the bottom of the first when Jed Hansen scored on a wild pitch from Correia. The second and deciding run for Omaha came on a tremendous defensive play by Fresno. With one out and Jarrod Patterson on third, Byron Gettis laced a liner to deep left-center field. Ellison, the Grizzlies speedy center fielder, raced back and into the alley to make a terrific diving catch. However, Patterson came home on the sacrifice fly to account for the final score.

After the first inning, Greinke settled down. He allowed a bunt single with one out in the second, before retiring the next ten Fresno batters. Ellison snapped that streak with a two-out double in the fifth. But, Greinke stranded him at second by getting Brian Dallimore on a ground out to second base.

Fresno threatened again in the sixth, sandwiching a pair of singles around a fly out. If the Grizzlies thought they could tie it up or take the lead, Greinke threw a curve into that plan. Well, actually two of them. He struck out Cody Ransom looking at a 2-2 curve and fanned Robert Stratton on a 1-2 breaking pitch.

Lefty reliever Mike Venafro tossed two scoreless innings, chalking up four more strikeouts, including the fourth whiff of Ransom to end the eighth and leave pinch-runner Adam Shabala in scoring position. Ryan Bukvich pitched a 1-2-3 ninth, recording the team's single-game high 12th strikeout and notching his second save of the season.

The series and home stand finale is Tuesday at 12:05 p.m.: Fresno LH Adam Pettyjohn (1-4, 6.59) vs. Royals LH Chris George (1-1, 1.50). The pre-game show airs at 11:45 a.m. on Fox Sports Radio 1490 and at www.Oroyals.com. Half-price hamburgers are courtesy of JVB Printing and Omaha Steaks.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 18, 2004


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