PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Hansen homers again as Wright wins again, 5-2

Published on May 16, 2004 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


OMAHA – Jed Hansen hit his fifth home run in his last eight games and Jamey Wright won his fourth consecutive start, as Omaha defeated the Fresno Grizzlies 5-2 Sunday in front of 4,286 fans in the Royals' third annual game at Lincoln's Haymarket Park.

Hansen's homer off Fresno starter Noah Lowry (2-3) was a two-run shot to left field that broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth. It was the sixth home run of the season for Hansen, who started at second base for Omaha after Kansas City called up Wilton Guerrero earlier in the day. Hansen has hit in 12 of his last 14 games, with 10 RBI and 13 runs scored over that span.

Alberto Castillo added a two-run single in the fifth, coming with the bases loaded and two outs, to put the Royals ahead 5-1. Not that Wright or the Omaha bullpen needed the insurance.

Wright (6-2) was once again dominant, allowing just one run on four hits over six innings. The effort ties him for the league lead in wins and lowered his ERA to 2.51, which ranks sixth. Wright's only rough spot came in the third, when he walked one batter and hit two more with pitches. The only run the Grizzlies scored off the veteran right-hander came as Cody Ransom's potentially inning-ending ground ball to short turned into a fielder's choice RBI when Hansen dropped the ball prior to making a relay throw to first. That allowed Todd Linden to score and give Fresno a brief 1-0 lead.

The Royals tied it in the bottom of the third on an RBI single by Jarrod Patterson, who had two hits, a walk and scored a run on the day. Linden's run-scoring single in the seventh cut the Royals' lead to 5-2 and with two outs and two runners on base in the ninth, fans held their breath as Linden smacked a high drive to deep right-center field. Winds gusting up to 28 miles per hour in from right field kept the ball in the park and right fielder Alexis Gomez raced over into the alley to make a running grab and end the game.

The win broke a four-game losing skid for Omaha (16-22) and makes the Royals 2-1 at Haymarket Park since 2002. It also evens the series with Fresno (14-24) at 1-1. Game 3 is on tap for Monday at 7:05 p.m. at Rosenblatt Stadium and features a battle of top pitching prospects: Fresno RH Kevin Correia (0-2, 4.50) vs. Royals RH Zack Greinke (0-1, 2.78). The pre-game show airs at 6:45 p.m. on Fox Sports Radio 1490 and at www.Oroyals.com. It's $1 Hot Dog Night: all hot dogs are only a buck!

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 16, 2004


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