PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Lack of clutch hits again haunts Royals in loss

Published on June 1, 2004 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


OMAHA – With all the strange happenings Monday night at Rosenblatt Stadium, the Omaha Royals wished one thing wouldn't have seemed so normal: their struggles getting a hit with runners in scoring position. The game featured the ejection of Omaha manager Mike Jirschele, a New Orleans runner who apparently scored getting called out on appeal for missing third base and a misplayed double that gave the Royals the potential tying run in scoring position to lead off the bottom of the ninth. It also saw the Royals go 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position, as Omaha dropped a 4-3 decision to the Zephyrs before 4,355 fans.

The Royals entered the contest hitting just .222 this season with runners in scoring position. After its forgettable 1-for-11 performance on Memorial Day, Omaha's team mark in that category dropped to .218.

The weird plays began in earnest in the top of the seventh. With one away, Eric Bruntlett hit a ground ball to the hole at short, with Jed Hansen making a nice play to apparently throw him out. However, first base umpire Casey Moser seemingly felt Royals first baseman Calvin Pickering either pulled his foot off the bag, or juggled the ball, and called Bruntlett safe. Jirschele came out to argue the call, was ejected and left to a standing ovation from the fans.

The call didn't hurt the Royals, as Shawn Camp worked around it and a pair of walks to leave the bases full and keep New Orleans' lead at 4-1. The Z's used three relievers to protect that lead in the bottom of the seventh, including a one-pitch appearance by lefty Shaun Babula, who plunked David DeJesus to load the bases with two outs. Hansen followed with the Royals' lone hit with runners in scoring position, looping Miguel Saladin's 1-2 pitch into right-center for a two-run single that brought the Royals to within a run.

In the top of the eighth, Kyle Logan's double to right-center plated Jason Alfaro from first base with the Z's fifth run. However, Alfaro was called out on appeal for missing third base on his way home.

Calvin Pickering and Rick Short delivered back-to-back singles to start the bottom of the eighth, but Tony Fiore rebounded to strike out Adrian Brown, retire Paul Phillips on a fly out and induce a fielder's choice grounder from Corey Hart.

New Orleans center fielder Kyle Logan misplayed a fly ball from Alexis Gomez into a double leading off the bottom of the ninth. After DeJesus bunted Gomez to third, Z's closer Kirk Bullinger walked Hansen. But, Patterson hit a high chopper to first baseman Royce Huffman who made the catch at the bag, toed it and fired home in time for Gomez to be tagged out sliding feet first for a game-ending double play.

That gave Bullinger his 12th save of the season and second in as many games. New Orleans starter Taylor Buchholz (3-6) got the win, allowing just one run on five hits over six innings. Omaha starter Jamey Wright (6-4) lost his second consecutive start, giving up four runs on eight hits over six stanzas.

Omaha (21-31) tries to snap a three-game losing streak when it opens a four-game set vs. Oklahoma on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.: RedHawks LH Mike Bacsik (3-2, 5.34) vs. Royals RH Brad Voyles (3-2, 3.27). The pre-game show airs at 6:45 p.m. on Fox Sports Radio 1490 and at www.Oroyals.com.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 1, 2004


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