Lopez lowers boom on 'Birds again
June 12, 2004 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
OMAHA â Royals second baseman Mendy Lopez hit two home runs for the second straight night against Memphis, knocking in three runs and helping give Omaha a 7-5 victory before a Tribute to the Negro Leagues Night crowd of 7,092 at Rosenblatt Stadium.
On a night where Calvin Pickering's home run streak was halted at five games, Lopez picked up the slack. In the bottom of the fourth, Lopez belted a leadoff home run off former Creighton star Alan Benes (2-4), shaving the Redbirds' lead to 4-3.
The Royals used a couple hit-and-run plays in the sixth inning to score twice and take a 5-4 lead. With runners at first and third and one out, Rick Short's liner to right field score Pickering from third with the tying run and sent Adrian Brown to third base. Short then took off from first base on Benes' first delivery to Alberto Castillo and the Omaha catcher laced a go-ahead RBI double just over the reach of retreating right fielder So Taguchi.
Lopez hiked the Royals advantage to 7-4 in the seventh, crunching a two-run blast off the batter's eye in straightaway center field. It was the fifth home run for Lopez in his seventh game and 25th at-bat at Triple-A since being sent down by Kansas City.
In the top of the eighth, Memphis third baseman Scott Seabol hit a solo shot off Shawn Camp to account for the final score. It was Seabol's second home run in the first two games of this series.
Jamey Wright (7-4) started for the Royals and got the win, working seven innings and giving up four runs on seven hits, including a two-run homer by Brad Cresse in the fourth that had staked the Redbirds to a 4-2 lead. Mike MacDougal tossed a scoreless ninth inning to record his first save for Omaha.
Maybe "Mac" was inspired by Lee Smith. Basseball's all-time saves leader, the evening's special guest, threw a perfect strike on his ceremonial first pitch and signed autographs for hundreds of Royals fans.
Game 3 of the series and the Royals' second-to-last home game this month is Saturday at 6:05 p.m.: Memphis LH Luis Martinez (0-0, 0.00) vs. Royals LH Matt White (0-0, 0.00). Gates open at 4:00 and the 1st 1,500 fans receive free Armour/Royals sun visors. The pre-game show airs at 5:45 p.m. on Fox Sports Radio 1490 and at www.Oroyals.com.
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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 12, 2004
- Royals, Redbirds rained out Saturday - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Brendan Donnelly joins the Stingers tonight - Salt Lake Bees
- Big 1st Inning From Tacoma Dooms Tucson - Tucson Sidewinders
- Downs tosses second no-hitter in Trapper history - Edmonton Trappers
- Grizzlies score six unanswered runs for 6-4 win - Portland Beavers
- Lopez lowers boom on 'Birds again - Omaha Storm Chasers
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