Royals Drop to 0-5 on Homestand
Published on May 2, 2003 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
OMAHA â The Omaha Royals lost for the fifth straight time on this home stand â suffering their sixth consecutive home loss overall â in an 8-5 defeat to the Oklahoma RedHawks Friday night.
Trailing 1-0 entering the third inning, Oklahoma scored five runs off Royals starter James Baldwin (0-1). The veteran righthander gave up five hits and two walks, recording just one out in the third, before being replaced by Jason Turman. Oklahoma left fielder Jason Jones delivered the big hit â a three-run double to deep center. Jones would go 4-for-5 in the game, adding two runs to his three RBI.
RedHawks shortstop Cole Liniak chased Baldwin with an RBI single in the third. He added a solo home run off Turman in the fifth and collected his third hit of the night in the seventh â an RBI single off Jeremy Hill â to put Oklahoma on top 7-3.
Oklahoma second baseman Jeff Pickler led off the eighth by coaxing his third walk of the game, this one off Rick DeHart. He took second on a single by Ryan Ludwick. Pickler then swiped third for his second stolen base of the game and 12th of the season, which ranks second in the Pacific Coast League. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Jason Hart to increase the lead to 8-3.
The Royals still made things interesting in the ninth. Aaron Guiel, who already had a pair of hits, drew a leadoff walk from Ray Beasley. Morgan Burkhart singled and when Jarrod Patterson was hit by an 0-2 breaking pitch from Beasley, Omaha had the bases full with no outs. Alexis Gomez hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Guiel to make it 8-4. Rob Sasser followed with a single through the left side to reload the bases.
The Royals were 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position to that point in Friday's tilt, but catcher Sandy Martinez made a bid for a game-tying grand slam. However, Rontrez Johnson hauled in Martinez' deep drive to the warning track in right-center. Burkhart scored on the sacrifice fly to account for the final margin. Brian Harris, who had been 3-for-4 on the night, fell behind in the count 0-2 before popping out to end the game.
Oklahoma (15-14) snapped its own four-game losing streak, while Omaha (15-14) will attempt to end its five-game slide Saturday at 7:05 p.m. Oklahoma starts RH Dan Murray (2-2, 8.40) vs. Royals RH Wes Obermueller (3-2, 4.45). Air time is 6:45 p.m. on Fox Sports Radio 1490.
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 2, 2003
- Trappers Use Big Innings to Bash Sidewinders - Edmonton Trappers
- Royals Drop to 0-5 on Homestand - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Ten Run Inning Dooms Tucson - Tucson Sidewinders
- Burns' six no-hit innings not enough for Express - Round Rock Express
- Gulan, Rivera Lead Sounds To 3-2 Win Over Las Vegas - Nashville Sounds
- Astors Recall Everett and Saarloos - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Sidewinders Upcoming Homestand Highlights - Tucson Sidewinders
- Royals and Cox Communications Team Up for Kids - Omaha Storm Chasers
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