Royals game notes
Published on June 11, 2006 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
JUNE 11, 2006, 1:35 p.m. : OMAHA ROYALS (25-37) vs. Oklahoma RedHawks (30-32)
HOME: 16-18 (35-37 in '05) AWAY: 9-19 (37-35 in '05) vs. Oklahoma: 0-3 (7-9 in '05)
TODAY: The Royals host the Oklahoma RedHawks in a 1:35 p.m. game at Rosenblatt Stadium. It's the final game of a 4-game series, which the RedHawks lead 3-0. It's Lockheed Martin Military Appreciation Day, with the 1st 1,000 fans receiving Little League bats, courtesy of Lockheed Martin and KPTM-Fox 42. Air-time is 1:15 p.m. on Magic 1490 and at www.Oroyals.com. The game will also be broadcast in Spanish on Radio Lobo, 97.7 FM.
LAST NIGHT: Jason Hart's home run leading off the 10th inning snapped a scoreless tie and the RedHawks edged the Royals 1-0. Hart greeted Joe Nelson (1-2) with his 6th homer of the season and 2nd of the series. Oklahoma starter Edinson Volquez gave up just 1 hit - a double by Ricky Bell in the 3rd inning - walking just 1 and striking out 9 over 7.0 innings. Kevin Walker (4-3) got the win, allowing just 1 hit in 2.0 frames. Wes Littleton allowed a single by Mike Aviles in the 10th, but retired Justin Huber on a ground out to end the game and register his 1st save with Oklahoma. Ryan Baerlocher tossed 6.2 scoreless innings of relief, giving up just 2 hits.
ROYALS REPORT: Last night's game marked the 5th time the Royals have been shutout this season, the 2nd time at home. Omaha is now 6-13 in one-run games, losing 8 of the last 10 such decisions. The Royals are now 1-3 in extra innings and 6-7 in games decided in the final at-bat, after winning their 1st 5 contests decided in the last at-bat. *** Omaha pitchers and batters were uncharacteristic in 2 categories last night. The Royals pitchers issued a season high 9 walks. The Omaha staff allows the fewest walks in the PCL, having walked just 148 batters through the 1st 61 games (2.4 walks per game). Meanwhile, Royals batters set a season high last night by striking out 12 times. The Royals strike out the fewest times in the league, whiffing just 326 times prior to last night (5.3 per game). *** Bell was in a 4-for-39 (.103) slump entering last night's contest, but managed the only hit off Volquez, whose 9 strikeouts were the most for an opposing pitcher this year. *** Chad Allen missed last night's game with a sore left elbow after it was hit by a pitch Friday night. He's day-to-day. *** Kerry Robinson is hitting .138 (4-29) in 8 games this month, dropping his average 40 points to .293. Robinson hit .367 (29-79) in 20 games to open the season, before going to KC on April 29. In 16 games since being sent back, he's hitting .197 (12-61). *** Aaron Guiel is 0-9 in this series. He has collected 4 walks, but has also struck out 6 times. Guiel is hitting .160 (4-25) in 9 games since coming back from KC. *** Reliever Leo Nunez rejoined Omaha yesterday from KC. He did not make an appearance with the parent club since being called up for a 2nd time this season on June 5 (the 1st time was from Wichita). *** Denny Bautista, optioned to Omaha when Kyle Snyder was called up by KC, joins Omaha's roster today and makes his 1st Triple-A start of 2006. Outfielder Chip Ambres has been placed on the disabled list and will undergo season-ending surgery on his left shoulder. Ambres hit .203 with 3 home runs and 15 RBI in 56 games with Omaha.
STARTERS: RH Nick Masset (1-3, 9.00) vs. RH Denny Bautista (NR)
Bautista makes his 1st start of the season for Omaha. The 25-year old right-hander appeared in 8 games (7 starts) for KC, going 0-2 with a 5.66 ERA. His last appearance was in relief last Tuesday vs. Texas, a no-decision (3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K). He was 0-2 with a 5.63 ERA in his 7 starts and was sent to the bullpen to work on his delivery. However, the decision was made to send him to Omaha to give him more innings to work on his mechanics. In 2005, Bautista made KC's Opening Day roster, winning his Royals debut at Los Angeles on April 8, tossing 8.0 innings of 1-run baseball and striking out a career-high 8 batters. He wound up going 2-2 with a 5.80 ERA in 7 starts for KC, before being placed on the disabled list on May 14 with right shoulder tendinitis. Bautista was with Omaha on a rehab assignment from June 22-July 3 before going back on the DL. He rehabbed again with Omaha from Aug. 27-Sept. 25. He made 6 starts over the 2 rehab stints, going 0-1 with a 2.77 ERA. Bautista was ranked by Baseball America as KC's 2nd-best prospect entering the 2005 season. He was acquired by KC in exchange for Jason Grimsley on June 21, 2004. He was originally signed by the Marlins as a non-drafted free agent on Apr. 11, 2000 and was traded by the Marlins to the Orioles along with RHP Don Levinski on Aug. 31, 2003 in exchange for former Omaha and KC Royal Jeff Conine.
PROBABLES FOR SERIES AT NASHVILLE:
Mon., 7:00: TBA vs. RH Justin Lehr (0-2, 5.00)
Tue., 7:00: RH Runelvys Hernandez (2-3, 6.99) vs. LH Dana Eveland (3-1, 1.33)
Wed., 12:00: RH Brian Boehringer (0-2, 3.94) vs. RH Ben Hendrickson (3-2, 2.29)
Thur., 7:00: LH J.P. Howell (3-2, 5.34) vs. RH Rick Helling (0-0, 7.20)
Pacific Coast League Stories from June 11, 2006
- Isotopes topped in pitcher's duel, 2-1 - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Z's lose to Sounds 7-5 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Sounds avoid sweep with 7-5 win over Zephyrs - Nashville Sounds
- Rodriguez's shot lifts Express - Round Rock Express
- Oklahoma RedHawks game notes - Oklahoma City Comets
- River Cats edge Beavers in Sunday matinee - Sacramento River Cats
- Beavers fall in series finale at Sacramento - Portland Beavers
- Three-run ninth gives Oklahoma an Omaha sweep - Oklahoma City Comets
- Royals game notes - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Beavers get six-run tenth to beat River Cats - Portland Beavers
- Beavers Top Cats in 10 Innings - Sacramento River Cats
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