Royals game notes
June 13, 2006 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
JUNE 13, 2006, 7:00 p.m. : OMAHA ROYALS (25-39) @ Nashville Sounds (35-29)
HOME: 16-19 (35-37 in '05) AWAY: 9-20 (37-35 in '05) vs. Nashville: 4-5 (9-7 in '05)
TONIGHT: The Royals continue their 17-game road trip with a 7:00 p.m. game vs. the Nashville Sounds at Herschel Greer Stadium. Nashville leads the series 1-0. Air-time is 6:40 p.m. on Magic 1490 and at www.Oroyals.com.
LAST NIGHT: Vinny Rottino's grand slam capped a 5-run 3rd inning and Nashville won the series opener 7-2. Seth Etherton (2-3), in his 1st start for Omaha, gave up Rottino's slam and a 2-run homer to Graham Koonce in the 5th as the Sounds powered their way to a 7-0 lead. Etherton, who was 2-2 with Portland and 1-1 with KC, allowed 7 runs on 9 hits and 4 walks over 4.2 innings. Andres Blanco and Kerry Robinson each had 2 hits in the game, including a hit apiece in the 6th inning, when they both scored. Those were the only runs allowed by winner Justin Lehr (1-2) in 7.0 innings.
ROYALS REPORT: Etherton was the 14th pitcher to start for Omaha this season. Those starters are a combined 15-28 with a 4.83 ERA. *** Leo Nunez showed no rust last night from a long layoff, firing 3.1 hitless innings of relief, walking 2 and striking out 7. It was Nunez' 1st game action since he worked two-thirds of an inning on May 30, when he saved Omaha's 4-3 win vs. New Orleans. Nunez was promoted to KC on June 5, but did not pitch for KC prior to being sent back to Omaha last Saturday. *** Rottino's grand slam was the 1st one hit by an opposing batter since August 25, 2005, when Oklahoma's Jason Conti hit a slam at Rosenblatt in the RedHawks' 13-11 win. *** The Royals have lost 5 straight, one shy of their longest losing skid of the season (May 4-9). *** Prior to going 2-for-4 last night, Robinson had hit just .200 (13-65) in 17 games since coming back from KC. *** Justin Huber has 1 hit in 4 straight games, matching his longest streak of the year. Huber has hit in 7 of the past 8 contests, at a .300 (9-30) clip, with 1 homer and 4 RBI. *** Aaron Guiel is hitting .219 (7-32) in 11 games since being sent down by KC, with no home runs and 3 RBI. *** Blanco was 2-for-3 last night, after going 1-for-13 in the 4-game series vs. Oklahoma. *** Chris Clapinski is 0-for-17 in his 1st 4 games with Omaha. He missed the 1st 2 months of the season with tendinitis in his left shoulder. *** Chad Allen missed his 3rd straight game last night with a sore left elbow, after it was hit by a pitch Friday. He was 0-for-1 that night, ending his 14-game hitting streak.
STARTERS: RH Runelyvs Hernandez (2-3, 6.99) vs. LH Dana Eveland (3-1, 1.33)
Hernandez makes his 6th start of the season for Omaha, his 3rd since coming back from KC. The 28-year old right-hander's last start was last Thursday vs. Oklahoma, when he took the loss in a 5-3 defeat (6.0 IP, 12 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 0 K). Hernandez made 7 starts for KC, going 1-4 with a 7.44 ERA. He was 0-3 with a 10.89 ERA in his final 5 outings. Hernandez opened this season with Omaha, going 1-2 with a 10.67 ERA in 3 starts before being recalled by KC on April 26. Two of his three April starts were against Nashville; he was 0-2 with a 15.12 ERA, surrendering 14 earned runs on 15 hits over 8.1 innings. In 2005, Hernandez made 29 starts for KC, after missing the 2004 season due to Tommy John surgery. He was 8-14 with a 5.52 ERA, setting career highs in wins, losses, starts and innings pitched (159.2). His 8 wins led KC, marking the fewest wins by the team leader in club history. He was 6-9 with a 4.53 ERA prior to the All-Star break last season, but went 2-5 with a 7.69 ERA in the 2nd half. Hernandez was originally signed by KC as a non-drafted free agent in January 1998 out of the Dominican Republic.
PROBABLES FOR REMAINDER OF SERIES:
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 13, 2006
- Sidewinders win tenth straight - Tucson Sidewinders
- Isotopes downed by Round Rock, 12-4 - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Tucson keeps rolling with 7-4 win over Beavers - Portland Beavers
- Rodriguez ignites Express in win - Round Rock Express
- Sounds fall to Royals in front of packed house - Nashville Sounds
- Redbirds shut out RedHawks - Memphis Redbirds
- Z's fall to I-Cubs 2-1 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Fresno Fuego soccer game at Grizzlies stadium - Fresno Grizzlies
- 'Topes to turn old into gold for Special Olympics - Albuquerque Isotopes
- 'Topes to play visit to VA hospital - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Oklahoma RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets
- Royals game notes - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Sidewinders edge Portland, stretch winning streak to nine games - Portland Beavers
- Homers, bullpen lead Sidewinders to win over Portland - Tucson Sidewinders
- RedHawks grab early lead, take fifth straight - Oklahoma City Comets
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