PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Royals game notes

Published on August 7, 2006 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


AUGUST 7, 2006, 7:05 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (45-71) vs. Tacoma Rainiers (61-53)

HOME: 27-30 (35-37 in '05) AWAY: 18-41 (37-35 in '05) vs. Tacoma: 0-1 (3-1 in '05)

TONIGHT: The Royals host the Tacoma Rainiers in a 7:05 p.m. game at Rosenblatt Stadium. It's game 2 of a 4-game series, which Tacoma leads 1-0. It's Dollar Dog Night and Military Monday, courtesy of Nebraska Wesleyan and the Bellevue Leader/OmahaNewsstand.com. Hot dogs are just $1 and get $2 off the price of a ticket with a military I.D. Air time is 6:45 p.m. on Magic 1490 and at www.Oroyals.com.

SUNDAY: Former Bellevue University standout T.J. Bohn was 2-for-5 with an RBI and 2 runs scored, while former Marshalltown (IA) High School star Jeff Clement belted a 2-run homer, helping Tacoma take the series opener 6-3. Bohn delivered an RBI single and then scored on Clement's home run as the Rainiers scored 3 runs in the 3rd inning to take a 4-0 lead. Jon Nelson had 3 hits, including a 2-run single in the 7th inning that put Tacoma on top 6-3. The Royals brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the 9th, but Emiliano Fruto picked up his 9th save by inducing Mike Coolbaugh to ground into a force play at 3rd base. Scott Atchison (3-0) picked up the win with 2.1 scoreless innings of relief. Royals starter Andy Van Hekken (1-3) suffered the loss, giving up 4 runs (3 earned) on 6 hits over 6.0 innings.

ROYALS REPORT: Mike Sweeney, who went 1-for-3 with an RBI double Sunday, will be recalled by KC today and after the Royals open date today should be back in KC's lineup as the DH tomorrow night vs. Boston. In 5 rehab assignment games with Omaha, Sweeney hit .333 (5-15) with 2 doubles, 1 home run, 4 RBI and 5 walks. In 11 games overall on his rehab assignment for Burlington, Wichita and Omaha, Sweeney batted .314 (11-35) with 4 homers and 10 RBI. Sweeney has not played for KC since leaving the May 1 game at Detroit due to a bulging cervical disc in his upper back. *** Coolbaugh collected 1 hit yesterday. His single to the hole at short in the 4th inning extended his hitting streak to 15 games. He's hitting .294 (20-68) with 2 homers and 8 RBI during the streak, which is 1 game shy of the longest of the season by a Royal (set by Shane Costa). *** Jeff Keppinger had his hit string halted at 13 games, as he was 0-for-3 Sunday, reaching base on a catcher's interference call and a walk. Keppinger hit .481 (26-54) with 14 RBI and 13 runs scored during his steak. In 17 games with Omaha, he's batting .412. *** Kerry Robinson posted his club-leading fourth 4-hit game yesterday. Robinson, who has compiled 28 multi-hit games this season, has 7 hits in his last 8 at-bats. *** Donovan Osborne fired a perfect 9th inning Sunday, striking out 2 Rainiers. In 5 appearances at Rosenblatt, Osborne owns a 2.92 ERA. However, his ERA is 9.15 over his 8 outings on the road. *** Justin Huber, who missed 19 previous games due to a tight right hamstring, is 0-for-6 in 2 games since returning to action. *** Tacoma turned 3 double plays in Sunday's contest. The Royals have hit into 7 twin killings over the past 2 games.

STARTERS: RH Rich Dorman (4-5, 4.97) vs. RH Seth Etheron (1-2, 5.61)

Middleton makes his 8th start for Omaha, after beginning this season with Double-A Wichita, where he spent the 2004 and 2005 seasons. The 26-year old right-hander's last start came against Portland last Wednesday, when he took the loss in a 9-4 defeat (7.0 IP, 11 H, 6 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 2 HR). Middleton is 0-4 with a 7.01 ERA in 5 starts at home, while losing both of his starts on the road and posting a 6.35 ERA. In 16 games (15 starts) for Wichita this season, Middleton went 5-3 with a 4.17 ERA and 1 save (86.1 IP, 108 H, 29 BB, 63 K, 8 HR). Middleton was named to the 2005 Texas League All-Star team. He was 10-9 with a 5.31 ERA in 28 starts for the Wranglers last season, ranking 3rd in the league with 171.1 innings pitched. This is Middleton's 7th season in the Royals' organization. He was KC's 49th round pick in the 1999 draft out of Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton, Alabama.

PROBABLES FOR REMAINDER OF SERIES:

Tue., 7:05: RH Francisco Cruceta (10-7, 4.23) vs. RH Seth Etherton (1-2, 5.61)

Wed., 12:05: RH Cha Seung Baek (11-4, 2.80) vs. RH Pat Mahomes (0-0, 6.35)

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 7, 2006


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