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August 22, 2006 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


AUGUST 22, 2006, 12:05 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (48-82) vs. New Orleans Zephyrs (66-63)

HOME: 30-37 (35-37 in '05) AWAY: 18-45 (37-35 in '05) vs. New Orleans: 5-6 (11-5 in '05)

TODAY: The Royals host the New Orleans Zephyrs at 12:05 p.m. in the finale of a 4-game series at Rosenblatt Stadium. Omaha leads the series 2-1 and is 3-4 on the homestand. It's ½-price burger day, courtesy of Omaha Steaks. And it's Seniors Day; all fans 60-and-over get $2 off the price of any ticket, courtesy of The City Weekly. Air-time is 11:45 a.m. on Magic 1490 and at www.Oroyals.com.

LAST NIGHT: The Zephyrs smacked 3 solo homers and New Orleans starter Andrew Good lived up to his name, as the Z's snapped a 5-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory. Marlon Byrd belted his 7th homer in 33 games with New Orleans - his 4th vs. the Royals - with 2 outs in the top of the 1st off Mike Wood. Wood (0-1) took the loss in his 3rd rehab assignment start and 1st with Omaha, allowing 2 runs on 2 hits over 3.0 innings. Brandon Larson and George Lombard also hit solo shots for the Zephyrs. Meanwhile, Good (9-8) gave up just 1 run on 4 hits over 6.0 stanzas to get the win. The Royals scored an unearned run in the 7th off Felix Rodriguez. However, Kevin Gryboski pitched a scoreless 9th for his 7th save.

ROYALS REPORT: Wood became the 21st different pitcher to make a start for Omaha this season. He has been on KC's disabled list since July 3 with back inflammation. *** Kerry Robinson's 8th inning single last night extended his hitting streak to 5 games. Over the past 11 contests, the Royals leadoff batter has a .417 (20-48) average with 5 RBI and 8 runs. *** Mike Coolbaugh is also riding a 5-game hit streak. He's gone 7-for-21 (.333) with a pair of doubles, 2 homers and 6 RBI. *** Justin Huber had a hit, reached base 3 times and scored both of Omaha's runs Monday night. Over the last 12 tilts, Huber is hitting .370 (17-46) with 11 RBI and 10 runs scored. *** Mike Aviles, Jeff Keppinger and Paul Phillips all had a hit last night and each now have hit in 4 straight games. Aviles is 7-for-17 (.412) with 2 RBI and 3 runs scored, Keppinger is 7-for-16 (.438) and Phillips is 7-for-15 (.467) with an RBI and 3 runs scored. *** Fernando Cortez lost a 6-game hit string last night, going 0-for-4. Over the last 7 games, Cortez is still hitting .423 (11-26) with 2 RBI and 5 runs scored. *** Shane Costa was also hitless in 4 at-bats Monday night, halting a 4-game streak. Over the past 5 contests, Costa is 6-for-22 with 2 doubles, a triple, 2 RBI and 4 runs scored. *** In the 1st 2 games of this series, the Zephyrs were 8-for-9 in stolen base attempts, making them 17-for-19 in the 1st 10 meetings between the 2 clubs. However, last night New Orleans went 0-for-2 in steal attempts, with Phillips gunning down both runners at 2nd base. *** Donovan Osborne turned in a solid relief outing last night, allowing 2 runs in 5.0 innings. Osborne has a 5.40 ERA at home, compared to an 8.51 mark on the road. He owns a 5.45 ERA as a reliever, with a 10.43 ERA as a starter. *** Ryan Braun finished last night's game with a scoreless inning of relief, running his scoreless streak to 9.2 innings over his last 5 appearances. Braun's ERA in 10 games at home is 1.32, while he has a 4.05 ERA in 4 appearances away from Rosenblatt Stadium.

STARTERS: RH Nelson Figueroa (2-4, 4.97) vs. LH Andy Van Hekken (2-3, 5.03)

Van Hekken makes his 7th start for Omaha. The 27-year old lefty had his contract purchased by KC from the Somerset Patriots of the independent Atlantic on July 22. His last start came vs. Albuquerque last Thursday, when he picked up the win in an 8-3 triumph (6.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R-2 ER, 1 BB, 8 K). His previous outing was on August 12 at New Orleans - a no decision for Van Hekken as the Royals lost 3-2 (5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 5 K). Van Hekken made 13 starts for Somerset, going 3-6 with a 5.56 ERA. In 81.0 innings, he allowed 91 hits, walking only 18 batters while striking out 64. Van Hekken began the 2005 season in the Braves' organization, after signing with Atlanta as a minor league free agent in December 2004. He made 4 starts for Triple-A Richmond (0-3, 9.16 ERA) and 3 for Double-A Mississippi (0-0, 5.63). But, he spent most of the season in the Reds' system, pitching mostly in relief for Triple-A Louisville (1-0, 3.89 in 27 games, including 1 start). He also made 3 starts for Double-A Chattanooga (2-0, 3.24). Van Hekken pitched in the Major Leagues for Detroit in 2002, making 5 starts and going 1-3 with a 3.00 ERA. In his Major League debut on September 3, 2002, Van Hekken shutout Cleveland 4-0 on 8 hits. He became the 1st A.L. pitcher to toss a shutout in his big league debut since Oakland's Mike Norris blanked the White Sox 9-0 on April 10, 1975 and was the 1st Tigers pitcher to do it since Schoolboy Rowe on April 15, 1933 (also vs. the ChiSox). He was originally selected by the Mariners in the 3rd round of the 1998 draft, but was traded to the Tigers in June 1999 and remained in their organization through 2004.

PROBABLES FOR SERIES AT OKLAHOMA:

Wed., 7:05: RH Kyle Middleton (0-6, 5.56) vs. LH Eric Knott (0-0, 4.76)

Thur., 7:05: RH Bobby Keppel (5-5, 5.63) vs. RH R.A. Dickey (6-8, 5.52)

Fri., 7:05: RH Pat Mahomes (0-1, 6.26) vs. TBA

Sat., 7:05: TBA vs. TBA

Sun., 7:05: LH Andy Van Hekken vs. TBA

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