Royals game notes
August 25, 2006 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
AUGUST 25, 2006, 7:05 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (50-83) @ Oklahoma RedHawks (68-65)
HOME: 31-37 (35-37 in '05) AWAY: 19-46 (37-35 in '05) vs. Oklahoma: 5-8 (7-9 in '05)
TONIGHT: The Royals continue their 9-game road trip, visiting the Oklahoma RedHawks in a 7:05 p.m. game at the Bricktown Ballpark. It's game 3 of a 5-game series, which is tied at a win apiece. Air-time is 6:45 p.m. on Magic 1490 and at www.Oroyals.com.
LAST NIGHT: R.A. Dickey hurled his 3rd complete game of the season, leading Oklahoma to a 3-1 victory over the Royals. Dickey (7-8) gave up 1 run on 6 hits, walking 4 and striking out 2. Leading 2-0 entering the 8th inning, Dickey had his shutout bid spoiled by Justin Huber's leadoff home run. With 2 outs in the 8th, Dickey yielded back-to-back singles before retiring Kerry Robinson on a grounder to short. With 2 away in the 9th, Dickey walked the bases full, but induced Mike Aviles to send a ground ball to short for the game-ending force play at second base. Bobby Keppel (5-6) took the loss, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits over 4.2 frames.
ROYALS REPORT: Dickey had walked only 1 Omaha batter last night until he gave consecutive free passes to Mike Coolbaugh, Huber and Paul Phillips with 2 outs in the 9th inning. By completing the game, he became the 1st opposing pitcher to work 9.0 innings vs. Omaha since May 28 vs. Memphis, when John Webb tossed a complete game in a 6-3 Redbirds win at Rosenblatt. *** Huber collected his 19th double of the season last night, in addition to his 15th home run. The Aussie outfielder has hit in 5 straight games (6-15, .400, HR, 3 RBI) and is batting .375 (21-56) over the past 16 contests, with 3 homers, 13 RBI and 12 runs scored. *** Coolbaugh went 0-for-3 Thursday, halting a 7-game hitting streak. He was 9-for-29 (.310) with 2 home runs and 6 RBI during the streak. *** Over the past 14 tilts, Kerry Robinson is hitting at a .383 (23-60) pace and has scored 8 runs. *** Shane Costa is hitting .303 (10-33) over the past 8 games, with 4 RBI and 6 runs scored - which has actually dropped his average to .351 in 43 games with Omaha. *** Jeff Keppinger and Phillips both lost 5-game hit strings last night. Keppinger, who was 0-for-4, had gone 8-for-20 (.400) and Phillips, who went 0-for-3, had gone 7-for-18 (.389) during the 5-game stretch. *** Eddie Yarnall fired a perfect 7th inning last night, striking out 2 of the 3 RedHawks he faced. Yarnall, who was on the disabled list from July 17 to August 19 with back stiffness, has pitched a scoreless stanza in each of his 2 appearances since being activated. *** Ryan Braun fired a perfect 8th inning Thursday, striking out 1. Braun has not allowed an earned run in 10.2 innings over his last 6 relief outings. In 15 appearances with Omaha this season, the flame-throwing righty is 0-1 with a 2.11 ERA and 3 saves. He has 21 K's in 21.1 innings.
STARTERS: RH Mike Wood (0-1, 6.00) vs. LH John Rheinecker (4-3, 2.51)
Wood makes his 2nd rehab assignment start for Omaha, following 2 rehab outings for Double-A Wichita. The 26-year old right-hander' last start was vs. New Orleans Monday, when he took the loss in a 4-2 defeat (3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR). He was 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA in his 2 starts for the Wranglers. Wood was placed on the disabled list by KC on July 3 with back inflammation. He began this season pitching mostly in relief, but was moved into the rotation on June 5. In 21 games (7 starts) with KC, Wood is 3-3 with a 5.66 ERA. He's 0-3 with a 6.03 ERA as a starter, while going 3-0 with a 5.20 ERA as a reliever. In 2005 Wood also opened the season in KC's bullpen, but was sent to Omaha on July 28 to make the transition to starting. He made 2 starts for Omaha on the road at Portland and Tacoma, going 0-0 with a 2.00 ERA. He made 10 starts and 37 relief appearances for KC last season and went 5-8 with a 4.46 ERA and 2 saves. He set career highs in wins (5), games (47) and innings (115.0). He posted a 4.94 ERA as a starter and a 4.03 ERA as a reliever. He was the only pitcher in the Major Leagues to record at least 50.0 relief innings and 50.0 frames as a starter. KC acquired Wood from the Oakland A's along with third baseman Mark Teahen on June 24, 2004 in exchange for reliever Octavio Dotel and cash, as part of the 3-team Carlos Beltran deal. At the time of the trade, Wood was 11-3 with a 2.80 ERA in 15 starts for Sacramento, earning a selection to the PCL All-Star team. He was Oakland's 10th round pick in the 2001 draft out of the University of North Florida. Wood came to UNF as an infielder, but was converted to a pitcher in 2000 and moved full-time to the bullpen in 2001, setting a school record with 16 saves.
PROBABLES FOR REMAINDER OF SERIES:
Sat., 7:05: LH Donovan Osborne (0-6, 6.99) vs. LH John Koronka (0-1, 2.57)
Sun., 7:05: LH Andy Van Hekken (3-3, 4.29) vs. LH John Danks (3-4, 4.40)
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