Royals game notes
August 30, 2006 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
AUGUST 30, 2006, 7:00 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (52-86) @ New Orleans Zephyrs (68-69)
HOME: 31-37 (35-37 in '05) AWAY: 21-49 (37-35 in '05) vs. New Orleans: 7-7 (11-5 in '05)
TONIGHT: The Royals continue their 9-game road trip, visiting the New Orleans Zephyrs in a 7:00 p.m. contest at Zephyr Field. Omaha is 1-1 in the series and 3-4 on the trip. Air-time is 6:40 p.m. on Magic 1490 and at www.Oroyals.com.
LAST NIGHT: Bobby Keppel pitched 5.0 solid innings and 3 relievers combined to allow just 1 unearned run over the final 4.0 frames as the Royals defeated the Zephyrs 5-3. Keppel (6-6) gave up 2 runs on 4 hits, walking 1 and striking out 3. Shane Loux tossed a scoreless 6th and Jose Diaz surrendered just 1 hit, while striking out 3 over 2.0 innings. New Orleans scored an unearned run in the 9th off Leo Nunez, but he finished for his 5th save. Z's starter Anastacio Martinez (5-10) took the loss, after being charged with 3 runs - only 1 earned - in 5.2 innings. Wearing their gray road uniforms with New Orleans emblazoned across the front of their jerseys, the Zephyrs held a moment of silence during the 7th inning stretch to mark the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
ROYALS REPORT: Keppel is 2-1 and has posted a sparkling 2.38 ERA (6 ER in 22.2 IP) over his last 5 outings. *** Nunez has a save in each of his last 3 appearances, giving him 5 saves in 21 games with Omaha. He earned 3 saves in 15 games for Wichita to begin this, his 7th, professional season. Prior to 2006, Nunez owned just 5 career saves, with 4 of those coming in 2005 for the Wranglers. *** The Royals tied a season high last night by coaxing 8 walks. Amazingly the 1st time that happened this season on July 23 vs. Round Rock, Omaha left 13 runners stranded on base and lost 14-2. *** The Royals were also aided Tuesday night by 3 New Orleans errors and 2 passed balls. Only 2 of Omaha's 5 runs were earned. *** Justin Huber plated a run with a 7th inning sacrifice fly last night to put the Royals ahead 4-2. However, he struck out in each of his 4 official at-bats. That has happened to a Royals batter twice this year, with the Aussie outfielder being the victim both times. Still, Huber is batting .338 (25-74) over the past 21 contests, driving in 16 runs and scoring 14. *** Paul Phillips and Mike Aviles have both put together 4-game hit strings. Aviles is 5-for-12 during his streak, pulling out of a 1-for-14 slide just before the hot stretch. Over his last 10 starts behind the dish, "Philly" has batted .316 (12-38).
STARTERS: RH Mike Wood (0-1, 4.76) vs. RH Kip Bouknight (2-0, 4.03)
Wood makes his 3rd rehab assignment start for Omaha, following 2 rehab outings for Double-A Wichita. The 26-year old right-hander' last start was at Oklahoma last Friday. He was not involved in the decision as the Royals won 4-2 (2.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R-1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K). In his previous start vs. New Orleans on August 21, Wood took the loss in a 4-2 defeat (3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR). Wood was 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA in his 2 rehab starts for Wichita. He 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. 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 was 5-8 with a 4.46 ERA and 2 saves. He set career highs in wins (5), games (47) and innings (115.0). 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:
Thur., 7:00: RH Pat Mahomes (1-1, 5.08) vs. RH Andrew Good (9-9, 4.78)
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