PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Royals Game Notes

April 6, 2007 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


APRIL 6, 2007, 8:05 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (0-1) @ Albuquerque Isotopes (1-0)

HOME: 0-0 (31-41 in '06) AWAY: 0-1 (22-50 in '06) vs. Albuquerque: 0-1 (5-11 in '06)

TONIGHT: The Royals visit Albuquerque for game 2 of a 4-game series. This series at Isotopes Park will be followed by a four-game set at Round Rock next Monday through Thursday. Omaha's home opener will be Friday, April 13th at 7:05 p.m., when the Royals host Albuquerque at Rosenblatt Stadium. Air-time tonight is 7:45 p.m. at www.Oroyals.com. The game will also be tape-delayed and aired on News Talk 1420 KOTK following the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights hockey game.

LAST NIGHT: With the score tied at 2-2 entering the bottom of the 5th, Albuquerque exploded for seven runs en route to a 9-3 victory in the season opener for both teams. The first run scored on a throwing error by Royals starter Brian Bannister on a bunt, leading to five unearned runs in the inning. Bannister (0-1) was chased by a two-out, two-run double off the bat of Isotopes first baseman Todd Sears. The University of Nebraska product's clutch hit came with the bases loaded and gave Albuquerque a 5-2 lead. The Isotopes plated four more runs after Kenny Ray came on in relief. Royals left fielder Billy Butler went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI and a run scored. He led off the 4th inning with his first Triple-A home run, going deep to right-center off 'Topes starter and winner Chris George (1-0), tying the game at 2-all. Butler added an RBI double in the 8th, scoring shortstop Andres Blanco, who was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored on the night.

ROYALS REPORT: Despite the loss in last night's opener, the Royals are in a four-way tie for 1st place in the PCL's American Conference North. Iowa lost at Round Rock 6-2, Memphis fell to visiting Oklahoma 5-4 and Nashville was downed at home by New Orleans 4-1. *** Shane Costa, who was in the lineup last night as the Royals designated hitter and cleanup batter, was hit by a George pitch on the back of his batting helmet in his first at-bat leading off the 2nd inning. Costa came out of the game for pinch-runner Fernando Cortez, who went 1-for-3 in the contest. *** The win for George marked his first decision facing his former team. George, who pitched for Omaha from 2000-2005 and owns the club's career record for most starts (98), was 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA in 3 appearances (2 starts) for the Isotopes vs. the Royals in 2006. George allowed just 2 runs in 5.0 innings last night, although he did surrender Butler's home run. In his final season with Omaha in 2005, George led the PCL in home runs allowed (27). *** Butler won the Texas League batting title in 2006, posting a .331 average for Wichita. However, he smacked just 15 homers in his fist full season at Double-A, after belting 30 round-trippers between Single-A and Double-A in 2005. *** Royals reliever Thad Markray was effective last night in his Triple-A debut. The 27-year old right-hander, who went 5-0 with a 2.78 and 1 save last season for Wichita, finished the season lid-lifter by tossing 2.0 scoreless innings, allowing 1 hit and 1 walk. *** Lefty reliever Nate Hoelscher was promoted to Omaha from Wichita yesterday afternoon, taking the roster spot of right-hander Jason Standridge, who was called up by KC on Wednesday when Royals closer Octavio Dotel was placed on the 15-day DL with a strained left oblique.

STARTERS: RH Zach Day (NR) vs. RH Jeff Fulchino (NR)

Day makes his 1st start for Omaha, after being signed by KC as a minor league free agent last December. The 28-year old righty has spent most of the past 5 seasons pitching in the Major Leagues with Montreal, Washington and Colorado. Day began the 2006 season with the Rockies, going 1-2 with a 10.80 ERA in 3 starts before being released on April 21. He was claimed by the Washington on April 26 and made 5 starts for the Nationals, going 1-3 with a 4.73 ERA. Day was shut down following his May 22 start and underwent season-ending surgery to repair a partial tear in his right rotator cuff on June 6. The 2006 season marked the 4th straight campaign he has spent time on the disabled list. Day has compiled a 21-27 career Major League record with a 4.66 ERA, while going 54-46 with a 3.64 ERA in his minor league career. He has posted a 2.25 groundball/flyball ratio in his big league career, 7th-highest in baseball since 2002. In this decade, Day has been involved in trades for Preston Wilson, Milton Bradley and David Justice. He was originally selected by the New York Yankees in the 5th round of the 1996 draft out of LaSalle High in Cincinnati.

PROBABLES FOR REMAINDER OF SERIES:

Sat., 8:05: LH Tyler Lumsden (NR) vs. LH Paul Mildren (NR)

Sun., 2:35: RH Dewon Brazelton (NR) vs. RH Wes Obermueller (NR)

Check out the Omaha Storm Chasers Statistics



Pacific Coast League Stories from April 6, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central