PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Royals Game Notes

April 18, 2007 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


APRIL 18, 2007, 6:35 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (5-8) vs. Round Rock Express (8-5)

HOME: 3-2 (31-41 in '06) AWAY: 2-6 (22-50 in '06) vs. Round Rock: 1-4 (5-11 in '06)

TONIGHT: The Royals host Round Rock in game 2 of a 4-game series. Omaha is 0-1 in the series and 3-2 on the homestand. The Rosenblatt Stadium gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the 1st 100 kids eat free, receiving a voucher for a free individual pizza at the SUBWAY concession stand, courtesy of SUBWAY and ValPak! Air-time 6:15 p.m. on News Talk 1420 KOTK and at www.Oroyals.com.

LAST NIGHT: Round Rock took the series opener 5-1, as Express starter Fernando Nieve (1-1) blanked the Royals over 6.0 innings, allowing 3 hits and 3 walks, while striking out 2 batters. Omaha starter Tyler Lumsden (1-2) gave up 3 runs on 6 hits over 6.0 innings to take the loss. Eric Munson's long home run to right leading off the 5th extended Round Rock's lead to 2-0 and later in the inning Mark Saccomanno doubled home a run. In the 7th, Saccommano belted a 2-run double off Kenny Ray to make it 5-0. The Royals averted a shutout in the bottom of the 7th, when Mitch Maier blasted his 1st Triple-A home run off Jared Gothreaux. Paul Estrada retired all 4 Royals he faced to pick up his 1st save.

ROYALS REPORT: Prior to being held to a single run by Round Rock last night, the Royals had scored 18 runs in winning their previous 3 contests vs. Albuquerque. *** In their 1st 5 meetings this season, the Royals have out-hit the Express .268-.265 and out-homered them 6-2. However, Round Rock has managed to outscore Omaha 25-18 in winning 4 of the 5 games. *** Maier's home run last night extended his hitting streak to 8 games. During the streak, which is the longest of the season for a Royals batter, Maier is hitting .364 (12-33) and is batting .294 on the season. *** Shane Costa had 3 singles in 4 at-bats Tuesday, marking his 2nd 3-hit game of the campaign. His 1st such effort last Saturday was the genesis of his current 4-game hit string. He's hitting .529 (9-17) during the streak, with 2 RBI and 4 runs scored. The streak has hiked his batting average from .056 to .286. *** Lumsden's performance last night marked the 3rd quality start of the season turned in by Omaha's rotation. Royals starters have combined to go 3-6 with a 4.87 ERA. *** After the right-hander Ray gave up 2 runs in his 1 inning of work last night, lefties Neal Musser and Nate Hoelscher each tossed a perfect frame. Musser still has a 0.00 ERA after his 1st 5 relief outings, having allowed just 1 unearned run on 3 hits over 8.0 innings, walking only 1 batter while chalking up 8 K's. *** Royals leadoff batter Joey Gathright was 0-for-2 last night - his 3rd consecutive hitless contest - but coaxed 2 more walks. Gathright has walked 7 times in his last 12 trips to the plate. He leads the club with 16 walks in 13 games and, despite a .209 batting average, has posted a .443 on-base percentage this season, tops among Royals regulars (2nd to Matt Tupman's 448 OBP). *** Fernando Cortez was 0-for-3 last night and is 0-for-10 over the past 3 games, coming on the heels of a 5-game hitting streak. However, prior to striking out in the 3rd inning last night, Cortez smacked a deep drive that had home run distance, but was wide of the right field foul pole. The Royals infielder just connected on his 1st homer in 632 at-bats last Saturday off Albuquerque's Ricardo Rodriguez.

STARTERS: RH Juan Gutierrez (0-1, 3.60) vs. RH Dewon Brazelton (0-2, 6.75)

Brazelton, signed by KC as a minor league free agent in the off-season, makes his 3rd start. The 26-year old right-hander faced Albuquerque in each of his 1st 2 starts, losing here last Friday, 5-0 (4.0 IP, 6 H, 4R-3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K). He was also the loser in a 6-3 defeat at Isotopes Park on April 8 (4.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 5 K). Brazelton was the 3rd overall pick in the 2001 draft (behind only Joe Mauer and Mark Prior), taken by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays following his junior season at Middle Tennessee State. He has pitched in the Major Leagues in each of his 1st 5 professional seasons. Brazelton began the 2006 season with San Diego, after the Padres traded third baseman Sean Burroughs to the Devil Rays for him in the off-season. He was 0-2 with a 12.00 ERA in 9 games (2 starts) for the Padres before being outrighted to Portland in May. He was 5-7 with a 4.53 ERA in 17 games (16 starts) for the Beavers. In 2005, Brazelton made the Opening Day start for Tampa Bay and at age 24 was that season's 2nd-youngest Opening Day starter behind Detroit's Jeremy Bonderman (22). He went 1-8 with a 7.61 ERA in 20 games (8 starts) for the Devil Rays in 2005 and spent some time in the minors. Brazelton is 22-29 with a 3.98 ERA in his minor league career, but 8-25 with a 6.38 ERA in the big leagues, where he has compiled more walks (151) than strikeouts (145) in his 271.0 innings. He's 0-16 over 27 road games (19 starts) in his Major League career, becoming the 1st pitcher to lose his 1st 16 road decisions since Cincinnati's Kent Peterson lost 18 straight on the road from 1947-1949.

PROBABLES FOR REMAINDER OF SERIES:

Thur., 6:35: RH Chad Reineke (1-1, 7.56) vs. RH Ben Hendrickson (1-1, 7.27)

Fri., 7:05: RH Chance Douglass (0-1, 7.71) vs. RH Brian Bannister (1-1, 1.93)

Check out the Omaha Storm Chasers Statistics



Pacific Coast League Stories from April 18, 2007


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