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PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Royals Game Notes

April 24, 2007 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


APRIL 24, 2007, 1:10 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (7-12) @ Memphis Redbirds (9-10)

HOME: 5-3 (31-41 in '06) AWAY: 2-9 (22-50 in '06) vs. Memphis: 0-3 (9-7 in '06)

TODAY: The Royals visit AutoZone Park for the finale of a 4-game series vs. the Memphis Redbirds, with Omaha trying to avoid getting swept in the set. Air-time is 12:50 p.m. on News Talk 1420 KOTK and at www.Oroyals.com.

LAST NIGHT: Memphis starter Chris Narveson hurled a 5-hitter for the Redbirds' 1st complete game of the season in a 7-1 romp. Narveson (2-1) was already pitching with a 6-0 lead when he gave up Billy Butler's 6th home run of the season in the top of the 4th. The 25-year old lefty struck out 7 and allowed just 1 walk in posting the 3rd complete game of his professional career. Ryan Ludwick had 4 RBI for Memphis, 3 coming on his 5th homer of the season in the 1st inning. Rick Ankiel capped a 3-run 3rd inning with his 6th home run of the year - a 2-run shot off Omaha starter Dewon Brazelton (0-4). He was charged with 7 runs - 6 earned - on 7 hits over 5.0 innings to take the loss.

ROYALS REPORT: Last night's game was a show by 3 of the top power hitters in the PCL. Butler has homered in back-to-back games and has racked up 3 home runs and 11 RBI over the past 5 contests. His 6 home runs this season is tied with Ankiel for 3rd most in the league, while Ludwick is right behind with 5. Portland's Jack Cust, who smacked 2 homers last night vs. Colorado Springs lead the PCL with 8, while Nashville's Ryan Braun is in 2nd place after smoking his 7th long ball Monday. Butler's 21 RBI ranks 2nd in the loop, 2 behind the PCL-leading total of Iowa's Micah Hoffpauir. Butler is also riding a 6-game hitting streak and has hit in 9 of the past 10 tilts (.412, 14-34, 3 HR, 14 RBI). *** Narveson is the 1st opposing pitcher to toss a complete game vs. Omaha since R.A. Dickey scattered 6 hits to lead Oklahoma to a 2-1 win over the Royals on August 24, 2006. Dickey is scheduled to start for Nashville vs. the Royals this Friday. *** It's not every game a batter is credited with a single to the catcher. It happened last night for Shane Costa in the 6th inning and was his only hit on the night, extending his hitting streak to 10 games. During the streak, which is the longest of the season for a Royal, Costa is batting .447 (17-38) with 9 runs scored and 3 RBI. *** While Brazelton struggled in his start last night, reliever Jason Shiell fired 3.0 scoreless innings, giving up 1 hit and striking out 2. It was a nice bounce-back effort for Shiell, who had allowed 3 runs on 6 hits over 1.1 innings in his last appearance last Thursday vs. Round Rock. On the year, Omaha starters are a combined 4-10 with a 5.87 ERA, while the Royals bullpen is 3-2 with a 3.36 ERA and 4 saves in as many opportunities. *** Angel Berroa went 2-for-4 last night, recording his 6th multi-hit game. He's hit in 4 straight games (.368, 7-19, RBI, 3 R) to raise his average to .309. Playing shortstop last night, he committed his 6th error on a throw. *** Mitch Maier has gone 0-for-12 in this series, coming on the heels of a hot stretch where he had hit in 10 of 11 games (.341, 15-44). *** Justin Huber is 1-for-his-last-22, dropping his average to .125, while Paul Phillips is hitless in his last 12 at-bats and is hitting just .071 (2-28) on the campaign. *** The Royals have lost 5 straight road games and are 2-9 away from Rosenblatt. The last time Omaha was swept in a 4-game series was August 11-14, 2006 at New Orleans.

STARTERS: RH Ben Hendrickson (2-1, 6.75) vs. RH Matt Ginter (1-2, 5.17)

Hendrickson makes his 4th start of the season. The 26-year old right-hander, acquired by Kansas City from Milwaukee on March 27 in a trade for catcher Max St. Pierre, picked up his 2nd consecutive win last Thursday in a 9-7 victory over Round Rock (6.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 2 K). Hendrickson spent most of the 2006 season with Triple-A Nashville, but also saw time with the Brewers. He was 9-8 with a 3.36 ERA in 23 starts for the Sounds. His 3.36 ERA ranked 9th in the PCL and he was selected to the mid-season PCL All-Star team. He went 1-1 with a 2.95 ERA in 3 starts vs. Omaha last season. Hendrickson pitched in 4 games (3 starts) for Milwaukee last season, going 0-2 with a 12.00 ERA. Prior to both the 2005 and 2006 seasons, Hendrickson was named as having the "Best Curveball" in the Brewers organization by Baseball America, which rated him as Milwaukee's #7 prospect prior to 2005 and #19 entering 2006. In 2004, he was named as Milwaukee's Minor League Pitcher of the Year and the International League's MVP, after going 11-3 with a 2.02 ERA for Indianapolis. That same season, he was 1-8 with a 6.22 ERA for the Brewers. Hendrickson was selected by Milwaukee in the 10th round of the 1999 draft out of Bloomington Jefferson High in the Twin Cities.

PROBABLES FOR SERIES VS. NASHVILLE:

Thur., 6:35: LH Zach Jackson (3-1, 3.38) vs. RH Scott Elarton (0-1, 5.40)

Fri., 7:05: RH R.A. Dickey (1-2, 7.00) vs. RH Zach Day (0-0, 3.38)

Sat., 6:05: RH Tim Dillard (0-1, 3.04) vs. LH Tyler Lumsden (1-3, 8.83)

Sun., 1:35: RH Chris Oxspring (2-1, 1.61) vs. RH Dewon Brazelton (0-4, 6.63)

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