Royals Game Notes
Published on April 26, 2007 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
APRIL 26, 2007, 6:35 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (7-13) vs. Nashville Sounds (13-6)
HOME: 5-3 (31-41 in '06) AWAY: 2-10 (22-50 in '06) vs. Nashville: 0-0 (7-9 in '06)
TONIGHT: The Royals open an 8-game homestand with the 1st of a 4-game series vs. the Nashville Sounds. Omaha is coming off a trip to Memphis where the Royals were swept in a 4-game set. It's Thirsty Thursday and Live Music! Enjoy $1 beer and Cokes during the game, then stick around afterwards for the live music of Scott Severin and drink specials in the Stadium View Club, courtesy of Miller Lite, The Old Bar and The City Weekly. Air-time is 6:15 p.m. on News Talk 1420 KOTK and at www.Oroyals.com.
LAST GAME: Memphis stunned the Royals by scoring 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th, completing a comeback from a 7-0 deficit, to win 8-7. Rico Washington delivered a walk-off, RBI single off Kenny Ray (0-1), who earlier in the inning had surrendered a 2-run single to pinch-hitter Tagg Bozied. The Royals took a 7-0 lead into the bottom of the 6th, when Rick Ankiel's 2-run homer capped a 5-run rally off Omaha starter Ben Hendrickson. Only 1 of the runs was earned off Hendrickson, as Royals 3rd baseman Mike Aviles was charged with a throwing error in the frame. Kelvin Jimenez (1-0) picked up the win in relief, after pitching a perfect 9th inning.
ROYALS REPORT: Ray's blown save on Tuesday was his 1st in 2 chances and the 1st for Omaha's bullpen in 5 opportunities. The Royals, who had been 7-0 when leading after 8 innings prior to Tuesday, are now 0-3 in 1-run games and 1-1 in games decided in the last at-bat. *** The Royals bullpen is bolstered today by the addition of 2 relievers from KC. Right-hander Jason Standridge, who was expected to open the season with Omaha but was called up by KC on April 5 when Octavio Dotel went on the DL, is now with the club. Standridge went 0-1 with a 9.45 ERA in 3 relief appearances for KC and was designated for assignment last Friday when lefty Neal Musser was called up by KC. Musser rejoins Omaha today after making just 2 relief outings for KC, allowing 1 unearned run in one-third of an inning. He was optioned by KC to make room for the promotion of starter Brian Bannister from Omaha. Musser was 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 5 appearances for the O-Royals before getting his 1st career call-up. *** Shane Costa had 4 of the Royals' season-high 17 hits on Tuesday, becoming the 1st Omaha batter to post a 4-hit game this season. Costa is riding a club-high, 11-game hitting streak, hitting at a .488 clip (21-43) with 11 runs scored and 3 RBI. *** After going 0-for-12 in the 1st 3 games at Memphis, Mitch Maier was 3-for-5 with 2 RBI on Tuesday. *** Billy Butler, who homered in back-to-back contests on Sunday and Monday, did not go deep again on Tuesday, but was 2-for-5 with a run scored. Butler has hit in 7 straight and in 10 of the past 11 games (.410, 16-39, 3 HR, 14 RBI). *** While Omaha's 17 hits on Tuesday set a season high, the 13 Royals left on base matched another. *** Angel Berroa has put together a 5-game hit string, batting .320 (8-25) over that span, with 2 RBI and 4 runs scored. *** Justin Huber, after entering Tuesday's contest in a 1-for-22 slump, went 2-for-5 to record his 1st multi-hit game of the season. *** Richard Lewis, promoted from Wichita on Monday, saw his 1st action for Omaha on Tuesday. He started at 2nd base and had a single in 4 at-bats, knocking in a run and scoring once.
STARTERS: LH Zach Jackson (3-1, 3.38) vs. RH Scott Elarton (0-1, 5.40)
Elarton makes his 3rd rehab assignment start overall and his 2nd for Omaha, as he comes back from shoulder surgery. He took the loss in a 4-2 defeat last Saturday at Memphis (5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 2 HR). Elarton's 1st rehab assignment start came on April 16 for Wichita, when he suffered the loss in a 6-1 setback at San Antonio (3.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R-1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K). The 31-year old right-hander went on the disabled list on July 18, 2006 and underwent surgery on his right shoulder on August 1, missing the rest of the season. The 6'-7" hurler was 4-9 with a 5.34 ERA in 2006, his 1st season with KC after signing with the Royals as a free agent. He was limited to 20 starts last season, his fewest since becoming a regular starter in 2000, when he was with Houston. He surrendered 26 home runs in his 20 starts last season, ranking 2nd in the Majors in home runs allowed following his final outing. Elarton has pitched in the big leagues at least part of every season since 1998, with the exception of 2002, when he missed the season following shoulder surgery. Besides Houston and KC, he has pitched for Colorado and Cleveland, going 54-56 with a 5.13 ERA and 3 saves in his big league career. The big righty, whose full name is Vincent Scott Elarton, was the Astros 1st round pick (25th overall) of the 1994 draft out of Lamar (CO) H.S.
PROBABLES FOR REMAINDER OF SERIES:
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)
Pacific Coast League Stories from April 26, 2007
- Germano Dominating In Victory Over Tucson - Portland Beavers
- Sidewinders' Bats Silenced In Loss To Portland - Tucson Sidewinders
- RedHot 'Hawks - Oklahoma City Comets
- Z's lose in Oklahoma - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Cubs jump on 'Birds early - Memphis Redbirds
- Isotopes Drop Series Opener In Round Rock, 5-3 - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Winning Streak Halted With 8-4 Loss To Royals - Nashville Sounds
- Gothreaux Strong in Second Start - Round Rock Express
- Oklahoma RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets
- Royals Game Notes - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Homegrown Randolph Headed to Houston April 26 - Round Rock Express
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