Royals Game Notes
Published on May 2, 2007 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
MAY 2, 2007, 6:35 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (11-15) vs. Memphis Redbirds (15-11)
HOME: 9-5 (31-41 in '06) AWAY: 2-10 (22-50 in '06) vs. Memphis: 0-6 (9-7 in '06)
TONIGHT: The Royals host the Memphis Redbirds in game 3 of a 4-game series. Omaha is 0-2 in the series and 4-2 on the homestand. The 1st 100 kids 12-and-under receive a voucher for a free individual pizza at the SUBWAY concession stand, with all other kids getting a meal voucher good at Rosenblatt Stadium's other concession stands, presented by SUBWAY and ValPak. Air-time is 6:15 p.m. on News Talk 1420 KOTK and at www.Oroyals.com.
LAST NIGHT: Memphis scored 4 runs in the 1st inning and Redbirds starter Blake Hawksworth and 2 relievers made it stand up in a 4-2 victory. Scott Elarton, in his 4th rehab assignment start for KC, retired the 1st 2 batters of the game, but then allowed 2 walks and 4 consecutive singles as the Redbirds batted around in the 1st. After the 1st 2 Memphis batters in the 2nd reached base, Elarton (1-2) settled down, retiring 16 of the final 18 hitters he faced. Hawksworth (1-4) scattered 8 hits over 7.0 stanzas, inducing double play grounders in each of the middle 3 innings. Brian Falkenborg earned his PCL-leading 8th save with a perfect 9th inning. Shane Costa went 3-for-5 as his hitting streak reached 17 games, while the Redbrids' Ryan Ludwick (14 games) and Edgar Gonzalez (13 games) had long hit strings snapped.
ROYALS REPORT: The Redbirds' win last night was their 5th in a row overall and 6th in as many meetings vs. Omaha. The Royals have been outscored by Memphis 42-20 in those 6 games, although 3 of the contests were decided by 2 runs or less. *** Costa's 17-game hitting streak is the longest for Omaha since the club began keeping those records in the 2000 season. It's also tied for the longest streak in the PCL this season, set by Tacoma's Wladimir Balentien April 6-24. Costa is hitting at a blistering .455 (30-66) clip during the streak, with 16 runs scored and 4 RBI. Costa, who began the season going 1-for-18 (.056) after getting beaned in his 1st trip to the plate, now ranks 6th in batting in the PCL with a .369 average. *** Billy Butler was called up by KC yesterday and singled off Bartolo Colon in his 1st Major League at-bat last night. He added another single in the 8th inning to finish 2-for-4 in KC's 7-5 loss to the Angels at Kauffman. KC General Manager Dayton Moore said that Ryan Shealy, who was placed on the DL yesterday after suffering a strained left hamstring Monday night, can resume baseball activities in 7-10 days and will make a rehab assignment in Omaha. *** Lefty reliever Neal Musser was called up by KC Tuesday for the 2nd time this season, while right-hander Ryan Braun was optioned to Omaha. Musser, who gave up 1 unearned run in just one-third of an inning over 2 appearances with KC last month, was 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 7 relief outings for the O-Royals. He allowed just 3 hits and 1 unearned run in 13.0 innings here. Braun had no record and a 4.82 ERA, appearing in 7 games for KC. *** Kenny Ray, facing the Redbirds last night for the 1st time since last Tuesday at Memphis, when he blew a save by surrendering 3 runs in the 9th inning of an 8-7 loss, bounced back nicely. Ray logged 2.0 perfect innings, striking out 3 of the 6 batters he faced. *** Fernando Cortez was 0-for-4 last night, halting his hitting streak at 6 games. He's still hitting .308 (8-26) over the past 7 contests, with 2 home runs and 4 RBI. *** Mike Aviles, batting 3rd in the Royals order Tuesday, went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. It was Aviles' 9th multi-hit tilt, tied for most on the club with Joey Gathright, who missed his 2nd straight game with an injured left leg.
STARTERS: LH Troy Cate (1-0, 1.96) vs. RH Zach Day (1-0, 2.30)
Day makes his 5th start and 6th appearance of the season. He has been working on a pitch limit as he rebounds from shoulder surgery. The 28-year old right-hander's last outing was his most impressive start of the season, as he combined with 2 relievers on a 4-hitter last Friday in a 6-0 win vs. Nashville (5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K). Day's previous outing was at Memphis on April 21, when pitched in relief, following Elarton to the mound. He was not involved in the decision in a 4-2 loss (3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R-0 ER, 0 BB, 3 HBP, 1 K). Day was signed by KC as a minor league free agent last December, after spending most of the past 5 seasons pitching in the Major Leagues with Montreal, Washington and Colorado. In 2006, Day opened the 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 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. 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 prior to this season. 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:
Thur., 11:05: LH Randy Keisler (0-0, 1.29) vs. RH Matt Wright (2-2, 4.29)
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 2, 2007
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- Braun Blast Give Sounds A Doubleheader Split - Nashville Sounds
- RedHawks return favor in win - Oklahoma City Comets
- Beavers' Game Suspended Due To Rain In Fourth - Portland Beavers
- Isotopes succumb to RedHawk rally - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Royals Game Notes - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Oklahoma RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets
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