Royals Game Notes
Published on May 3, 2007 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
MAY 3, 2007, 11:05 a.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (12-15) vs. Memphis Redbirds (15-12)
HOME: 10-5 (31-41 in '06) AWAY: 2-10 (22-50 in '06) vs. Memphis: 1-6 (9-7 in '06)
TODAY: The Royals host the Memphis Redbirds in the finale of the series and homestand. Omaha is 1-2 in the series and 5-2 on the homestand. Enjoy lunch, baseball and the antics of national performer Rally as he entertains at Rosenblatt Stadium for the 1st time ever! Air-time is 10:45 a.m. on News Talk 1420 KOTK and at www.Oroyals.com.
LAST NIGHT: Justin Huber drove in 3 runs and 3 Royals pitchers held Memphis to 4 hits in Omaha's 4-1 win, snapping the Redbirds' 5-game winning streak. Huber tied the game at 1-all in the 1st inning with a 2-out RBI single to right, then snapped the deadlock with a 2-out, 2-run single to left in the 3rd. Huber's 1st inning single scored Shane Costa, whose single leading off the inning extended his hitting streak to 18 games. Costa also delivered an RBI single to cap the scoring in the 4th. Royals starter Zach Day allowed just 1 run on 1 hit over the 1st 4.0 frames. Billy Buckner (1-0) won his 1st Triple-A decision, tossing 2.0 scoreless stanzas, yielding 1 hit. Jason Shiell earned his 2nd save of the season, limiting the Redbirds to a pair of singles over the final 3.0 innings. Troy Cate (1-1) took the loss, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 9 hits in 5.0 frames.
ROYALS REPORT: Costa's 18-game hitting streak is the longest in the PCL this season and the longest for Omaha since the club began keeping those records in the 2000 season. Costa is hitting at a sizzling .464 (32-69) pace during the streak, scoring 17 runs and knocking in 4 over that span. The Omaha outfielder now ranks 3rd in the PCL with a .379 average. *** Prior to last night's win - their 1st in 7 meetings with Memphis - the Royals were just 1-12 when scoring 4 runs or less. The victory upped Omaha's record to 10-5 at home and at 5-2, assured the Royals of a winning homestand. *** Huber's 3 RBI last night equaled his single-game high this season and gives him 10 RBI in his past 6 games. He collected 4 RBI in his 1st 13 tilts. *** Day, who had issued 12 walks in 15.2 innings over his 1st 5 games, walked Brendan Ryan leading off last night's contest. However, that was the only free pass he allowed, as he retired 11 of the next 13 batters he faced. The 28-year old right-hander owns a 2.29 ERA as he rebounds from shoulder surgery last June. *** Buckner's conversion to the bullpen has been positive so far. In 2 appearances with Omaha, KC's 2nd round pick in the 2004 draft is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA. *** Angel Berroa has hit in 4 straight (.313, 5-16) and in 10 of the last 11 games (.333, 16-48, 5 RBI, 8 R). ***
Graham Koonce doubled in the Royals' 3-run 3rd inning Wednesday, running his hitting streak to 5 games. He's batting .368 (7-19) with 3 doubles and 2 RBI during the streak, upping his average from .222 to .273. *** Mitch Maier has also hit in 5 consecutive games (.286, 6-21, 2 RBI). *** Joey Gathright missed his 3rd straight game last night with a left leg injury, suffered as he was sliding home with the tying run in the 9th inning Sunday vs. Nashville, scoring from 2nd base on a sacrifice fly.
STARTERS: LH Randy Keisler (0-0, 1.29) vs. RH Matt Wright (2-2, 4.29)
Wright makes his 2nd start and 6th appearance of the season. The 25-year old right-hander's last outing was in a starting role last Saturday vs. Nashvillle. He was not involved in the decision as the Royals won 5-4 in 10 innings (4.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 2 HR). In his previous 2 appearances - both at home - Wright posted back-to-back wins in relief, after suffering losses in his 1st 2 relief outings - a pair of 1-run defeats on the road. Wright was signed by KC as a minor league free agent in the off-season after spending the 1st 7 seasons of his professional career in the Atlanta Braves organization. In 2006, Wright opened the campaign pitching for Double-A Mississippi, posting a 7-3 record with a 2.22 ERA in 15 games (14 starts). He was promoted to Richmond in mid-July and went 3-5 with a 5.77 ERA over 10 starts in his 1st action at the Triple-A level. Entering this season, Wright's minor league totals included a 46-47 record, despite a 3.68 ERA and 744 strikeouts in 743.2 innings. He was selected by the Braves in the 21st round of the 2000 draft out of Robinson High School in Waco, Texas.
PROBABLES FOR SERIES AT OKLAHOMA:
Fri., 7:05: RH Ben Hendrickson (2-1, 5.26) vs. RH Alfredo Simon (1-3, 5.22)
Sat., 3:05: TBA vs. RH Josh Rupe (1-2, 4.91)
Sun., 12:00: TBA vs. LH Bruce Chen (0-0, 2.45)
Mon., 12:00: RH Zach Day (1-0, 2.29) vs. LH John Koronka (2-2, 5.05)
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 3, 2007
- Schierholtz' Homer Gives Fresno Second Straight Win Over Tucson - Tucson Sidewinders
- RedHawks win wild one at The Brick - Oklahoma City Comets
- Beavers Place Carrillo On Disabled List, Reinstate Stauffer; Laforest Outrighted To Portland - Portland Beavers
- Road Trip Finale Rained Out In Iowa - Nashville Sounds
- Padres Trade Jack Cust To Oakland - Portland Beavers
- Oklahoma RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets
- April Showers Bring May Mustaches - Fresno Grizzlies
- Sounds Faith Nights To Kick Off Tuesday At Rocketown - Nashville Sounds
- Royals Game Notes - Omaha Storm Chasers
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