PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Royals Game Notes

May 6, 2007 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


MAY 6, 2007, 12:00 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (13-17) @ Oklahoma RedHawks (16-13)

HOME: 11-5 (31-41 in '06) AWAY: 2-12 (22-50 in '06) vs. Oklahoma: 0-2 (6-10 in '06)

TODAY: The Royals visit Bricktown Ballpark for game 3 of a 4-game series vs. the Oklahoma. The RedHawks lead the series 2-0. Air-time is 11:40 a.m. on News Talk 1420 KOTK and at www.Oroyals.com.

SATURDAY: After the Royals rallied for 4 runs in the top of the 9th to take a 6-5 lead, Oklahoma answered with 2 runs in their last at-bat to steal a 7-6 victory. With 1 out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th Kevin West delivered a 2-run single off Jason Standridge (1-1), who yielded 3 hits and a walk and retired just 1 batter in the 9th. RedHawks reliever Scott Feldman (1-0) got the win, despite his 1st blown save after surrendering 4 runs on 5 hits in the top of the 9th. West had 3 hits and 3 RBI and Marlon Byrd had 4 hits including his 3rd home run of the season to help the 'Hawks win their 4th straight.

ROYALS REPORT: The Royals fell to 2-12 on the road Saturday after suffering their 8th straight loss away from Omaha. It's the club's longest road losing streak since an 8-game skid in June-July of 2005. Omaha dropped to 1-5 in games decided by 1 run, with all 5 of those losses coming on the road. *** In his 4th rehab assignment for KC and 2nd with Omaha, Luke Hudson worked 5.0 innings yesterday, allowing 3 runs on 7 hits. Hudson, who threw 64 of his 94 pitches for strikes, did not walk a batter and struck out a club-high 7 hitters for his 2nd consecutive outing. He has 14 K's in 9.0 innings over his 2 starts for Omaha. *** Billy Buckner followed Hudson to the hill and fired 2.0 hitless innings, walking 1 and striking out 3. The converted started is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in 3 relief appearances since being promoted from Wichita. *** Mike Aviles collected 2 more hits yesterday, marking his 8th multi-hit effort in the past 11 games. Over that span, Aviles is hitting .419 (18-43) and has knocked in 9 runs. *** Justin Huber has hit in 5 straight and in 9 of the past 10 contests. During the 10-game stretch, Huber has a .368 average (14-38) with 3 home runs and 13 RBI. *** Since coming down from KC, Standridge had gone 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA prior to his appearance Saturday. His ERA stands at 4.91 after recording just the 2nd blown saves in 8 opportunities for Omaha's bullpen this season. *** Kenny Ray had another rough outing yesterday, struggling in the 8th inning as he allowed 4 hits and 2 runs - the runs coming on back-to-back homers by Marlon Byrd and Jason Botts. Ray is 0-1 with a 6.91 ERA in 9 relief appearances this season. *** Fernando Cortez has gone 5-for-10 over the past 3 games, raising his average from .263 to .289. *** Prior to Saturday's action, infielder Andres Blanco was activated from the DL. Blanco, who did not play yesterday, has appeared in just 11 games this season due to a sore knee. *** Mitch Maier had 1 hit yesterday for the 7th straight contest, extending his hit string to 8 games overall. He's hitting .281 (9-32) during the streak, which equals his longest of the season. *** Playing in his 2nd game since being promoted from Wichita, Jorge Padilla collected his 1st hit - a single - and his 1st stolen base yesterday for the Royals. *** Angel Berroa scored a run yesterday. He has scored 10 runs and driven 9 runs home over the past 14 tilts. *** Omaha pitchers yesterday matched season highs for strikeouts (12) and home runs allowed (3) in a game.

STARTERS: LH Tyler Lumsden (1-3, 10.80) vs. LH Bruce Chen (0-0, 2.45)

Lumsden, considered one of the top prospects in KC's organization, makes his 5th start and 6th appearance of the season. After going 1-3 with an 8.83 ERA in his 1st 4 starts, Lumsden was sent to the bullpen to work things out. But, he got knocked around in a rocky relief outing last Monday vs. Memphis (1.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 1 K); he was not involved in the decision as the Royals lost 9-3. Lumsden, who turns 24 years old on Wednesday, was ranked by Baseball America as KC's #5 prospect and 2nd-best pitching prospect entering this season. He was acquired by KC along with right-hander Daniel Cortes from the Chicago White Sox last July, in a trade for reliever Mike MacDougal. After missing the entire 2005 season following surgery on his left elbow, Lumsden was terrific in 2006. He began the campaign with Double-A Birmingham, going 9-4 with a 2.69 ERA in 20 starts. His 2.69 ERA ranked 4th-best in the Southern League. Following the trade to KC, Lumsden made 7 appearances (6 starts) for Double-A Wichita, going 2-1 with a 3.06 ERA to help the Wranglers win the 2nd half title and advance to the Texas League Championship series. Lumsden was selected by the White Sox as a sandwich pick between the 1st and 2nd rounds (34th overall) of the 2004 draft, out of Clemson. He compiled a 17-7 record in his 3 seasons at Clemson and pitched for the Tigers in the 2002 College World Series.

PROBABLES FOR REMAINDER OF SERIES:

Mon., 12:00: RH Zach Day (1-0, 2.29) vs. LH John Koronka (2-2, 5.05)

Check out the Omaha Storm Chasers Statistics



Pacific Coast League Stories from May 6, 2007


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