PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Royals Game Notes

May 8, 2007 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


MAY 8, 2007, 6:35 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (14-17) vs. Sacramento River Cats (20-11)

HOME: 11-5 (31-41 in '06) AWAY: 3-12 (22-50 in '06) vs. Sacramento: 0-0 (1-3 in '06)

TONIGHT: The Royals open an 8-game homestand with the 1st of 4 games vs. the Sacramento River Cats. Omaha is coming off a 1-2 trip to Oklahoma. It's 2uesday - $22 gets you 2 tickets, 2 hot dogs, 2 Cokes and 2 programs! Air-time is 6:15 p.m. on News Talk 1420 KOTK and at www.Oroyals.com.

LAST GAME: The Royals and RedHawks game Monday was postponed by wet grounds. On Sunday, the Royals decisively halted an 8-game losing streak on the road, routing Oklahoma 9-1. Angel Berroa opened the scoring with an RBI single in a 2-run 3rd inning and closed it with a 2-run single in the 6th, giving him 3 RBI on the day. Graham Koonce capped a 4-run 5th inning by belting a 3-run homer to put the Royals on top 7-1. Tyler Lumsden (2-3) gave Omaha a terrific start, allowed just 1 unearned run on 6 hits over 6.0 innings, walking 1 and striking out 4. RedHawks starter Bruce Chen (0-1) took the loss, after being tagged for 5 runs on 6 hits in 4.1 frames, as the 'Hawks win string was ended at 4 games.

ROYALS REPORT: Sunday's victory was the biggest winning margin of the season for the Royals, who snapped an 8-game losing skid on the road. It was the club's longest road loss string since an 8-game skid in June-July of 2005. *** The 3 RBI for Berroa on Sunday gives him 12 RBI over the past 15 games. He has scored 10 runs over that same stretch. *** Koonce's round-tripper on Sunday was his 1st since he belted homers in 3 straight games April 8-10. He had 3 home runs in his 1st 16 at-bats of the season, and 1 homer in 54 at-bats since. Koonce's homer was the 5th out of 21 home runs hit by the Royals to come with 2 men on base. Only 1 of the opponents' 27 dingers have been a 3-run shot. *** In his 2 appearances (1 start) prior to recording the Royals 6th quality start of the season on Sunday, Lumsden had allowed 12 earned runs in 4.0 innings. Sunday's gem dropped his ERA from 10.80 to 8.14. It marked his 1st win since his 1st start of the season on April 7 at Albuquerque, when he hurled 5.0 scoreless innings of 1-hit ball. *** Jorge Padilla smacked his 1st homer in his 3rd game with Omaha. Padilla, who's 2-for-12 (.167) for the Royals, was tied for 2nd in the Texas League with a .380 average prior to being promoted last week from Wichita. *** Ryan Braun was effective in his 1st relief appearance for Omaha Sunday, after being optioned by KC last week, pitching 1.0 hitless inning with a walk and a strikeout. *** Roberto Giron finished Sunday's contest by firing 2.0 scoreless stanzas. Since allowing 3 runs in 3.1 innings vs. Round Rock on April 20, Giron has not surrendered a run in his last 4 outings, covering 5.1 frames. *** Mike Aviles had 2 RBI on Sunday and posted his 4th consecutive 2-hit game and his 9th multi-hit effort in the past 12 contests. Over that span, Aviles is hitting .417 (20-48) and has knocked in 11 runs. *** Justin Huber is riding a 6-game hitting streak, his best of the season. He's also hit in 10 of the past 11 tilts, at a .349 clip (15-43) with 3 homers and 13 RBI. *** Fernando Cortez had 2 hits and 3 runs on Sunday. Over the past 4 games, he's gone 7-for-14 with 6 runs scored and 1 RBI. The 4-game streak upped his average 35 points to .298. *** Mitch Maier went 0-for-3 on Sunday and was ejected after arguing a called 3rd strike in the 5th, ending his hitting streak at 8 games. *** Paul Phillips and Richard Lewis each had 2 hits Sunday, with both recording their 1st multi-hit games.

STARTERS: RH Shane Komine (1-3, 4.67) vs. RH Zach Day (1-0, 2.29)

Day makes his 6th start and 7th 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 last Wednesday vs. Memphis; he was not involved in the decision as the Royals won 4-1 (4.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 0 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:

Wed., 12:05: TBA vs. RH Matt Wright (2-2, 4.32)

Thur., 6:35: LH Dan Meyer (1-0, 0.87) vs. RH Ben Hendrickson (2-2, 5.97)

Fri., 7:05: RH Brad Knox (0-1, 4.26) vs. RH Jason Shiell (0-0, 1.96)

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 8, 2007


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