PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Royals Game Notes

Published on May 17, 2007 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


MAY 17, 2007, 7:00 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (18-21) @ New Orleans Zephyrs (19-21)

HOME: 15-9 (31-41 in '06) AWAY: 3-12 (22-50 in '06) vs. New Orleans: 0-0 (8-8 in '06)

TONIGHT: The Royals open a 4-game road trip to New Orleans with a 7:00 p.m. game. Due to a quirk in the 2007 PCL schedule, it's the 1st of only 14 meetings between the American Conference North rivals this season. Omaha is coming off a 4-4 home stand. Air-time is 6:40 p.m. on News Talk 1420 KOTK and at www.Oroyals.com.

TUESDAY: Craig Brazell homered for the 3rd straight game and reliever Billy Buckner fired 3.0 scoreless innings, as the Royals defeated Fresno 2-1 in a 7-inning, regularly scheduled contest at Rosenblatt Stadium. It followed the completion of a 9-inning game that had been suspended by rain Monday night, won by the Grizzlies 6-2. Brazell's 4th inning home run off Matt Kinney put the Royals on top 2-0. Buckner (3-0) came on in the top of the 5th, after Ben Hendrickson walked the 1st 2 batters. Buckner allowed an RBI single to Clay Timpner, but it was the only hit he gave up in his 3.0 inning stint. Kinney (3-4) pitched a 6-inning complete game, but took the loss after allowing 2 runs on 3 hits. In the completed game, Patrick Misch (2-2) was almost perfect for 4.2 innings, giving up just 1 hit - Mitch Maier's 3rd home run of the season - while striking out 6 Royals. In his 1st start in nearly a year, Danny Tamayo (0-1) took the loss. He surrendered 3 runs on 4 hits over 2.0 innings on Monday night before the rain came.

ROYALS REPORT: After spending just 2 rehab assignment games with Omaha and going 1-for-7 with a double, Ryan Shealy was activated by KC prior to last night's game at Oakland. He celebrated by going 2-for-4 and delivered an RBI single to cap a 2-run, 9th inning rally, scoring Paul Phillips with the game-deciding run. To make room for Shealy, KC optioned Billy Butler back to Omaha. Butler, who joins the O-Royals today, hit .243 (9-37) with 4 RBI in 10 games with the parent club. He opened the season with Omaha, batting .337 with 6 homers and 23 RBI in 25 games. *** The 27-year old Brazell, promoted from Wichita last week when 31-year old Graham Koonce was traded to Atlanta, became the 1st Royal to hit a home run in 3 straight games since Koonce turned the trick April 8-10. Brazell, who smacked 7 homers for Wichita, has already clouted 4 for Omaha, all coming in the past 5 contests. After going 0-for-4 in his 1st game with Omaha, Brazell has hit in 6 straight, going 9-for-24 (.375), including the 4 home runs and 7 RBI. Koonce homered in his 1st 3 games with Richmond, a streak that was halted Tuesday when he went 0-for-4. *** Buckner is 3-0 with a 2.03 ERA in 6 relief outings for the Royals since being promoted from Wichita, where he began the conversion from starting to relieving by making his last appearance in relief. *** Maier has put together a 6-game hitting streak and shown more pop in the process. He's 9-for-18 with a double, 2 triples and a home run over that span, driving in 6 runs. The streak has raised his batting average 31 points to .281 and his slugging percentage 74 points to .418. *** Fernando Cortez has hit in 9 of the past 11 games, going 15-for-38 (.395) and has scored 12 runs over that stretch. *** Catcher Cody Clark, promoted from Wilmington when Phillips was recalled by KC, made his Triple-A debut Tuesday. He made solid contact in both his at-bats, but lined to left and lined out to 3rd to finish 0-for-2. *** Mike Aviles stroked his 3rd triple of the season - tying Maier for the club lead - and scored on Maier's single to give Omaha a 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning of Tuesday's regularly scheduled game. *** The Royals won that game despite equaling their season low with 3 hits. Omaha turned 4 double plays in the 7-inning affair.

STARTERS: LH Tyler Lumsden (2-3, 6.60) vs. RH Chan Ho Park (3-2, 6.67)

Lumsden, considered one of the top prospects in KC's organization, makes his 7th start and 8th 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. He got knocked around in a relief outing on April 30 vs. Memphis, giving up 5 runs in 1.0 inning. Back in the starting rotation for his last 2 outings, Lumsden has rebounded by yielding just 1 unearned run in 11.2 innings. The 24-year old lefty 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:

Fri, 7:00: RH Jason Shiell (0-1, 2.45) vs. RH Mike Pelfrey (NR)

Sat., 7:00: RH Zach Day (1-0, 3.04) vs. LH Adam Bostick (2-3, 5.61)

Sun., 2:00: TBA vs. RH Phil Humber (3-4, 4.30)

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 17, 2007


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