Royals Game Notes
May 18, 2007 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
MAY 18, 2007, 7:00 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (18-22) @ New Orleans Zephyrs (20-21)
HOME: 15-9 (31-41 in '06) AWAY: 3-13 (22-50 in '06) vs. New Orleans: 0-1 (8-8 in '06)
TONIGHT: The Royals visit New Orleans, facing the Zephyrs in a 7:00 p.m. game. It's game 2 of a 4-game series, which the Zephyrs lead 1-0. Air-time is 6:40 p.m. on News Talk 1420 KOTK and at www.Oroyals.com.
LAST NIGHT: After the Royals scored 2 runs in the top of the 11th inning to take a 7-5 lead, New Orleans took advantage of 2 errors and a passed ball to score 3 unearned runs in the bottom of the inning and win the series opener, 8-7. The errors - by 3rd baseman Mike Aviles and 1st baseman Billy Butler - loaded the bases with no outs. A ground out scored the 1st run, with a passed ball charged to Matt Tupman allowing the tying run to score. With 2 outs and runners at the corners, former Royal Chip Ambres delivered a game-winning single to right-center. Ryan Braun (0-1), who came on in relief at the start of the inning, took the loss. The rally made a winner of Eddie Camacho (1-0), who worked 1.0 inning and gave up 2 runs on 4 hits, including Butler's 7th home run of the season.
ROYALS REPORT: The Royals committed 4 errors in last night's game, matching their season high for a single game. Omaha batters also equaled a season high by collecting 10 walks, to go along with 13 hits. However, the Royals left 14 runners on base, setting a new season standard for LOBs, and had a runner thrown out at the plate in the 11th inning. *** Butler, who had not played for KC since May 12, did not show any signs of rust at the plate in his 1st game back with Omaha. He was 2-for-4 with a single to go along with his 7th home run in 26 games. Butler also walked twice - his .457 on-base percentage ranks 4th in the PCL. *** Aviles went 2-for-5 with his 7th double of the season and an RBI last night. It marked his team-best 15th multi-hit contest of the season. Aviles has hit in 4 straight games, going 6-for-17 (.353) with 2 doubles, a triple and 3 RBI. *** Craig Brazell saw his streak of 3 games with a home run come to a halt in one of the toughest ballparks in the league to go deep in. However, he did pick up a single - extending his hitting streak to 7 games (.357, 10-28, 4 HR, 7 RBI) - and he walked twice. Brazell has coaxed 3 walks in the past 2 games, after not picking up a free pass in his 1st 6 games with Omaha. *** Mitch Maier was 0-for-5 last night, ending his hit string at 6 games. During the streak, he was 9-for-18 with a double, 2 triples, a home run and 6 RBI. *** Tyler Lumsden came within 1 out of posting the Royals' 7th quality start of the season last night. He was charged with 4 runs - but only 2 were earned - in 5.2 innings. Five of the Z's 8 runs last night were unearned. *** Fernando Cortez has hit in 10 of his past 12 games, going 17-for-44 (.386) and scoring 13 runs over that span. *** Neal Musser kept his ERA at 0.00 by logging 1.1 scoreless innings Thursday, giving up 1 hit and striking out 1 batter. In 9 appearances with Omaha, Musser has allowed just 1 unearned run in 16.1 innings. The lefty has surrendered only 6 hits and 4 walks, while striking out 11. *** Since all 3 runs off him last night were unearned, Braun also still owns a 0.00 ERA over 6.2 innings in 6 relief outings with Omaha. The 2 hits he allowed in the 11th inning were 1 more than he had given up in his 5 previous appearances and he issued his 5th walk of the season.
STARTERS: RH Jason Shiell (0-1, 2.45) vs. RH Mike Pelfrey (NR)
Shiell makes his 2nd start and 10th appearance of the season. His 1st start was last Saturday vs. Fresno, taking the rotation spot of Brian Bannister after he was recalled by KC. Shiell took the loss in a 7-5 defeat (4.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R-2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K). The 30-year old right-hander was signed by KC as a minor league free agent last November. In 2006, Shiell made 9 starts for Somerset in the Independent Atlantic League, going 3-2 with a 2.92 ERA. He was signed by the Atlanta Braves as a minor league free agent on June 22 and was sent to Triple-A Richmond, where he was 2-4 with a 4.50 ERA in 9 starts. He also made 4 appearances, including 3 starts, for Atlanta, going 0-2 with an 8.62 ERA. Shiell missed the entire 2004 and 2005 seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. Besides Atlanta, Shiell has pitched in the Major Leagues with Boston (2003) and San Diego (2002). He picked up his 1st Major League win as a member of the Red Sox vs. KC on May 1, 2003. Shiell was a shortstop at Windsor Forest High in Savannah, Georgia, but was drafted as a pitcher by the Braves in the 48th round of the 1995 draft.
PROBABLES FOR REMAINDER OF SERIES:
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)
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 18, 2007
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- Beavers Stalled Again In Loss To 51s - Portland Beavers
- Sounds Fall To Isotopes, 6-4 - Nashville Sounds
- Wood Pitches RedHawks Past Cubs - Oklahoma City Comets
- Grizzlies Team With Strikeouts For Troops To Honor Armed Forces - Fresno Grizzlies
- Oklahoma RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets
- River Cats Unveil Jackson Rancheria Home Run Terrace at Raley Field - Sacramento River Cats
- Royals Game Notes - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Ryan Sanders Baseball Announces Game of the Week Auctions - Round Rock Express
- Rai Henniger Undergoing Intense Medical Treatment - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Sounds, Purity Team Up To Give Local Charities The Spotlight - Nashville Sounds
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