Royals Game Notes
May 21, 2007 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
MAY 21, 2007, 6:35 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (19-24) vs. Oklahoma RedHawks (21-21)
HOME: 15-9 (31-41 in '06) AWAY: 4-15 (22-50 in '06) vs. Oklahoma: 1-2 (6-10 in '06)
TONIGHT: The Royals open an 8-game home stand with a 6:35 p.m. game vs. Oklahoma; it's the opener of a 4-game series vs. the RedHawks. It's Free Money Monday: the 1st 500 fans will receive an envelope containing either cash or prizes, courtesy of Country 97.3 KBLR! Air-time is 6:15 p.m. on News Talk 1420 KOTK and at www.Oroyals.com.
SUNDAY: The Zephyrs rallied to defeat the Royals 5-4 in 10 innings in New Orleans, taking the series 3-1 with all 3 Omaha losses coming in extra innings. Anderson Hernandez, who hit a game-winning homer in the 11th inning Saturday night, delivered a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning Sunday to score Ricky Ledee with the winning run. Ledee had led off the inning with a single off Roberto Giron (0-2), who had given up the walk-off homer on Saturday. Trailing 4-0 in the 7th, the Zephyrs rallied for 3 runs off Danny Tamayo. Robinson Cancel, who stroked an RBI double in the 7th, tied the game an inning later with his 1st home run off Nate Hoelscher. Steve Schmoll (1-1) pitched a perfect 10th and got the win.
ROYALS REPORT: The Royals had been 2-0 in extra inning contests, prior to losing all 3 extra-inning games in New Orleans. The Royals are now 4-5 in games decided in the last at-bat and 5-8 in games decided by 1 run. Omaha's 4-15 road record is worst in the PCL. *** A day after the Royals had to use 5 relievers in an 11-inning game, Matt Wright gave the Royals just their 7th quality start of the season yesterday. Wright fired 6.0 scoreless innings, allowing 4 hits and 2 walks, while striking out 4 and was in line for his 3rd win of the season before the Z's late rally. *** The Royals bullpen suffered 3 blown saves in 4 opportunities at New Orleans. On the season, Omaha's bullpen is now 9-for-15 in save chances. *** Craig Brazell recorded his 1st 3-hit game with Omaha on Sunday. Since going 0-for-4 in his 1st game up from Wichita, Brazell has hit in 10 straight, at a .364 clip (16-44) with 5 home runs and 10 RBI. *** Mike Aviles also went 3-for-5 yesterday, delivering his club-leading 9th double and logging his team-best 18th multi-hit game. Aviles has put together a 7-game hit string, matching his longest of the season. He's hitting .406 (13-32) during the streak, with 4 doubles, 1 triple and 3 RBI. *** Jorge Padilla smacked his 3rd home run yesterday in his 15th game with Omaha. It was a solo shot in the 2nd inning off former Omaha and KC Royals right-hander Jose Santiago, who allowed 4 runs on 10 hits over 5.0 innings. Santiago is struggling at 1-3 with a 7.28 ERA for New Orleans. *** Richard Lewis snapped an 0-for-13 skid at the plate with an infield single in the 5th inning Sunday. Lewis was 1-for-5 on the day and is hitting .176 in 15 games since being promoted from Wichita. *** The Royals hit into a season-high 4 double plays yesterday and still managed to leave 12 runners on base. Over the 4-game series, Omaha stranded 46 runners on base.
STARTERS: RH Armando Galarraga (NR) vs. RH Ben Hendrickson (2-3, 5.50)
Hendrickson makes his 9th start of the season. The 26-year old right-hander was acquired by KC from Milwaukee on March 27 in a trade for catcher Max St. Pierre. In his last outing last Tuesday vs. Fresno, Hendrickson was not involved in the decision as the Royals won a 7-inning contest, 2-1 (4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 5 BB, 3 K). He faced the RedHawks on May 4 at Oklahoma, taking the loss in a 5-4 defeat (3.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 2 K, 1 HR). He's 2-1 with a 4.38 ERA in 5 starts at home, while going 0-2 with a 7.62 ERA in his 3 outings on the road. In 2006, Hendrickson spent most of the season with Nashville, but also saw time with the Brewers. He was 9-8 with a 3.36 ERA in 23 starts for the Sounds. His 3.36 ERA ranked 9th in the PCL and he was selected to the mid-season PCL All-Star team. He went 1-1 with a 2.95 ERA in 3 starts vs. Omaha last season. He pitched in 4 games (3 starts) for Milwaukee, going 0-2 with a 12.00 ERA. Prior to both the 2005 and 2006 seasons, Hendrickson was named as having the "Best Curveball" in the Brewers organization by Baseball America, which rated him as Milwaukee's #7 prospect prior to 2005 and #19 entering 2006. In 2004, he was named as Milwaukee's Minor League Pitcher of the Year and the International League's MVP, after going 11-3 with a 2.02 ERA for Indianapolis. That same season, he was 1-8 with a 6.22 ERA for the Brewers. Hendrickson was selected by Milwaukee in the 10th round of the 1999 draft out of Bloomington Jefferson High in the Twin Cities.
PROBABLES FOR REMAINDER OF SERIES:
Tue., 6:35: TBA vs. LH Tyler Lumsden (2-3, 6.06)
Wed., 6:35: RH Mike Wood (3-0, 2.32) vs. RH Jason Shiell (0-1, 2.32)
Thur., 6:35: TBA vs. RH Zach Day (1-0, 2.93)
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 21, 2007
- Sky Sox Edge Grizzlies, 7-6 - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Express Survives Scary Ninth - Round Rock Express
- Isotopes Shutout Zephyrs, 3-0 - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Redbirds Take Series Opener From Sounds, 6-5 - Nashville Sounds
- Portland Beavers, Timbers new owner - Portland Beavers
- Oklahoma Redhawks Game Notes 5/21 - Oklahoma City Comets
- Jennings Set For Round Rock Rehab Start - Round Rock Express
- River Cats and Sutter Health Announce '07 Summer Caravan Schedule - Sacramento River Cats
- Triple-A All-Star Luncheon To Feature Tommy Lasorda - Albuquerque Isotopes
- All Singles Report to The Dell Diamond - Round Rock Express
- Royals Game Notes - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Sounds' Gallardo Named PCL Pitcher-Of-The-Week - Nashville Sounds
- Sidewinders Drop Rain Shortened Series Finale In Tacoma - Tucson Sidewinders
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
