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PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Royals Game Notes

May 25, 2007 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


MAY 25, 2007, 7:05 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (23-24) vs. New Orleans Zephyrs (23-25)

HOME: 19-9 (31-41 in ‘06) AWAY: 4-15 (22-50 in '06) vs. New Orleans: 1-3 (8-8 in '06)

TONIGHT: The Royals host the New Orleans Zephyrs in a 7:05 p.m. game at Rosenblatt Stadium. Omaha opened the homestand with a 4-game sweep of Oklahoma. It's Werner Enterprises Fireworks Friday, also presented by KETV-Channel 7 and KAT 103! Air-time is 6:45 p.m. on News Talk 1420 KOTK and at www.Oroyals.com.

LAST NIGHT: Trailing 6-3 entering the bottom of the 6th, the Royals scored 7 runs - taking the lead on Billy Butler's grand slam, which was followed by Craig Brazell's 2nd home run of the game - for a 10-6 victory and a sweep of the doubleheader. The 1st 2 runs of the late rally were plated on a single by Richard Lewis, who had 3 RBI in the game. With the RedHawks clinging to a 6-5 lead, Butler greeted reliever Mike Bumstead by smashing his 2-0 pitch deep over the left field wall. Brazell, who had stroked a 2-run homer in the 4th, followed with his 6th round-tripper in his last 16 at-bats, all coming off Oklahoma pitchers. Kenny Ray (2-1) got the win, allowing a run in 2.0 innings on a homer by David Matranga, who had 3 RBI. A.J. Murray (2-2) took the loss, after yielding 5 runs in 1.0 inning of relief. In the opener, the Royals won 3-2 in 8 innings on Joey Gathright's 2nd RBI single, which came off Murray. Mike Wood no-hit the Royals until Gathright's 1st run-scoring single tied the game at 1-all with 1 out in the 6th. Oklahoma took a 2-1 lead in the top of the 7th, but Brazell doubled to lead off the bottom of the inning and pinch-runner Lewis scored the tying run on a single by Mike Aviles. Neal Musser (2-0) fired 2.0 hitless innings for the win, while Wood (3-1) absorbed his 1st defeat.

ROYALS REPORT: Brazell blasted 2 homers in the 1st, 2nd and 4th games of the Oklahoma series, giving him 6 dingers in his last 16 at-bats. The 27-year old 1B/DH has hit 10 home runs in his last 11 games. Brazell's 11 homers in just 15 games with Omaha already has him tied with 3 other sluggers for the PCL lead in home runs. Brazell smacked 7 round-trippers in 30 games with Wichita to begin the season. His 18 home runs on the season lead the minors. Ironically, Brazell did not hit a home run in his last 7 games for Wichita and he had just 2 long balls in his final 18 contests with the Wranglers. After going 0-for-4 in his Omaha debut, Brazell is riding a 14-game hitting streak (.417, 25-60) and has a .391 average with the Royals. *** Butler's grand slam, which drew a rare curtain call from the 3,808 fans at Rosenblatt last night, was the first by an Omaha batter this season. In fact, it was the first since April 22, 2006, when Aaron Guiel connected for the Royals' lone slam last season vs. the Memphis Redbirds. *** The Royals were able to record their 2nd 4-game sweep of the season, despite the fact that Oklahoma scored 1st in each contest. In 28 home games, the Royals opponent has scored 1st 23 times. However, Omaha has rallied to win 14 of those 23 games. The Royals are 5-0 when they score 1st at home. On the road, the Royals are just 1-9 in games when the opposing club scores 1st. On the season, the Royals have the PCL's best home record at 19-9, but worst road mark at 4-15. *** Matt Tupman is riding a 7-game hitting streak. During the string, which is his longest of the season, the Royals catcher is hitting .522 (12-23) and has 7 RBI. *** Mitch Maier was 0-for-3 in Thursday's opener, halting a 5-game hitting streak. He had a pair of doubles and scored 2 runs in the nightcap. Maier has hit in 12 of the past 14 tilts (.333, 17-51, 1 HR, 6 RBI).

STARTERS: LH Adam Bostick (2-3, 5.55) vs. RH Zach Day (1-0, 2.93) Day makes his 9th start and 10th 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 Saturday at New Orleans; he was not involved in the decision as the Royals lost 9-8 in 11 innings (4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R-1 ER, 1 BB, 1 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:

Sat., 6:05: RH Brian Lawrence (0-3, 7.01) vs. RH Matt Wright (2-2, 3.75)

Sun., 1:35: RH Chan Ho Park (3-3, 5.49) vs. RH Ben Hendrickson (3-3, 4.84)

Mon., 6:35: RH Mike Pelfrey (0-0, 1.54) vs. LH Tyler Lumsden (3-3, 5.74)

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