Royals Game Notes
July 21, 2007 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
JULY 21, 2007, 6:05 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (47-53) vs. Memphis Redbirds (41-59)
HOME: 31-17 (31-41 in '06) AWAY: 16-36 (22-50 in '06) vs. Memphis: 3-6 (9-7 in '06)
TONIGHT: The Royals host the Memphis Redbirds in a 6:05 p.m. game at Rosenblatt Stadium. It's game 2 of a 4-game series, which Omaha leads 1-0. During the contest, fans will enjoy the antics of BirdZerk!, courtesy of PayPal, WOWT-Channel 6 and 1620 The Zone! Air-time is 5:45 p.m. on News Talk 1420 KOTK and at www.Oroyals.com.
LAST NIGHT: Three Omaha pitchers combined on a 3-hitter - working around 8 walks - and Mike Aviles snapped a 1-1 tie with a 2-run double in the 7th inning, as the Royals won the series opener 3-1. Luke Hochevar allowed 1 hit and 5 walks while striking out 4 over 5.0 scoreless innings in his 2nd start for the Royals. Kenny Ray (3-3) blew a save opportunity, but wound up with a win after allowing 1 run on 2 hits and a pair of walks in 2.2 innings. Neal Musser retired 4 of the 5 batters he faced, giving up 1 free pass, to notch his 3rd save. Redbirds reliever Kelvin Jimenez (1-3) took the loss after surrendering 2 runs on 4 hits over 1.2 frames.
ROYALS REPORT: The 1 hit allowed by Hochevar in last night's game marked his season low. He gave up just 2 hits over 7.2 innings for Wichita on April 17 at San Antonio, recording a season-high 11 strikeouts in that game. The 5 walks Hochevar issued last night equaled his season high, set on June 30 vs. San Antonio. He also worked around those 5 bases on balls to give up just 1 run in 6.1 innings. *** The game-deciding hit by Aviles Friday night was his 30th extra-base hit of the season (17 doubles, 5 triples and 8 home runs). It was also his 3rd hit of the game, marking his 8th 3-hit game of the campaign. He has a pair of 3-hit efforts in the past 3 games, going 6-for-12, after going 4-for-21 in the previous 4 contests. *** Joey Gathright rejoined Omaha's roster yesterday, with Bill McCarthy placed on the disabled list. Gathright, who was optioned by KC earlier this week when Reggie Sanders was activated from the DL, made his presence felt immediately at the top of the O-Royals' order. He went 2-for-3 with his 3rd triple of the season, walked once and scored 2 runs. In 51 games with Omaha, the speedster is batting .333 with a .455 on-base percentage. He's also riding a 7-game hit streak - 1 game shy of his season high - which dates back to May 31. In 25 games after joining KC on June 6, Gathright hit .315 (23-73) with 9 RBI and 13 runs scored. *** KC 1st baseman Ryan Shealy is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Omaha tonight. Shealy has been on the DL since June 30 with a strained left hamstring. He played in 2 rehab games with Omaha May 14-15 due to the same injury, going 1-for-7 with a double. In 52 games with KC, Shealy is hitting .221 with 3 homers and 21 RBI. *** With another 1.1 innings of scoreless relief last night, Musser has worked 33.1 innings for Omaha and still owns a 0.00 ERA, having allowed just 2 unearned runs. *** Over his past 18 contests, Angel Berroa is batting .410 (25-61) with 2 home runs and 9 RBI. *** Craig Brazell, like Berroa, has hit in 4 straight games. He's also hit in 18 of the past 19, batting .296 (24-81) with 3 homers and 15 RBI. *** Paul Phillips and Chris Lubanski each had 4 game hitting streaks halted Friday night. During their streaks, Phillips hit .500 (9-18, 1 HR, 3 RBI) and Lubanski batted .308 (4-13). *** Billy Butler had 4 hits and 4 RBI in KC's 10-2 win last night at Detroit. Over his last 22 games with KC, Butler is hitting .373 (28-75) and has 21 RBI. *** KC has announced that Scott Elarton's rehab assignment with Omaha will end and he'll start Tuesday night against the Yankees at Kauffman Stadium. Elarton went on the DL June 22 with a sprained right foot. In 5 rehab assignment starts with Omaha, he was 1-1 with a 7.43 ERA, surrendering 22 earned runs and 10 home runs in 26.2 innings. He's 2-3 with a 9.17 ERA in 8 starts for KC.
STARTERS: LH Chris Narveson (3-1, 5.54) vs. LH Tyler Lumsden (5-5, 6.75)
Lumsden makes his 17th start and 18th appearance of the season. The 24-year old lefty's last start was Monday at Albuquerque, when he lasted just 1.1 innings for the 2nd consecutive start. He was not involved in the decision, as the Royals lost 9-8 in 10 innings (1.1 IP, 7 H, 7 R-6 ER, 3 BB, 1 K). In his last 6 starts, Lumsden is 0-2 with an 10.22 ERA (28 ER in 24.2 IP), which has raised his ERA from 5.17 to 6.75. That rough stretch follows a 3-start winning streak May 22-June 2, when he posted a 3.44 ERA. Lumsden also faced the Isotopes in his 1st start of the season on April 7 at Albuquerque, when he got the win in a 5-1 victory (5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K). Entering this season, Lumsden was ranked by Baseball America as KC's #5 prospect and 2nd-best pitching prospect. 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. In 20 starts for Double-A Birmingham, he was 9-4 with a 2.69 ERA, which ranked 4th in the Southern League. After the trade to KC, he made 7 appearances (6 starts) for Double-A Wichita, going 2-1 with a 3.06 ERA. 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:
Sun., 1:35: RH Blake Hawksworth (3-10, 4.81) vs. RH Matt Wright (6-3, 3.86)
Mon., 12:05: LH Randy Keisler (5-8, 5.19) vs. TBA
Pacific Coast League Stories from July 21, 2007
- Hammock's Blast And Strong Pitching Give Tucson Shutout Win - Tucson Sidewinders
- Daigle, Sidewinders Come Out On Top In Pitchers Duel - Portland Beavers
- Isotopes Win Come-from-behind Thriller, 8-5 - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Z's fall to Albuquerque - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Sounds Split Twinbill With I-Cubs - Nashville Sounds
- Patton, Ransom fuel Express Win - Round Rock Express
- Huston Street Scheduled to Make Rehab Appearance at Raley Field on Saturday - Sacramento River Cats
- Z's Add Coles - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Gabe Gross Optioned To Nashville - Nashville Sounds
- Royals Starting Lineup - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Oklahoma RedHawks game notes - Oklahoma City Comets
- Royals Game Notes - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Grizzlies Walk-Off After McClain's 14th Inning Blast - Fresno Grizzlies
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