Royals Game Notes
Published on August 2, 2007 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
AUGUST 2, 2007, 7:10 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (55-57) vs. Las Vegas 51s (53-58)
HOME: 34-18 (31-41 in â06) AWAY: 21-39 (22-50 in '06) vs. Las Vegas: 1-0 (2-2 in '06)
TONIGHT: The Royals host the Las Vegas 51s in a 7:05 p.m. game at Rosenblatt Stadium. It's game 2 of a 4-game series, which Omaha leads 1-0. CBSHome presents MS Awareness Night. The Royals will wear orange jerseys, which will be auctioned off to raise money for the MS Society. It's also Thirsty Thursday with $1 beer and Cokes and live music from In Parentheses after the game in the Stadium View Club, courtesy of Miller Lite, 96.1 The Brew and the City Weekly! Plus, the 1st 500 kids get a Sluggerrr T-Shirt, courtesy of the KC Royals and the popular KC mascot will be on hand during the game! The game will be televised regionally by RSTN, seen in Omaha on Cox Channel 47. As usual, the game will also be broadcast on News Talk 1420 KOTK and at www.Oroyals.com.
LAST NIGHT: Derek Wathan's sacrifice fly scored Mike Aviles with the deciding run in the 8th inning, as the Royals won the series opener 4-3. Justin Huber had tied the contest at 3-3 with a solo homer - his 10th of the season - in the 4th. Las Vegas had taken a 3-2 lead in the top of the 4th on a 2-run shot by Andy LaRoche. Neal Musser (3-1) hurled 3.0 scoreless innings, allowing just 1 hit and a walk while striking out 4, to get the win. Matt Riley (4-2) took the loss.
ROYALS REPORT: The Royals have won 9 of their past 13 games. Last night's victory gives Omaha a 34-18 record at home, 2nd-best in the PCL. Nashville owns the best home record, 37-17, and the best overall mark at 67-44. The Royals improved to 12-14 in games decided in the final at-bat and 14-16 in 1-run decisions. *** Musser has now worked 40.l innings over 23 relief outings for Omaha and still owns a 0.00 ERA, having allowed only 2 unearned runs. *** Huber's 10 home runs have come in just 177 at-bats and he has compiled 45 RBI in 47 games during his injury-plagued season. He's riding a 7-game game streak, batting .308 (12-39) with 2 homers and 8 RBI. *** Several roster moves were made prior to Wednesday night's game. Reliever Ryan Braun was recalled by KC for a 4th stint with the parent club, filling the opening created by Octavio Dotel's trade to Atlanta. Joey Gathright received his 2nd promotion to KC and went 1-for-4 in last night's win at Minnesota. KC also placed Jorge De la Rosa on the DL with a strained left elbow, so Leo Nunez -- who was reportedly set to be optioned back to Omaha - will stay with the parent club. Nunez (1-0, 0.90) is slated to start for KC Friday at Yankee Stadium. Also, Ryan Shealy's rehab assignment for a strained hamstring was ended, but he was optioned to Omaha. Shealy, who did not play last night, has homered in back-to-back games, driving in 6 runs. *** Chris Lubanski has had a trio of 2-hit efforts in his last 4 games. He's gone 6-for-12 with 2 RBI and 3 runs scored over that stretch, which has jumped his average from .171 to .220. *** Mike Aviles has 17 RBI over the past 15 contests. Over that span, he's hitting .355 (22-62) with 5 doubles, 2 triples and 5 home runs. *** Richard Lewis has hit in 4 straight, going 8-for-16 with 2 RBI and a pair of runs scored. *** Shane Costa has scored 16 runs over the last 18 tilts. During that stretch, he's batting .351 (26-74). *** Angel Berroa, who's day-to-day with a strained quad, has not played in the Royals' last 8 games.
STARTERS: RH William Juarez (4-5, 5.66) vs. RH Matt Wright (6-3, 4.11)
Wright makes his 16th start and 23rd appearance of the season. The 25-year old right-hander's last action was a start last Friday at Salt Lake. He was not involved in the decision in Omaha's 13-7 defeat (4.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 3 K, 1 HR). In his 15 starts, Wright is 3-1 with a 4.04 ERA; he's 3-2 with a 4.32 ERA in his 7 relief appearances. He's 4-0 with a 3.83 ERA at home, while going 2-3 with a 4.36 ERA on the road. Wright was signed by KC as a minor league free agent in the off-season after spending the 1st 7 campaigns of his professional career in the Atlanta Braves organization. In 2006, he opened the season pitching for Double-A Mississippi, posting a 7-3 record with a 2.22 ERA in 15 games (14 starts). He was promoted to Richmond in mid-July and went 3-5 with a 5.77 ERA over 10 starts in his 1st action at the Triple-A level. Entering this season, his minor league totals included a 46-47 record, with a 3.68 ERA and 744 strikeouts in 743.2 innings. Wright was selected by the Braves in the 21st round of the 2000 draft out of Robinson High School in Waco, Texas.
PROBABLES FOR REMAINDER OF SERIES:
Fri., 7:05: RH Miguel Pinango (7-5, 4.11) vs. RH Billy Buckner (7-6, 4.48)
Sat., 6:05: LH Eric Stults (5-5, 7.05) vs. RH Ben Hendrickson (9-5, 5.49)
Pacific Coast League Stories from August 2, 2007
- Fresno Bounces Back To Defeat Oklahoma - Fresno Grizzlies
- Second-Largest Crowd of Season on Hand as Beavers Lose Tight One - Portland Beavers
- Gross Homer Leads Sounds Past Beavers - Nashville Sounds
- Z's fall in California - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Topes Fall Short in 8-6 Loss - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Cubs Slam Tuscon in 9th - Tucson Sidewinders
- Ransom Again Ignites Express - Round Rock Express
- Beavers Fight Cancer - Portland Beavers
- RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets
- Peanut Butter And Jelly Time At Saturday's Grizzlies Game - Fresno Grizzlies
- Grizzlies To Host Community Fund Weekend - Fresno Grizzlies
- River Cats and Sleep Train to Host Sleep Train Sleepover at Raley Field - Sacramento River Cats
- Royals Game Notes - Omaha Storm Chasers
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.
