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PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Royals Game Notes

August 14, 2007 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


AUGUST 14, 2007, 7:05 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (62-61) vs. Iowa Cubs (69-54)

HOME: 38-21 (31-41 in '06) AWAY: 24-40 (22-50 in '06) vs. Iowa: 4-4 (5-11 in '06)

TONIGHT: The Royals open a 13-game home stand, hosting the Iowa Cubs in a 7:05 p.m. game at Rosenblatt Stadium. Omaha is coming off a 3-1 trip to Memphis. It's 2uesday - $22 gets you 2 tickets, 2 hot dogs, 2 Cokes and 2 programs! Air-time is 6:45 p.m. on News Talk 1420 KOTK and at www.Oroyals.com.

LAST NIGHT: Matt Wright won again and Angel Berroa had 4 hits including a home run in the Royals' 4-2 victory at Memphis. Wright (9-3) won his 3rd consecutive start and 6th straight decision, allowing just 1 run on 5 hits over 7.2 innings. Berroa hit a solo shot in the 1st inning, singled 3 times and scored twice. Justin Huber smacked a solo homer to key a 2-run 5th inning, when the Royals chased Memphis starter Matt Ginter (2-6), who was charged with 3 runs on 5 hits over 4.0 frames. Nate Hoelscher went the final 1.1 innings and picked up his 2nd save, despite allowing a solo homer to Tagg Bozied in the 9th.

ROYALS REPORT: Matt Wright has won 3 consecutive starts, posting a 1.69 ERA in the process. Since June 22, Wright is 6-0 in 11 outings, including 9 starts, and owns a 3.19 ERA (22 ER in 62.0 IP) over that stretch. His 3.69 ERA on the season is tied for 5th-best in the PCL. *** Berroa's home run last night was his 1st round-tripper and 1st RBI in his last 11 games. His last homer came on July 22 at Rosenblatt and was also off Ginter. Berroa's 4 hits Monday were a season high and jumped his average from .286 to .297. *** The blast by Berroa marked the 29th time the Royals have scored in the 1st inning of a game this season. Omaha is 19-10 in those contests. *** Over his last 15 games, Huber is batting .350 (21-60) with 6 home runs, 17 RBI and 11 runs scored. He has hit 14 homers in 212 at-bats this season, averaging a home run per 15.1 AB's and has 54 RBI in the 56 games he has been healthy enough to play in. *** Derek Wathan delivered a run-scoring single in the 5th inning last night, extending his hitting streak to 5 games, which equals his longest of the season. During the streak, he's 7-for-21 (.333) with 3 RBI. *** Chris Lubanski had a hit in each game of the series at Memphis, matching his longest hit string of the campaign at 4 games. Over his last 11 tilts, he's batting .324 (12-37) with a home run and 5 RBI. *** Matt Tupman has hit in 4 straight, going 5-for-16 (.313) and driving in 5 runs. *** Craig Brazell is hitting .340 (18-53) with 2 home runs and 7 RBI over the past 14 games. *** KC right-hander Brandon Duckworth is slated to join Omaha and start tomorrow night's game as he continues a rehab assignment. Duckworth has not pitched for KC since June 10 due to a strained left oblique (rib cage). He has made 2 rehab assignment starts this month for Wilmington, going 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA. He is 2-3 with a 2.94 ERA and 1 save in 18 games (2 starts) for KC.

STARTERS: RH Cory Bailey (4-2, 3.34) vs. RH Billy Buckner (8-7, 4.10)

Buckner makes his 15th start and 26th appearance of the season. The 23-year old right-hander's last outing was last Wednesday vs. Tucson, when he took the loss in a 9-0 defeat (6.0 IP, 8 H, 5 R-3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K). Buckner has made 2 starts vs. Iowa, going 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA. Since moving into Omaha's rotation in late May, Buckner is 4-6 with a 4.23 ERA, after going 4-1 with a 3.60 ERA as a reliever. He's 4-4 with a 4.47 ERA at home and 4-3 with a 3.78 ERA on the road. Buckner began this season with Double-A Wichita, going 1-3 with a 4.66 ERA in 4 games (3 starts). Entering this season, he was named as the 9th-best prospect in KC's organization by Baseball America. In 2006, Buckner pitched for High Desert and Wichita, compiling a 12-4 record with a 4.24 ERA in 29 starts combined. He was 7-1 with a 3.90 ERA in 16 starts for High Desert, earning a spot on the California League's mid-season All-Star team. After being promoted to Wichita on July 1, he went 5-3 with a 4.64 ERA in 13 starts. Buckner pitched at Young Harris (GA) College in 2002-2003. He was Tampa Bay's 9th round pick in the 2003 draft, but did not sign. Instead, he attended the University of South Carolina in 2004 and helped lead the Gamecocks to the College World Series, going 7-2 with a 3.32 ERA. He was KC's 2nd round pick in the 2004 draft.

PROBABLES FOR REMAINDER OF SERIES:

Wed., 7:05: RH Kevin Hart (2-1, 3.55) vs. RH Brandon Duckworth (NR)

Thur., 7:05: LH J.R. Mathes (10-6, 5.00) vs. RH Luke Hochevar (1-2, 6.82)

Fri., 7:05: RH Juan Mateo (2-3, 3.71) vs. LH Tyler Lumsden (7-5, 6.33)

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