Royals Game Notes
Published on April 6, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
APRIL 6, 2008, 1:35 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (1-2) vs. Albuquerque Isotopes (2-1)
HOME: 1-2 (45-27 in '07) AWAY: 0-0 (28-44 in '07) vs. Albuquerque: 1-2 (5-11 in '07)
TODAY: The Royals host Albuquerque in the 1:35 p.m. series finale at Rosenblatt Stadium. It's U.S. Bank Family FUNday, with clowns, face painting and balloon art, plus all kids are invited to run the bases after the game, also presented by KGBI-100.7 FM and KPTM-Fox 42. All Royals Kids Club members receive a free ticket to the game, courtesy of SUBWAY. American Idol contestant Chris Bernheisel will be singing and signing autographs. It's also the first Hit the Books game of the season. Air-time is 1:15 p.m. on News Talk 1420-AM KOTK and at www.Oroyals.com.
LAST NIGHT: Mike Aviles had 3 hits and 3 RBI to lead the Royals to an 8-3 win in the opening game of a doubleheader, but in the nightcap former O-Royal Alexis Gomez hit a 3-run homer to give the Isotopes a 6-3 victory in 9 innings. In the lid-lifter, Aviles needed a home run in his final at-bat to hit for the cycle, but he flied out to center. Right-hander Brad Salmon (1-0) got the win, retiring all 8 batters he faced, inducing a double play grounder and striking out one. Gaby Hernandez (0-1) took the loss, allowing 6 earned runs on 8 hits over 5.0 innings. In the nightcap, Chris Lubanski's 1st home run of the season - a solo shot with 1 out in the bottom of the 6th - tied the game at 3-3. Roberto Giron (0-1) retired the 1st 2 batters he faced in the 9th, before yielding a single, a hit batter and the game-deciding homer to Gomez. Brandon Villafuerte (1-0) picked up the win with 2.1 innings of scoreless relief. Joe Nelson pitched a 1-2-3 9th, giving the former Omaha closer his 2nd save in 3 games.
ROYALS REPORT: Had Aviles homered in his final at-bat of last night's opener, he would have become the 1st O-Royal to hit for the cycle since Jarrod Patterson turned the trick on May 22, 2003 vs. Oklahoma. On the night, Aviles went 5-for-9 with a pair of doubles, a triple, 4 RBI and 3 runs scored. *** The Royals left only 3 runners on base in winning last night's opening game, but stranded 11 runners in dropping the 2nd game. *** Jason Smith was 2-for-3 in the opener, including a 2-run homer - the 1st home run of the season for the Royals 3rd baseman. *** Damon Hollins, who drilled a 2-run double in the opener as Omaha's DH, played right field in the nightcap. He threw out Chris Barnwell trying to score on a fly out to right field, ending the top of the 5th. *** Joel Peralta made his 1st relief appearance of the season in the nightcap and fired 3.2 scoreless frames. He allowed only 1 hit, but walked 3 batters, while striking out 1. *** Damaso Espino and Mike Stodolka both made their Triple-A debut in last night's 2nd game and each delivered a pair of singles in 3 at-bats. *** Catcher Ken Huckaby has gunned down 4 of the 5 Isotopes who have attempted to steal against him in 2 games. *** With KC catcher Miguel Olivo having served his 4-game suspension, Matt Tupman has been optioned to Omaha and is expected to join the club today. Hideo Nomo was also added to KC's 25-man roster, ending a rehab stint in Surprise for a strained right groin.
THE FIELD STAFF: Mike Jirschele will manage Omaha for a 6th consecutive season and 9th overall, having also skippered the club from 1995-1997. In eleven seasons as a minor league manager, "Jirsch's" teams have posted a record of 768-712 (.519). His eight Omaha clubs have gone a combined 555-596 (.482). He was selected to manage the Pacific Coast League All-Star team in the 2006 Triple-A All-Star Game. Tom Burgmeier returns for a 3rd season as Omaha's pitching coach. Burgmeier pitched for Omaha from 1970-1973 and enjoyed a 17-year big league career, compiling a career record of 79-55 with a 3.23 ERA and 102 saves. Terry Bradshaw, who was an outfielder with Omaha in 1998, rejoins the team for a 5th season as its hitting coach - his 9th season as a hitting coach in KC's organization. Drew Van Dam joins the Royals organization as Omaha's trainer and Justin Annin is back for an season #2 as the strength coach.
STARTERS: RH Daniel Barone (NR) vs. LH Tyler Lumsden (NR)
Lumsden, who was acquired along with right-hander Daniel Cortes from the White Sox in exchange for Mike MacDougal in July 2006, spent all of last season with Omaha. The 24-year old lefty was 9-6 with a 5.88 ERA in 25 games (24 starts) during his 1st season at the Triple-A level. He held left-handed batters to a .245 average. Lumsden pitched for Surprise in the Arizona Fall League and was 1-0 with a 6.00 ERA in 7 relief appearances. He is ranked by Baseball America as KC's #13 prospect entering 2008, after being rated #5 prior to 2007. Entering the 2006 season, the same publication named him as having the Best Slider in the White Sox organization. In '06, he was 9-4 with a 2.69 ERA in 20 starts for the White Sox Double-A affiliate at Birmingham. Following the trade to KC, he finished the season at Wichita, going 2-1 with a 3.06 ERA in 7 games (6 starts). He missed the entire 2005 season after undergoing surgery on his left elbow. Lumsden was selected by the Chisox as a sandwich pick between the 1st and 2nd rounds (34th overall) of the 2004 draft after compiling a 17-7 record in 3 seasons at Clemson. He graduated from Cave Spring High School in Roanoke, Virginia, where he lettered all 4 years in baseball and basketball and was a hoops teammate of J.J. Redick, who went on to star at Duke. Out of high school, Lumsden was selected in the 5th round of the 2001 draft by the Marlins, but did not sign.
PROBABLES FOR SERIES VS. ROUND ROCK:
Mon., 6:35: TBA vs. LH Mike Maroth (NR)
Tue., 6:35: TBA vs. LH Jorge De La Rosa (NR)
Wed., 6:35: TBA vs. RH Luke Hochevar (0-1, 4.76)
Thur., 11:05: TBA vs. RH Kyle Davies (0-0, 3.00)
Pacific Coast League Stories from April 6, 2008
- Grizzlies Hand Beavers First Loss - Portland Beavers
- RedHawks Drop A 7-1 Decision - Oklahoma City Comets
- Sidewinders Drop Third In A Row To The Sky Sox 10-7 - Tucson Sidewinders
- Zephyrs Suffer First Loss Of Season - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Rottino, Ungs Lead Sounds To First Win - Nashville Sounds
- I-Cubs blanked by Express - Iowa Cubs
- Beavers transfer McDougall to San Antonio, add Jody Gerut - Portland Beavers
- Oklahoma RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets
- Royals Game Notes - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Angels Activate Shields, Option Rich Thompson to Salt Lake - Salt Lake Bees
- Sidewinders Surrender Lead In Ninth To Lose 7-5 - Tucson Sidewinders
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