Royals Game Notes
April 13, 2008 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
APRIL 13, 2008, 1:35 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (6-3) at Memphis Redbirds (5-5)
HOME: 5-2 (45-27 in '07) AWAY: 1-1 (28-44 in '07) vs. Memphis: 1-1 (8-8 in '07)
TODAY: The Royals visit AutoZone Park in Memphis for game 3 of a 4-game series and 8-game road trip. The series is tied 1-1. First pitch is set for 1:35 p.m., with the pre-game show on the air at 1:15 p.m. on News Talk 1420-AM KOTK and at www.oroyals.com.
LAST NIGHT: Omaha batters managed just 4 hits and Royals pitchers issued 9 walks in a 5-1 loss, snapping the Royals' winning streak at 5 games. Memphis starter Mitchell Boggs (2-0) surrendered a home run to Mike Aviles in the 1st inning that gave Omaha an early 1-0 lead. However, Boggs settled down to hurl 7.0 innings of 1-run ball, yielding 4 hits and no walks while fanning 5. Royals starter Tyler Lumsden (0-1) lasted just 3.0 innings, yielding 6 walks and 2 hits, leading to 3 runs, 2 of them earned. Jarrett Hoffpauir had 3 RBI for the Redbirds, capping a 3-run 2nd inning with a 2-run single and plating another run in the 6th with a sacrifice fly. Chris Perez came on with 2 outs in the 9th and 2 Royals on base and retired Angel Berroa on a fly out to right to notch his 2nd save.
ROYALS REPORT: In his 1st 2 starts of the season, Lumsden has a 5.87 ERA and has issued 8 walks in 7.2 innings. *** Aviles' home run was his 2nd of 2008 and his 8th extra-base hit, tied for 3rd-most in the PCL. He is now tied with Jason Smith for the team lead in RBI (9) and he leads the club with 9 runs scored. *** Berroa went hitless in 4 at-bats Saturday night, ending his season-opening hitting streak at 8 games. *** Shane Costa had half of the Royals' 4 hits last night, upping his season average to .351 (13-for-37). Costa is riding a 5-game hit string, batting .429 (9-for-21) during the streak. *** Damon Hollins went 1-for-3 last night, drilling his 3rd double of the season. He also accepted his PCL-leading 12th walk. Prior to playing in Japan last season, Hollins played for Tampa Bay in 2006, when he picked up just 19 walks in 121 games. *** Joel Peralta hurled 2.0 innings of scoreless relief Saturday night, giving him 8.0 shutout stanzas over his 1st 3 relief appearances. Peralta is 1 of just 3 pitchers in the PCL who have a 0.00 ERA after working enough innings to qualify for the ERA title. *** Mike Stodolka entered last night's contest hitting .526, which ranked 2nd in the PCL. He went 0-for-3 to drop his average to .455, but that still ranks 3rd in the league. The converted pitcher's .520 OBP is 4th-best in the loop. *** Last Sunday Chris Lubanski smacked his 2nd home run of the season - and 2nd in 5 at-bats - vs. Albuquerque. Since that homer, he's 1-for-18, dropping his batting average to .200 (6-for-30). *** Smith was 0-for-4 at the plate last night and became the 1st Royal to strike out 3 times in a game this season. He also committed his 3rd error of the year at 3rd base, leading to an unearned run. On the good side, Smith's .706 slugging percentage still ranks 5th in the PCL. *** Ryan Shealy is in a 2-for-19 funk at the plate, dipping his batting average on the season from .267 to .176 (6-for-34). *** After 2 starts for Memphis, Boggs' 0.69 ERA ranks 4th in the PCL. The 24-year old right-hander pitched for the 2004 University of Georgia team that made it to the College World Series. He's not related to Omaha native Wade Boggs.
STARTERS: RH Matt Wright (0-0, 6.23) vs. LH Joe Rogers (0-1, 8.53)
Wright makes his 2nd start of the season on 7 days rest. The 26-year old right-hander started game 2 of last Saturday's doubleheader vs. Albuquerque. He was not involved in the decision as the Royals lost 6-3 in 9 innings, after being relieved in the 5th inning with Omaha trailing 3-2 (4.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR). Wright was signed by KC as a minor league free agent prior to last season and turned in a solid campaign with Omaha. He went 10-5 and his 4.06 ERA ranked 7th in the PCL. In 3 starts vs. Memphis last season, Wright was 1-0 with a 2.60 ERA. On the season, he was 7-3 with a 4.01 ERA in 21 starts and 3-2 with a 4.32 ERA in 7 relief outings. He pitched well in tight spots, holding opponents to a .216 average with runners in scoring position and .193 with runners in scoring position and 2 outs. Wright won 6 of his 7 decisions at Rosenblatt Stadium. Following the season, he was a member of the gold-medal winning USA Baseball Team at the World Cup in Chinese Taipei, going 1-0 with a 1.00 ERA in 2 games (1 start). Prior to 2007, Wright spent his 1st 7 professional seasons in the Braves organization. He was named to the Carolina League All-Star team in 2004, when he ranked 6th in Atlanta's system with 133 strikeouts for Myrtle Beach. Wright was selected by the Braves in the 21st round of the 2000 draft out of Robinson High School in Texas.
PROBABLES FOR REMAINDER OF SERIES:
Mon., 7:05: LH Jorge De La Rosa (0-0, 1.93) vs. RH Mike Parisi (1-0, 2.53)
• Discuss this story on the Pacific Coast League message board...
Pacific Coast League Stories from April 13, 2008
- Sidewinders drop tenth straight - Tucson Sidewinders
- Sky Sox and Rainiers Split Doubleheader, Jose Capellan Flirts With No-Hitter - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Schierholtz's First Homer, Four RBI, Lead Fresno Over Tucson On Sunday Afternoon - Fresno Grizzlies
- 'Topes sea-saw way to third straight defeat to Hawks - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Beavers foiled by Sandova, seven-run third inning - Portland Beavers
- Z's win extra innings - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Sounds Snap Skid With 6-1 Win Over Cubs - Nashville Sounds
- Redbirds rally late, top Royals - Memphis Redbirds
- Royals Game Notes - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Oklahoma RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets
- Scherzer's Outing Wasted; Losing Streak Reaches Nine - Tucson Sidewinders
- Isotopes Fall On Another Chilly Night - Albuquerque Isotopes
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.
