Royals Game Notes
Published on April 17, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
APRIL 17, 2008, 7:00 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (8-5) at Nashville Sounds (3-11)
HOME: 5-2 (45-27 in '07) AWAY: 3-3 (28-44 in '07) vs. Nashville: 1-1 (7-9 in '07)
TONIGHT: The Royals visit Herschel Greer Stadium in Nashville for game 3 of a 4-game series with the Sounds. This series is tied 1-1, while Omaha is 3-3 on the trip. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m., with the pre-game show on the air at 6:40 p.m. on News Talk 1420-AM KOTK and at www.oroyals.com.
WEDNESDAY: Trailing 2-0 entering the bottom of the 5th, Nashville exploded for 6 runs - all of them unearned - and went on to a 9-3 victory. Royals shortstop Angel Berroa committed a throwing error early in the inning that came back to haunt the visitors. Omaha starter Kyle Davies (1-1) walked Abraham Nunez with the bases full to plate the Sounds' 1st run and Laynce Nix followed with a grand slam to left field, putting Nashville on top 5-2. Russell Branyan capped the rally with an RBI single. In the 7th, an error by Royals right fielder Damon Hollins allowed the Sounds to score 3 more unearned runs. Tim Dillard (1-0) picked up the win, pitching 3.1 innings of scoreless relief.
ROYALS REPORT: None of the Sounds' 9 runs yesterday were earned. So, while Davies surrendered the 6 runs in the biggest inning for an opposing club this season, his ERA dropped from 2.25 to 1.38, which ranks 6th in the PCL. Omaha's team ERA dipped from 3.55 to 3.29, 3rd-lowest in the league. Reliever Jeff Fulchino gave up 2 unearned runs in 1.0 inning, with his ERA staying at 0.00, and closer Neal Musser's ERA was trimmed from 1.69 to 1.50 after he allowed 1 unearned run in two-thirds of an inning. *** Nix's grand slam was the 1st for an opposing batter since August 21, 2007, when Albuquerque's Scott Seabol belted a slam in the 2nd game of a doubleheader at Rosenblatt to help the Isotopes to an 8-6 win. *** The Sounds batted around in the 5th inning Wednesday, marking the 1st time in 13 games this season that has been accomplished by either Omaha or its opponent. *** Shane Costa went 1-for-4 yesterday, with his 3rd inning double upping his hitting streak to 9 games. It was Costa's team-leading 8th double, which is tied for most in the PCL. His 9-game hit string is tied for the league's 2nd-longest both currently and on the season. Costa's batting .378 (14-for-37) during his streak. *** Hollins put Omaha on top 1-0 in the top of the 2nd inning yesterday, when he smacked his 1st home run of the campign. *** Mike Aviles made it 2-0 in the 3rd when he followed Costa's double with his own two-bagger. It was Aviles' 7th two-base hit of the season, tied for 3rd-most in the loop and his 11th extra-base hit of the campaign, which ranks 2nd. *** Jason Smith hit his 4th round-tripper of the season in the 9th inning Wednesday. It was his 1st homer in 8 games, since April 7 when he belted 2 taters in Omaha's 7-5 win vs. Round Rock, which gave him 3 home runs in the Royals' 1st 5 contests. His 4 homers on the season are tied for 4th-most in the PCL. *** Mike Stodolka, who went 0-for-4 with 2 strikeouts yesterday, is hitless in 10 at-bats, with 4 K's, over his last 3 games. The cold spell has sent his average plummeting from .526 to .345. *** Chris Lubanski entered Wednesday's tilt in a 3-for-29 slide at the plate. He went 1-for-2 with a walk, although he did strike out for the 15th time in his last 31 AB's.
STARTERS: LH Tyler Lumsden (0-1, 5.87) vs. LH Lindsay Gulin (1-1, 3.72)
Lumsden makes his 3rd start of the season. The 24-year old lefty's last outing was last Saturday at Memphis, when he took the loss in a 5-1 defeat (3.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R-2 ER, 6 BB, 2 K). Lumsden who was acquired by KC 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. He was 9-6 with a 5.88 ERA in 25 games (24 starts) during his 1st season at the Triple-A level. In 3 starts vs. Nashville in 2007, he went 0-3 with an 8.36 ERA. 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. The same publication named him as having the Best Slider in the White Sox organization entering the 2006 season. 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 REMAINDER OF SERIES:
Fri., 7:00: RH Matt Wright (0-0, 5.40) vs. RH Nic Ungs (1-1, 3.72)
Pacific Coast League Stories from April 17, 2008
- Grizzlies walk off with win over Rainiers - Fresno Grizzlies
- River Cats win 4-3 against Tucson in first come-from-behind win of the season - Sacramento River Cats
- 'Topes rally by 'Birds - Memphis Redbirds
- Zephyrs top Cubs 5-1 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Sounds Fall To Royals, 6-5 - Nashville Sounds
- Royals Game Notes - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Oklahoma RedHawks Games Notes- April 17, 2008 - Oklahoma City Comets
- Sky Sox Game Postponed - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Sky Sox Game Postponed, Will Be Made Up On August 10 - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Royals Announce Operation RBI - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Beavers-Sky Sox Snowed Out on Thursday - Portland Beavers
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