Royals Game Notes
Published on April 20, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
APRIL 20, 2008, 1:35 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (9-6) vs. New Orleans (10-7)
HOME: 5-3 (45-27 in '07) AWAY: 4-3 (28-44 in '07) vs. New Orleans: 0-1 (8-6 in '07)
TODAY: The Royals host the New Orleans Zephyrs in game 2 of a 4-game series 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. It's also the first Outstanding Student Day, with area elementary school students honored in a parade on the field prior to the game. First pitch is 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: Fernando Tatis belted his 7th and 8th home runs of the season - most in the PCL - to help New Orleans take the series opener, 6-2. Tatis blasted a 2-run shot to left off Royals starter Matt Wright (0-1) in the 6th inning to give the Z's a 4-1 lead. He added a solo shot in the 8th off Roberto Giron to make it 5-2. Giron also yielded a solo homer to Victor Mendez in the 9th. Zephyrs starter Tony Armas (1-1) allowed just 1 unearned run on 4 hits over 5.2 innings to get the win.
ROYALS REPORT: The 3 home runs hit by the Z's last night marked the most homers in a game this season by an Omaha opponent. Tatis is the first opposing batter to homer twice in a game since the Royals 2007 season finale last September 3 at Iowa, when John Nelson went deep twice, but Omaha won 5-4. *** Luke Hochevar was expected to start for Omaha today, but with lefty John Bale going on the DL this week, the #1 overall pick in the 2006 draft will start for KC in Oakland this afternoon. Hochevar was 1-1 with a 2.60 ERA in 3 starts for Omaha, walking 6 and striking out 12 in 17.1 innings. He was 0-1 with a 2.13 ERA in 4 games (1 start) in his 1st big league action with KC in 2007. *** Shane Costa went 0-for-4 Saturday night, halting his hitting streak at 10 games, which had been the 2nd-longest in the PCL. He did pick up a walk in the 5th inning, extending his on-base streak to all 15 contests this season, which is tied for the longest such streak in the league. Following that free pass, Costa collected his team-leading 4th stolen base of the year. *** Chris Lubanski has hit in a season-high 3 straight games, going 3-for-10 with 2 RBI over that span. That comes on the heels of a 3-for-29 (.103) skid. *** Ryan Shealy also owns a 3-game hit streak, his season high. However, he's just 3-for-13 (.231) during the streak and is just 7-for-his-last-44 (.159). *** Matt Tupman had a single and 2 sacrifice bunts in 4 trips to the plate last night. The Royals catcher has hit in 4 straight tilts (.429, 6-for-14), jumping his average from .190 to .294. *** Jason Smith was hitless in 4 at-bats Saturday, ending his hit string at 4 games. *** The 2 steals for the Royals last night equaled the team's season high.
STARTERS: RH Ruddy Lugo (2-0, 2.84) vs. LH Jorge De La Rosa (1-0, 1.86)
De La Rosa makes his 3rd start of the season. The 27-year old lefty's last outing was last Monday at Memphis, when he picked up the win in a 4-1 Royals victory (5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 4 K). De La Rosa was acquired by KC from Milwaukee in exchange for Tony Graffanino on July 25, 2006. In 2007, he began the season as KC's #4 starter and went on to set career highs in starts (23), wins (8), losses (12), innings (130) and strikeouts (82). He posted a 5.82 ERA in 26 games with KC, including 3 relief outings. He started off strong last season, going 4-3 with a 3.59 ERA through his 1st 9 starts, issuing just 12 walks in 57.2 innings during that span. At that point, his average of 1.87 walks per 9 innings ranked 5th-best in the A.L. However, he allowed 41 free passes in 72.1 frames over the rest of the season. A left elbow strain landed De La Rosa on the D.L. on August 1. He made 3 rehab appearances with Wichita before being activated on September 11. In 2006, he was 2-2 with an 8.60 ERA in 18 games (3 starts) for the Brewers and following the trade to KC he went 3-4 with a 5.18 ERA in 10 starts. Prior to the '06 season, he represented his native Mexico in the World Baseball Classic and tossed 3.1 scoreless innings of relief. After the '03 season, he was involved in 2 big trades - 1st being acquired by Arizona along with 3 other players from the Red Sox for Curt Schilling and being sent to the Brewers a few days later in a 9-player deal. De La Rosa was originally signed by the Diamondbacks as a non-drafted free agent in 1998.
PROBABLES FOR REMAINDER OF SERIES:
Mon., 6:35: RH Jose Diaz (0-2, 3.12) vs. TBA
Tue., 11:05: RH Brian Stokes (2-1, 1.50) vs. RH Kyle Davies (1-1, 1.38)
Pacific Coast League Stories from April 20, 2008
- Different Day, Same Result For Surging Bees - Portland Beavers
- Isotopes Silence Sounds Again, 11-8 - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Struggling Sidewinders Fall to Fresno 10-2 - Tucson Sidewinders
- Sounds Drop Second Straight To Isotopes, 11-8 - Nashville Sounds
- Reineke's solid outing not enough for Express - Round Rock Express
- I-Cubs fall to Oklahoma, 7-4 - Iowa Cubs
- Z's fall on Sunday in Omaha - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Royals Designate Hideo Nomo For Assignment, Recall Luke Hochevar From Omaha - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Serrano Returns to Salt Lake - Salt Lake Bees
- Royals Game Notes - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Oklahoma RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets
- Sidewinders Edged In Extras Against Fresno - Tucson Sidewinders
- Isotopes Win Home Run Derby 15-10 - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Sounds Outslugged In Road Trip Opener, 15-10 - Nashville Sounds
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