Royals Game Notes
Published on May 5, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
MAY 5, 2008, 2:05 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (15-13) at Fresno Grizzlies (16-14)
HOME: 9-5 (45-27 in â07) AWAY: 6-8 (28-44 in '07) vs. Fresno: 1-2 (2-2 in '07)
TODAY: The Royals visit the Grizzlies in the finale of a 4-game series at Chukchansi Park in Fresno. The Grizzlies lead the series 2-1. Omaha is 2-5 on the road trip. 1st pitch is 2:05 p.m., with the pre-game show on the air at 1:45 p.m. on News Talk 1420 KOTK and at www.oroyals.com.
SUNDAY: What a difference a day makes. A day after scoring 13 runs on 18 hits, the Royals were held to just 5 hits in an 8-0 shutout loss. Fresno right-hander Nick Pereira (3-2) worked 8.0 innings, yielding just 5 singles and no walks, while striking out 11 Royals. Randy Messenger finished up with a perfect 9th inning, adding a 12th and final K. Scott McClain drilled a pair of 2-run homers for the Grizzlies and Clay Timpner had 3 hits, including a 2-run shot, with 3 RBI and 3 runs scored on the day. Kyle Davies (3-2) took the loss, giving up 4 runs on 5 hits - 2 of them homers - in 6.0 innings. Mike Aviles was 0-for-4, snapping his hitting streak at 15 games.
ROYALS REPORT: Aviles' 15-game hit streak was the 3rd-longest in the PCL this season. During the string, he batted .388 (26-for-67) with 8 doubles, 3 triples, 4 home runs, 14 RBI and 16 runs scored. The only 2 hit strings that are longer than Aviles' are both still active: Iowa's Andres Torres has a 20-gamer and Luis Maza of Las Vegas has hit in 19 straight. Sunday also marked the end of Aviles' 20-game streak of reaching base, which is tied for the 3rd-longest on-base streak in the league this year. *** Over his last 2 starts respectively, Davies' ERA has risen from 0.90 to 1.80 and from 1.80 to 2.61. That figure still ranks 5th in the PCL. *** Ken Huckaby collected 2 of the Royals' 5 hits yesterday, as he posted his 1st multi-hit game of the campaign. The veteran catcher is on a 6-game hitting streak, batting .318 (7-for-22) over that span after going 0-for-10 in his 1st 3 games of the year. *** Dave Matranga was batting in the leadoff spot for Omaha Sunday, seeing his 1st action since he pinch-hit last Monday at Sacramento. He wore the "golden sombrero" yesterday, striking out in all 4 of his at-bats. It was the 1st time that Matranga fanned 4 times in a game since August 25,1999 when he was in his 2nd professional season playing for Kissimmee vs. St. Lucie. *** As a team, the Royals set a season high Sunday by whiffing 12 times - 1 more K than they totaled last Thursday in a 5-3 loss at Sacramento. Today's opposing starter, Matt Palmer, is tied for 3rd in the league in punch outs, having whiffed 34 batters in 29.2 innings. *** Chin-Hui Tsao was mauled by the Grizzlies in the 7th inning yesterday, surrendering 4 runs on 5 hits - including a homer - in his 1.0 inning of work. That halted a 7.1 innings scoreless streak that Tsao had compiled over his previous 4 relief appearances. Yesterday's outing jumped his ERA from 2.61 to 5.56. *** Paul Mildren pitched the 8th inning yesterday and, after allowing a leadoff double and a walk, got out of the jam with no runs allowed. It was his 1st action since April 26, when he made his 1st appearance for Omaha vs. Nashville. In that game, the Australian lefty walked the bases loaded with nobody out, but escaped the jam without giving up a run. *** Although the Royals did not hit a home run yesterday, they have still totaled 28 round-trippers over the past 13 contests. In 28 games on the year, Omaha has hit 48 taters, tying the Royals with Albuquerque for most homers in the PCL.
STARTERS: LH Tyler Lumsden (1-2, 8.59) vs. RH Matt Palmer (1-3, 6.67)
Lumsden makes his 6th start of the season and his 1st career start vs. Fresno. The 24-year old lefty's last outing was last Wednesday at Sacramento, when he took the loss in a 4-1 defeat (6.0 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 0 K, 2 HR). He has given up 5 home runs in 9.1 innings over his last 2 starts and the 7 homers he has allowed this season are tied for 2nd-most in the PCL. Lumsden was acquired by KC along with right-hander Daniel Cortes from the White Sox in exchange for Mike MacDougal in July 2006. He spent all of the 2007 season with Omaha, going 9-6 with a 5.88 ERA in 25 games (24 starts) during his 1st year at the Triple-A level. Following the season, 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 club, Birmingham. Following the trade to KC, he finished the '06 campaign 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. PORTLAND:
Tue., 6:35 p.m.: RH Enrique Gonzalez (0-1, 4.09) vs. RH Matt Wright (0-1, 5.16)
Wed., 12:05 p.m.: RH Josh Greer (2-2, 3.97) vs. RH Jeff Fulchino (0-0, 3.68)
Thur., 6:35 p.m.: LH Shawn Estes (4-2, 3.67) vs. RH Brandon Duckworth (2-1, 5.13)
Fri., 7:05 p.m.: LH Cesar Ramos (3-2, 5.53) vs. RH Kyle Davies (3-2, 2.61)
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 5, 2008
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- Sidewinders Shut Down In Series Finale - Tucson Sidewinders
- Jody Gerut Named Batter Of The Week - Portland Beavers
- Zephyrs Begin Eight-Game Homestand Tomorrow - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Sounds Drop Homestand Finale To Bees, 5-1 - Nashville Sounds
- Bees to continue Knothole Club for 2008 Season - Salt Lake Bees
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