PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Royals Game Notes

Published on May 29, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


MAY 29, 2008, 4:30 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (25-25) vs. Oklahoma (28-24)

HOME: 14-13 (45-27 in ‘07) AWAY: 11-12 (28-44 in '07) vs. Oklahoma: 1-0 (8-8 in '07)

TODAY: Gates to Rosenblatt Stadium will open at 4:00 p.m. and the Omaha Royals and Oklahoma RedHawks will complete last night's suspended nine-inning game, followed by a seven-inning contest. Omaha leads the series 1-0. It's Thirsty Thursday with $1 beer and Cokes during the contest, courtesy of 96.1 The Brew, Action 3 News and The City Weekly! Following the game, enjoy live music presented by Two Fine Irishmen. 1st pitch is 4:30 p.m., with the pre-game show on the air at 4:10 p.m. on News Talk 1420 KOTK and at www.oroyals.com.

LAST NIGHT: The game was suspended after four innings due to a hydrochloric acid spill at a railway yard in the vicinity of Rosenblatt. Oklahoma was leading 2-1. Nelson Cruz smacked a solo homer in the top of the 1st inning off Matt Wright. The Royals tied it at 1-1 in the 2nd. Jason Smith doubled to right-center with 1 out and, after Angel Berroa walked, Damon Hollins stroked an RBI single up the middle past RedHawks starter A.J. Murray. In the top of the 4th, Chris Davis walked with 1 out. John Mayberry's grounder up the middle was dropped for an error by shortstop Mike Aviles as he tried to flip the ball to Berroa at 2nd base. Ryan Roberts followed with an RBI single to deep center off Mitch Maier's glove to put Oklahoma on top 2-1. The game was suspended at 7:37 p.m. - 1:01 into the contest - just before Oklahoma's Drew Meyer was to bat leading off the 5th.

ROYALS REPORT: The Royals' 4 home runs in Tuesday night's 5-2 win over Oklahoma were 1 round-tripper shy of Omaha's season high. The Royals have clouted 72 homers this season, 2nd-most in the PCL to Albuquerque's 73 dingers. *** Aviles on Tuesday became just the 2nd Royals batter to slug 2 home runs in a game this year. Smith homered twice on April 7 at Rosenblatt to lead the Royals to a 7-5 win over Round Rock. Aviles is the 1st Omaha batter to hit a home run in back-to-back AB's since Jeff Keppinger turned the trick on July 23, 2006 at Las Vegas in a 7-3 Royals win. Aviles is tied for 3rd in the PCL in both RBI and runs - with 42 apiece - is tops with 37 extra-base hits and ranks 2nd with 72 hits. *** Since allowing 5 earned runs in the 1st inning of his Triple-A debut on May 17 at Albuquerque, Carlos Rosa has given up just 5 earned runs over 14.0 innings for a 3.21 ERA during that span. *** In the 8 games prior to last night, Omaha starters are 5-2 with a 3.31 ERA (18 ER in 49.0 IP). Royals pitchers struck out 12 RedHawks Tuesday, matching their season high. *** The Royals have won 6 of their last 7 contests, after winning just 5 of 20 games prior to this hot stretch. Omaha has won 3 straight at Rosenblatt, 1 game shy of the longest win string at home this year (won 4 straight April 6-9). *** Over the last 10 tilts, Berroa is batting .343 (12-for-35) with 3 home runs, 7 RBI and 9 runs scored. For the month of May, he's hitting .325 with 6 home runs and 16 RBI in 23 contests. *** Prior to his home run Tuesday, Brian Buchanan had 3 hits in his last 33 at-bats (.091) with no round-trippers and 2 RBI. *** In the 8 games prior to last night, Maier is hitting at a .343 clip (12-for-35), with 6 RBI and 5 runs scored over that stretch. *** Entering last night, Shane Costa had hit in 5 straight games, going 7-for-19 (.368), raising his batting average from .297 to .304. *** Prior to his RBI single Wednesday night, Hollins was in a 6-for-55 (.109) funk at the plate, dropping his average 45 points to .164. *** Neal Musser has not allowed an earned run in 9.2 innings over his last 5 relief appearances, trimming his ERA from 4.58 to 3.07. *** Devon Lowery's save Tuesday was his 2nd in as many chances with Omaha and he shaved his ERA to 1.06 after his 1st 9 appearances at the Triple-A level. The 25-year old right-hander was 1-0 with 2 saves and a 0.69 ERA in 9 relief outings for Double-A Northwest Arkansas this season, before being promoted to Omaha. *** Lefty reliever John Foster joined Omaha Tuesday from KC's extended spring in Surprise, Arizona. Foster is trying to rebound from a back injury suffered in Spring Training. To make room for him on Omaha's roster, catcher Cody Clark was sent back to Northwest Arkansas.

SEVEN-INNING GAME STARTERS: RH Steve Rowe (0-0, 3.63) vs. LH Tyler Lumsden (2-5, 6.41)

Lumsden makes his 10th start of the season. The 25-year old lefty snapped a 4-start losing streak in his last outing at Round Rock last Saturday, picking up the win in Omaha's 8-3 victory (6.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 2 K). It was his 2nd quality start of the year. Lumsden is 0-2 with an 8.10 ERA in 4 starts at home, while going 2-3 with a 5.13 ERA in 5 starts on the road. He 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. In 3 starts vs. Oklahoma last year, he was 2-0 with an 3.86 ERA. 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 was 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 REMAINDER OF SERIES:

Fri., 7:05 p.m.: RH Dustin Nippert (2-1, 5.27) vs. RH Brandon Duckworth (2-3, 4.79)

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 29, 2008


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