PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Royals Game Notes

Published on June 3, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


TONIGHT: The Omaha Royals visit Bricktown Ballpark for the finale of a 4-game series vs. the Oklahoma RedHawks. Omaha leads the series 2-1. 1st pitch is 7:05 p.m. and the pre-game show is on the air at 6:45 p.m. on News Talk 1420 KOTK and at www.oroyals.com.

MONDAY: Chris Davis hit a grand slam off John Foster in the 8th inning, lifting Oklahoma to a 7-5 win over Omaha. Matt Wright started for the Royals and limited the RedHawks to 3 runs on 5 hits, including a 2-run homer by Nelson Cruz and a solo shot by Drew Meyer, over 7.0 innings. Foster (0-1) came on to open the bottom of the 8th and allowed a single and a pair of walks before Davis hit his 2nd home run of the season with Oklahoma over the left field wall. The Royals had led the game 4-0 on a solo homer by Mitch Maier in the 1st and a 3-run blast by Damon Hollins in the 4th. Kea Kometani (4-2), who retired Omaha in order in the 8th, got the win. Wes Littleton hurled a perfect 9th, with 2 strikeouts, for his 1st save.

ROYALS REPORT: Monday's loss drops Omaha's record this season in games decided in the last at-bat to 1-8. *** Foster's blown save was the 2nd in as many contests for the Royals bullpen. Omaha relievers had just 2 blown saves in 17 chances over the 1st 54 games of the year. *** Davis' grand slam was the 3rd allowed this season by Royals pitchers. Omaha batters have hit 2 slams on the year. *** Hollins collected a season-high 3 hits in 4 at-bats yesterday. Entering the game, he had gone 3-for-35 (.086) over his previous 11 contests. The home run was Hollins' 1st in his last 23 tilts, after he hit 3 round-trippers in his 1st 18 games. *** Jason Smith knocked in another run Monday, giving him 7 RBI in the 1st 3 games of the series. Smith has hit in 4 straight games (.429, 6-for-14, 3 2B, 3B) and is hitting at a .324 clip (23-for-71) over his last 19 contests, with 4 homers and 19 RBI. Smith now has exactly 100 AB's both on the road and at home: he's batting .290 (29-for-100) on the road, with 8 home runs and 24 RBI, while hitting .240 (24-for-100) at home, with 3 taters and 15 RBI. *** Oklahoma's Cruz has homered in each game of this series, becoming the 1st Royals opponent to go deep in 3 straight games since former Royal Joe Dillon turned the trick for Nashville June 8-10, 2007 at Rosenblatt. Cruz is 5-for-11 with 3 homers and 4 RBI in the series. *** Wright's effort Monday marked his 3rd quality start of the year, all coming in his last 5 trips to the hill. Over his last 3 starts, he's 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA (6 ER in 17.0 IP), despite surrendering 5 home runs over that span. The 14 home runs allowed by Wright this season are tied for most in the PCL. Oklahoma's Eric Hurley has also served up 14 taters. *** Brian Buchanan is riding a 5-game hitting streak, matching his longest string of the season. Over that stretch, he's 6-for-16 (.375) with 3 RBI and 4 runs scored. *** Catcher Matt Tupman went 2-for-4 yesterday, registering his 10th multi-hit game of the campaign. Playing in 2 of the 1st 3 games at "The Brick" he's 5-for-9 with 2 RBI and 4 runs scored, jumping his average 22 points to .266. *** Monday's defeat snapped the Royals 3-game winning streak on the road, which had equaled their longest road win string of 2008. Omaha has still won 6 of its last 8 contests away from Rosenblatt and 9 of its last 13 games overall.

STARTERS: RH Roman Colon (1-0, 4.60) vs. RH Steve Rowe (1-0, 3.24)

Colon makes his 1st start (6th appearance) with Omaha. The 27-year old right-hander's last outing was last Thursday vs. Oklahoma, in the completion of the game that had been suspended the previous night due to an acid spill near Rosenblatt. He got the win in the Royals' 4-3 victory (3.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HR). Colon opened this season with Double-A Northwest Arkansas, going 2-1 with a 5.29 ERA and 1 save in 10 relief outings. He was acquired by KC from Detroit on July 13, 2007 for a player to be named later (Danny Christensen). Colon struggled with injuries last season, limiting him to a combined 12 appearances between Toledo, Erie and Omaha. 2007 marked the 1st season since 2003 that he did not spend time in the Major Leagues. He was sent to Omaha on a rehab assignment last August 3, but it was ended a week later after only 1 relief appearance and he underwent elbow surgery to remove bone chips. In 2006, Colon spent most of the season with Detroit, going 2-0 with a 4.89 ERA and 1 save in 20 appearances (1 start); he missed all of April due to a right shoulder strain and his season ended on August 14 due to neck spasms. He was acquired by the Tigers along with Zach Miner from Atlanta in exchange for Kyle Farnsworth on July 31, 2005. Colon was originally signed by the Braves as a non-drafted free agent on August 14, 1995. He resides in Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic.

PROBABLES FOR SERIES VS. IOWA:

Thur., 7:05 p.m.: RH Kevin Hart (1-1, 3.81) vs. LH Tyler Lumsden (2-6, 6.58)

Fri., 7:05 p.m.: LH Rich Hill (1-2, 4.41) vs. RH Brandon Duckworth (2-4, 4.82)

Sat., 7:05 p.m.: RH Randy Wells (4-1, 2.35) vs. TBA

Sun., 1:35 p.m.: RH Justin Berg (1-2, 6.31) vs. TBA

Check out the Omaha Storm Chasers Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 3, 2008


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