PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Royals Game Notes

Published on June 12, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


TONIGHT: The Omaha Royals visit Zephyr Field in New Orleans game 4 of a 4-game series and a 16-game road trip. Omaha leads the series 2-1. 1st pitch is 7:00 p.m., with the pre-game show on the air at 6:40 p.m. on News Talk 1420 KOTK and at www.oroyals.com.

WEDNESDAY: Tied 2-2 entering the 9th inning, the Royals scored 5 runs to post a 7-2 victory. New Orleans starter Brian Stokes, who held Omaha to 2 unearned runs over 8.0 innings, was relieved by Carlos Muniz to begin the 9th. Muniz (2-3) wound up allowing all 5 runs on 4 hits, including Brayan Pena's RBI double, a 2-run double by Chris Lubanski, and David Matranga's 2-run homer. Roman Colon (2-1) picked up the win with 2.2 innings of hitless relief.

ROYALS REPORT: Wednesday's win improved the Royals record to 2-8 this season in games decided in the last at-bat. *** Right-hander Carlos Rosa, slated to start tonight's game for Omaha was instead promoted to KC to work out of the Royals' bullpen. To make room for the 23-year old prospect, 35-year old Brett Tomko was designated for assignment. Rosa went 2-1 with a 3.96 ERA in 5 starts for Omaha and gave up just 6 earned runs over his last 24.0 frames, for an ERA of 2.25 over that stretch. He opened the season with Double-A Northwest Arkansas, going 4-2 in 8 starts and posting a 1.20 ERA, which led the Texas League at the time of his promotion to Triple-A on May 15. Tomko was 2-7 with a 6.97 ERA in 16 games, including 10 starts, for the parent club. *** Mike Aviles smacked his 1st Major League home run this afternoon at Kauffman Stadium. Aviles connected for a 2-run shot in the bottom of the 4th inning off Eric Hurley, who was making his big league debut for Texas. Aviles' round-tripper tied the game at 4-4. *** Matranga, who played for New Orleans from 2001-2003, is 6-for-14 (.429) in the 1st 3 games of this series. He has belted a double, a triple and 2 home runs, driving in 6 runs and scoring 4 times in this series, raising his average 25 points to .267. *** Mitch Maier had 2 hits yesterday, recording his 10th multi-hit contest of the campaign. Maier has hit in 4 straight games, going 8-for-19 (.421) with 3 RBI and 3 runs scored. *** Damon Hollins has also hit in 4 straight, going 6-for-16 (.375) with a home run, 2 RBI and 4 runs scored. Over his last 8 tilts, the reigning PCL Batter of the Week owns a .393 (11-for-28) average with 3 homers, 8 RBI and 7 runs. *** Tyler Lumsden started Wednesday's matinee and posted his 3rd quality start of the season, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits over 6.1 innings. However, he did walk 4 Zephyrs, while striking out just 1. On the year, Lumsden has issued 35 walks, compared to 20 strikeouts, in 63.0 stanzas. *** Billy Butler was 0-for-4 yesterday, halting his hitting streak at 7 games. During the hit string, Butler went 13-for-28 (.464) with 2 home runs and 7 RBI. *** Ryan Shealy had gone 6-for-16 (.375) during a 4-game hitting streak, prior to Wednesday, when he was 0-for-3. *** Colon's outing yesterday was his best of the month. In his previous 2 relief appearances, he had surrendered 7 earned runs in 8.0 innings, for a 7.88 ERA.

STARTERS: RH Brad Salmon (4-1, 4.99) vs. RH Nelson Figueroa (2-0, 2.40)

Salmon makes a spot start, following Rosa's promotion to KC. The 28-year old right-hander opened the season in Omaha's bullpen, making 20 relief appearances. Salmon was acquired by KC from Cincinnati on March 19 of this year, for a player to be named later. In 2007, he split the season between Triple-A Louisville and Cincinnati, making 26 relief appearances in 4 stints with the Reds. He began last season with Louisville and went 1-0 with a 2.16 ERA and 2 saves in 8 appearances in April. Salmon was recalled by the Reds for the 1st time on April 28 and made his Major League debut on May 1 at Houston, tossing 1.0 scoreless inning in a no-decision. On the season with the Reds, he posted a 0.93 ERA in 11 road games but compiled a 6.28 ERA in 15 outings at Great American Ball Park. He had a 3.42 ERA with the Reds going into his final appearance last September 28, when he gave up 2 runs in 0.1 inning vs. the Cubs to finish at 4.13. In 2006, Salmon split the season between Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville, making 55 relief appearances and going a combined 7-2 with a 2.44 ERA and 5 saves. In 2002, Salmon was selected to pitch in the Midwest League All-Star Game; he posted a career-best 12 wins that season with Dayton. Salmon was originally selected by the Reds in the 21st round of the 1999 draft out of Jefferson Davis Community College in Alabama. Born in Pensacola, he now lives in Cantonment, Florida.

PROBABLES FOR SERIES AT ALBUQUERQUE:

Fri., 8:05 p.m.: LH Horacio Ramirez (0-1, 4.50) vs. RH Dallas Trahern (1-5, 7.23)

Sat., 8:05 p.m.: RH Matt Wright (1-3, 5.64) vs. RH Bobby Keppel (6-6, 5.40)

Sun., 7:05 p.m.: RH Brandon Duckworth (3-5, 4.34) vs. RH Frankie De La Cruz (7-3, 3.92)

Mon., 8:05 p.m.: LH Tyler Lumsden (2-7, 6.71) vs. RH Gaby Hernandez (2-6, 5.58)

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 12, 2008


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