PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Royals Game Notes

Published on June 16, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


JUNE 16, 2008, 8:05 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (33-35) @ Albuquerque (33-36)

HOME: 15-19 (45-27 in '07) AWAY: 18-16 (28-44 in '07) vs. Albuquerque: 5-6 (5-11 in '07)

TONIGHT: The Omaha Royals visit Isotopes Park in Albuquerque for the finale of a 4-game series. The 'Topes lead this series 2-1 and lead the season series 6-5. The Royals are 4-3 on their 16-game road trip. 1st pitch is 8:05 p.m., with the pre-game show on the air at 7:45 p.m. on News Talk 1420 KOTK and at www.oroyals.com.

LAST NIGHT: The Isotopes jumped on Royals starter Brandon Duckworth for 6 runs in the 1st 2 innings and cruised to a 7-1 win. Duckworth (3-6), who no-hit New Orleans over 7.0 innings in his last start, surrendered 4 runs in the 1st inning. Dallas McPherson's PCL-leading 21st home run - a 2-run shot - made it 3-0 and Tagg Bozied followed with his 10th homer of the year. In the 2nd, Albuquerque tallied 2 runs on 4 hits, ignited by John Baker's leadoff home run. Frankie De La Cruz (8-3) worked 6.0 innings to get the win, limiting the Royals to 5 hits and 1 run - on Damon Hollins' 6th inning homer. De La Cruz walked 3 and struck out 9. Royal-killer John Gall had 3 hits and 3 RBI for the Isotopes, who piled up 4 stolen bases in the contest.

ROYALS REPORT: Gall was named PCL Batter of the Week today, while De La Cruz earned Pitcher of the Week honors. In the 1st 3 games of this series, Gall is 9-for-13 and has driven in 7 runs. For the week ending Sunday, he hit .600 (20-for-33) with 8 doubles, a home run and 11 RBI. In 11 games vs. Omaha this season, Gall is batting .432 (19-for-44) with 7 doubles, 2 home runs, 14 RBI and 9 runs. This past week, De La Cruz won both of his starts and had a 0.75 ERA, allowing 6 hits and 4 walks while striking out 14 batters in 12.0 innings. *** Five days after he no-hit New Orleans over 7.0 innings, Duckworth last night set season highs in hits (9) and earned runs (7), while tying his season mark for home runs allowed (3). He also had a season-best 9 strikeouts in his 5.0 inning stint, which jumped his ERA from 4.34 to 4.93. *** When McPherson and Bozied hit back-to-back jacks off Duckworth in the 1st inning Sunday night, it marked the 6th time this year that Omaha's opponents have turned the trick. It has happened 3 times this month. The Royals have hit back-to-back homers only once this season. *** Hollins has hit in 5 straight and in 7 of his last 9 games. Over the 9-game stretch, he's hitting .406 (13-for-32) with 4 home runs, 9 RBI and 8 runs scored. *** Shane Costa went 2-for-3 last night, after going 0-for-11 in his 1st 3 games after coming off the disabled list. *** Reliever Devon Lowery was activated from the DL Sunday and hurled 2.0 hitless frames, walking 1 and striking out 2 batters in his 1st action since May 30. *** Billy Butler had 2 hits last night, for his 8th multi-hit effort in 17 games with Omaha. Butler has hit in 4 straight and in 11 of his last 12 tilts, batting .426 (20-for-47) over those dozen games. He has belted 3 home runs and knocked in 10 runs during that span. *** Jason Smith, who was 0-for-4 Sunday night, is 1-for-12 with 5 strikeouts in this series. Even so, he's still hitting .318 (14-for-44) with 3 home runs and 12 RBI in 11 games vs. Albuquerque. *** Mike Stodolka, playing in his 1st game last night since June 6, went 1-for-4. *** Neal Musser fired a scoreless 8th inning last night, walking 1 and striking out the side. In his previous 3 relief outings, he had been touched for 5 earned runs on 7 hits over 4.0 stanzas. *** Omaha's pitchers set a season high last night for strikeouts (14), while Albuquerque's 4 steals were a new campaign standard for an opposing club.

STARTERS: LH Tyler Lumsden (2-7, 6.71) vs. RH Gaby Hernandez (2-6, 5.58)

Lumsden makes his 13th start of the season, his 2nd vs. Albuquerque. In his last outing at New Orleans last Wednesday, the 25-year old lefty turned in his 3rd quality start of the year, but did not get a decision in Omaha's 7-2 victory (6.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 1 K). Lumsden's 1st start of the season came vs. the Isotopes at Rosenblatt on April 6, when he was not involved in the decision as the Royals won 12-5 (4.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR). He's 2-3 with a 4.68 ERA in 6 starts on the road, while going 0-4 with an 8.90 ERA in 6 starts at home. 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 last 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 2 starts vs. the 'Topes last year, he was 1-0 with an 8.53 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 SERIES AT ROUND ROCK:

Tue., 7:05 p.m.: RH Roman Colon (2-1, 4.94) vs. RH Jack Cassel (5-1, 2.05)

Wed., 7:05 p.m.: LH Horacio Ramirez (1-1, 2.25) vs. RH Chad Reineke (3-8, 6.06)

Thur., 7:05 p.m.: RH Matt Wright (1-4, 5.89) vs. RH Ron Chivacci (1-1, 10.80)

Fri., 7:05 p.m.: RH Brandon Duckworth (3-6, 4.93) vs. RH Runelvys Hernandez (6-3, 3.82)

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 16, 2008


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