PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Royals Game Notes

Published on June 17, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


JUNE 17, 2008, 7:05 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (33-36) @ Round Rock (31-40)

HOME: 15-19 (45-27 in '07) AWAY: 18-17 (28-44 in '07) vs. Round Rock: 6-1 (9-9 in '07)

TONIGHT: The Royals visit the Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas for the opener of a 4-game series. Omaha leads the season series vs. the Express 6-1. The Royals are 4-4 on their 16-game road trip. 1st pitch is 7:05 p.m., with the pre-game show on the air at 6:45 p.m. on News Talk 1420 KOTK and at www.oroyals.com.

LAST NIGHT: Albuquerque rallied for 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th to win 9-8, handing the Royals their 3rd straight loss. Brad Salmon, who had pitched a scoreless 8th inning, gave up a walk and a single to begin the 9th. The tying run wound up scoring with 1 out on a fielder's choice. After Salmon (5-2) issued a 2nd walk to load the bases, John Gall lifted a game-winning sacrifice fly to right field. Omaha took an 8-7 lead with 2 runs in the 6th, the 1st scoring on an RBI double by Ryan Shealy and the go-ahead run coming in on Jason Smith's RBI single. On the night, Shealy had 2 hits, including his 9th home run and 4 RBI, while Smith had 4 hits, 1 of them being his 15th homer, and he knocked in 2 runs. Marc Gwyn (1-0) picked up the win with a perfect 9th inning, notching 2 strikeouts.

ROYALS REPORT: Last night's loss dropped Omaha's record to 2-9 in games decided in the final at-bat. However, the Royals had been 30-2 when leading after 8 innings prior to Monday night. *** In his last 4 games, including 1 start, prior to last night's contest, Salmon had given up just 1 earned run over 11.0 innings. Last night marked his 1st loss since April 26. It was his 1st blown save of the season and the 5th in 21 opportunities for the Royals bullpen. *** Shealy's home run last night was his 1st in 19 games, dating back to April 30. His 4 RBI Monday night equaled the number of runs he had driven in over his previous 15 games combined. *** Smith had been 1-for-12 in the 1st 3 games of the series at Isotopes Park, before breaking out with his season-high 4 hits last night. On the year vs. Albuquerque, he's batting .367 (18-for-49) with 4 round-trippers and 14 RBI in 12 tilts. *** Gall was 3-for-3 last night and drove in 2 runs. For the series, he was 12-for-16 (.750) with 9 RBI. In 12 games vs. Omaha in 2008, Gall is hitting .468 (22-for-47) with 8 doubles, 2 homers and 16 RBI. *** Tyler Lumsden had another rocky start for the Royals last night, giving up 7 runs (5 earned) on 9 hits over 5.0 innings, walking 5 and striking out 4. On the season, Lumsden has totaled 40 walks, compared to 24 whiffs. His ERA inched up from 6.71 to 6.88. *** Roberto Giron followed Lumsden to the hill and tossed 2.0 scoreless stanzas, fanning 5. In 3 outings on this trip, Giron has allowed just 1 earned in 6.0 innings, shaving his ERA from 7.36 to 6.46. Giron did walk 2 batters last night as the Royals issued 10 free passes, 1 shy of their season high. *** Mitch Maier was 3-for-5 Monday night, plating a run and scoring twice. On the trip, he's hitting .333 (10-for-30) and has 5 RBI. *** Billy Butler, who was 2-for-3 with a run scored last night, has hit in 12 of the last 13 contests. Over that span, he's batting .440 (22-for-50), smacking 3 taters and driving in 10 runs. *** Gookie Dawkins had 2 hits last night - his 2nd double and his 1st home run - coming in his 6th game with Omaha. Dawkins is hitting .333 (9-for-27) with 5 RBI and 4 runs scored since being acquired by KC from the White Sox last week for cash considerations. *** Damon Hollins has hit in 6 straight and in 8 of his last 10 games. Over the 10-game stretch, he's batting .378 (14-for-37) with 4 homers and 9 RBI. *** The Royals' current 3-game losing skid equals their longest of the year on the road, set April 30-May 2 at Sacramento and Fresno.

STARTERS: RH Roman Colon (2-1, 4.94) vs. RH Jack Cassel (5-1, 2.05)

Colon makes his 2nd start (10th appearance) with Omaha. The 28-year old right-hander's last outing was last Saturday at Albuquerque; he was not involved in the decision as the Royals lost 7-0 (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K). Colon's 1st start was June 3 at Oklahoma, which was a no-decision in the Royals' 10-4 victory (4.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 2 HR). He's 1-1 with a 3.24 ERA and 1 save in 5 games at home, while going 1-0 with a 7.59 ERA in 5 appearances on the road. 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 REMAINDER OF SERIES:

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)

Check out the Omaha Storm Chasers Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 17, 2008


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