PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Royals Game Notes

Published on June 23, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


TONIGHT: The Royals visit Zephyr Field for game 3 of a 4-game series vs. New Orleans. Omaha leads this series 2-0 and is 7-3 vs. the Zephyrs on the season. The Royals are 8-6 on this 16-game road trip, which began with a 3-1 series win at New Orleans. 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.

SUNDAY: Dusty Hughes combined with Devon Lowery on a 5-hitter as the Royals blanked New Orleans 3-0. Hughes (1-0) got the win in his Triple-A debut, allowing just 2 hits and a walk in 6.0 innings, striking out 2. The 25-year old lefty took a no-hitter into the bottom of the 5th, when Raul Casanova stroked a leadoff double. Zephyrs starter Nelson Figueroa had a no-hitter working until Mike Stodolka singled with 1 out in the 6th. Later in the frame, he scored the Royals 1st run - unearned - on Shane Costa's RBI single. Figueroa (3-2) wound up yielding 2 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits over 7.0 innings. Lowery notched his 3rd save by pitching 3.0 scoreless stanzas, giving up 3 hits and a walk and fanning 2 batters.

ROYALS REPORT: Both of Omaha's shutout wins in 2008 have come at Zephyr Field. The 1st was on June 10, when Brandon Duckworth, Roberto Giron and Joel Peralta combined on a 1-hitter in the Royals' 13-0 romp. *** The Royals have won 4 in a row, matching their longest road win streak of the season and just 1 victory shy of their longest streak overall. Omaha has won its last 5 contests at Zephyr Field, clubbing the Z's by a combined score of 37-6. *** Hughes' 6.0-inning stint Sunday was his longest outing of the season, despite it being his 1st start since May 8 for Northwest Arkansas. Sixteen of his 20 appearances at Double-A this year came in relief. He was 5-2 with a 2.91 ERA and 3 saves for the Naturals. *** Lowery's effort yesterday marked his 3rd save in 4 opportunities this season and was a nice rebound from his last appearance. Lowery suffered a blown save and took the loss last Wednesday at Round Rock, when he gave up the tying run in the 9th inning, then a game-ending homer to Edwin Maysonet in the 10th, as the Express rallied for a 4-3 win. *** Costa is riding a 6-game hitting streak, going 11-for-26 (.423) with a home run and 5 RBI. He was in a 2-for-18 funk in the 5 games prior to the hit string. *** Jason Smith had 2 hits Sunday, posting his 18th multi-hit tilt, and scored 2 runs. Smith has hit in 4 straight and is batting at a .407 clip (11-for-27) over his last 7 games, with 2 homers and 4 RBI over that stretch. *** Damon Hollins has belted 5 home runs in his last 12 contests, after hitting just 3 dingers in his 1st 40 games. He's riding a season-best, 8-game hit streak, which dates back to June 8. During the streak, he's hitting .333 (11-for-33) with 3 home runs and 5 RBI. *** Over his last 19 games, Billy Butler is batting .382 (29-for-76), drilling 5 home runs and knocking in 13 runs during that hot stretch. *** David Matranga is 0-for-13 over his last 4 games, dropping his average 30 points to .262. *** KC has promoted Horacio Ramirez, who had been slated to start for Omaha tonight, to the parent club and optioned Carlos Rosa back to Triple-A. Ramirez, who was 1-1 with a 1.42 ERA in 3 starts for the O-Royals, will work out of KC's bullpen. The 28-year old lefty signed a minor league contract with KC on May 21 after being released by Seattle during Spring Training this year. Rosa had no record and a 2.70 ERA in 2 relief appearances with KC. The 23-year old right-hander was 2-1 with a 3.96 ERA in 5 starts with Omaha this season, before seeing the 1st big league action of his professional career. Rosa will go back into Omaha's starting rotation. *** Ryan Shealy, who had the day off Sunday, tied his season-best effort with 3 hits Saturday night, his 2nd 3-hit game of the year. Shealy has hit in 4 straight, equaling his season high, going 8-for-17 (.471) with a home run and 2 RBI over that span. *** Brayan Pena has hit in 3 consecutive contests, going 5-for-13 to up his average from .273 to .314.

STARTERS: RH Roman Colon (2-2, 4.88) vs. RH Tony Armas (5-6, 2.47)

Colon makes his 3rd start (11th appearance) with Omaha. The 28-year old right-hander's last outing was last Tuesday at Round Rock, when he started and took the loss in the Royals' 3-0 defeat (4.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR). Colon has faced New Orleans once, getting the win in relief on June 11 at Zephyr Field in Omaha's 7-2 triumph (2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K). He's 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA in his 2 starts, while going 2-1 with a 4.63 ERA and 1 save as a reliever. Colon has pitched much better at Rosenblatt than on the road, going 1-1 with a 3.24 ERA and 1 save in 5 appearances at home, while posting a 1-1 record and a 6.75 ERA in 5 games (2 starts) on the road. He opened this season with Double-A Northwest Arkansas, going 2-1 with a 5.29 ERA and 1 save in 10 relief outings. Colon was acquired by KC from Detroit on July 13, 2007 for a player to be named later (Danny Christensen). He 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 Colon 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:

Tue., 12:00 p.m.: RH Matt Wright (2-4, 5.38) vs. LH Willie Collazo (4-4, 3.96)

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 23, 2008


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