PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Royals Game Notes

Published on June 29, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


JUNE 29, 2008, 1:35 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (40-39) vs. Oklahoma (45-37)

HOME: 16-20 (45-27 in '07) AWAY: 24-19 (28-44 in '07) vs. Oklahoma: 6-4 (8-8 in '07)

TODAY: The Royals and Oklahoma RedHawks conclude their 4-game series with a doubleheader for the 2nd straight day. 1st pitch for the opener is 1:35 p.m. This series is even at 1-1, while Omaha leads the season series 6-4. The Royals players will wear replica 1969 jerseys today, which will be auctioned to fans with all proceeds going to help with the rebuilding of the Little Sioux Scout Ranch devastated by a deadly tornado on June 11. G.A. tickets and several concession items are also marked down today to 1969-era prices. It's U.S. Bank Family FUNday, with all kids invited to run the bases after the game, also presented by KGBI-100.7 FM and KPTM-Fox 42. All Royals Kids Club members get a FREE ticket to the game, courtesy of SUBWAY! Plus, any fan brining an Our Family Brand food item to the stadium gets a FREE G.A. ticket! The pre-game show is on the air at 1:15 p.m. on News Talk 1420 KOTK and at www.oroyals.com.

SATURDAY: The Royals split a day-night doubleheader with Oklahoma. Omaha took the opener, 6-1 and the RedHawks won the nightcap 9-4. There was a power outage at Rosenblatt for game 1, aside from a powerful pitching performance by Carlos Rosa and home runs hit by Jason Smith and Ryan Shealy. Rosa (3-1) retired the 1st 13 Oklahoma batters he faced and wound up allowing just 1 run on 2 hits over 5.0 innings. Smith's team-leading 18th home run, leading off the bottom of the 2nd, turned out to be the deciding run as it gave the Royals a 2-0 lead. Shealy made it 4-0 with a 2-out, 2-run single in the 3rd and capped the scoring with a leadoff homer in the 6th. Brian Gordon (0-2) suffered the loss, giving up 4 runs (3 earned) in 3.0 frames. In the nightcap, Royals starter Tyler Lumsden (3-8) did not survive the 1st inning, recording only 2 outs and yielding 7 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks. John Mayberry plated the 1st 4 runs with a grand slam. Ryan Roberts had 3 hits, including an RBI double in the 1st and a homer leading off the 7th. Matt Harrison (3-1) got the win, giving up 2 runs on 5 hits over 5.0 innings.

GAME 1 STARTERS: RH Dustin Nippert (5-2, 4.47) vs. RH Brandon Duckworth (3-6, 4.78)

Duckworth makes his 11th start (18th appearance) of the season. The 32-year old right-hander opened 2008 in Omaha's bullpen, before taking the rotation spot of Mike Maroth, who was released by KC on April 30. However, Duckworth's last outing came in relief at New Orleans last Tuesday, when he picked up the save in Omaha's 5-4 win (0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K). It was just the 3rd save of his professional career, his 1st in the minors since 1999. Duckworth has faced Oklahoma once, getting the start here on May 30 in game 2 of a twin bill and taking the loss in the Royals' 3-2 defeat (5.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 2 K). The sinkerballer has surrendered 14 home runs in 75.1 innings this season, after allowing just 3 homers in 46.2 innings for KC last year. In 2007, Duckworth made KC's Opening Day roster after being a non-roster invitee at Spring Training, and was 3-5 with a 4.63 ERA and 1 save in 26 games (3 starts). He tore his left oblique last June 13 vs. St. Louis and was placed on the D.L. the next day. In rehab stints with Wilmington and Omaha, he combined for 20 strikeouts and 3 walks in 19.0 innings, before being activated by KC September 1. After opening the 2006 season with the Pirates' Triple-A club, Indianapolis, Duckworth was acquired by KC in exchange for cash on June 10. He went 1-5 with a 6.11 ERA in 10 games (8 starts) for KC, before he underwent season-ending elbow surgery on August 15. On August 5, 2002 vs. the Dodgers, he struck out the 1st 6 batters of the game, becoming the 1st big league pitcher to fan that many batters to begin a game since Jim Deshaies struck out a Major League record 8 in a row on Sept. 23, 1986, also vs. the Dodgers. He was originally signed by the Phillies as a non-drafted free agent on Aug. 13, 1997, after pitching collegiately at Cal State Fullerton.

GAME 2 STARTERS: RH Steve Rowe (3-2, 3.88) vs. RH Brad Salmon (5-2, 4.73)

Salmon makes his 26th appearance and his 2nd spot start of the season. The 28-year old right-hander was terrific in his 1st start on June 12 at New Orleans, pitching the Royals to a 6-1 victory (5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K). His last outing was also at Zephyr Field, in relief last Tuesday. He was not involved in the decision in Omaha's 5-4 win (3.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K). In 3 relief appearances vs. Oklahoma this season, Salmon is 1-0 with a 2.84 ERS. He 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 IOWA:

Mon., 7:05 p.m.: LH Dusty Hughes (1-0, 0.00) vs. RH Randy Wells (6-3, 3.61)

Tue., 7:05 p.m.: RH Matt Wright (3-4, 5.38) vs. RH Kevin Hart (1-1, 3.41)

Wed., 7:05 p.m.: RH Roman Colon (2-2, 4.58) vs. RH Justin Berg (3-4, 6.49)

Thur., 7:05 p.m.: RH Carlos Rosa (3-1, 3.60) vs. LH J.R. Mathes (5-3, 3.33)

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 29, 2008


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