PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Royals Game Notes

Published on July 7, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


TONIGHT: The Royals host the Nashville Sounds in a 7:05 p.m. game at Rosenblatt Stadium. It's the opener of a 5-game series over the next 4 days. Omaha is 1-2 on the home stand. The Royals lead the season series vs. the Sounds 4-2. It's Dollar Dog Night, with $1 hot dogs courtesy of The Daily Nonpareil! It's also another U.S. Cellular Dreams Come True Night - a lucky fan who signed up at a local U.S. Cellular store gets to be on the field for the Royals batting practice, throw out a ceremonial first pitch and be the P.A. announcer for an inning. The pre-game show airs at 6:45 p.m. on News Talk 1420 KOTK and at www.oroyals.com.

SUNDAY: Memphis rallied for 2 runs in both the 8th and 9th innings to hand the Royals an 8-7 setback. Josh Phelps pulled the Rebirds to within a run at 7-6 with a 2-run homer in the 8th off Neal Musser. Down to their final strike in the 9th, Nick Stavinoha lined Brad Salmon's 1-2 pitch towards right field and Shane Costa was not able to make a diving catch of the sinking liner, which turned into an RBI triple to tie the game. Phelps followed by belting an RBI double into right center to plate the deciding run. Salmon (5-4) suffered his 2nd blown save and the loss. Jason Motte (4-2) picked up the win with a hitless inning of relief, while Kelvin Jimenez gave up a 1-out single to Brayan Pena in the 9th, but notched his 8th save by inducing Ryan Shealy to ground into a game-ending double play.

ROYALS REPORT: Sunday's defeat marked the Royals' 5th loss of the year when leading after 8 innings, which ties Omaha with Tucson for the most such losses in the PCL this season. The Royals dropped to 5-13 in games decided in the final at-bat. *** Phelps hit 3 home runs and knocked in 6 runs for Memphis in the 3-game set. *** Musser left Sunday's game after pitching to just 4 batters with tightness in his left arm. However, the injury is apparently minor as he is not being placed on the D.L. *** Shealy had hits in each of his 1st 4 at-bats yesterday. It was his season high for hits and he's riding a season-long, 7-game hitting streak. During the streak, he's hitting .519 (14-for-27) with a home run and 5 RBI. *** When Shealy hit into the game-ending double play in his final at-bat, it marked the 3rd twin-killing turned by the Redbirds in the contest, matching the season high for an Omaha foe. *** Mitch Maier walked each of his 1st 3 trips to the plate Sunday, scoring twice. Maier has coaxed 11 walks in his last 10 games, after picking up just 12 free passes in his 1st 59 games. Over his last 8 tilts, Maier is batting .364 (12-for-33) and has scored 9 runs. *** Gookie Dawkins tripled and drove in a run with a double yesterday, giving him 9 RBI in his last 11 contests. Over that span, he's hitting .308 (12-for-39) with 2 home runs. *** Pena also had 2 hits and an RBI Sunday. In his last 7 games behind the plate, Pena is 10-for-25 (.400) at the plate, driving in 6 runs. The hot stretch has jumped his average from .279 to .324. *** Angel Sanchez hit his 1st Triple-A home run yesterday - a 2-run shot in the 5th that tied the game at 4-all and keyed a 4-run rally to give Omaha the lead. *** In the last 2 games, Brian Buchanan was 4-for-6 with a home run and 5 RBI. Buchanan, who came off the D.L. on June 28, had gone 2-for-15 in his 1st 4 games back in action. *** Costa was 0-for-4 Sunday, but over his last 17 games he's batting .348 (24-for-69) with a homer and 9 RBI. *** KC reliever Leo Nunez begins a rehab assignment with Omaha tonight. Nunez hasn't pitched for KC since May 27 due to a strained lat. He was very effective out of the parent club's bullpen early this season, going 3-1 with a 1.71 ERA in 21 games. *** Memphis shortstop Brian Barden led off Sunday's game with a home run, becoming the 3rd opposing batter to turn that trick at Rosenblatt this year. Iowa's Eric Patterson did it on June 8 and Round Rock's Reggie Abercrombie hit a leadoff long ball on April 7. *** Perhaps the strangest stat ever: Sunday's comeback win gives the Redbirds a 19-2 record in day games this season.

STARTERS: RH Mark DiFelice (3-0, 3.54) vs. RH Roman Colon (2-2, 4.60)

Colon makes his 5th start (14th appearance) with Omaha. The 28-year old right-hander's last outing was a start at Iowa last Wednesday; he was not around for the decision as the Cubs won 6-5 in 15 innings (4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 6 K, 1 HR). In his 4 starts, Colon is 0-1 with a 4.00 ERA; he's 2-1 with a 5.04 ERA and 1 save in his 9 relief appearances. Colon has not faced Nashville this season, as he was not with the Royals for their 6 meetings with the Sounds in April. 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 (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 campaign with Detroit, going 2-0 with a 4.89 ERA and 1 save in 20 games (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, who resides in Monte Cristi, D.R., was originally signed by the Braves as a non-drafted free agent on August 14, 1995.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 7, 2008


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