PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Royals Game Notes

Published on July 12, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


JULY 12, 2008, 12:05/6:05 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (44-50) at Memphis (52-43)

HOME: 20-26 (45-27 in '07) AWAY: 24-24 (28-44 in '07) vs. Memphis: 3-5 (8-8 in '07)

TODAY: The Royals visit AutoZone Park, facing the Memphis Redbirds in a split doubleheader, with the opener at 12:05 p.m. and the nightcap at 6:05 p.m. Memphis took the 1st game of the 4-game series last night and leads the season series 5-3. The pre-game show for game 1 airs at 11:45 a.m. on News Talk 1420 KOTK and at www.oroyals.com.

LAST NIGHT: The Redbirds scored twice in the 8th to take a 3-1 victory. Yasuhiko Yabuta (1-2), who came on in relief of Matt Wright to begin the bottom of the 8th, walked 2 of the 1st 3 batters he faced. They both scored on a 2-out single by D'Angelo Jimenez. P.J. Walters (7-1) held the Royals to a run on 3 hits over 8.0 innings to get the win. Kelvin Jimenez tossed a scoreless 9th for his 10th save.

ROYALS REPORT: Friday night's loss gives Omaha a 6-14 record in games decided in the last at-bat. *** The Royals have lost 5 straight on the road, matching their longest skid away from Omaha this year. *** Wright allowed just 1 run on 4 hits over 7.0 innings last night, walking 2 and fanning 4. In his 10 starts on the road this season prior to last night, he owned a 6.97 ERA. *** Omaha's lone run Friday night came on Gookie Dawkins' 4th home run in his 22nd game with Omaha; 3 of those round-trippers have come in his last 7 contests. Over his last 12 games, Dawkins is hitting .310 (13-for-42) with 3 homers and 10 RBI. *** Mitch Maier went 0-for-3 last night, ending a hit string at 4 games. Over his past 9 games, he's batting .377 (20-for-53) and has scored 13 runs. *** Ryan Shealy has hit in 11 of the last 12 tilts, batting .409 (18-for-44) with 2 home runs and 6 RBI. *** Matt Tupman is 2-for-his-last-42 (.048). *** Brayan Pena is hitting .389 (14-for-36) over his last 10 games, driving in 9 runs. *** Brian Buchanan has knocked in 10 runs over his last 7 contests. He's 8-for-23 (.348) with a home run over that span. *** Reliever Greg Atencio has been promoted to Omaha from Northwest Arkansas, with outfielder Shane Costa placed on the disabled list with sore wrists. Atencio, a 26-year old righty, was 2-3 with a 4.29 ERA and 1 save in 21 games with the Naturals, chalking up 51 strikeouts in 42.0 innings. *** The Royals and Redbirds combined for 9 hits last night, equaling a season low for a game involving Omaha. The mark was just set last Tuesday in a 7-inning game vs. Nashville, also a 3-1 loss for the Royals, who managed just 1 hit in that contest.

GAME 1 STARTERS: RH Roman Colon (2-3, 4.88) vs. RH Anthony Reyes (1-2, 3.02)

Colon makes his 6th start (15th appearance) with Omaha. The 28-year old right-hander's last outing was a start vs. Nashville last Monday, when he took the loss in a 4-2 defeat (5.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 2 K, 1 HR). That game was shortened by rain; there were 2 outs in the 6th and Royals at 2nd and 3rd when the game was halted by rain and was called official after a 40-minute delay. In his 5 starts, Colon is 0-2 with a 4.70 ERA; he's 2-1 with a 5.04 ERA and 1 save in his 9 relief appearances. He has not faced Memphis this year. 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 (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 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, he 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.

GAME 2 STARTERS: RH Jose Capellan (2-0, 3.94) vs. RH Tyler Norrick (0-0, 0.00)

Capellan makes his Omaha debut. The 27-year old right-hander was signed by KC as a minor league free agent on June 23 and placed on the temporary inactive list on the 28th. He opened this season in the Rockies' organization, after being acquired by Colorado from Detroit last December in a trade for former KC and Omaha pitcher Denny Bautista. Capellan opened this year with Colorado Springs, going 2-0 with a 3.94 ERA in 3 starts. The Rockies purchased his contract on April 26 and he pitched in relief that night in Los Angeles vs. the Dodgers, allowing 1 run on 3 hits over 2.0 innings, striking out 2. That was Capellan's only appearance before the Rockies designated him for assignment on May 2. He elected free agency on May 5. Capellan has also seen action in the Major Leagues each of the last 4 seasons, making 98 appearances (2 starts) with Atlanta (2004), Milwaukee (2005-2007) and Detroit (2007). Entering the 2007 season, he was rated as the Brewers' 9th-best prospect by Baseball America. He opened the season with Nashville and was recalled by the Brewers on June 1, before being traded to the Tigers in exchange for LHP Chris Cody on July 1. He split the rest of the season between Detroit and Toledo. His combined 2007 Major League numbers: 0-3, 5.54 ERA in 17 games; in the minors last year: 3-3, 4.34 ERA in 26 games (3 starts). Capellan made a career-high 61 relief appearances with Milwaukee in 2006, going 4-2 with a 4.40 ERA. He entered 2005 rated as the Brewers' 4th-best prospect, according to Baseball America, and spent most of the year with Nashville but also posted a 2.87 ERA in 17 games for Milwaukee. Capellan was acquired by the Brewers, along with a player to be named, prior to the '05 season from Atlanta in exchange for RHP Dan Kolb. Capellan was originally signed by the Braves as a non-drafted free agent in August 1998.

PROBABLES FOR REMAINDER OF SERIES:

Sun., 1:35 p.m.: RH Carlos Rosa (4-2, 4.32) vs. RH Mitchell Boggs (6-1, 3.14)

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 12, 2008


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