PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Royals Game Notes

Published on August 3, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


TODAY: The Royals host the Colorado Springs Sky Sox in a 1:35 p.m. game at Rosenblatt Stadium. It's the opener of a 4-game series and the 1st of only 4 meetings between the 2 clubs this season. The Royals, who began the home stand by losing 3 of 4 vs. Salt Lake, split a 4-game set in the Springs in 2007. 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. It's also Breast Cancer Awareness Day, highlighted by pink bases on field. Fans who purchased a ticket to the July 4th game received a complimentary G.A. ticket to this contest, courtesy of the Omaha World-Herald. Fans will have the chance to win great prizes, including a big screen TV from Niver Electronics, 5 trips to the Great Wolf Lodge in KC and a pair of round-trip airline tickets from Southwest Airlines! The pre-game show airs at 1:15 p.m. on News Talk 1420 KOTK and at www.oroyals.com.

LAST NIGHT: Salt Lake rallied for 2 runs in the 9th to tie the game at 3-3 and wound up winning the series finale 5-3 in 11 innings. Adam Pavkovich capped the 9th inning rally with an RBI single and then coaxed a 2-out walk in the 11th. Ben Johnson followed with an RBI double to right-center and Adam Morrissey tacked on an insurance run with a run-scoring single to left. Jeff Fulchino (3-2), who was greeted by Pavkovich's 9th inning single to absorb a blown save, also took the loss after allowing 2 runs on 4 hits in 2.2 innings. Jason Bulger (3-0) pitched 2.0 hitless innings to get the win, working around 3 walks (1 intentional) in the 10th, when he struck out Gookie Dawkins to leave the bases loaded. Henry Bonilla allowed a 2-out single in the 11th, but finished for his 2nd save.

ROYALS REPORT: Since July, Omaha's bullpen has converted just 3 of 11 save opportunities. On the season, the ‘pen has 14 blown saves in 37 save chances. Last night marked the 7th time this season the Royals have lost a game when leading after 8 innings. Omaha's record in contests decided in the final at-bat slipped to 8-20. *** Jason Smith was recalled by KC yesterday, with Mark Grudzielanek going on the D.L. with a severely sprained right ankle. He suffered the injury Friday night colliding with Ross Gload while catching a fly ball in right field. Smith, the Royals' representative on the PCL All-Star squad, hit .253 with 20 home runs and 62 RBI in 110 games with Omaha. *** Reliever Greg Atencio joins Omaha today for a 2nd stint this year, being promoted again from Northwest Arkansas. The 27-year old right-hander was 3-3 with a 3.78 ERA and 3 saves in 26 games with the Naturals. Atencio appeared in 1 game with Omaha, picking up the win in the Royals' 3-2 victory on July 12 at Memphis in the nightcap of a doubleheader. *** Dawkins homered to lead off the bottom of the 1st inning last night, becoming just the 2nd Royals batter to hit a leadoff homer in a game this season. Mitch Maier turned the trick on April 29 at Sacramento, a game won by the Royals 12-4. Dawkins' round-tripper extended his hitting streak to 10 games, his longest of the year. During the string, he's batting .306 (15-for-49) with 2 homers and 3 RBI. *** Mike Stodolka picked up 2 more walks Saturday night - 1 intentional - giving him 8 walks in the 4-game series vs. Salt Lake. Over his last 18 games, he's hitting .415 (27-for-65) with 2 home runs and 7 RBI. *** Kila Kaaihue homered in each of his 1st 2 Triple-A games Wednesday and Thursday and he flirted with homers late in each of the last 2 contests, sending deep drives foul down the right side. In his 1st 4 games since being promoted from Northwest Arkansas, he's 7-for-18 (.389) with 2 homers, 5 RBI and 4 runs scored. He led the Texas League with 26 home runs, while batting .314 and ranking 3rd in the league with 79 RBI. *** Ryan Shealy is 3-for-20 (.150) over the past 5 games, after hitting at a .389 clip (35-for-90) with 4 homers and 17 RBI in his previous 25 tilts. *** Angel Sanchez is 6-for-19 (.316) with 4 RBI in his past 5 games. He was hitting .191 with 9 RBI in his 1st 27 contests with Omaha. *** Over the past 13 games, Chris Lubanski is batting .313 (15-for-48) with 2 doubles, 2 triples, 5 homers and 10 RBI. *** Matt Tupman has strung together a season-best, 7-game hit streak. Over that span, he's hitting .371 (13-for-35), doubling 5 times and driving in 6 runs.

STARTERS: RH Sean Smith (4-3, 5.40) vs. RH Roman Colon (2-5, 4.98)

Colon makes his 7th start (19th appearance) with Omaha. The 28-year old right-hander's last outing was in relief at Tucson last Tuesday; he was not involved in the decision as the Royals were routed 15-3 (5.0 IP, 12 H, 9 R-8 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR). That game jumped his ERA from 4.24 to 4.98. In his 6 starts, Colon is 0-3 with a 4.50 ERA; he's 2-2 with a 5.35 ERA and 1 save in 12 relief appearances. 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.

PROBABLES FOR REMAINDER OF SERIES:

Mon., 7:05 p.m.: LH Franklin Morales (7-4, 5.69) vs. LH John Bale (0-1, 3.00)

Tue., 7:05 p.m.: LH Mark Redman (6-3, 5.04) vs. RH Carlos Rosa (4-2, 3.78)

Wed., 12:05 p.m.: RH Josh Hall (0-2, 4.50) vs. LH Jimmy Gobble (0-0, 0.00

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 3, 2008


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