PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Royals Game Notes

Published on August 5, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


TONIGHT: The Royals host the Colorado Springs Sky Sox in a 7:05 p.m. game at Rosenblatt Stadium. It's game 3 of a 4-game series and an 8-game home stand. The series is tied 1-1 and Omaha is 3-3 on the home stand. It's $2 2uesday with $2 G.A. tickets and $2 Miller Lites, courtesy of Valpak, Z-92 and The Reader! Sarpy County organizations and businesses receive discounted group tickets by calling the Royals group line at (402) 738-5105. The pre-game show airs at 6:45 p.m. on News Talk 1420 KOTK and at www.oroyals.com.

LAST NIGHT: Colorado Springs batted around in the 2nd inning to score 5 runs, plating 3 more runs with 2 outs in the 3rd on the way to an 8-3 victory. Rehabbing KC lefty John Bale retired the side in order in the 1st. But, in the 2nd, Bale (0-2) allowed 3 hits and 2 walks and was charged with 5 runs in 1.2 innings, after Matt Wright was greeted by Doug Bernier's 2-run single. Kenny Perez, who had a sac fly in the 2nd, added a 2-run single off Wright in the 3rd to finish with 3 RBI. Josh Labandeira's 1st hit as a Royal came in the 3rd, when he drilled a 2-run homer over the left field wall. Franklin Morales (8-4) got the win, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits over 5.1 innings.

ROYALS REPORT: Labandeira's home run last night was his 1st in 19 games, dating back to May 8 at Pawtucket, when he smacked his lone homer in 25 games with Durham. *** Kila Kaaihue has at least 1 hit in each of his 1st 6 games with Omaha, getting off to a good start in his 1st action at the Triple-A level. Counting his time with Northwest Arkansas he owns an 8-game hit string, as he went 5-for-10 with a home run and 6 RBI in his last 2 contests for the Naturals. *** Tyler Lumsden finished last night's game with 2.0 scoreless innings, giving him a steak of 5.0 shutout stanzas in his 1st 3 appearances since coming off the disabled list. The streak has lowered his ERA from 7.27 to 6.85. *** Mike Stodolka is hitting at a .408 clip (29-for-71) over his last 20 games, belting 2 home runs and collecting 8 RBI. He has also picked up 9 walks over the past 6 contests. *** Over his last 15 tilts, Chris Lubanski is batting .327 (18-for-55) with 2 doubles, 3 triples, 5 homers and 12 RBI. *** KC shortstop Mike Aviles was named yesterday as the co-winner of the A.L. Player of the Week award. Aviles, who opened this season with Omaha, hit .577 (15-for-26) last week, including 3 doubles, a triple, 2 homers and 5 RBI. He shared the honor with Yankees outfielder Xavier Nady. *** Brian Buchanan went 0-for-4 Monday night and is hitless in his last 14 at-bats. Buchanan was batting in the cleanup spot usually occupied by Ryan Shealy, who had the night off. Shealy is in a 3-for-22 (.136) slump at the plate, coming on the heels of a 25-game span when he hit .389 (35-for-90) with 4 round-trippers and 17 RBI. *** Angel Sanchez also had an 0-for-4 night Monday, halting his hitting streak at 4 games. During the string, he was 8-for-22 (.364) and drove in 4 runs. *** Matt Tupman is riding a season-long, 8-game hit streak, batting .359 (14-for-39), doubling 5 times and knocking in 6 runs. *** Tonight's pitching matchup features a Sky Sox hurler in lefty Mark Redman who pitched for KC in 2006 facing a Royals righty in Jose Capellan who pitched for the Rockies and Sky Sox earlier this season. Another pitcher who made appearances this year for both the Rockies and Sky Sox, left-hander Josh Newman, is expected to be the 1st Omaha reliever used tomorrow, following a start by rehabbing KC hurler Jimmy Gobble.

STARTERS: LH Mark Redman (6-3, 5.04) vs. RH Jose Capellan (4-0, 3.00)

Capellan makes his 4th start (5th appearance) with Omaha. The 27-year old right-hander's last outing was a start vs. Salt Lake last Thursday, when he got the win in the Royals' 13-3 romp (6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HR). Capellan was signed by KC as a minor league free agent on June 23 and briefly worked out at KC's complex in Surprise, Arizona before joining Omaha. He opened this year 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 began this season 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 his only appearance before the Rockies designated him for assignment on May 2 and he elected free agency. Capellan has also seen action in the Major Leagues each of the last 4 seasons, making 98 appearances with Atlanta (2004), Milwaukee (2005-2007) and Detroit (2007). Entering 2007, he was rated as the Brewers' 9th-best prospect by Baseball America. He opened last 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 campaign 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). In 2006, he made a career-high 61 relief appearances with Milwaukee, going 4-2 with a 4.40 ERA. He was rated by Baseball America as the Brewers' 4th-best prospect entering 2005 and spent most of the year with Nashville, but 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. He was originally signed by the Braves as a non-drafted free agent in August 1998.

PROBABLES FOR REMAINDER OF SERIES:

Wed., 12:05 p.m.: RH Josh Hall (0-2, 4.50) vs. LH Jimmy Gobble (0-0, 0.00-rehab)/LH Josh Newman (1-2, 2.70)

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 5, 2008


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