Royals nip River Cats in series opener
May 12, 2004 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
OMAHA â The Omaha Royals returned home to Rosenblatt Stadium Tuesday night and a more normal wind pattern returned as well. With wind gusts as high as 32 miles per hour at game time blowing out toward left field, the Royals and Sacramento River Cats each belted three round-trippers to left or left-center. When the dust, if not the wind, settled Omaha had prevailed 6-5.
Omaha starter Jamey Wright (5-2) didn't let the windy conditions bother him in the early going, retiring the first eleven Sacramento batters he faced, six on ground outs. Sacramento lefty John Rheinecker almost followed suit, setting down the first eight Royals he faced before Gookie Dawkins and Jed Hansen hit back-to-back jacks in the third inning to draw first blood.
With two outs in the top of the fourth, former Omaha catcher Mike Rose broke up Wright's perfect game with a single to right. Graham Koonce followed with the first of his two home runs on the night. His opposite field blast to left-center tied the game at 2-all.
The Royals regained the lead quickly in their half of the fourth, as Rick Short drew a bases loaded walk to make it 3-2. It was Short's third walk in his last two games, after coaxing just one free pass in 101 at-bats over his first 26 tilts this season. Omaha took a 4-2 lead on an RBI ground out by Alberto Castillo.
Paul Phillips smacked a two-run dinger off Rheinecker (1-4) in the sixth to hike the lead to 6-2. Phillips' first home run above rookie ball since the 2000 season due to injuries provided much needed insurance, as it turned out.
In the top of the seventh, Nick Swisher lined an opposite field, two-run homer off Wright to pull Sacramento within 2 runs at 6-4. Wright, who was lifted later in the inning and received a rousing ovation from the 2,628 fans on hand, would get credit for his third straight win and pull into a tie for the league lead in victories with some help from Ryan Bukvich. The flame-throwing reliever allowed just one hit in two-and-a-third innings â Koonce's second home run of the game leading off the ninth â while walking one and striking out five to earn his first save.
Game 2 of the series is Wednesday at 7:05 p.m.: KC's top prospect, RH Zack Greinke (0-1, 3.38) makes his 5th start and just his 2nd at home vs. RH Steve Woodard (3-2, 4.66). The 1st 1,000 fans receive Omaha Royals Trucker Caps, courtesy of Coca-Cola. The pre-game show airs at 6:45 p.m. on Fox Sports Radio 1490.
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 12, 2004
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- Roy Corcoran placed on disabled list - Edmonton Trappers
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- Redbirds, Haren thrifty in 1-0 victory over Beavers - Portland Beavers
- Sidewinders hold on for 11-10 victory - Tucson Sidewinders
- Trappers come back to down Sky Sox, 5-3 - Edmonton Trappers
- Royals nip River Cats in series opener - Omaha Storm Chasers
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