Royals Pound Sounds, 9-3, in Series Opener
May 31, 2003 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
OMAHA â Despite a rash of recent call-ups to the big leagues, as well as injuries, the Omaha Royals closed out the month of May by winning their fourth straight game Saturday night at Rosenblatt Stadium. The Royals dumped the Nashville Sounds 9-3 before 4,367 in the opener of a four-game series and eight-contest home stand.
The Royals took a 3-0 lead in the first. A wild pitch by Nashville starter Ryan Vogelsong (6-4) scored Brian Harris with the first run. With two outs and a runner on base, Jarrod Patterson had the green light on 3-and-0 and belted a fast ball from Vogelsong over the wall in right-center field to make it 3-0. It was Patterson's ninth home run of the season and sixth in May, giving him a team-high 46 RBI. Patterson has knocked in 13 runs over his last seven games.
The Royals led 4-3 going to the bottom of the fourth, when they sent ten batters to the plate. After two were out, Omaha scored four times to open up a five-run lead and chase Vogelsong. Julius Matos, who had hit a solo homer in the third, had an RBI single in the fourth. Mike Kelly added a two-run double and, after Patterson was walked intentionally to load the bases, Vogelsong unintentionally walked Benny Agbayani to force in the final run of the rally.
Morgan Burkhart capped the scoring with one away in the sixth when he scorched a high line drive just inside the right field foul pole on the first pitch he saw from Duaner Sanchez. It was Burkhart's ninth homer of the season and seventh in May, which was the most in the month for a Royals batter.
Royals starter James Baldwin (3-2) worked eight innings and gave up ten hits, including solo shots to Mike Gulan and J.J. Davis. Baldwin worked out of several jams, setting the tone in the second inning when his throwing error on a potential double play grounder put runners at second and third with no outs and Omaha leading 3-1. Baldwin struck out Dave Doster and retired Aaron Holbert and Brad King on grounders to Patterson at third. On the night, eleven Sounds were stranded on base.
Game 2 of the series is Sunday at 1:35 p.m.: RH Nelson Figueroa (5-2, 3.58) starts for Nashville. Kansas City's Runelvys Hernandez (0-0, 0.00) will make a rehab assignment start for Omaha. Air time is 1:15 p.m. on Fox Sports Radio 1490 and at www.Oroyals.com.
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 31, 2003
- Another Thriller at Telus Field - Edmonton Trappers
- Cubs Edge Zephyrs, 2-1 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Royals Pound Sounds, 9-3, in Series Opener - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Trappers Beat Zephyrs, 8-2 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Z's go 4-4 on road trip and begin four game home stand against Iowa on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Sledge Hammers Zephyrs - Edmonton Trappers
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