Royals Rally To Sweep RedBirds
June 13, 2004 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
Omaha, NEâ It was Military Appreciation Day on Sunday at Rosenblatt Stadium, and Royals manager Mike Jirschele's troops rallied for a 4-3, 10-inning victory in front of 10,133 fans, sweeping a rain-abbreviated three-game series from the Memphis Redbirds.
Trailing 3-0 entering the bottom of the eighth, a one-out RBI double by David DeJesus put the Royals on the scoreboard and chased Memphis starter Randy Flores. Right-hander Josh Pearce came on to strikeout Damian Jackson for the second out of the inning. However, Jed Hansen roped Pearce's first pitch for a run-scoring double to deep left, bringing Omaha within a run.
Veteran lefty Doug Creek was called upon to try to retire Calvin Pickering. The Royals designated hitter, who came into the contest with a .250 (14-56) average and six of his league-leading 23 home runs off southpaws, drilled Creek's 1-0 offering through the right side of the infield. Pickering's second single of the day scored Hansen with the tying run. Al Reyes retired Mendy Lopez on a fly out to left to send the game to the ninth knotted at 3-all.
Omaha had a chance to win in the ninth. Adrian Brown led off with a bloop single and was sacrificed to second. Alberto Castillo then accepted his third walk of the game to put runners at first and second with one out. Memphis lefty Jason Pearson replaced Reyes on the mound. After ripping a pitch just a couple feet foul down the right field line, Alexis Gomez was retired on a groundout handled nicely by Bo Hart for the second out. DeJesus walked to load the bases, but Jackson fouled out to first, leaving the bases full.
In the bottom of the tenth, Pearson (0-2) walked Hansen and Pickering to key the game-winning rally. Evan Rust, just up from Double-A, became the sixth pitcher used by Memphis. Lopez advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt and Brown was intentionally walked to load the bases. Rick Short smoked a grounder up the third base line that Scott Seabol knocked down. His throw home was late and off-target and Hansen scored the winning run to run the Royals winning streak to a season-high four games. The Royals have won a campaign-best three straight at home.
Five Omaha relievers each tossed a scoreless inning, with Justin Huisman (1-2) earning the win.
The 12th come-from-behind win this season for Omaha (28-35) improved its record to 3-2 in games decided in the last at-bat, 2-0 in extra innings, 7-15 in day games and 15-20 at home.
The Royals will not play again at home until Thursday, July 1. Omaha embarks on its annual 16-game College World Series road trip Monday, with a 7:00 p.m. game at Nashville: Royals RH Jason Dickson (1-1, 4.73) vs. Memphis RH John VanBenschoten (2-6, 4.83). The pre-game show airs at 6:40 p.m. on Fox Sports Radio 1490 and at www.Oroyals.com.
Pacific Coast League Stories from June 13, 2004
- Sounds Whip Isotopes To Close Road Trip - Nashville Sounds
- Royals Rally To Sweep RedBirds - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Johnson Tosses Gem As Trappers Beat 51s, 5-3 - Edmonton Trappers
- Sox Split Pair In New Orleans - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Bozied, Furmaniak power Beavers to 12-7 win over Grizzlies - Portland Beavers
- Back-To-Back Jacks for Tacoma Defeats Tucson - Tucson Sidewinders
- Dillon leads Topes to 4-3 win - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Trappers outlast 51s for another win - Edmonton Trappers
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