Royals Suffer Worst Loss of Season
Published on May 11, 2003 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
OMAHA â The Royals suffered their worst loss of the season at Rosenblatt Stadium on Sunday, as "the mother" of all home losing streaks continued. Omaha was routed 14-5 by the New Orleans Zephyrs to drop its tenth straight home game, falling to 4-13 at the âBlatt this season.
Royals starter Jimmy Osting, who has personified how well the Royals have done on the road and how poorly they have fared at home, had another miserable outing in Omaha. Osting (1-5) allowed nine runs on 12 hits â including three homers â over six innings to take the loss. The 26-year old lefty is now 0-4 in five starts at home and has a lofty 9.24 ERA in those starts, giving up 26 runs in 25-and-a-third innings. He's 1-0 with a 0.75 ERA in two starts on the road, where the Royals have compiled a 13-7 record.
On Sunday, New Orleans not only posted the largest victory margin for an Omaha opponent this season, but also collected season highs in runs and hits (17), while tying a season high in home runs (3) for a foe. Z's second baseman Tripp Cromer went 4-for-6 with four RBI and three runs scored. First baseman Royce Huffman had three hits, including a solo homer, two RBI and scored three times. And Eric Bruntlett added three more runs after reaching on two singles and a walk.
In all, Bruntlett, Huffman and Cromer â the top three men in New Orleans' batting order â went 9-for-15 with six RBI and nine runs scored. Alan Zinter and Jason Alfaro also homered for the Z's.
With the wind whipping out towards right field at 25-plus miles per hour for most of the game, four of the five home runs that the two clubs combined for wound up in the right field bleachers. Omaha third baseman Jed Hansen and DH Jarrod Patterson each went deep to right off Z's starter Jared Fernandez (4-2) in a three-run sixth inning that pulled the Royals to within four runs of New Orleans, at 9-5.
The Zephyrs countered with four runs in the eighth off Rick DeHart to put the game out of reach. Royals utility player Brian Harris wound up pitching the ninth, retiring three of four hitters, but allowing the final run on a sacrifice fly. Harris was the first position player to pitch for Omaha since Joe Espada mopped up in a 12-1 loss to Edmonton at Rosenblatt last August 15th.
The two clubs meet in a 4:05 p.m. doubleheader Monday. In game one, it's Z's LH Jeriome Robertson (1-0, 6.75) vs. Royals RH Shawn Sedlacek (0-5, 7.46). In game two, Z's RH Jonathan Johnson (2-3, 4.01) faces Royals LH Scott Mullen (2-1, 3.32).
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 11, 2003
- Trappers Sweep Twin Bill from First Place Portland - Edmonton Trappers
- Zephyrs Pound Royals, 14-5 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Kim Pitches Tucson to Win in Vegas - Tucson Sidewinders
- Home run, seventh inning does in Express - Round Rock Express
- Royals Suffer Worst Loss of Season - Omaha Storm Chasers
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