Royals Wrap up Successful Season Monday
Published on September 7, 2010 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
OMAHA, NE - The Omaha Royals wrapped up the 2010 season Monday with a 9-1 win at Oklahoma City, ending the club's most successful season on the field since 1999. At the turnstile, it was the best year for Omaha's Triple-A team since 2000.
The Royals drew 406,276 fans in 2010, their 42nd and final season at historic Rosenblatt Stadium. The total attendance and the team's average of 5,888 fans per home date were the team's best marks since the 2000 season. This season is the ninth time the team has hit the 400,000 plateau and it marks the 23rd consecutive year that the club has drawn more than 300,000 fans.
On the field, manager Mike Jirschele and his staff guided the club to an 81-63 record. The Royals won 25 of the final 35 games, keeping their Pacific Coast League playoff hopes alive until the final weekend of the season. Omaha wound up in third place in the American North division, only one game behind Iowa and Memphis. A three-way tie for first place between those teams would have sent the Royals to the playoffs - instead of the reigning PCL champion Redbirds - for the first time since 1999.
As it is, Omaha reached 80-plus wins for the first time since the '99 campaign and for only the fifth time in the franchise's 42-year history. While no Royals were named to the postseason 2010 All-PCL Team, Omaha right-hander Anthony Lerew easily won the league's ERA title, by posting a 2.55 ERA while going 9-4 in 22 games, including 19 starts. He became the first Omaha hurler to capture the ERA crown since 2004, when Royals lefty Les Walrond logged a 3.06 ERA. Meanwhile, right-hander Bryan Bullington (8-2, 2.82) was recently named by Kansas City as Omaha's Pitcher of the Year in 2010.
On the final day of the season Monday, Royals starter Matt Herges (9-4) took the mound for the 998th and final appearance of his 19-year professional career and pitched six innings of one-run ball. Relievers Josh Rupe, Brian Anderson and Tim Collins each tossed a shutout inning as Omaha's pitching staff overtook Oklahoma City for the best team ERA in the league: the Royals finished with a 4.01 ERA, while the RedHawks were second at 4.03. The Royals pitching staff also led the circuit in shutouts for the second straight year, posting 11 shutouts in 2010.
Kila Ka'aihue was tabbed last week by Kansas City as Omaha's 2010 Player of the Year. The first baseman/DH batted .319 with a team-leading 24 home runs and 78 RBI in 94 games for Omaha before being recalled by the parent club for a second time this season on August 1. Ka'aihue joined Alex Gordon as Omaha's representatives on the 2010 mid-season PCL All-Star team. Gordon, while making the conversion from third base to the outfield, hit .315 with 14 homers and 44 RBI in 68 games with the Royals before getting recalled by KC in late July.
Gordon was named the PCL Batter of the Week on May 16, while four different Omaha pitchers - Gaby Hernandez, Greg Holland, Philip Humber and Lerew - won the weekly pitching honor in the span of five weeks from July 18-August 15.
Third baseman Mike Moustakas was named last week as the top hitter in Kansas City's organization as the winner of the George Brett Hitter of the Year award. Moustakas opened the season with Northwest Arkansas, batting .347 with 21 home runs and 76 RBI in 66 games. The 21-year old top prospect did not seem fazed by Triple-A pitching after his promotion to Omaha, hitting .293 with 15 homers and 48 RBI in 52 contests.
Scott Thorman turned in his second straight solid season with Omaha, batting .280 while leading the team in doubles (31) and RBI (85) and finishing second in home runs (22). Utility player Ed Lucas had a breakout season, leading the team with a .307 average. Outfield prospect David Lough tied for the league lead with 12 triples and led the PCL with 19 sacrifice hits. Rupe led Omaha's bullpen with ten saves, while posting a 2.92 ERA. Collins, who turned 21 years old after his Triple-A debut, was dominant going 2-1 with a 1.33 ERA and four saves in 15 games.
Of the 56 players who appeared in an O-Royals uniform this season, 23 of them also played this year in the big leagues.
Pacific Coast League Stories from September 7, 2010
- Rainiers Ready for Another Trip to the Postseason - Tacoma Rainiers
- Redbirds Repeat as American Northern Division Champs - Memphis Redbirds
- Royals Wrap up Successful Season Monday - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Six L.V. 51s Receive September Call-Ups - Las Vegas Aviators
- Smith Named Topps Player of Month - Iowa Cubs
- Dubois Named Player of Week - Iowa Cubs
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
