PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Shaky Fielding, Relief Work Costs Omaha

Published on June 2, 2003 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


OMAHA – The Omaha Royals bullpen gave up four runs – although only one was earned – over the final two innings on Monday night, as the Nashville Sounds rallied for a 6-4 win at chilly Rosenblatt Stadium.

Jeremy Hill (0-2) allowed two runs in the eighth, both scored as unearned when John Barnes' sharp grounder up the middle was bobbled by Royals second baseman Brian Harris leading off the inning. The Sounds loaded the bases by the time there was one out in the eighth on a single by Mike Gulan and a walk to Tony Alvarez. Dave Doster then lined a shot towards right field. Jed Hansen took a step in, before racing back to make a diving catch – Doster's sacrifice fly scored Barnes with the tying run. Shawn Gilbert, who came into the contest hitting .114, ripped an RBI double down the left field line to put Nashville ahead 4-3.

Ryan Bukvich was wild in relief in the ninth to help hike Nashville's lead to 6-3. The big righthander walked Matt Stairs to lead off the inning and, after Barnes singled to the hole at short, Bukvich uncorked a wild pitch, moving pinch-runner Tomas de la Rosa to third and Barnes to second. Mike Gulan's sacrifice fly to deep center scored de la Rosa and sent Barnes to third. Carlos Rivera followed with a grounder to Royals first baseman Morgan Burkhart. He threw home in an attempt to retire Barnes, who headed back towards third. However, catcher Fernando Lunar made a wild throw to third, allowing Barnes to score.

Burkhart slammed his club-leading tenth home run of the season off Mike Holtz leading off the bottom of the ninth to cut Nashville's lead to 6-4. Mark Corey came on and retired three of the four batters he faced, notching his 15th save, second most in the PCL. Corey did surrender a one-out single to Patterson, whose two-run homer in the seventh inning off Pat Mahomes (5-1) had put the Royals on top 3-2. Corey bounced back to retire Benny Agbayani on a liner to second and then caught Hansen looking at a called third strike, as the Royals right fielder finished the "golden sombrero" with his fourth strikeout of the night.

Both starters were impressive: Ryan Baerlocher left after seven innings with a chance for his third straight win since coming up from Wichita. Nashville's Matt Guerrier remains 0-4, despite retiring the first 13 Royals he faced. He allowed two runs in six innings.

The series finale is Tuesday at 12:05: RH John Wasdin (5-2, 4.05) vs. RH Mike Fyhrie (1-0, 1.29). Air time is 11:45 a.m. on Fox Sports Radio 1490 and at www.Oroyals.com.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 2, 2003


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