Sweet's Club Sweeps Royals Again in Omaha
Published on May 1, 2003 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
OMAHA â It turns out the Portland Beavers were playing a turn-back-the-clock series, which wrapped up Thursday, at Rosenblatt Stadium. No retro uniforms were needed. Manager Rick Sweet's club, as it had done in August of 2001, completed a four-game sweep of the Omaha Royals here, winning 4-1 in the last regular season meeting between the two clubs in 2003.
Luke Steidlmayer, a 22-year old righthander in just his second professional season, joined Portland Thursday from Class-A Fort Wayne. Steidlmayer (1-0) wound up winning his Triple-A debut by working five solid innings out of the Beavers bullpen. The only run he allowed came on a solo home run by Royals first baseman Morgan Burkhart with two down in the seventh.
Omaha starter Shawn Sedlacek (0-4) lost his third consecutive start. The 26-year old righty out of Iowa State gave up four runs on ten hits over eight innings. Portland shortstop Jake Thrower collected three of the Beavers' eleven hits, including his first homer of the season â a two-run shot in the fifth, which snapped a scoreless tie. Kory DeHaan added a two-out RBI single to give Portland a 3-0 lead after four-and-a-half.
Brady Anderson led off the sixth inning by drilling a 3-2 pitch from Sedlacek into the right field corner and racing into third with his first triple of the season. After Sedlacek retired the next two batters, he uncorked a wild pitch to allow Anderson to cross the plate with Portland's fourth and final run.
Down 4-1 in the eighth, Brian Harris and Brent Abernathy each delivered their second singles of the game. Julius Matos then smoked a line drive towards left-center, but Portland left fielder Alex Fernandez made a sliding catch to end the threat.
Portland closer Courtney Duncan allowed a single and a walk in the ninth, but escaped the jam to earn his third save of the series. Duncan leads the Pacific Coast League with eleven saves.
Portland (19-9) finishes with a 9-3 record on its long road trip and is 14-6 on the road this season. Omaha (15-13) has lost five consecutive home games to fall to 4-8 at Rosenblatt. The Royals stay home Friday to open a four-game series vs. Oklahoma at 7:05 p.m. Royals righthander James Baldwin (0-0, 5.40) will try to play stopper. The RedHawks starter is TBA. Airtime is 6:45 p.m. on Fox Sports Radio 1490.
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 1, 2003
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- Astros Purchase Contract of Matranga - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Sidewinders Announce D.A.R.E./G.R.E.A.T. Day on May 7 - Tucson Sidewinders
- Sweet's Club Sweeps Royals Again in Omaha - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Alfaro Promoted from Round Rock - New Orleans Baby Cakes
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