Wood subdues Omaha Bats; Outduels Dawley
May 14, 2004 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
OMAHA â Sacramento starter Mike Wood was perfect through six innings and carried a no-hitter into the eighth, before needing some relief help Friday night as the River Cats blanked the Omaha Royals 2-0 before 4,396 fans at Rosenblatt Stadium.
The performance by Wood, as he flirted with becoming just the third pitcher in Pacific Coast League history to toss a nine-inning perfect game, overshadowed another strong spot start by Royals right-hander Joe Dawley.
Sacramento scored just two runs off Dawley (1-2), who had turned in six scoreless innings in his previous outing last Sunday at Albuquerque. On Friday, the River Cats made Dawley pay for losing his command in the third inning. Adam Morrissey and Mike Rouse coaxed walks and Mike Edwards was hit by a pitch to load the bases and, with two away, Graham Koonce came through with a two-run single up the middle.
Koonce's hit was one of only two allowed by Dawley in seven innings. The 32-year old right-hander, starting in place of Brad Voyles who has a sore elbow, walked three but also fanned eight batters â a season high for an Omaha pitcher.
But, back to Wood. The 24-year old Oakland A's prospect lost his perfect game when he walked David DeJesus to lead off the seventh. He then retired the next four Omaha batters, before Paul Phillips broke up the no-hitter. With one out in the eighth â and behind in the count 1-and-2 â Phillips looped a single into center field. Rick Short followed with a single through the right side of the infield, putting the tying run on base. However, Wood notched his tenth strikeout when he caught Alexis Gomez taking a called third strike on a 3-2 offering. Lou Pote came out of the Sacramento bullpen and fanned Gookie Dawkins, who took a 1-2 curve ball for strike three.
The Royals picked up one more hit with one out in the ninth, as Wilton Guerrero singled off Mario Ramos. The lefty reliever retired Jarrod Patterson on a fly out to center, before River Cats closer Justin Lehr came on to strike out Byron Gettis, who went down swinging for the third time in the game. Lehr notched his sixth save of the season and his second of the series, which Sacramento (20-16) won three-games-to-one.
Omaha (15-21), which falls to 7-13 this season at Rosenblatt Stadium, stays home to open a four-game series with the Fresno Grizzlies on Saturday. It will be Fresno RH Chris Begg (0-2, 6.91) vs. Royals RH Kris Wilson (2-4, 8.29) with a 6:05 p.m. first pitch. The pre-game show airs at 5:45 p.m. on Fox Sports Radio 1490 and at www.Oroyals.com. Gates open at 4:00 p.m. and the 1st 1,500 fans receive Zack Greinke mouse pads. It's also Faith and Family Night, with a post-game concert by "Go Fish", presented by Hy-Vee, Roberts Dairy and KGBI 100.7 FM The Bridge.
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 14, 2004
- Ansman Blasts Tucson Past Oklahoma - Tucson Sidewinders
- Memphis miscues open door for Beavers win in ninth - Portland Beavers
- Wood subdues Omaha Bats; Outduels Dawley - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Sounds, Rainiers Rained Out - Nashville Sounds
- Trappers split doubleheader with Sky Sox - Edmonton Trappers
- Allen's Grand Slam Knocks Out Tucson - Tucson Sidewinders
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