NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Omaha Storm Chasers

Royals Game Notes

July 30, 2007 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


JULY 30, 2007, 1:35 p.m.: OMAHA ROYALS (53-56) @ Colorado Springs Sky Sox (56-52)

HOME: 33-18 (31-41 in '06) AWAY: 20-38 (22-50 in '06) vs. Colorado Springs: 1-1 (1-3 in '06)

TODAY: The Royals visit Security Service Field for a 1:35 p.m. game with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. It's game 3 of a 4-game series, which is tied 1-1. Omaha is 4-2 on the road trip. Air-time is 1:15 p.m. on News Talk 1420 KOTK and at www.Oroyals.com.

SUNDAY: Ben Hendrickson and Roberto Giron combined on a 4-hitter as the Royals shut out the Sky Sox 9-0. Hendrickson (9-5) gave up the 4 hits in 7.0 innings, walking 3 and fanning 2. Giron struck out 4, allowing just 1 walk over the final 2.0 frames. Justin Huber had 2 hits - including his 9th home run - driving in a pair of runs and scoring twice. Shane Costa went 4-for-5 with a double and scored a run. Colorado Springs starter Kevin Walker (4-4) gave up 6 runs - only 3 earned - on 9 hits over 4.0 innings to take the loss.

ROYALS REPORT: Sunday's shutout was the Royals' 1st in Colorado Springs since Omaha became a member of the Pacific Coast League in 1998. It was the 5th shutout for the Royals' staff this season, against 2 shutout losses. Yesterday's margin of victory matched the largest of the campaign, as the Royals also posted a 9-0 win on June 28 vs. New Orleans. *** Hendrickson has allowed 1 earned run in 12.0 innings over his last 2 games, dropping his ERA from 6.17 to 5.49. *** Over his last 9 outings, Giron owns a 0.83 ERA, having allowed 2 earned runs in 21.2 innings, sending his ERA from 6.00 to 4.24. *** Huber's round-tripper Sunday was his 1st since June 10th, a span of 11 games. Huber has hit in 4 straight contests, going 8-for-17 (.471) with 5 RBI. *** Costa's 4-hit game yesterday equaled his season high. In the past 15 games, he's batting .397 (25-63) and has scored 14 runs. Costa only played Sunday after Craig Brazell was a late scratch due to illness. *** Mike Aviles drove home 2 more runs Sunday, giving him 15 RBI in the last 12 games. During that stretch, he's hitting at a .380 clip (19-50) with 5 doubles, 2 triples and 5 home runs. *** In 9 contests since being sent down by KC, Joey Gathright is hitting .424 (14-33), scoring 11 runs and knocking in 4. He also collected his 25th stolen base yesterday, 4th-most in the PCL. *** Richard Lewis posted his 1st 3-hit game for Omaha on Sunday. Lewis, who had one 3-hit effort for Wichita earlier this season, came into yesterday's tilt in a 2-for-20 slump. *** The Royals banged out 16 hits yesterday, 1 shy of their season high. Every Royal had a hit except for Ryan Shealy, who's 0-for-8 in this series after beginning his current rehab assignment with a 7-game hitting streak. *** Oddly on Sunday no Omaha batters struck out, while only 1 (Gathright) coaxed a walk. *** Derek Wathan has hit in 3 straight games, going 5-for-12 with 2 RBI and 3 runs scored. *** Leo Nunez fired 6.0 scoreless innings for his 1st Major League win in nearly 2 years as KC shutout Texas 10-0 Sunday at Kauffman Stadium. Nunez allowed 3 hits and a walk, striking out 1, in his 2nd big league start, lowering his ERA to 0.90. *** To make room for Nunez, KC designated Jason Shiell for assignment. The veteran right-hander did not make an appearance for the parent club since his contract was purchased from Omaha last Thursday. *** A win today assures Omaha of its' 2nd winning month this season. The Royals, who went 16-13 in May, are 14-12 so far in July, with 2 games remaining.

STARTERS: LH Nate Hoelscher (3-1, 4.84) vs. RH Jorge DePaula (8-5, 5.98)

Hoelscher makes his 3rd start and 27th appearance of the season. The 27-year old lefty's last action was last Friday in a relief outing at Salt Lake; he was not involved in the decision in the Royals' 13-7 defeat (1.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 1 BB, 0 K). Over his last 3 appearances, Hoelscher has surrendered 11 earned runs in 4.2 innings for a 21.22 ERA. The rough stretch has seen his ERA rise from 3.40 to 4.84. Hoelscher made 2 spot starts last month - at Nashville on June 17 and at Oklahoma on June 24 - going 0-1 with a 3.68 ERA. In the month of June, he was 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA and 1 save in 7 games. So far in July, he's 1-0, despite having a 9.82 ERA. Hoelscher is 2-0 with a 5.27 ERA at home, while going 1-1 with a 4.45 ERA and 1 save on the road. This is Hoelscher's 6th professional season, since being signed by KC as a non-drafted free agent in July 2002 out of St. Cloud State University. He spent each of the past 2 seasons with Double-A Wichita, going 0-5 with a 5.40 ERA and 3 saves in 44 games last season.

PROBABLES FOR REMAINDER OF SERIES:

Tue., 8:05: RH Luke Hochevar (1-1, 3.94) vs. RH Bobby Keppel (6-7, 6.30)

Check out the Omaha Storm Chasers Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Pacific Coast League message board...

Pacific Coast League Stories from July 30, 2007


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.

Other Recent Omaha Storm Chasers Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central