Perhaps this is what the Royals need to get moving in the right direction. Coming into Sunday afternoon’s game against the Colorado Sky Sox, Omaha was a loser in seven of their last eight games, that one win being a one run victory that staved off a four game sweep. The win was the most decisive victory since a May 2nd 8-0 game.
Omaha’s scoring started early, as Irving Falu lead off the game with a triple, and was knocked in thanks to a Tug Hulett ground out, but the game was broken wide open in the top of the second, thanks to Hulett coming through once again, this time with a grand slam, scoring Cory Aldridge, Tommy Murphy, and Falu.
The Royals carried am 8-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh, and it was only then that the Sky Sox mounted any sort of a challenge. After Christian Colonel walked, and Chris Frey reached on an error by Tommy Murphy, Edwin Bellorin chased Royals’ starting pitcher Lenny DiNardo with an RBI double. Roman Colon, relieved him, and couldn’t put out the fire, allowing three more runs to score before finally getting out of the inning.
With the score 8-5, I’m sure some wondered if the Royals’ pitching staff was once again going to steal defeat from the jaws of victory, but that wasn’t to be the case. Colon was able to regain his composure, and while he allowed base runners, was able to get the big out when it was needed.
The Omaha offense also did its part to make sure the win was never in doubt, continuing to batter Colorado Springs’ relief staff. Omaha scored two runs in the top of the eighth thanks in large part to a two out error by Sox left fielder Matt Miller, and put up one in the ninth, thanks to a three base error by Colorado Springs’ Mike McCoy.
Omaha scored at least one run in each of the final five innings.
Alan Johnson was the pitcher of record for the Sky Sox, and while it was his second straight rough outing, the Royals handed him his first loss of the season after a sparkling start to the season.
After a miserable start to the year, first baseman Kilakila Ka'aihue is making a case for a call up. Ka’aihue went 3-5 with a home run, a double, and two RBI. Over the last ten games, Ka’aihue is hitting .382 with four homers, 12 RBI, and 11 runs scored. He has also shown a fantastic eye at the plate, leading the PCL in walks this season.
The win puts the Royals back over .500 at 19-18. They sit two and a half games back of red hot Memphis, who have won seven of their last ten to surge into first in the PCL American North.
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