PCL Championship Series pitching matchups

Game 1 Sept. 13 vs. Sac 7:05p RHP Mendoza (12-5, 2.18) vs. RHP Godfrey (14-3. 2.68)
Game 2 Sept. 14 vs. Sac. 7:05p RHP Mazzaro (7-2, 4.29) vs. RHP Ross (3-2, 7.61)
Game 3 Sept. 16 @ Sac. 9:05p LHP Montgomery (5-11, 5.32) RHP Banwart (9-9, 4.63)

If necessary:
Game 4 Sept. 17 @ Sac. 9:05p RHP O’Sullivan (8-2, 4.22) vs. TBD
Game 5 Sept. 18 @ Sac. 3:05p RHP Suppan (11-8, 4.78) vs. TBD

Interview with Luis Mendoza

Yesterday, I interviewed Luis Mendoza at Werner Park after the team worked out from 2:00-3:30 pm in preparation for the PCL Championship Series that begins tonight. Mendoza has had an incredible season (12-5, 2.18 ERA) and we spoke about his confidence level, what lead to his success and the possibility of him getting back to the big leagues.

Here are a few of his accomplishments this season:

• Named the PCL Pitcher of the Year
• Named to the All-PCL team
• Represented Omaha in the PCL All-Star game
• Won the PCL ERA crown. His 2.18 ERA was the 2nd-lowest in the league since 1990.
• He won Game 1 of the PCL American Conference Championship Series
• Since May 26, he is 10-0 on the road with a 1.08 ERA in 11 appearances
• Tossed a one-hitter at Memphis on July 18

I apologize for the sound quality. The wind was brutal.

Listen to the Royalman Report

The latest podcast episode of The Royalman Report has been released. Greg Schaum and Clint Scoles from The Pinetar Press discuss their 2011 minor league awards and you'll also hear interviews provided by Omaha Baseball 360 of Mike Jirschele, Sean O'Sullivan and Kila Ka'aihue. Definitely worth a listen if you are a die-hard Royals fan who wants to know what is going on in the minor leagues. You can listen to the episode below:



Or you can download it here and listen to it later.

Mark Nasser celebrates with the Storm Chasers

Omaha Storm Chasers' radio broadcaster Mark Nasser celebrates with the team after they clinched the PCL American Conference Championship on September 10, 2011. Nasser was having a little fun, as if he were in a dance off against pitcher Sean O'Sullivan, who did a Michael Jackson dance impersonation earlier.

Jeff Suppan's reaction at the 27 second mark is priceless.

Omaha wins the PCL American Conference Championship

The Storm Chasers pose for a celebratory picture
(Photo: Lee Warren)

Omaha, Neb. – Kila Ka’aihue’s two-run walkoff home run in the bottom of the tenth inning Saturday gave the Omaha Storm Chasers the Pacific Coast League American Conference Championship and while it wasn’t the shot heard around the world, if you were anywhere near Werner Park, you certainly heard the celebration.

Ka’iahue’s blast off Round Rock reliever Tanner Scheppers hit the right field foul pole, giving the Chasers a 4-2 win and a place in the PCL Championship Series, set to begin at Werner Park on Tuesday night.

“He’s got a good fastball,” Ka’aihue said after the game. “That’s all I was looking for. I was fortunate enough – I saw it the at bat before and I had a better swing this time ... If he’s going to get beat, I’m sure he can live with getting beat with his best pitch. And if he beats me with another pitch, he beats me with another pitch. He’s bringing his best pitch – this time I got him, the last time he got me.”

Ka'aihue blast gives Omaha the PCL American Conference Championship

Kila Ka'aihue hit a walkoff home run Saturday against Round Rock reliever Tanner Scheppers in the bottom of the 10th inning to clinch the PCL American Conference Championship for Omaha. They advance to the PCL Championship Series that begins on Tuesday night at Werner Park.

There are many videos and photos to come from the game, but here's the video of Ka'aihue's home run and the celebration on the field.

Chasers drop a heartbreaker in extra innings

Omaha, Neb. – Omaha had everything going its way Friday night – an engaged crowd creating an incredible playoff atmosphere, a 2-0 lead in the PCL American Conference Championship Series against Round Rock and a return home to Werner Park, but in the end they lost a 9-8 heartbreaker in eleven innings after the Storm Chasers committed two errors in the top of the 11th inning, allowing the Express to score three times.

With two outs in the Express half of the 11th inning, Brad Nelson hit a slow roller that somehow squirted through the legs of Joaquin Arias at first base, putting runners at the corners against Zach Miner. Chad Tracy took full advantage of the miscue and ripped a single to center field, giving the Express a 7-6 lead. Joey Butler, who is 8-for-11 (.727) in the series, followed with another single that Jarrod Dyson booted, allowing Nelson and Tracy to score to extend Round Rock’s lead to 9-6.

The Chasers scored two runs in the bottom of the eleventh, but it wasn’t quite enough. It was their second comeback attempt of the evening.

Omaha win puts them one win away from championship series

Manny Pina was 2-for-3 with 4 RBIs
(File photo: Lee Warren)

Round Rock, Tex. – Vin Mazzaro, Manny Pina and the Omaha Storm Chasers pulled out a hard-fought 7-2 victory over the Round Rock Express Thursday night, taking a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

The Chasers will return home to Werner Park Friday, needing just one victory to advance to the Pacific Coast League Championship Series.

Just as they did in their Game 1 shutout, Omaha grabbed an early 3-0 lead.

In the top of the second, Kila Ka’aihue’s leadoff single was followed by a bunt base hit by Irving Falu and an infield single by Joaquin Arias, loading the bases with nobody out. Pina coaxed an eight-pitch walk to put the Chasers on the board, and Kurt Mertins and Jarrod Dyson followed with a sacrifice fly and a run-scoring sacrifice bunt, respectively, making it 3-0.

Mendoza and Robinson lead Omaha to Game 1 win

Clint Robinson blasted a two-run home run in the first inning
(File photo: Minda Haas / Royal Blues)

Round Rock, Tex. – Luis Mendoza and Kelvin Herrera combined on a five-hit shutout, leading the Omaha Storm Chasers to a 4-0 Game 1 victory, in the best-of-five series, over the Round Rock Express at The Dell Diamond Wednesday night.

Mendoza, the PCL Pitcher of the Year, held the Express to five hits and two walks in seven shutout innings, striking out four batters. He improved his road record to 11-1 with a 1.91 ERA between the regular and postseason away from Werner Park, including 10-0 in his last 11 appearances. Mendoza (1-0) handed the game off to Royals’ Paul Splittorff Minor League Pitcher of the Year Kelvin Herrera, who needed just 22 pitches to toss two perfect innings with four strikeouts.

The Chasers got off to a quick start in the top of the first inning, scoring three runs just four batters into the game against Round Rock starting and losing pitcher Eric Hurley (0-1).