Omaha's Brooks hurls seven shutout innings

It was an early wakeup call and a short sleep for Aaron Brooks and the rest of the Storm Chasers, but Thursday night win should make a full night's rest even sweeter.

After a 4 a.m. flight home from Reno, the Kansas City right-hander Brooks shouldered the load for his teammates, allowing just two hits over seven shutout innings while striking out seven and walking one as Triple-A Omaha downed Colorado Springs, 7-2.

On the heels of his first complete game of the year five days ago in a win at Tacoma, Brooks (12-3) had little trouble with the Sky Sox early on, facing the minimum through his first four innings and not allowing a hit until Ben Paulsen's leadoff double in the fifth. He issued his only walk to Evan Frey with one out in the sixth before allowing Angelys Nina's two-out single in the seventh. Only one man reached second base against him.

"I definitely feel if I go out there and execute my pitches down in the zone, nine times out of 10, either I'm going to get them out or they're going to get themselves out," Brooks said. "As long as we go out there and pound the zone, throw strikes and keep it down, we give ourselves a good chance to have a good outcome."

The 24-year-old has proved to be versatile during the 2014 season. Brooks made two May appearances at the Major League level for the Royals, one of them in relief. He's also come out of the bullpen twice in his 23 appearances for the Storm Chasers and has started exclusively since July 13.

"[As a reliever] you're basically sitting there until the phone rings, and then you jump and have 'X' amount of pitches to get ready," he said. "With a start, you can come in two hours before the game and go over with your catcher and coaches what the lineup looks like and how we're going to attack these guys. I'm used to starting. It's a little easier for me to get into that routine of every five days vs. not knowing when you're going to throw in the bullpen. [Relieving] is a tool that I wouldn't be afraid to use, though."

With an emphasis of working down in the zone Thursday, Brooks recorded nine outs on the ground and just five in the air, throwing 67 of his 96 pitches for strikes. The San Bernardino, California native boasts a 1.86 ERA (six earned runs in 29 innings) while winning his last four starts, his longest such streak since five straight wins from May 7-June 5. On perhaps his best roll of the season, Brooks is mindful of the possibility that another call to Kansas City could await.
 
"I'd be very grateful for another opportunity [with the Royals] in September," he said. "I'm good for whatever they need me for -- out of the 'pen, starts. It's definitely a plus for me to have that tool as well to come out of the bullpen."

The Storm Chasers jumped out to a lead in a four-run third, paced after a three-run shot by Johnny Giavotella and a solo homer by Brett Hayes. In the eighth, Giavotella singled to open a three-run inning, finishing a triple away from the cycle while driving in a game-high three runs.

Colorado Springs' Yohan Flande (3-11) was charged with four runs on six hits. He struck out five and walked one.

No. 8 Rockies prospect Kyle Parker belted a two-run homer off Omaha reliever Blake Wood in the ninth.