Brian Bannister Allows One Unearned Run in Six Innings

SURPRISE, AZ - Brian Bannister was effective Monday in his start for Triple-A Omaha, but the Royals were blanked 2-0 by the Portland Beavers in Surprise. Omaha's exhibition record fell to 5-5-1.

Bannister, who is 1-1 with a 5.54 ERA in four Cactus League starts for Kansas City, allowed just one unearned run on four hits over six innings, walking one and fanning four. He's expected to start either the third or fourth regular season game for the parent club, depending on how quickly Gil Meche rebounds from shoulder stiffness.

Omaha managed seven hits, but also bounced into a pair of double plays. Shortstop Juan Rivera collected a pair of singles and a walk in four trips to the plate.

On Tuesday, the Royals face the Oklahoma City RedHawks, the Rangers Triple-A affiliate, at the Spring Training complex shared by Kansas City and Texas in Surprise.

The Royals open their 2010 Pacific Coast League season at Rosenblatt Stadium on Thursday, April 8th at 7:05 p.m., hosting the Memphis Redbirds. For tickets, call (402) 738-5100, or print tickets online at www.oroyals.com.

ABOUT THE ROYALS: For the second year in a row, readers of Omaha Magazine voted the Omaha Royals as Best Omaha Sports Team in the magazine's 18th annual Best of Omaha Awards, published in its January/February 2010 edition. 371,046 fans attended Omaha Royals games in 2009, making the Royals the largest-drawing sports team or event in the metro area last year. The team's total attendance, as well as the average of 5,457 fans per game, marked its largest figures since the 2000 season. Omaha's Triple-A franchise has drawn over 300,000 fans a year to Rosenblatt Stadium for 22 consecutive seasons, dating back to 1988.