APRIL 7, 2008

OMAHA, Neb. - Mike Maroth went four strong innings, giving up three earned runs on five hits as the Omaha Royals beat visiting Round Rock Express, 7-5, on Monday night in Omaha.

The game was Maroth’s first as a member of Kansas City’s Triple-A affiliate. The left hander faced 18 Round Rock batters, recording eight ground outs to just three fly outs, and striking out one. Of his 63 pitches, 37 of them were over the plate for strikes. Round Rock, the Astros Triple-A affiliate, featured a number of players with big league experience, including Reggie Abercrombie, J.R. House, and Lance Niekro. The game, played before 1,921 at chilly Rosenblatt Stadium, where the weather was recorded at 52 degrees at first pitch.

Maroth has spent most of the past six seasons with the Detroit Tigers, before being traded to St. Louis midway through last season. In 2007, Maroth became just the 3rd pitcher in Major League history to start games for both of the previous World Series participants, joining Joe Bush in 1926 (PIT/WASH) and Sal Maglie, who pitched for the New York Giants and the Cleveland Indians in 1955. Maroth pitched briefly last season for St. Louis’ Triple-A team in Memphis, going 1-0 in two games.