PCL: Royals earn another shutout

Story line: Lenny DiNardo worked the first seven innings and Carlos Rosa pitched the final two as Omaha won 2-0. The Royals’ pitching staff produced its 10th shutout of the season — the most for any O-Royals team since 1996. One-third of the Royals’ 30 wins have come on shutouts.

Star of the game: DiNardo (5-3) allowed five singles and a walk while striking out seven to win for the first time since May 29. The left-hander escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the seventh with an inning-ending double play, then turned it over to Rosa. DiNardo’s ERA, now at 3.46, ranks ninth in the Pacific Coast League.

Davies honor: Omaha pitcher Kyle Davies, optioned from Kansas City last week, was named the Pacific Coast League pitcher of the week after pitching eight three-hit shutout innings with eight strikeouts Thursday at Memphis. Davies makes his second Omaha start of the season today at 12:05.

Noteworthy: Outfielder Cory Aldridge hasn’t played this series with a hamstring strain, suffered Friday on the final night of the College World Series road trip. ... John Buck, the Kansas City catcher on an injury rehabilitation assignment, drove in a first-inning run with a single and is batting .200 (3 for 15). ... Tim Raines, Jr., drove in a run with a seventh-inning single and is now 5 for 11 in the series, bumping his average to .173. ... Omaha’s bullpen has produced eight straight scoreless innings in the series.

Up next: The series concludes today at 12:05. Albuquerque LH Scott Elbert (1-0, 0.00 ERA) faces Omaha RH Kyle Davies (1-0, 0.00).