The Royals came into tonight’s game with a chance to gain some ground on the first place Chicago White Sox. The chance was blown as Kansas City pitching gave up 9 runs.

Zack Greinke had a 2.88 ERA on the season before the game but was unfortunatly hit hard tonight by what has been a struggling White Sox line up. Zack’s ERA was ballooned to 3.56 after the game. What really hurt Greinke was the long ball. He gave up three home runs tonight. Carlos Quentin was the first to go deep for his 15th of the season. Pierzynski and Ramirez also hit home runs tonight for the Sox.

It was a dissapointing game not just because of Greinke’s problems, but Tony Pena Jr. was back in a starting role at shortstop. TPJ did surprise though by actually getting on base which he does not do very often as you can tell by his .178 OBP. (It’s not to often that you see a player hitting under the mendoza line with his OBP.) Tony singled early in the game. He also kicked a double play ground ball into the outfield and literally threw his bat at a pitch 3 feet outside.

Shortstop Mike Aviles has played one game with three at-bats since being called up from AAA. Trey Hillman said he was not impressed, and Aviles has not gotten into a game since. While Hillman was so unimpressed with these at-bats that he sits for five games we must be patient with Tony Pena Jr. hitting .155 in 155 at-bats. I have not had many problems with the managing this year but what is going on at shortstop is absurd. Why not put Aviles in the line up and get some at-bats instead of turn our line up into a National League order by playing Tony Pena Jr.

Post info: By KCroyals on June 3rd, 2008
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The Royals were able to put together a good pitching performance and good run output into the same game for the first time in a while, easily defeating the Clevland Indians 6-1.

Former Royal Paul Byrd was hit pretty hard today, giving up two home runs. Jose Guillen hit his 7th of the season while Mark Grudzielanek hit his 1st of the season. Scott Elarton (who is also a former Royal) pitched in today’s game in relief for the Indians. Brian Bannister pitched a great game going into the 8th inning before giving up his first and only run of the game on a solo home run. Since I wrote about Tony Pena Jr. needing to have less of a role on the team he has not started the last two games (coming in late in eacgh game).

The Royals have won two strait going into tommorrow’s off day and played really well today. The team played a great game in all facets and won easily, they will hope to continue this play as they go on a road trip. Despite being in last place with a 23-34 record the Royals have played well against division opponents so far this season.

Post info: By KCroyals on June 1st, 2008
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It looked like an unlikely win going into tonight for Kansas City and starter Kyle Davies going against Cy Young winner C.C. Sabathia and the Clevland Indians. Davies making his first start of the season for Kansas City after being called up from Omaha. After struggling last year with the Royals, Davies has been dominant this year in the minors with a 6-2 record and an ERA of 2.05.

The game started out the way most of the season has gone for the Royals with good pitching but little run support. In the 3rd inning Clevland’s Franklin Gutierrez hit a ball to left field that Jose Guillen bobbled and then triped before throwing the ball in, allowing Gutierrez to go to 3rd on the play. Gutierrez then scored off of a blooper over shortstop Esteban German’s head as the infield was playing in.

In the bottom of the 3rd David Dejesus hit a mistake by Sabathia for a solo home run to right. Dejesus also provided an RBI double in the 5th and later came around to score.

With a 4-1 lead going into the 8th inning Trey Hillman brought in closer Joakim Soria to pitch the last 6 outs of the game. This move showed how desperate the Royals were to get out of the 12 game losing skid. After loading the bases it looked like the Royals could be in for another blown lead, but Soria was able to escape the big inning allowing only one run. Joakim Soria ended with the save in a final of 4-2.

The Royals are finally done with the losing streak and ready to start winning games again. Tommorrow they will face former Royal Paul Byrd. Pitching for the Royals will be Brian Bannister in what looks like a pretty good pitching matchup. Hopefully the Royals can get winning streak started and go into the much needed off day on a good note.

Post info: By KCroyals on May 31st, 2008
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The Royals have found another exciting way to lose a game in a 5-4 defeat against Cliff Lee and the Clevland Indians. While this one was not quiote as devastating as the 5 run blown lead on wednsday, it was a difficult way to end a game. What looked like atleast a game tying double for Jose Guillen with 2 out in the ninth inning, Grady Sizemore made a great catch while slamming into the outfield fence.

Sizemore found other ways to hurt the Royals hitting 2 home runs off of starter Gil Meche. After the first blast by Sizemore, Meche began to get things under control. That is until the power hitting centerfielder came up again in the 5th inning and crushed a two run home run over the right field fence into the fountains. Brett Tomko would come in for the 6th and give up another 2 run homer.

Meanwhile the Royal bats were able to put up 4 runs against the Indians Cliff Lee, who entered friday posting the leagues lowest ERA. With 13 hits in the game it would have been nice to see the Royals put more runs on the board, but they continue to show lack of power with none of these hits being home runs. Base running blunnders also hurt the Royals, as Joey Gathright scored the game tying run off of a hit by Esteban German. The problem being before Gathright scored David Dejesus had been tagged out for the third out after over running 2nd base.

The friday night lose continues the now 12 game losing streak for the Royals. While the team gives up another lead(this time only a 3 run lead.) the streak has become extremely hard to watch for Royals fans, bringing back memories of the 2005 19-game losing streak. From 2005 to the present there have been 7 losing streaks that have reached 11 games in the major leagues, the Royals hold 4 of those.

Post info: By KCroyals on May 31st, 2008
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The Kansas City Royals lost to the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night by the score of 5-0.  I think the Royals were still thinking about last nights game when they blew the lead and ended up losing in ten innings.  The Royals really need to move on and hopefully win some games this weekend.

Luke Hochevar threw 5 1/3 innings while giving up nine hits and all five runs to take the loss.  Hochevar did not have his best stuff and it really showed against the Twins who roughed him up.

Ron Mahay, Yasuhiko Yabuta, and Neal Musser all pitched out of the bullpen and all did a pretty good job even though they gave up hits.  The key for a relief pitcher is to not let runs score, and they did not allow a run to score so good job.

Alex Gordon had a rbi double in the ninth inning.  That was about the highlight of the game for Royals.

Royals Blog

Post info: By Royals04 on May 29th, 2008
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What a disappoint way to lose a game as the Kansas City Royals blew a five run lead in the ninth inning and then gave up a run in the tenth inning as they lost to the Minnesota Twins 9-8 on Wednesday night.

Joel Peralta gave up the game tying home run in the ninth inning to Craig Monroe and then gave up the game winning home run to Justin Morneau in the tenth inning as he took the loss for the Royals.

I suppose we can put some of that blame on Ramon Ramirez as well as he was accounted for four runs in the ninth inning. He was the one that got the Royals in the jam to begin with.  What a waste of a good start my Zack Greinke threw eight innings and only allowed five hits and three runs.

Miguel Olivo led the Royals with two rbi and then four other players had one rbi in the game.  David DeJesus, Joey Gathright, Alex Gordon, and Jose Guillen all had one rbi in the game.

Pretty much it was a tough loss for the Royals who pretty much had the game wrapped up.  Hopefully it doesn’t hurt them in the mental aspect of the game.  Royals Blog

Post info: By Royals04 on May 28th, 2008
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The Kansas City Royals lost to the Boston Red Sox by the score of 11-8 Thursday afternoon as they dropped all three games of their three game series.  The Royals have now lost four games in a row as they head into a weekend series with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Royals pitching staff gave up two grand slams in the game as they were rocked for eleven runs.  Starting pitcher Brian Bannister pitched 5 1/3 innings and gave up 12 hits and seven runs including a grand slam to J.D. Drew.  Jimmy Gobble was called into relieve Bannister and quickly gave up two hits including a grand slam to Mike Lowell.  Yasuhiko Yabuta and Leo Nunez were finally able to slow the Red Sox down as they pitched the seventh and eighth innings without allowing a run.

The Royals did pretty good at the plate a they scored eight runs.  Miguel Olivo hit a three run home run in the eighth inning and Jose Guillen also added a solo home run in the seventh inning.  Olivo finished the game with five rbi while Guillen had three rbi.

The Royals now have to go face The Toronto Blue Jays in a weekend series where they will try to break their four game losing streak on Friday night.  Royals Blog

Post info: By Royals04 on May 22nd, 2008
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The Kansas City Royals offense once again struggled but atleast they were not out hit lol.  The Royals lost to the Boston Red Sox by the score of 2-1 on Tuesday night as they were able to come up with five hits after being no hit on Monday night.

Gil Meche tossed seven innings and only gave up five hits and two runs against the great Red Sox offense.  Meche pitched pretty good but took home the loss which dropped his record to 3-6 on the season.  Ramon Ramirez pitched the eighth inning and did not allow a run.

The one run the Royals were able to come up with came in the seventh inning when John Buck singled in Mark TeahenAlex Gordon did got 3-3 and had a walk in the game as he is starting to swing the bat better.

The Royals will try to get a win against the Red Sox on Wednesday as they play the third game of a four game series.  Royals Blog

Post info: By Royals04 on May 20th, 2008
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Jon Lester pitched a no hitter against the Kansas City Royals on Monday night as the Boston Red Sox beat the Royals 7-0.  The Royals struck out nine times in the game and only had two walks.

Luke Hochevar took the loss for the Royals and is now 3-3 on the season.  The Red Sox put up a five spot in the third inning and then scored two more runs in the in the sixth inning.  Hochevar gave up all seven runs even though three of them were unearned.

What a way to start a series lol.  Hopefully tomorrow the Royals can atleast get one hit.  Royals Blog

Post info: By Royals04 on May 19th, 2008
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The Kansas City Royals won their fourth straight game as they beat the Detroit Tigers 8-4 and swept the Tigers in the three game series.  It is great to watch the Royals play such great baseball as they have won the last four games.

Gil Meche improved to 3-5 on the season as he picked up the win.  Meche pitched seven innings and have up six hits and three runs.  Joel Peralta pitched one inning and gave up one run while Ramon Ramirez pitched one inning and did not allow a run.

Jose Guillen led the Royals at the plate as he went 3-5 with three rbi and a solo home run.  Billy Butler wasn’t too far behind has he had two rbi.  Joey Gathright, Miguel Olivo, and Mark Teahen all had one rbi in the game.

Let’s see if the Royals can keep things up as they begin a interleague series with the Florida Marlins on Friday.

Want to let write for Royals Homeplate? We are currently looking for a writer to write game recaps and anythign else they wish to on the blog.  If that sounds interesting to you, please click the contact us link at the top of the blog to email us.  Hope to hear from you soon!  Royals Blog

Post info: By Royals04 on May 15th, 2008
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