Royals Avoid Sweep...

Series Analysis

Kansas City @ Detroit

Monday April 16 KC 5-12 DET

Tuesday April 17 KC 6-7 DET

Wednesday April 18 KC 4-3 DET

On Wednesday afternoon the Royals finally broke the 6 game losing streak and picked up their 2nd road win of the year. Overall the Detroit series was a disappointment, but the Royals at least came away with a win. This series had it all: A blowout, a blown save and a come from behind win.

The Royals are still struggling mightily at the plate, batting a paltry .228 and they are even batting worse with runners in scoring position, .224. Also the strikeout numbers are getting worse. The Royals lead the league in K's with 131.

Zack Greinke earned his first loss of the season Monday night. Greinke didn't even make it out of the first inning( 2/3 IP 4ER 1K 3BB). It was by far his worst outing of the season. He struggled with his command and ended up surrendering a Grand Slam homerun to Pudge Rodriguez. The rest of the game was just as bad, but hey the Royals got 5 runs.

Now for the hearbreaker and Tuesday's game was it(still have one bad loss each series). By the end of the 5th inning the Royals were already down 4 runs and the game seemed over. The came the 4 run outburst from the Royals in the top of the 6th inning. Then the inevitable happened...the bullpen. After the Royals take the lead in the 6th the bullpen, Peralta and Riske, each give up one run in consecutive innings to blow the game for the boys in blue. David Dejesus really carried the team in this game(4/5 3R 2RBI).

Gil Meche is looking like an ace. He pitched a stellar game on Wednesday afternoon(8 IP 0 ER 6K), but still didn't get the win. He did what an ace is supposed to do. He kept the team in the game and hell the Royals even ended up winning. Down 2 runs going into the 9th inning, an RBI double from Teahen and a sure fire double play ball that a hustling Ross Gload beatout scoring Teahen tieing the game. Then another miracle, the bullpen held the game! The bullpen held the game! Joakim Soria came in and didn't allow a single run, getting the Royals to the 10th and allowing John Buck to put the Royals on top for good with a lead off homerun over the left field wall.

To Royals ended the road trip with a solid win and can hopefully carry this momentum into the next series

Other Notes

- David DeJesus is my favorite Royal and is off to a great start .339 4 doubles 3HR 7RBI

- Joakim Soria picked up his first major league win on Wed.

- John Buck hit his 3rd homerun of the series. The first game winner of his career.

- Gil Meche's season stats 1-1 2.22ERA 21K 7BB

- Alex Gordon in starting to get comfortable at the plate hitting 2 doubles this series.

- The bullpen blew another series, this one came courtesy of Joel Peralta

- Mike Sweeney is also starting to hit getting 2 hits and an RBI on Wed.

- David Riske is becoming a risky option out of the bullpen getting his 2nd loss out of the bullpen

Royals Fact: Before Wednesday's game the Royals’ bullpen had allowed runs in nine straight games: 26 earned runs in 33 2/3 innings

-b

Royals 2007 Record: 4-11