Losing Streak Reaches Seven

As the consecutive loses pile up, it would be easy for the team to give up. I've certainly seen signs of some guys who do not appear to be giving it their all, but five of the seven games that the Royals have lost during this streak have been by one run. That's not the sign of a team who is giving up. It's the sign of a team who can't take advantage of mistakes and opportunities granted by opponents. And it's a sign of a team who can't get the big hit when they need it.

In the game against the Twins yesterdays, the Royals were down 4-1 going in to the sixth inning. When Gotay's two-run shot in the sixth brought the game even at four, you had to feel for the players. Here was a team who had lost six games in a row, almost all of them by a 1-run margin, and this one looked like it might get out of hand early, but they fought back…and then fell short.

Brian Anderson walked Michael Cuddyer to start the seventh and you just had a feeling that he would score. Nick Punto singled and Pena brought Shawn Camp into the game. His first pitch hit Shannon Stewart to load the bases and then Camp buried a pitch allowing Cuddyer to score from third. Camp got a pitch up to Jason Bartlett and Bartlett hit the ball to right field where Terrence Long made a great diving effort, but couldn't come up it—a bases clearing triple and this one was history.

One base on balls, one hit batter, and one buried pitch set the stage for a loss and the Twins were happy to act the part of winners.

This afternoon, we've got Runelvys Hernandez (1-2, 4.62) going against Kyle Lohse (1-2, 6.62). Let's hope we can at least win one on getaway day. The Royals go to Cleveland to open a new series against the Tribe on Friday.