Royals & Rangers Tie

The Royals and Rangers tied 5-5 yesterday in the first official game for both teams this spring. The Royals got down early 5-0 (when the starters were still playing) and after scoring once in the sixth, they rallied for four runs in the eighth and ninth innings. After neither team scored in the tenth or eleventh, the managers agreed to call the game a tie.

Mark Redman started for the Royals. He got five of the seven hitters out that he faced, but he gave up a home run to Phil Nevin in the process. Jeremy Affeldt walked two guys in relief and gave up two hits and one earned run in an inning of work—not a great start for Jeremy. Joel Peralta, who came over from the Dodgers organization, pitched two perfect out of the pen.

Alex Gordon actually played like he deserved his huge contract—going 1-for-3 with 2 RBI. He also made a great backhanded defensive play in the tenth inning. And recently added utility man Benji Gill went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI and was instrumental in the rally to tie the game. I was most impressed though by Chip Ambres who was 1-for-1 with 3 BB. When was the last time a Royals player took three walks in a game? The Royals actually drew 8 BB for the game—so who knows, maybe Bell and Andre David are getting through to these guys early about the importance of getting on base any way possible.

Mark Grudzielanek, the Royals long-needed solid second baseman, made two fielding errors. Let's hope that he's just a little rusty.

The Royals get another crack at the Rangers at 2:05 pm this afternoon.