Etherton Gets the Win

So, did you get as nervous as I did when Bell turned to Burgos to close the game in the ninth last night? Yeah, we were up 6-3, but as wild as Burgos has been, no lead is safe. He got Kendall to fly out. But then he fell behind Nick Swisher (not a good idea, just for the record) and Burgos really only has one pitch when he's behind—a rather flat fastball. Swisher didn't miss it. He hit a solo home run to bring the A's to within two runs. But after giving up a single Kotsay, he was able to wiggle off the hook by getting a double play ball, and the Royals won 6-4.

Seth Etherton made his first start for the Royals and he found a way to win—giving up 1 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, and 1 HR in 5 IP. He wasn't all that impressive en route to the victory though. He threw 100 pitches and he doesn't have much on his fastball. He also seems to love throwing his change up (which is really an old fashioned palm ball) and on more than one occasion he left it up in the zone. Thankfully he got away with a few. But any time one of our starters wins a game, it's reason to celebrate.

David DeJesus was in the line up last night for the first time since April 18. Aaron Guiel was sent back to Omaha to make room for DeJesus, who looked out of sorts at the plate, going 0-for-5. But having a guy in centerfield that you don't have to worry about defensively is a nice feeling. Hopefully his hamstring problems are behind him because we could really use him at the top of our lineup.

Emil Brown had three hits and an RBI. Grudzielanek picked up two more hits. Mientkiewicz and Costa had two hits as well. Blanco was 1-for-3 playing short and he did something that Berroa certainly wouldn't have done—he walked once.

The Royals send Denny Bautista (0-2, 4.55) against Brad Halsey (1-2, 3.60) tonight.