Veterans Come Up Big

Watching Mark Redman at the beginning of games is difficult. For some reason, he has a hard time finding the strike zone in the first few innings, but if he can weather the storm, he does alright. Yesterday, in the second inning, he gave up a double to Tim Salmon with one out. Then he walked a guy on four straight pitches. And Robb Quinlan hit a three-run home run to give the Angels a 3-1 lead. After that, Redman settled in for a nice outing—going eight complete innings and giving up just the three runs. He only threw 101 pitches and in the process, he became the first Royals' pitcher this year to win three successive starts.

The score was tied 3-3 going into the eighth inning, but Reggie Sanders drew a two-out walk to put runners at the corners. Matt Stairs singled to center, scoring what would eventually become the winning run. Earlier in the inning, Mark Grudzielanek got down a sacrifice bunt. So, three veteran guys did what veterans are supposed to do. They played situational baseball and it led to a win.

Burgos gave us yet another scare in the ninth inning—allowing a single to Vlad to lead off the inning. Then, with one out, he threw a wild pitch (imagine that) that put a guy at second. Then he walked a guy. I don't know how Buddy Bell can stand watching this guy pitch. But he left him in and Darin Erstad grounded into a double play to end the game. Royals win 4-3.

Tonight, Mike Wood (3-2, 4.97) goes against John Lackey (4-4, 3.75).

Berroa Walk Watch (the quest for double digits): 4 walks in 60 games. (Who will have more walks by the end of the season—Berroa or Paul Bako, the back up catcher, who also has four walks in just 27 games?)