Royals Take the Series

Game Date: July 5, 2006
Game Score: Royals 6, Twins 3 / Box Score
WP: Affeldt (4), LP: Crain (5), SV: Burgos (14)
Royal Home Runs: None
Royals Record: 29-54

Somebody forgot to tell the Royals that the Twins were supposed to leave Kansas City with their winning streak in tact. Or maybe somebody did tell them and it gave the Royals more motivation. With the win last night, the Royals won their five series out of their last six, and they’ve won 11 of their last 16 games.

Early in the season, Doug Mientkiewicz talked about how giddy the Royals were after they won a game (which didn’t happen often) and how their mentality was completely wrong. He said that they should be expected to win series at home, and that the giddiness needed to stop. I don’t know if the players took him up on his challenge, but for the first time in a long time, they are winning a lot of series in a row, and they don’t seem to be getting too high or low after individual wins and loses.

In the rubber game of the Twins series last night, the Royals did a lot of things right. Reggie Sanders hit a sacrifice in the third inning to score Grudzielanek. David DeJesus hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning to score Angel Berroa. In several other instances, the Royals made productive outs. And when the Twins made mistakes—like the passed ball in the seventh inning, in which the Royals scored the go-ahead run, followed by a two-run double by John Buck—the Royals took advantage. That’s how teams win.

Brandon Duckworth pitched well enough (3 ER in 6.0 IP) to keep the Royals in the game. He left with the game tied 3-3. The combination of Wellemeyer, Affeldt, Dessens, and Burgos held the Twins scoreless the rest of the way.

Tonight, the Royals begin a four game series with Toronto. The Blue Jays are playing good baseball right now, winning 6 of their last 10, and they are still in contention in the East. But they are just 18-20 on the road. The Royals send Mark Redman (5-4, 5.59) against Ty Taubenheim (1-4, 3.98). Redman is 3-0 lifetime against the Jays with a 2.08 ERA.

Berroa Walk Watch (the quest for double digits): 8 walks in 77 games—Berroa drew an IBB last night.