Hudson & Teahen & Shealy, Oh My

Game Date: August 2, 2006
Game Score: Royals 7, White Sox 3 / Box Score
WP: Hudson (4-3), LP: Garcia (10-7)
Royal Home Runs: Teahen (13)
Royals Record: 38-69

Five solid starts in a row from Luke Hudson have me wondering if this guy might be more than just a stopgap measure in a revolving rotation. Since becoming a starter, he’s 3-0 with a 3.52 ERA and all of his starts, except for one, have been quality starts—and in the one exception, he only gave up one run in five innings. Last night he pitched seven strong innings against the White Sox and put the Royals in a position to win just before the rain started to fall.

When the rain did come, it didn’t mess around. The downpour forced a 1 hour and 46 minute rain delay, but when you win, it doesn’t matter.

In addition to Hudson’s performance, Royals’ fans had much to be happy about. Gobble, Peralta, and Nelson didn’t give up any runs in relief. Mark Teahen continued his red hot streak, going 3-for-5 with 3 RBI and a towering home run in the fifth inning that hit the right field foul pole. (Freddy Garcia tried to go inside on Mark and that just isn’t going to work right now.) David DeJesus was 2-for-5 with an RBI. Grudzielanek was 2-for-5. And Ryan Shealy was 3-for-3 with an RBI and a walk.

One player that I’m not real impressed with right now is Joey Gathright. He’s hitting .208 since coming to Kansas City and he doesn’t seem to be getting any better. He’s taken quite a few walks (14 in 31 games), so he does have an OBP of .322 with the Royals. But his speed was his selling point and he’s been thrown out while attempting to steal more often than he’s been successful (3 SB in 7 attempts). And I really haven’t seen him make any plays in centerfield that David DeJesus wouldn’t have made. But if you look at J.P. Howell’s performance the other night with Tampa Bay (3.2 IP, 6 ER, 9 H) and at his numbers over his 16 career starts (3-6 with a 6.60 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP), I guess the trade doesn’t look that bad.

Tonight, the Royals open a new series at home with the Twins. Jorge De La Rosa (3-2, 7.68) will make his second start since joining the Royals. He’ll go against Brad Radke (9-8, 4.91). Radke is 11-10 with a 4.28 ERA in his career against the Royals. De La Rosa has never started against the Twins.