Royals Lose in 10

Game Date: August 1, 2006
Game Score: White Sox 7, Royals 5 / Box Score
WP: Riske (1-2), LP: Burgos (2-4), SV: Jenks (29)
Royal Home Runs: Sanders (10), Berroa (7)
Royals Record: 37-69

This is not a recording. Ambiorix Burgos should not be a closer in the major leagues. I don’t say that because he’s wild, or because he’s unable to throw more than one pitch for a strike—although both of those statements are true. I say it because he simply can’t get guys out. His ERA is 5.40. You simply cannot give the ball to a guy to close the game out when he allows a run more than once every two innings.

After the Royals rallied in the eighth inning to tie the game 4-4, Burgos came in for the ninth and got the job done. Unfortunately, he walked Scott Podsednik to lead off the tenth inning and then balked to move Podsednik to second base. Joe Crede singled him in. Burgos got the next two guys, but Ross Gload doubled and drove in Crede. Brian Anderson followed him with another run scoring hit and this one was over. Well, actually Angel Berroa hit a home run in the bottom of the inning, but we couldn’t get a rally going.

We had our chances early in the game though. We had runners at the corners with one out in the second inning and Angel Berroa hit into a double play. Then, in the eighth inning, we had runners at the corners again with one out and this time Emil Brown hit into a double play.

On the positive side, Mark Teahen continues his tear. He as 3-for-5 with 2 RBI and he’s as locked in as a guy can be. He’s hitting the ball to all fields and pitchers don’t seem to have a clue how to get him out. They used to bust him inside and he’s all over that now. Then, in recent weeks, they started pitching him outside, and he’s driving that ball down the left field line—much like he did last night. Reggie Sanders had two hits in is return, including his tenth home run of the season in his first at bat.

Odalis Perez started out pretty well—striking out two guys in the first inning, but he looked a little rusty (he hasn’t started since June 28) and he was working on a ridiculously low pitch count—so he exited after throwing just 69 pitches in four innings. He gave up two earned runs on three hits and two walks. The one thing I’ll say about him is this—he seems to trust his pitches. He wasn’t afraid to throw his cutter over the plate to Jermaine Dye in the first inning and he ended up striking him out. His four-seamer comes in at around 91-92 mph and his breaking stuff was in the 78-80 range. That’s a big enough difference to keep hitters off balance. So, I’m anxious to see how he does in his next start.

Tonight, Luke Hudson (3-3, 4.82) goes against Freddy Garcia (10-6, 4.85). Garcia is 8-7 in his career against the Royals with a 5.63 ERA. Hudson has never started against the White Sox.