Royals Miss Big Opportunity

Game Date: August 17, 2006
Game Score: White Sox 5, Royals 4 / Box Score
WP: Buehrle (10-10), LP: Perez (0-1), SV: Jenks (34)
Royal Home Runs: DeJesus (7), Teahen (15), Brown (12)
Royals Record: 43-79

We rarely play games anymore in which something odd doesn’t happen. Yesterday, David DeJesus led off the game with a home run. Pablo Ozuna returned the favor for the White Sox when he led off the bottom of the first. Emil Brown led off the top of the second inning with a home run and then Jermaine Dye led off the bottom of the second with another dinger. Four successive lead off home runs to start a game has never happened in the history of the game. Angel Berroa broke the pattern when he led off the third.

After Odalis Perez gave up another run in the bottom of the third, both starting pitchers settled down. Perez ended up throwing 117 pitches and he made it through the seventh inning—giving up four earned runs on five hits. Mark Buehrle made it through the sixth inning, and with the exception of the two home runs, he kept the Royals in check.  

The Royals were trailing 5-3 going into the ninth with Bobby Jenks on the mound. Ryan Shealy drew a walk. And Berroa singled with one out, moving Shealy to second. DeJesus plugged the gap in left center field and Shealy scored to make it 5-4 White Sox. The Royals had runners on second and third with only one out. Ozzie Guillen played the percentages and intentionally walked Mark Grudzielanek to set up the double play. That brought Mike Sweeney to the plate with bases loaded and only one out. This time, he didn’t get the job done. He grounded to Crede who stepped on third base for the force and then he easily threw Sweeney out at first to end the game. We missed a great opportunity to at least tie this one, if not win it and take three out of four from the White Sox.

Tonight, the Royals begin a new series at home against the A’s. They’ll be playing a double-header (weather-permitting), starting at 4:10 p.m. Luke Hudson (5-4, 6.39) will start game one against Joe Blanton (13-9, 4.53). Jorge De La Rosa (3-3, 8.24) will go against Esteban Loaiza (6-7, 5.97) in game two.