Teahen Leads Royals to Victory

Game Date: August 22, 2006
Game Score: Royals 5, Indians 2 / Box Score
WP: Perez (1–1), LP: Lee (10–9)
Royal Home Runs: Teahen (16)
Royals Record: 46-81

In a game reminiscent of so many others in the past in which the greatest third baseman in Royals’ history hoisted the team on his shoulders and carried them to victory, Mark Teahen was 4-for-4 last night with a home run, two doubles, a single, two stolen bases, and he scored the winning run. He stretched a single into a double to set the winning run up. He’s not only a smart base runner, but he always hustles down the base paths; the two make for a deadly combination.

Winning pitcher Odalis Perez had this to say about Teahen’s performance: “Wow, he’s awesome. He’s one of the better young players I’ve ever seen because he’s not ever satisfied with a home run and a double. He wants to score the winning run.”

Perez wasn’t bad either.

He pitched seven innings and only gave up two earned runs on seven hits and a walk—and in so doing, he won for the first time as a starter since April 21. Burgos was shaky again in relief, giving up two hits in the eighth, but he got out of the inning without allowing any runs. Joe Nelson nailed down his third save of the year and now appears to be the primary closer.

Mike Sweeney and Angel Berroa were back, but they went a combined 0-for-5. Sweeney did pick up an RBI with a sacrifice fly.

Tonight the Royals sent Jorge De La Rosa (1–1, 5.89) against Paul Byrd (8–6, 4.55). De La Rosa is 0–0 in his career against the Indians with a 6.00 ERA. Byrd is 1–3 with a 4.60 ERA against the Royals.