Wow

Game Date: August 13, 2006
Game Score: Indians 13, Royals 0 / Box Score
WP: Sowers (4-3), LP: Hudson (5-4)
Royal Home Runs: None
Royals Record: 41-77

Eleven runs. In one inning. Off of our best starting pitcher. Okay, only ten of the eleven runs were earned, but that doesn’t really soften the blow, does it? Luke Hudson’s ERA went from a mediocre 4.65 to 6.39 in one game.

“It can’t get worse than that,” Hudson said afterward. “I felt like I didn’t have a lot of pop on my fastball. My sinker wasn’t sinking a whole lot. But you never expect it to be that bad.”

The last thing that Buddy Bell probably wanted to do was to throw Hudson on the altar, but what choice did he have? Our starting staff hasn’t pitched late enough in games recently and that has led to an overworked pen. And I’m guessing that we are just fresh out of guys who could pitch five innings in relief.

The four game sweep by the Indians have sent the Royals in a tailspin. We’ve lost 11 of our last 15 games, and don’t look now, but we’re about to begin a four game series in Chicago against the World Champions. We’re already a pitiful 15-44 on the road this season and we’re 4-8 against the White Sox this season.

Mark Redman (7-6, 5.49) goes against Jon Garland (12-4, 5.16) tonight. Redman is 3-3 with a 4.76 ERA in his career against the White Sox. Garland is 12-5 with a 4.12 against the Royals.