Royals Even the Series

Game Date: September 5, 2006
Game Score: Royals 5, Yankees 0 / Box Score
WP: De La Rosa (2–2), LP: Mussina (13–6), SV: Wellemeyer (1)
Royal Home Runs: Brown (13)
Royals Record: 52-88

That’s how you put a horrible loss behind you. You shutout a first place team. De La Rosa was solid for 5.2 innings. He scattered six hits and walked two guys, but he didn’t allow any runs. Unfortunately, he developed a blister on his middle finger on his left hand and he had to be removed from the game. It looked pretty nasty on television. Hopefully he’ll be able to make his next start, but I’m not real confident that will happen.

Todd Wellemeyer earned a save the old fashioned way—by pitching 3.1 innings. And he kept the shutout intact. He stumbled a little in the ninth inning by allowing the evil Yankees to load the bases, but he got out of it, and the Royals tied the series.

The Royals didn’t need a lot of offense to win this one. They took an early lead in the second inning when Mike Sweeney doubled with two outs to drive in Mark Grudzielanek. They had a chance to blow the game open in the fourth inning after the first three guys reached base, but John Buck hit into a double play. Emil Brown scored on the play though and the Royals were up 2–0. Then Andres Blanco singled to score Ryan Shealy and the Royals were up 3–0. Emil Brown hammered a pitch out of the park that Mike Mussina left up and in, and in so doing, he knocked Mussina out of the game.

Hopefully the Royals can find a way to win tonight and take their third straight series from a playoff contending team. Runelvys Hernandez (5–8, 6.31) goes against Randy Johnson (15–10, 4.94). Hernandez is 1–1 in his career against the evil Yankees with a 9.45 ERA. Johnson is 14–7 against the Royals with a 3.04 ERA.

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