Bats Cold Again

Game Date: April 13, 2007
Orioles 8, Royals 1 / Box Score
WP: Bedard (2-1) LP: Duckworth (0-1) 
Royal Home Runs: None
Royals Record: 3-8

Brandon Duckworth did what you would hope your number five guy will do when he doesn't have great stuff or even good command. He kept his team in the ball game. He gave up two earned runs in five innings. He gave up four runs total (two of which were unearned because of an error on Esteban German).

I think I was most impressed with his performance in the fifth inning. Baltimore was up 4-1. They had two guys on base with no outs. This is the point where Royals pitchers usually give up the big hit and the game is over half way through. But Duckworth buckled down and struck out Corey Patterson. Then he got Paul Bako to ground into a double play and the inning was over.

Ryan Braun pitched two scoreless innings and the Royals were still in the game. They just couldn't get their bats going. Then Todd Wellemeyer came in. He clearly didn't have his best stuff. He allowed a single to Kevin Millar, and a one out single to Paul Bako. Then he walked Brian Roberts to load the bases. I have no idea why Bell didn't take him out at this point, but he didn't. Somehow Wellemeyer got Melvin Mora to pop up. But Nick Markakis did something the Royals couldn't do all night--he got a big hit with two outs. His was the ultimate big hit--a grand slam and this game was over.

As bad as our offensive was, I did see a few positives:

• Reggie Sanders continues to tear the cover off the ball. He was 3-for-4 and raised his average to .500 for the season.
• John Buck was 1-for-1 with three walks. He's hitting .389 now.
• And as a team, the Royals drew six walks.

Tomorrow, Odalis Perez (0-2, 10.80) goes against Daniel Cabrera (1-1 3.07). Perez is 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA in his career against the Orioles. Cabrera is 3-0 with a 2.35 against the Royals.