Bats Come to Life

Game Date: April 20, 2007
Royals 11, Twins 7 / Box Score
WP: Perez (1-2), LP: Ponson (1-2) SV: Riske (2)
Royal Home Runs: Grudzielanek (1), Sweeney (1), Sanders (2)
Royals Record: 5-11

Odalis Perez wasn't good tonight, but he was better than Sidney Ponson. Perez gave us four runs on seven hits and one walk in five innings. The Royals got to Ponson for six runs on ten hits in just 4.1 innings.

Mike Sweeney got the ball rolling for the Royals, hitting his first home run of the season--a solo shot to left field in the second inning. Sweeney ended up having a big night, going 2-for-4 with 2 RBI. Teahen singled in Pena in the third. The Twins were up 3-2 at that point.

It stayed that way until the fifth, when the Twins scored a run in the top half of the inning to go up 4-2. In the Royals half of the inning, DeJesus singled to lead off. Mark Grudzielanek hit a two-run home run to left field and the game was tied. But the Royals weren't done yet.

Teahen and Sweeney both singled. Then Ross Gload hit into a fielder's choice and Mark Teahen scored. After Reggie Sanders flied out, Alex Gordon hit an RBI double. Later in the inning, Gordon scored on a wild pitch. The Royals were up 7-4 after five.

They tacked on one more in the seventh and three more in the eighth. The bullpen, while hardly stellar, held the lead and the Royals got their second straight win.

You've got to like the pitching match up tomorrow afternoon. Zack Greinke (1-2, 3.95) goes against Boof Bonser (0-1, 6.89). Greinke is 1-3 in his career against the Twins with a 4.28 ERA. Bonser is 1-2 with a 4.80 ERA against the Royals.