Bullpen Falters in Royals Loss

Game Date: April 23, 2007
White Sox 7, Royals 4 / Box Score
WP: Buehrle (2-0), LP: Gobble (0-1), SV: Jenks (7)
Royal Home Runs: Buck (4)
Royals Record: 6-13

What started out as a pitchers duel quickly turned into a battle of the bullpens. The Sox pen did the job. The Royals pen did not.

But let's start with the starters. Gil Meche was solid again tonight, going seven innings and giving up three earned runs on eight hits and no walks. Mark Buehrle, who was fresh off a no-hitter, pitched well--putting up similar numbers to Meche: three earned runs on five hits and one walk.

The game was tied 3-3 after seven innings and that's when the bullpens came into play. Bell brought in Gobble to face the left-handed Jim Thome to lead off the eighth inning and Thome singled. Gobble was gone and replaced by David Riske, who just can't see to get on track this season. Riske immediately gave up a two-run bomb to Paul Konerko to give the Sox a 5-3 lead.

Neil Musser walked the only guy he faced. And Ryan Braun, after getting out of the eighth, gave up two runs in the ninth. The Royals made a little noise in the bottom off the ninth against Bobby Jenks. They had runners at the corners with one out, but David DeJesus grounded into a game-ending double play.

Tomorrow, the Royals plan to give Brian Bannister his first start in a Royals uniform. He'll go up against Javier Vazquez (2-0, 2.50). Bannister was 1-1 in four starts in Omaha with a 2.61 ERA. Vazquez is 4-1 in his career against the Royals with a 1.88 ERA.