Pitchers Can't Hold the Lead

Game Date: April 21, 2007
Twins 7, Royals 5 / Box Score
WP: Neshek (2-0), LP: Peralta (0-2), SV: Nathan (6)
Royal Home Runs: Teahen (2), Gordon (2)
Royals Record: 5-12

Royals hitters handed Zack Greinke several leads yesterday. He just couldn't hold them. Afterward he said that he couldn't locate his fastball and his offspeed pitches "weren't working." That's not a good combination. He ended up giving up four runs on nine hits and one walk in five innings.

The Royals scored in their half of the fifth to give Greinke another lead, 5-4, but then it was the bullpen's turn to give up the lead--culminating in Joel Peralta giving up two runs in the seventh to ultimately lose the game. Peralta's ERA has now climbed to 8.31 and he already has three blown saves.

Neal Musser made his debut out of the pen, going a third of an inning and giving up two hits and one run (unearned). Jimmy Gobble held his own, pitching a scoreless inning. And Todd Wellemeyer finally had a good outing, going two innings without giving up a run. His ERA is still a rather inflated 9.39.

It was nice to see Mark Teahen and Alex Gordon hit home runs, but when you look at how many times the Royals struck out (13), you can't be real encouraged about their offensive performance.

This afternoon, Jorge De La Rosa (1-1, 4.34) goes against Ramon Ortiz (3-0, 2.05). De La Rosa is 0-3 in his career against the Twins with a 7.02 ERA. Ortiz is 3-4 against the Royals with a 7.09 ERA.