German's HR Lifts the Royals

Game Date: May 2, 2007
Royals 3, Angels 1 / Box Score
WP: De La Rosa (3-2), LP: Santana (2-4), SV: Soria (4)
Royal Home Runs: German (1)
Royals Record: 9-19

This one had all the makings of another game that would slip through the Royals fingers.

A bad call (Tony Pena was safe at second during an attempted steal in the third inning, but was called out...David DeJesus tripled right after him and the Royals didn't score), coupled with missed opportunities (the Royals failing to get the big hit with two outs, again...and Jason LaRue not getting a bunt down with two strikes to advance a runner--what in the world was Bell thinking?), seemed to be working against the Royals, even though they got another good start--this time from Jorge De La Rosa (1 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 7 IP).

But then Esteban German stepped up in the seventh inning and hit a three-run home run as rain poured down from the heavens, and gave the Royals a 3-1 lead. Brandon Duckworth held the lead in the eighth and Joakim Soria got the Angels in order in the ninth for his fourth save.

Tomorrow afternoon, Gil Meche (2-1, 2.18) goes against Jered Weaver (1-2, 5.40). Meche is 5-2 against the Angels in his career with a 5.38 ERA. Weaver is 2-0 against the Royals with a 0.66 ERA.