Royals Keep Rolling

Game Date: May 17, 2007
Royals 7, A's 4 / Box Score
WP: Elarton (1-0), LP: Braden (1-3), SV: Soria (8)
Royal Home Runs: None
Royals Record: 15-27

Scott Elarton was solid until the sixth inning yesterday. His command started to falter at that point, and he walked a couple of guys. He only threw 80 pitches, but given how long he's been out of the game, it's nice to see him making it into the sixth.

Zack Greinke struggled in relief (allowing all three inherited runners to score), but Jimmy Gobble, David Riske, and Joakim Soria shut the door on the A's the final 2.2 innings.

How nice is it to see the middle of the line up producing like they did yesterday? Mark Grudzielanek was 2-for-5 in the three hole. Mark Teahen was 2-for-4 with an RBI hitting clean up. And Mike Sweeney was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two walks in the five hole. Paul Phillips had a nice day, going 1-for-3 with 2 RBI and a walk.

A combination of good pitching and timely hitting got the job done and the Royals won their first road series this season.

Royals starters are putting together an impressive road trip. They are 2-1 with a 2.28 ERA and a BAA against of just .212. And amazingly, the starting staff now ranks fifth in the American League with a 3.97 ERA. How about that?

Now if we could just play a little better defensively and get some more timely hitting, perhaps we could gain a level of respectability. After 42 games last season, the Royals were 10-32. They are 15-27 this season after 42 games. Neither record is much to get excited over, but at least we can see a little improvement from one season to the next.

Tonight, the Royals begin interleague play in Denver. Jorge De La Rosa (4-3, 3.68) will go against Jeff Francis (2-4, 5.08). De La Rosa is 0-0 in his career against the Rockies with a 0.00 ERA. He's only had one inning of work against them. Francis is 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA against the Royals.