Shealy Delivers RBI for Win

Game Date: May 16, 2007
Royals 4, A's 3 / Box Score
WP: Gobble (3-1), LP: Calero (0-3), SV: Riske (3)
Royal Home Runs: None
Royals Record: 14-27

Don't look now, but Odalis Perez has put together a nice string of outings. Here are the numbers from his last five starts:

He's putting in at least six innings. He's minimizing the walks and hits he's allowing. And his ERA is dropping steadily. When I watch him pitch, I can't figure out why he's so hard to hit, especially for a team as disciplined as the A's are at the plate, but whatever he's doing, I hope he keeps it up.

Last night he gave up just one hit. He threw his change up down out of the strike zone and many of the A's hitters laid off it, but he found a way to sneak a few fastballs in on their hands when they must have been looking for something else.

Even though Joe Blanton was sitting our guys down (20 in a row at one point), Perez found a way to keep us in the game, and that's what this team has been sorely lacking in years past. In fact, if you look at the first six games of this road trip, the starting staff has a 1.66 ERA with a .199 BAA. And even though we're still struggling at the plate, we're 3-3 on this trip--thanks largely to our starters.

I was glad to see Ryan Shealy activated before the game. Billy Butler was optioned back to Omaha. This allowed us to go back to our normal defensive alignment, which isn't great, but it's better than what we've been putting out there the past week.

Unfortunately, with the Royals leading 2-0 in the seventh inning, Mark Grudzielanek thought that Mark Teahen was going to field a ball in short right field and when he didn't, Grud made an attempt and couldn't make the play. Jason Kendall singled later in the inning to tie the game 2-2.

When the A's took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the eighth, things didn't look good, but Esteban German drew a walk to lead off the Royals half of the ninth and he immediately stole second on Jason Kendall, who hasn't thrown anybody out this year. John Buck doubled German in to tie the game and Ryan Shealy shortened up his swing with two strikes and hit an RBI single to recapture the lead.

David Riske, who's also pitching well right now, came in and closed the door on the A's for his third save of the season.

This afternoon, Scott Elarton (0-0, 3.60) goes against Dallas Braden (1-2, 5.65). Elarton is 1-1 in his career against the A's with a 5.60 ERA. Braden has never faced the Royals.