Sweeney's Blast Lifts Royals

Game Date: May 9, 2007
Royals 3, A's 2 / Box Score
WP: Gobble (1-1), LP: Duchscherer (3-2), SV: Soria (6)
Royal Home Runs: Sweeney (4)
Royals Record: 11-23

This is the first game I can remember this season where the Royals didn't play well, but found a way to win. They certainly got another good start out of Gil Meche (1 ER, 3 H, 4 BB, 7 K in 6 IP), but in the late innings the Royals made numerous mistakes--from Alex Gordon failing to get a bunt down, to Sweeney and Gordon not advancing runners, to Gordon dropping a pop foul.

The Royals got a break in the seventh when Mark Teahen threw out Jason Kendall at home. The ball beat Kendall by a mile, but Buck dropped the ball and replays showed that he didn't get the tag down in time after he picked up the ball. That would have given the A's a 3-2 lead.

Mike Sweeney gave the Royals a huge lift in the eighth inning. Mark Teahen doubled with one outs and the scored tied 2-2, but he was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple. Mike Sweeney got a fast ball up in the zone from Justin Duchscherer and he hammered it over the left field wall to give the Royals a 3-2 lead.

Joakim Soria came in a saved his sixth game.

Before the game, the Royals announced that Luke Hudson and Scott Elarton would join the rotation. Hudson will start tomorrow afternoon. He'll take over Brian Bannister's spot and Bannister will be sent to Omaha. Elarton will take Zack Greinke's spot and start on Saturday against the White Sox.

Hudson will go up against Joe Kennedy (0-2, 2.48). Kennedy is 2-0 in his career against the Royals with a 4.29 ERA.