Royals Sweep the Rangers

Game Date: July 29, 2007
Royals 10, Rangers 0 / Box Score
WP: Nunez (1-0), LP: Loe (5-9), SV: Peralta (1)
Royal Home Runs: None
Royals Record: 47-57

What in the world has happened to Leo Nunez? The guy with a 6.19 career ERA has a 0.90 ERA this season in two starts. In the past, he's appeared to be a frail, injury-prone prospect with a good fastball but little ability to get guys out. Yesterday he threw six shutout innings and opponents are hitting just .243 against him so far this season. If he can just be in the neighborhood of being this good from here on out, our rotation would look much better.

And how about the sticks yesterday? The Royals scored early and often. Mark Teahen led things off with an RBI double in the second inning. Then Tony Pena doubled in Teahen and Reggie Sanders during the same inning. Another double, this time by David DeJesus, put the Royals up 4-0 in the second inning. Ross Gload was 3-for-5 with an RBI. Teahen ended up with three hits. And Pena finished with two.

So, the Royals won four straight games to complete the homestand with a winning record. They are 13-10 in July, which means they are guaranteed of having two straight winning months. They have a better record than seven other teams. And they are now just 10 games under .500. If they string a couple of more winning months together, who knows...maybe they could even chase .500.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves too much. Let's be happy about the progress we are seeing and enjoy each win as they come.

Tonight, the Royals begin a new series in Minnesota. Gil Meche (7-7, 3.76) goes against Scott Baker (4-4, 5.30). Meche is 0-0 in his career against the Twins with a 7.71 ERA. Baker is 0-2 against the Royals with a 4.26 ERA.