Bannister Continues to Impress

Game Date: August 7, 2007
Royals 5, Twins 1 / Box Score
WP: Bannister (8-6), LP: Bonser (5-8)
Royal Home Runs: None
Royals Record: 49-62

How nice is it to be out of New York? Unfortunately we have one more series against the evil Yankees in September.

We're starting to get into the stretch of the season in which RSTN doesn't televise as many games. I'm sure their schedule is designed that way since Royals fans usually lose interest in the team around May 1, but I still enjoy listening to games on the radio, so I don't mind it. I listened last night and after I heard about the great catch that Joey Gathright made in left field, I checked the Royals website for the video and it was there. If you haven't seen it yet, check it out.

Brian Bannister was outstanding again, going seven innings and giving up just one earned run on six hits and a walk. He lowered his ERA to 3.32 and improved his record to 8-6. In watching the highlights of the game, he kept the ball down, and he jammed several hitters. The thing that really impressed me about him though is that he knew that the Twins were looking for his slider against their lefties because he was so effective with it in Minnesota last week. So, going up against five lefties last night, he switched to his curve ball and Twins hitters clearly weren't ready for it.

At the plate, Ross Gload got the Royals going with an RBI double in the first inning. After Torii Hunter tied the game in the second with an RBI double, Mark Grudzielanek hit a sacrifice fly in the third to drive in David DeJesus. DeJesus doubled in Gathright in the fifth. Mark Teahen doubled in DeJesus during the same inning (Teahen was 4-for-4). And John Buck picked up an RBI when he walked with the bases loaded in the eighth.

Tonight, Odalis Perez (6-10, 5.79) goes up against Johan Santana (11-9, 2.98). Perez is 2-1 against the Twins in his career with a 6.84 ERA. Santana is 11-3 against the Royals with a 3.63 ERA.