Indians Win in Eleven

Game Date: August 26, 2007
Indians 5, Royals 3 / Box Score
WP: Betancourt (3-0), LP: Peralta (1-3), SV: Borowski (37) 
Royal Home Runs: None
Royals Record: 57-72

The Kansas City Star is tracking Gil Meche's "winless streak" and after last night, he's up to seven straight starts without a win. Granted, his ERA during that stretch is 4.58 while his ERA for the season is 3.85, but who among us didn't expect Meche to be in the mid-4's anyway? Meche has three quality starts during his past seven starts and he was one out shy of picking up another one. I'm thinking that this is really a non-story.

Meche pitched well yesterday, giving up two earned runs on seven hits in 6.0 innings and he left the game with a 3-2 lead. But Joakim Soria gave up a bloop-double with two outs in the ninth. Then he gave up a game-tying single. The Indians broke through for two runs in the top of the eleventh against Joel Peralta and John Bale and that was the game.

Did you see the batting order for this one? Gathright hit lead off, which is fine. Esteban German hit second, okay. David DeJesus hit third, which seems a bit odd. Ross Gload hit clean up, which is really odd for a guy who doesn't even play every day. Alex Gordon was fifth. Emil Brown, the DH, was sixth. And Jason Smith was seventh.

The Royals are off today. They begin a new series at home against Detroit on Tuesday. Brian Bannister (10-7, 3.28) will go against Nate Robertson (7-10, 4.80). Bannister is 1-1 against the Tigers in his career with a 2.31 ERA. Robertson is 4-4 against the Royals with a 4.75 ERA.