Royals Salvage Final Game of Series

Game Date: August 22, 2007
Royals 7, White Sox 6 / Box Score
WP: Bannister (10-7), LP: Contreras (6-16)
Royal Home Runs: Butler (5)
Royals Record: 56-70

Brian Bannister won his tenth game of the season last night and Jose Contreras lost his ninth straight start. Bannister threw 101 pitches in 6.2 innings, giving up just two earned runs on five hits. He said that he watched tapes of himself after the first inning, in which he gave up both runs, and made an adjustment. He said that he discovered that he was flying open with his shoulder and landing on his heel. He came back out and retired 18 of the next 21 batters.

The Royals scored two runs in the first inning as well with their revamped batting order. Joey Gathright led off with a ground out. Mark Grudzielanek was hit on the helmet with a pitch. David DeJesus singled. And Billy Butler drove in Grud with a sacrifice fly. DeJesus stole second and scored when Ross Gload singled to center. The Royals scored twice more in the second. Billy Butler homered to right in the seventh. And Emil Brown scored the seventh run of the night when Toby Hall made a throwing error. It's a good thing the Royals kept plugging away at the plate and on the bases because Josh Fields hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to pull the White Sox within one run. But their comeback fell short and the Royals salvaged the third game of the series.

The Royals return home for a series against the Indians this weekend. Tomorrow night, Zack Greinke (5-5, 4.40) will go against C.C. Sabathia (14-6, 3.43).