An Ugly Loss

Game Date: July 31, 2007
Twins 5, Royals 3 / Box Score
WP: Silva (9-11), LP: De La Rosa (8-11), SV: Nathan (24)
Royal Home Runs: LaRue (4), Smith (2), Grudzielanek (5)
Royals Record: 47-59

The Royals have come into this series looking rather lethargic, which is hard to understand given their success on their last homestand. Officially, they committed two errors last night. But in reality, they made more. In one instance Mark Teahen missed a hit and run sign and that left Mark Grudzielanek hanging out to dry at second. And on two other occasions, runners were thrown out trying to steal second. Toss in the two errors that counted and we didn't give ourselves much of a chance.

Jason LaRue, Jason Smith, and Mark Grudzielanek all hit solo home runs, but the Royals couldn't get any rallies going in which they didn't shoot themselves in the foot. Mark Teahen looked lost, striking out three times. He's hitting .280, but you have to admit, he's hardly been the hitter you were expecting as the season began. In fact, he's had the same amount of at bats (393) he had last year and his power numbers are considerably worse. In 2006, he hit 18 HR and drove in 69 runs. In 2007, he has 5 HR and he's driven in just 45 runs. Buddy Bell is planning to drop him in the line up, but admits that he doesn't have a legitimate number three guy to put in his place.

De La Rosa wasn't good (5 ER on 8 H in 6.0 IP) last night, but that may have had more to do with the sloppy Royals defense than it did anything else. John Bale is putting together a nice season. He pitched two perfect innings in relief last night and lowered his ERA to 1.42.

Tonight, Brian Bannister (7-6, 3.42) will try to get the Royal back on track. He'll go up against Boof Bonser (5-7, 4.73). Bannister has never faced the Twins. Bonser is 1-2 against the Royals in his career with a 3.96 ERA.