Mistakes Costly Again

Game Date: September 5, 2007
Rangers 3, Royals 2 / Box Score
WP: Padilla (5-9), LP: Davies (2-4), SV: Benoit (3)
Royal Home Runs: Buck (18)
Royals Record: 62-77

The perils of a young team are many. One of which includes physical errors. Another of which includes mental lapses.

With the Royals down 1-0, Kyle Davies threw over to first base to keep Frank Catalanotto close. It wasn't a good throw, but it wasn't the worst you'll ever see. Unfortunately, Billy Butler was playing first base and he couldn't make the catch. An error that proved costly when Michael Young singled Catalanotto in to make it 2-0. The next inning, a ball got through John Buck's legs on a throw home from Joey Gathright, allowing Brad Wilkerson to score. If that weren't enough, Alex Gordon got picked off first base in the eighth with the Royals down 3-2.

On a positive note, at least Buddy Bell isn't just punching the clock to wind down his final few weeks as the Royals manager. Here's what he had to say after the game: "You can't show up for 150 games. You have to show up for 162. That was terrible. This is a long season, and the guys have to learn that if you don't show up for every game, you are going to get hammered, you are going to get embarrassed."

That's pretty much what happened.

Kyle Davies had a decent outing, giving up one earned run in five innings. I don't like the fact that he had to throw 87 pitches to do it, but at least he got the job done. Over the final three innings, the combination of John Bale, Ryan Braun, and Joakim Soria gave up an earned run, but this loss had little do with our pitching. Unfortunately this loss cost the Royals a winning road trip (they finished 3-4).

Today is an off day. Tomorrow night, the Royals will begin a new home series against the evil Yankees. Gil Meche (7-12, 3.85) will go against Ian Kennedy (1-0, 1.29). Meche is 3-4 against the evil Yankees in his career with a 4.80 ERA. Kennedy has never faced the Royals.