Game 26: Kansas City @ Texas

Game Date: April 29, 2008
Royals 9, Rangers 5 / Box Score
WP: Mahay (1-0), LP: Jennings (0-5)
Royal Home Runs: Guillen (3)
Royals Record: 12-14

If you are a fan of pitcher's duels, then this wasn't a game you wanted to watch. But if you are a fan of the Royals, a win is a win. Brett Tomko was just slightly better than awful and he knows it. He gave up five earned runs on seven hits and three walks in just 3.1 innings. "It stinks,” he said after the game. "I'm just fighting it right now. My secondary pitches are garbage. I'm either throwing them straight into the ground or I'm hanging them."

Thankfully Jason Jennings was even worse and the Royals jumped on him for five runs in the first two innings. Mark Grudzielanek was right on every pitch he saw last night, going 4-for-6 with three runs scored. Jose Guillen hit a towering home run down the left field line and tied a career high with five RBI for the game. Mark Teahen swung the bat well, going 2-for-4 with 3 RBI. And finally, the Royals found a way to out slug an opponent. Let's hope we don't have to do that very often.

The bullpen did its job as always. Ron Mahay came into the game in the fourth and gave up no runs on two hits over the next 2.1 innings. Jimmy Gobble, Ramon Ramirez, and Joakim Soria closed out the game without allowing any runs. Ramirez and Soria have been especially tough this season. Ramirez dropped his ERA to 0.71 and Soria still hasn't give up a single run all year. That's incredible.

Tonight, Brian Bannister (3-2, 2.48) will go up against Kevin Millwood (1-2, 3.32). Bannister is 1-0 in his career against the Rangers with a 0.00 ERA. Millwood is 4-3 against the Royals with a 4.66 ERA.