Game 27: Kansas City @ Texas

Game Date: April 30, 2008
Rangers 11, Royals 9 / Box Score
WP: Millwood (2-2), LP: Bannister (3-3)
Royal Home Runs: DeJesus (2), Buck (2)
Royals Record: 12-15

I'm almost afraid to listen to the game this afternoon. This series has produced some rather frightening baseball in the first two games. The Royals have outscored the Rangers 18-16. The Rangers hold the edge in errors, 3-2. And neither team has come close to getting a quality start from their starters.

Even Brian Bannister showed that he was human yesterday. He gave up seven earned runs on seven hits and two walks in three innings of work. He threw 90 pitches to 18 batters. Three of those pitches left the park, including a grand slam home run by Josh Hamilton in the second inning that gave the Rangers a 7-0 lead.

But give the Royals credit. The didn't give up. Mark Grudzielanek singled in a run in the third to make it 7-1 Texas. Then, in the seventh, with the Royals down 9-1, Joey Gathright singled in a run, Esteban German got a run home on a fielder's choice, David DeJesus hit a two-run home run, and Alex Gordon singled in a run to make it 9-6 Texas.

Unfortunately Yasuhiko Yabuta gave up a two run home run in the seventh inning to give the Rangers a five run lead. But even then DeJesus singled in a run in the eighth and John Buck hit a two-run home run in the ninth, and the Royals came up just a little short.

So, the Royals finish April with a 12-15 record and I'm guessing that nobody is jumping for joy, but when you look at the teams they've played and how poor their offense has been so far, 12-15 doesn't look so bad.

The Royals will wrap up the series in Texas this afternoon and then head on to Cleveland. Zack Greinke (3-0, 1.25) will go up against Sidney Ponson (0-0, 1.69). Greinke is 2-2 in his career against the Rangers with a 4.50 ERA. Ponson is 9-7 against the Royals with a 4.60 ERA