Game Date: May 5, 2008
Angels 4, Royals 0 / Box Score
WP: Santana (6-0), LP: Ramirez (0-1)
Royal Home Runs: None
Royals Record: 14-17
We had ourselves an old-fashioned pitchers duel at Kauffman Stadium tonight--at least while both starting pitchers were still in the game. Brett Tomko was better than he's ever been in Royal blue. He went seven innings, giving up no runs on two hits, while striking out seven. Surely, Trey Hillman, thought that the bullpen could take it from there. The problem was, Ervin Santana was lights out. He pitched a complete game shutout, allowing only four hits, while striking out nine. He only needed 97 pitches to get the job done.
With the game scoreless going into the ninth inning, Erick Aybar tripled to lead off and Casey Kotchman singled him in two batters later against Jimmy Gobble. Then the wheels came off. Joel Peralta entered the game, and after getting one out, he gave up back to back home runs to Garret Anderson and Brandon Wood. The Royals simply weren't going to score four runs against Santana in the bottom of the ninth. Mark Grudzielanek got a one-out single, but that was all the Royals could muster.
So, the bullpen finally failed to get the job done, but you can't expect them to keep every team down. And you'd like to see the offense take a little pressure off of them, but at this point, it seems clear that we are going to struggle to score runs all season long. Jose Guillen struck out three times tonight and he heard loud boos from the fans. Part of the reason they are booing him is because he isn't showing any patience. He's swinging at nearly every pitch. In his first two strikeouts, he only drew one ball in each at bat. In his final strikeout, he struck out on three straight pitches (to end the game).
Tomorrow night, Brian Bannister (3-3, 4.04) goes up against Nick Adenhart (0-0, 22.50). Bannister has never faced the Angels. Adenhart has never faced the Royals.
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