Game 131: Texas @ Kansas City

Game Date: August 25, 2008
Rangers 9, Royals 4 / Box Score
WP: Feldman (5-5), LP: Meche (10-10)
Royal Home Runs: None
Royals Record: 56-75

This version of Gil Meche hardly looked like the guy who was 4-0 with a 2.17 ERA since the All-Star break. The Rangers pounded out 14 hits against Meche which equated to five earned runs in 6.1 IP. While it wasn't even close to a decent outing, the Royals were down 5-2 when he left the game, and when John Buck grounded into a fielder's choice in the bottom of the seventh to bring home Billy Butler, the Royals were within two runs.

Then Joel Peralta came into the game and gave up three more runs to extend the Rangers lead. I was just looking at Peralta's numbers and the crazy thing is, August has been his second best month of the season (5.40 ERA). His best month was May (5.06 ERA). After being so solid out of the pen last year, you have to wonder what's happened to him. He was hit hard in April (6.75 ERA) and maybe his confidence was shaken. He's been sent to Omaha on more than one occasion and that probably didn't help his confidence either, but you can't leave a guy in the big leagues who is so unproductive. I like his attitude; I just hope that he turns things around soon.

Several Royals had good days at the dish. David DeJesus was 3-for-4 with an RBI. Billy Butler was 2-for-4. Ross Gload was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Alberto Callaspo and John Buck also had one RBI apiece. But four runs wasn't enough.

Tonight, Zack Greinke (9-9, 3.86) will go up against Kevin Millwood (7-7, 5.24). Greinke is 2-3 in his career against the Rangers with a 4.11 ERA in 35.0 IP. Millwood is 5-3  against the Royals with a 5.22 ERA in 58.2 IP.