Game 159: Kansas City @ Detroit

Game Date: September 24, 2008
Royals 10, Tigers 4 / Box Score
WP: Bannister (9-16), LP: Robertson (7-11)
Royal Home Runs: None
Royals Record: 73-86

Ending up in fourth place in the AL Central means more to the Royals than ending up fourth does to most teams. The Royals haven't finished better than last since 2003--which was really the last time Kansas City was excited about the team. Finishing fourth means a small improvement and small improvements are all any of us really expect.

And you get the feeling that if the current group of players gets a boost of confidence, then maybe, just maybe it'll help in the long run. It certainly can't hurt anything as we head into the off season.

Brian Bannister returned to the mound last night that he started the year on in Detroit and the result was the same. He got a win. He pitched six shutout innings last night, giving up seven hits and one walk. Nate Robertson, on the other hand, had a nightmare game. The Royals hit him early and often.

The Royals got on the board first with an RBI single in the second inning by Tony Pena. John Buck drove in the second run in the fourth inning with a single to left. Then in the fifth, the Royals blew the game open with seven runs as they batted around.

After the game, Jim Leyland said the Royals "kicked our fannies."

The only negative in the game was an injury that happened to David DeJesus in the first inning after he swung and missed strike three. He tweaked his right hip flexor. No word on whether he'll be available for the Minnesota series.

The Royals are off tonight. Tomorrow night they will begin the final series of the year in Minnesota and it'll be a playoff-like atmosphere since the Twins are just a half a game out of first place in the Central. Kyle Davies (8-7, 4.21) will go up against Francisco Liriano (6-3, 3.39). Davies is 2-4 against the Twins in his career with a 5.08 ERA in 28.1 IP. Liriano is 2-1 against the Royals with a 3.80 ERA in 21.1 IP.