Hochevar Hit Hard in Loss

Game Date: July 30, 2009
Kansas City @ Baltimore
Orioles 7, Royals 3 / Box Score
WP: Bergesen (7-5), LP: Hochevar (6-4)
KC Home Runs: Buck (4)
Royals Record: 40-61 / Record in July 7-18

As soon as we begin to think that Luke Hochevar might be turning a corner, he gives up seven earned runs on eleven hits and a walk in six innings. The game wasn’t on TV, so I don’t really know how he looked, but it sounded like he made some good pitches. After the game he said that he couldn’t throw his breaking ball for a strike and his slider was flat. That just left his fastball and the Orioles knew it. Pitchers have days when they don’t have good stuff. I’d like to think Hochevar’s poor outing had more to do with that than anything else.

Yuniesky Betancourt actually had a hit. But it also sounded like he didn’t get to a ball at shortstop that he should have. I’m afraid that Betancourt is turning out to be everything his number said he would be. He’s 5-for-42 (.119 average) with one extra base hit, one RBI, and no walks since coming to Kansas City. Not exactly the steal he was made out to be. Maybe he’s just off to a slow start. I sure hope so.

The Omaha Royals radio broadcast team said tonight that Kyle Farnsworth, who was scheduled to pitch for Omaha tonight, is not with the team. He was seen before the game gathering his things. I asked around to try to get more information, but wasn’t able to confirm anything. Last I looked, Farnsworth wasn’t scheduled to go back to the big leagues for quite a while, but he looked good in Omaha the other night, so maybe Kansas City came calling. Of course, a trade could be in the works or he could be on his way to NW Arkansas or even Arizona for more work. Who knows. If I hear anything, I’ll let you know.

Update 07/31 @ 10:18 AM: Greg Schaum updated Farnsworth's status this morning on Twitter, saying: "Farnsworth is not being traded. He is joining the club in Tampa to get his regular work in. He is not being activated though."