Greinke sets a new record with 15 strikeouts

Game Date: August 25, 2009
Cleveland @ Kansas City
Royals 6, Indians 2 / Box Score
WP: Greinke (12-8), LP: Masterson (4-5)
KC Home Runs: Olivo (17), Maier (1)
Royals Record: 48-77 / Record in August 8-15

I ended yesterday’s post by saying you never know when you might see something special when Zack Greinke is on the mound. Then he goes out and strikes out 15 guys and sets a new single game Royals’ record by passing another guy who used to wear number 23—Mark Gubicza—for the most strikeouts in a game. [There’s a nice video montage of all 15 strikeouts on the Royals website if you didn’t get a chance to see the game.] Gubicza struck out 14 in a game in 1988 and if you look at Gubby’s numbers from that season, they are quite similar to what Greinke is doing this season. Gubicza was 20-8 in 35 starts with a 2.70 ERA. He threw eight complete games that season, including four shutouts. And he struck out 183. Greinke is in good company.

It was nice to see Mitch Maier get his first major league home run in this one—a no-doubter that he turned on and smashed over the wall in right field. Given that the Royals probably aren’t going to content in 2010, I wouldn’t mind seeing them reject the club option on Coco Crisp for next season and then give Maier a full season to see what he could do out there in centerfield. The numbers he’s put up in his 300+ MLB at bats aren’t overly impressive, but they aren’t awful either. And at 27, it’s time to find out what we’ve got in him. If it doesn’t work out, we could move on and sign a centerfielder for 2011—the year when some of Dayton Moore’s draft choices may begin making the major league roster.

The Royals play the Indians this afternoon. Luke Hochevar (6-6, 5.60) will go up against David Huff (7-7, 6.80). Hochevar is 1-2 in his career against the Indians with a 5.14 ERA in 14.0 IP. Huff has never faced the Royals.