Davies wins fourth straight start

Game Date: September 13, 2009
Kansas City @ Cleveland
Royals 7, Indians 0 / Box Score
WP: Davies (8-9), LP: Carrasco (0-2)
KC Home Runs: Buck (7)
Royals Record: 57-86 / Record in September 7-5

Even Kyle Davies understands how fortunate he's been in his last two outings, including yesterday, in which he's given up a dozen total walks, but still gone on to win. After the game last night he said he'd been a little lucky. In this three outings this month, he's 3-0 with a 1.06 ERA, with 14 BB. He's limited the number of hits he's given up (10 over those three games) which sort of evens things out, I guess. And he's won his last four starts, going back into August. But it's hard to overlook the 7.59 ERA he posted in July and 6.49 ERA he posted in August—especially since he's still having so many command issues.

A couple of guys from Omaha followed Davies and kept the Indians from scoring. Roman Colon and Carlos Rosa pitching the final three innings, giving up just one hit between them.

You have to wonder if the home run that John Buck hit in the third inning will be the last one he hits in Royal blue. With limited playing time and a strong possibility of not being resigned by the Royals that could be it. He has just a .233 average/.296 OBP since joining the Royals in 2004 and understandably the Royals want more production from that spot.

David DeJesus had three hits yesterday and raised his average to .280. At this point, he probably has done more than simply salvaged his season after a dreadful start, but he's approaching a career year. By the time the season is over, barring injury, he's going to have more hits, home runs, and RBI than he's ever had before in a season. He's also close to his career average and on-base percentage.

Speaking of career years, Billy Butler had another hit yesterday and he's already had a career year. Although, maybe unfairly, he's having about the type of season that most of us expected from him. Imagine how abysmal the Royals' offense would have been this season without Butler in the lineup nearly every day.

This nice little burst of wins over the past week might be just enough to keep the Royals from losing 100 games. They are currently on pace to win 64.5 games which would mean they'd finish the season with 97.5 losses. Throw out the decimal points and they are still safe. Unfortunately that's what this season has come down to. The Royals are slowly creeping up on the Indians in the AL Central standings, but they are still 4.5 games behind them and it seems unlikely that they will catch them.