Royals at Rangers (game II)

In game two we see tough luck pitcher Brian Bannister (3-2, 2.48 ERA) going for the Royals and for the Rangers ace Kevin Millwood (1-2, 3.32 ERA). Kevin Millwood has been ok against the Royals in the past going 4-3 with a 4.66 ERA. Bannister has one start vs. the Rangers and pitched 7 shut out innings in earning the win.

Some players who have done well is Millwood and would be worth watching is Buck (5-10, 5 RBI), Grudz (11-35, 3 RBI), Teahen (7-20, 1 HR, 4 RBI), and Guillen (9-23, 1 HR, 7 RBI). Gload should sit, he is 1-10 career against Millwood.

Box Score

Brian Bannister had a rough night as he got rocked for 7 runs in just 3 innings, his shortest outing of the year. Bannister just couldn't keep the ball in the park on a windy night in Texas as he gave up a 2-run shot in the first to Bradley, a solo shot to Boggs in the 2nd, and to cap it off a grand slam to Hamilton-also in the 2nd. The bullpen, which has thrown a lot of innings lately, wasn't in top form as Peralta and Yabuta each gave up a couple of runs in their 5 innings of work.

Millwood held the Royals in check early, allowing only 1 run in his first 6 innings. The bats finally woke up in the 7th however, and scored 5 runs in knocking Millwood from the game. Batting third for the first time this year, DeJesus had another big RBI game driving in 3, including a 2-run shot in the 5th.

In the 9th with the Royals down 4 runs they put together a comeback bid. Butler doubled leading off, and Buck got him home with his 2nd home run of the year. Then Pena came to the plate with one out and quickly popped out, Gathright followed and bunted back to the pitcher for the final out.

I gotta wonder why Hillman didn't go to his bench to pinch hit for Pena and Gathright, but I guess that's why Hillman is the manager and I'm not.