Royals host Indians (game I)

The Royals are back home and are looking to put behind them a road trip that saw them go 2-5 and fall to second in the division. Gil Meche (1-2, 6.08 ERA) looks to build on his first win and end the Royals 4 game slide against a struggling Cleveland team. C.C. Sabathia (0-3, 13.50 ERA) gets the start for the tribe and has struggled badly this season; some even wonder about arm trouble for the reigning Cy Young winner.

Box Score

Is there a team you would rather face if you were a struggling starting pitcher? C.C. Sabathia doesn't think so, as he got right tonight throwing 6 scoreless innings while striking out 11. Gil Meche, now 2-7 with a 6.10 ERA in his career against the Indians, struggled early and often allowing 8 runs on 9 hits in 3.1 innings. The bullpen, so good early, is getting hit around as well-5.2 innings allowing 5 runs.

The Royals offense continues to be an embarrassment to Kansas City as they managed only 1 run on 6 hits while managing 13 strike-outs. Teahen, who had 3 of those K's managed an RBI single in the 8th to break the shut out. The Indians on the other hand had no problems scoring, they failed to score in only the 1st, 6th and 9th innings. Taking a look at their box score and you would think it was a spring training game as 13 players got to take batting practice against the Royals.

Personally, I think the Royals pitching is trying to be to perfect to overcome the dead weight of the offense, and they are starting to get hit around because of it. The offense needs to step it up, they need to get some extra base hits and they need to stop making outs on the base paths. The defense has been no help as of late either as Teahen mis-played another ball in left and Gordon had an error.