From The Bottom Up - A Kansas City Royals Dynasty

[TJFOR3]

nittylionsrock said:

Wow this is really nice format and great writing this gets the job done... good luck with Clemens

I don't have Clemens, the Tigers do, but thanks.

notrelame said:

On the pictue with Rodney, some fan has his hand on his nuts.

Whats the big deal? Maybe he got bored and started jerking it.

detroitbasketball said:

Fernando Rodney is our closer?

I don't think he is, i think he just kept pitching because it was a rout, and he got the save because he entered the game when it was 2-1.

[detroitbasketball]

tjfor3 said:

nittylionsrock said:

Wow this is really nice format and great writing this gets the job done... good luck with Clemens

I don't have Clemens, the Tigers do, but thanks.

I think he meant good luck hitting Clemens.

[TJFOR3]

Game 2 of 3: Detroit Tigers (2-2) @ Kansas City Royals (2-2)

Duckworth Beats Clemens For Win

Left: Alex Gordon makes a diving catch in the first inning - Right: Zach Day throws a pitch in the 8th. Day worked his way out of a jam in the 7th and pitched well in relief for Kansas City.

The Kansas City Royals received a great pitching performance from Brandon Duckworth on a night that was supposed to belong to Roger Clemens, who was making his debut as a Tiger. Duckworth went 6+ innings while allowing just 1 run on 8 hits to get the win in a 3-1 contest.

The Royals got their runs one by one, in the third, fourth, and fifth innings. Mark Teahan had RBI doubles in the third and fifth, while Rookie phenom Alex Gordon jacked a solo HR in the fourth that made up for a error he had made earlier in the inning.

The Tigers got a complete game 8 inning performance from Clemens, who pitched pretty well in the game. The Rocket struck out 6 while allowing 3 runs on 9 hits. Detroit got on the board when Carlos Guillen ripped an RBI double that score Placido Polanco in the 5th.

Zach Day and Jason Standrige teamed up to work the 7th and 8th without allowing a run so that David Riske could close it out in the 9th. Riske set them down in order to pick up his second save of the year in the absence of injured closer Octavio Dotel.

Clubhouse Report
Mark Grudzielanek still remains hitless this season through five games, and frustration is beginning to set in. "I'm just trying to stay loose," said the Gold Glove second baseman. "I know the hits will come, but I hope they're on their way. It's annoying to know that I'm not helping the team, but everyone's pulling for me and I'm trying to stay positive. Tomorrow will be a good day."

Tomorrow
The "tomorrow" Mark spoke of will be the finale of the three game set between these two teams. Royals Ace Gil Meche (0-0) will go up against Tigers Ace Jeremy Bonderman (0-1) with the series on the line.

[TJFOR3]

Game 3 of 3: Detroit Tigers (2-3) @ Kansas City Royals (3-2)

Tigers Take Series Behind Bonderman

Left: Royals Manager Buddy Bell argues with the first base umpire after a close call. Bell was tossed after a minute or two of arguing. - Right: Tigers first basemen Chris Shelton applies the tag to pick off a snoozing Royals baserunner.

The Detroit Tigers got off to a quick start and never looked back. The defending AL champs pounded out 17 hits en route to 8 runs and an easy 8-1 victory.

Jeremy Bonderman went the distance for Detroit, striking out 3 while allowing just 1 run on 10 hits. The 1 run came in the 8th inning when David DeJesus jacked a solo HR over the right field fence.

Gil Meche didn't pitch very well for the Royals, allowing 5 runs in 6 innings, and the KC bullpen took it from there. Joakim Soria let 3 runs score in the seventh without recording an out, letting any chances the Royals had of thinking of coming back slip away.

Chris Shelton and Magglio Ordonez led the Tigers with 2 RBI each, and Carlos Guillen and Pudge Rodriguez combined to go 7-10 with 3 runs scored and an RBI.

Clubhouse Report
Mark Grudzielanek remained hitless, but hit 3 hard line drives that would've been doubles had they not been right at the center fielder. "I felt better today," said the Gold Glover, "but I got some unlucky breaks and that's baseball."

Tomorrow
The Royals will travel to Toronto to take on the Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre. The 0-0 Blue Jays will have AJ Burnett (0-1) on the mound, and he'll have to get past Odalis Perez (1-0) if he wants his first win of the season.

[detroitbasketball]

It's the Rogers Centre, not the Skydome.

[Buzz Killington]

To hell with corporate bullcrap, call it the Skydome.

[detroitbasketball]

Yeesh....just trying to help.

[TJFOR3]

Game 1 of 3: Kansas City Royals (3-3) @ Toronto Blue Jays (3-3)

Perez Picks Up Second Win Against Blue Jays

Left: Alex Rios makes a diving play in right to save runs in the first inning. - Right: Royals players exchange high fives after the game.

Mark Grudzielanek broke out of his slump in a big way, going 3-5 with a 3-run HR to lead the Royals to a 7-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

The second baseman's long bomb came in the 4th inning and gave KC a 7-1 cushion that they would not give up. The Royals got 4 runs in the inning after scoring 3 in the 2nd to take control.

Odalis Perez improved to 2-0 by throwing 6 innings and allowing only 1 run, while Joakim Soria and Todd Wellymer worked the last 3 innings together.

AJ Burnett took the loss for the Jays, who got RBIs from Vernon Wells and Greg Zaun. David DeJesus and Tony Pena Jr. added 2 RBIs each for the Royals.

Clubhouse Report
"I'm happy with the way we're playing," said Royals Manager Buddy Bell. "Everything seems to be clicking, and if we could keep up the recent hitting surge we'd be a contender. We're just trying to stay focused and win baseball games.

Tomorrow
Zach Greinke (1-0) goes up against Casey Janssen (0-1) in Game 2 of the three game set. The Royals will be looking to win 2 in a row for the second time this season.

[TJFOR3]

Game 2 of 3: Kansas City Royals (4-3) @ Toronto Blue Jays (3-4)

Jays Hold On For 8-5 Win

Left: David DeJesus slides into second as the ball sails over Aaron Hill's head. DeJesus advanced to third on the Adam Lind error. - Right: Emil Brown jacks his second homer of the season.

The Toronto Blue Jays took advantage of early pitching mistakes so well that they could go on cruise control for the rest of the game. After scoring 7 runs in the 4th inning to go up 8-1, Toronto went by the "bend but don't break" strategy and held on for an 8-5 win.

Casey Janssen took advantage of the run support and improved to 1-1 despite allowing 3 runs on 12 hits in 6 innings. 3 different relievers helped close it out for the Jays, including BJ Ryan, who picked up his 1st save of the year.

Zach Greinke was shelled and took the loss after allowing 6 earned in less than 4 innings. Long reliever Zach Day pitched 4.1 innings of relief and gave the Royals a chance to get back in the game. If anyone is to go down injured, Day should be the next starter, because he has shown that he can throw.

David DeJesus had a huge game for the Royals, going 5-5 with 2 runs scored. The Royals got RBI's from 4 different players, including Emil Brown who jacked a 2-run homer in the 6th.

Vernon Wells and Troy Glaus went yard in the win for the Blue Jays, while Lyle Overbay and Frank Thomas added 3 hits each.

Around The League
-The Yankees (7-1) lead the AL.
-The Dodgers and Brewers (6-2) lead the NL.

Tomorrow
Jorge de la Rosa (0-1) goes up against Tomo Okha (0-0) in the rubber game of the series. The Royals will look to get back above .500.

[TJFOR3]

Game 3 of 3: Kansas City Royals (4-4) @ Toronto Blue Jays (4-4)

Okha Wins Pitchers Duel

Left: Mark Grudzielanek pumps his fist after finishing rounding the bases after jacking a homer. - Right: Blue Jay players celebrate after the win.

Jorge de la Rosa vs. Tomo Okha.

It didn't look like it was going to be a pitchers duel, but it certainly was. Vernon Wells RBI double in the 6th inning proved to be the difference, as Okha picked up the win in a 2-1 contest.

De la Rosa was the hard luck loser after pitching 7.1 innings and only allowing 5 hits and the 2 runs. Mark Grudzielanek homered in the loss for the Royals. The second basemen has really picked up his hitting since breaking out of a big slump a few games ago.

Alex Rios hit a leadoff HR in the 1st to account for the Jays other run. The Blue Jays are now 5-4 on the year while the Royals sit at 4-5.

Injury Report
Relief Pitcher Octavio Dotel will come off the DL and be ready to pitch in 3-4 days. Dotel was going to be the closer before he got hurt, but it will be interesting to see who Buddy Bell uses: Dotel or David Riske, who has not blown a save this season.

Tomorrow
Brandon Duckworth (1-0) will take to the mound for the Royals when they take on Steve Trachsel (0-1) and the Orioles at Camden Yards in Baltimore.