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Royals slip past Brewers

Jun 13, 2012 - 4:03 AM Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Billy Butler singled in Alex Gordon with the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth, lifting Kansas City over Milwaukee, 2-1, in the opener of a three-game interleague series.

Gordon slugged a first-inning homer for the Royals, who had lost four straight and spoiled the return of Zack Greinke to Kansas City.

"We just came off losing four games in a row, coming off a tough road trip. The media was hyping up Greinke coming to town," said Gordon. "We knew they had a good pitcher coming in. That's all we wanted to think. It's just another pitcher. Let's do anything we can to get a win."

Starter Luis Mendoza lost a no-hitter in the seventh, ending up allowing one hit and one over six-plus frames. Greg Holland (2-2) pitched a scoreless eighth for the win and Jonathan Broxton stranded two runners in the ninth to earn his 15th save.

Rickie Weeks collected two hits and drove in the lone run for the Brewers, who have lost two of three.

Francisco Rodriguez (0-4) took the loss, charged with the deciding run. Greinke scattered six hits and one run over his seven-inning outing. He struck out eight and didn't issue a walk.

"I wasn't any more (excited) getting ready for the game or anything," said Greinke, downplaying the emotion. "When I woke up, I was probably a little more excited than usual. Once I got to the park, it was the same. Once on the mound, it was the same, too."

Gordon began the frame with a double, then moved to third on a Chris Getz sacrifice and came in on Butler's base hit to center.

Aramis Ramirez and Weeks both singled off Broxton in the ninth, but George Kottaras fanned and Brooks Conrad hit into a game-ending fielder's choice.

Gordon put the Royals on the board with a solo shot in the home first and Mendoza only allowed two baserunners through six: Weeks in the second on a walk and Norichika Aoki on a hit-by-pitch in the fourth.

Milwaukee finally dented Mendoza in the seventh. Ryan Braun hit a hot shot to third which Mike Moustakas swallowed up but threw wild to first, and a subsequent throwing error by Getz trying to erase Braun at second moved him to third.

Ramirez walked and Aaron Crow was summoned. He induced a fly out to left from Taylor Green, but Braun was thrown out trying to score. Weeks then singled to plate Ramirez, who had gone to third on the fly.

Game Notes

Gordon's blast was the first in his last 150 at-bats, dating back to April 27 at Minnesota...Prior to the contest, Getz was activated from the 15-day disabled list and infielder Johnny Giavotella was optioned to Triple-A Omaha...The Royals improved to 9-10 all-time against their former American League rivals in interleague action, upping their record to 5-5 against the Brewers at Kauffman Stadium.