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Slowey hands Royals 11th straight loss

May 30, 2008 - 5:26 AM KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) -- The losing and misery continued for the Kansas City Royals thanks to Kevin Slowey.

Slowey came within one out of a shutout as the Minnesota Twins extended the Royals' losing streak to 11 games with a 5-1 triumph on Thursday.

Slowey (2-4) posted his second straight win, limiting Kansas City to one run and six hits en route to his first career complete game. The 24-year-old righthander struck out six without issuing a walk.

"Our starting pitcher was the story," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He had a great night. He was very efficient with his pitches. He worked in and out and went right after them.

"At one point, in the fifth inning I think, I looked up at the scoreboard and he had thrown 50 pitches. That makes the innings not very long. It gets us back in the dugout quick."

Carlos Gomez provided a chunk of the offense for the Twins, going 4-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored. Alexi Casilla collected three hits and Joe Mauer added two and drove in a run.

"Our two top guys (Gomez and Casilla) had a heckuva night," Gardenhire said. "When they get on base, it can get fun to watch because they both come to play."

Kansas City has been outscored, 67-28, during its slide, which began with a no-hitter by Boston's Jon Lester on May 19. The Royals have had only three longer losing steaks in their history, including a club-record 19-game skid in 2005.

Manager Trey Hillman held a team meeting - the second in five days - before the game but it did not help end the losing streak.

"We've talked about plenty of stuff," Kansas City's Mark Teahen said. "We've talked things around in circles and whatever else. What it comes down to, we just need to produce on the field and stop talking so much. Winning games solves a whole lot of issues. We've just got to take care of that, win some games."

"It's a tough patch right now," Royals center fielder David DeJesus added. "We've just got to remain mentally strong and keep relying on each other to get through this. It's going to happen. When we go out there, we can't win right now. I think a win will cure everything right now."

Slowey, who threw 74 of his 101 pitches for strikes, did not allow a runner to reach second base until DeJesus doubled with one out in the ninth. Alex Gordon ended the shutout bid two batters later with an RBI two-base hit.

"He didn't really have overpowering stuff," Gordon said of Slowey. "He had (Brian) Bannister control, hitting his spots and coming after us and throwing strikes. He was painting the inside and outside (of the plate)."

"Slowey was good," Hillman said. "We hit a few balls hard. ... The bottom line was the command and control of Slowey. He was commanding three pitches. The guy just filled the strike zone. You look up in the second inning and the guy has got five outs on 12 pitches, and you're scratching your head."

While throwing a first-pitch strike to 25 of 31 batters, Slowey did not reach a three-ball count on any hitters and faced just four over the minimum.

"I had phenomenal defensive plays (behind me)," Slowey said. "They made a few where I didn't even turn around because I knew they had no chance, and they still got outs. It makes it easy to pitch out there. I was changing speeds and not trying to make a great pitch where a good pitch will do, and trusting my defense."

"He was making them swing the bat," Gardenhire said. "He stayed on top with his pitches. His sinker really stayed down and he was able to add and subtract, change speeds."

Slowey has won each of his last two starts after losing his first four of the season.

"My game has changed a lot since I was called up (from the minors)," Slowey said. "You learn what works up here and what doesn't. You adapt. Guys will always make adjustments, so I will have to make more changes the next time I face them. I'm definitely more comfortable. The biggest thing I've learned is to be comfortable with what I have."

Luke Hochevar (3-5) suffered his third straight loss, yielding five runs, nine hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings. The first pick of the 2006 draft, who struck out three, has received the worst run support in the major leagues at 1.91 runs per nine innings pitched.

"I just go out and try to execute pitches, keep the ball down and get ahead," Hochevar said. "For the most part, until about the fifth and sixth (innings), I did so. In the fifth and sixth, I fell behind and got in hitters' counts, and that's when you get hurt. Early on, I was getting ahead and making them hit my pitch."

In his last four losses, Hochevar also has squared off against a pitcher who went on to toss a complete game.

"There's no doubt that plays into it," Hillman said. "Your starting pitcher goes out there and he feels like he's got to be darn-near perfect. That puts added pressure on your starters."

Michael Cuddyer opened the scoring with an RBI single in the fourth and Joe Mauer plated a run with a double an inning later, giving Slowey all the support he needed.

The Twins chased Hochevar during a three-run sixth. After Brendan Harris made it 3-0 with a sacrifice fly, Ron Mahay replaced Hochevar and was greeted by Gomez's two-run single.