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Royals aim to deal A's another loss in Oakland

Jun 15, 2011 - 2:55 PM

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(Sports Network) - Sympathy isn't an attribute that runs rapid in professional baseball, so don't expect the Kansas City Royals to take the foot off the gas despite the Oakland Athletics' recent struggles.

The Royals hope to post a third straight victory tonight and deal the reeling A's a fourth straight setback as the teams resume a three-game set at the Coliseum.

Kansas City battered its way to a 7-4 victory last night, giving it four victories in five games since a 4-14 stretch. Danny Duffy enjoyed the offensive surge and rode it to his first major league win in his sixth career start, allowing two runs on four hits and four walks over six innings.

"[Duffy] pitched a good ballgame. He was on the attack with his fastball and got us through six innings with the lead," Royals manager Ned Yost said.

Alcides Escobar had three hits and drove in two runs, while Billy Butler also had two RBI in the win. Eric Hosmer snapped an 0-for-16 skid at the plate with two singles and an RBI for the Royals, who with a victory tonight can post their longest winning streak since a four-game run from April 29-May 3.

Despite a home run from Hideki Matsui as well as a pair of hits and an RBI by Scott Sizemore, the Athletics lost for the 13th time in 14 games and fell to 1-4 under new manager Bob Melvin.

Trevor Cahill was pulled after just 4 1/3 frames, taking the loss with four runs and four hits allowed while issuing a career-high seven walks.

"Sometimes he's trying to do a little too much," Melvin said of Cahill. "He's muscling it a little bit and the ball has to work for him naturally."

Melvin turns to Josh Outman tonight and the lefty will make his fifth start of the season.

Outman gave up just three earned runs over his first two starts, but has been drilled for seven in his last two outings to fall to 1-1 with a 4.15 earned run average. The 26-year-old picked up that first loss at Baltimore on Wednesday, yielding three runs on five hits over six innings as Oakland lost a ninth straight game.

"One of these days, it's going to turn around. Those hard hit balls are going to fall in and we're probably going to go on a nine-game winning streak with the type of defense and pitching we have," Outman said.

It hasn't happened yet and Melvin replaced Bob Geren the next day after Outman's outing.

Outman is 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA in two career games versus the Royals, including one start, and will be opposed tonight by Kansas City righty Luke Hochevar.

Hochevar snapped a three-decision slide and won for the first time since May 1 on Thursday versus Toronto, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks over seven innings. He improved to 4-6 with a 5.04 ERA in 14 starts this year, but is just 1-3 with a 6.49 ERA in four road outings in that span.

The 27-year-old lost his first five career starts against the A's before getting a no-decision on May 7 in a 4-3 win. Hochevar pitched very well, allowing just one run over seven innings, lowering his career ERA against Oakland to 7.26.

The Athletics did win two of three at Kansas City from May 6-8, still giving them a win in nine of the past 14 meetings. Oakland has won six of its past nine at home versus the Royals.






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