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Royals attempt to reverse recent fortunes in Colorado

Jul 2, 2011 - 2:45 PM (Sports Network) - The club with the fewest wins in the American League tries to get back on track tonight when the Kansas City Royals play the second of a three-game interleague set against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

The Royals, who have won just two games since June 17, have dropped 10 of their last 11 outings following a 9-0 defeat in the series opener on Friday. In the midst of a nine-game road trip which still has a stop in Chicago coming up against the White Sox, KC has won just 10 of 35 games this season away from Kauffman Stadium.

Last night the Royals managed to produce just four hits, compared to 13 for the hosts, as starter Danny Duffy was handed his third loss in four decisions on the season. Duffy was tagged for five runs on nine hits in five innings of work, giving up a pair of home runs while striking out six.

Mike Moustakas logged a hit and a walk for the visitors in the disappointing effort.

"These things go in cycles," Royals manager Ned Yost said of the team's lack of hitting last night. "This team can hit. We got some kids that can swing the bat, but right now it's a struggle for us. So right now we have to grind it out."

Colorado starter Juan Nicasio posted his third win in four decisions as he held Kansas City to a mere three hits and a pair of walks, while striking out four, over the course of eight innings of action.

Troy Tulowitzki delivered his 16th home run of the season, plating two, while Mark Ellis tallied three hits and three RBI as he connected on his first home run in a Colorado uniform. Charlie Blackmon celebrated his 25th birthday by crushing his first career home run for the hosts.

"It felt great, you know," who Ellis was acquired him from the Athletics on Thursday. "It's fun to be out there. With the new teammates it was a lot of fun. There was a lot of excitement in the building and I was a little nervous."

Returning from the 15-day disabled list and hoping to turn his season around will be Kyle Davies as he takes the mound for the Royals tonight. The right- hander, who is in his seventh major league campaign, has just one win in seven decisions so far in 2011 and is trying to rebound from right rotator cuff inflammation.

The last appearance for Davies with the big club took place back in the middle of May when he survived just one-third of an inning, allowing two runs on three walks in what became an ugly 19-1 victory for the Cleveland Indians.

Davies, who is just 43-62 in his career at this stage, has dropped all three of his previous encounters with the Rockies and has an 8.00 ERA to show for 18 innings of action.

As for Colorado, right-hander Jhoulys Chacin had been scheduled to make the start for the club tonight, but with tightness in his forearm he has been bumped to Tuesday against the Braves and that means that Greg Reynolds will now take the ball for the Rockies.

Reynolds, who has a career record of 4-8, is actually 2-0 for the club in 2011 even though he has been in the minors for all of June. The Stanford product last pitched for Colorado in late May in relief, giving up a hit and a walk, while striking out three over two innings in a 7-1 loss to LA.

The Rockies, who are an even 21-21 at home and currently third in the NL West standings, have the luxury of hitting against a Kansas City staff which is last in the AL in team ERA at 4.55.

The Royals are now a mere 4-12 in interleague play this season compared to Colorado which is 7-6. The Rockies have won four of the last four meetings between the clubs after being swept by KC in 2008.