Final/12
Royals try to lend Chen some support against Athletics
Apr 11, 2012 - 2:37 PMVideo
Chen scattered three hits over six scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Friday, but did not get a decision in his team's 5-0 loss. He also struck out four without walking anyone.
"Oh, wow, man, Bruce really pitched a heck of a game," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "I was proud of Bruce to come out and give us six strong innings like he did."
Chen is 2-3 lifetime against the A's with a 4.61 ERA in 11 games, seven of which have been starts.
Oakland, meanwhile, will turn to righty Brandon McCarthy, who will be making his third start of the season, but is still looking for his first win. After a terrific Opening Day start in Japan, McCarthy was less impressive against Seattle on Friday, as he was charged with the loss and allowed five runs (two earned) and seven hits in five innings to raise his ERA to 2.25 on the year.
"It was bad, about as bad as it's been in a long time," McCarthy said. "Just very little feel, kind of the complete opposite of how I felt in Tokyo. I felt very sharp there, could execute mostly everything I wanted to do. Tonight, [it] just wasn't the case. For some reason, I just lost all feel for anything I was trying to do. The first two innings felt sharp. Things just kind of sped up in the third, and I couldn't really get it back."
McCarthy has faced the Royals 10 times (two starts) and is 1-1 with a 5.48 ERA.
On Tuesday, Danny Duffy pitched six innings of one-hit ball in a steady rain, helping Kansas City to a 3-0 win.
A delay of 40-plus minutes preceded the start of the game, and the rain continued to fall throughout the night. The game was called with two outs in the top of the eighth inning when the conditions seemed to worsen a bit.
Duffy (1-0), a California native, walked four and struck out eight.
The rain didn't dampen Duffy's spirits.
"I had a great time out there. I couldn't help but smile a couple times. [It was] a lot of fun," said Duffy, who had family and friends in attendance.
Aaron Crow tossed a 1-2-3 seventh and picked up his first career save.
Billy Butler and Jeff Francoeur each had two hits and scored a run for the Royals, who were shut out 1-0 in Monday's series-opener.
Graham Godfrey (0-1) allowed two runs on six hits in six frames for the A's.
"I thought [Godfrey] did fine," said Oakland manager Bob Melvin. "We just couldn't get it going offensively."
Oakland was 5-4 versus the Royals last season.
- KANSAS CITY: 4
OAKLAND: 5
Final/12
Apr 11 7:51 PM - Jonny Gomes hit-by-pitch scored Jemile Weeks with two outs to end the game.
Royals 4, Athletics 5 Bot 12, 2 OutsApr 11 7:51 PM - Coco Crisp's groundout from second to first scored Seth Smith. On the play, Eric Sogard advances to second and Jemile Weeks advances to third. Runners on second and third and with two outs and Yoenis Cespedes due up.
Royals 4, Athletics 4 Bot 12, 2 OutsApr 11 7:48 PM - Billy Butler doubled to left scoring Eric Hosmer. Runner on second with two outs and Jeff Francoeur due up.
Royals 4, Athletics 3 Top 12, 2 OutsApr 11 7:30 PM - Alex Gordon one-out, solo Home Run (1) to center. Alcides Escobar is due up.
Royals 3, Athletics 3 Top 7, 1 OutApr 11 5:53 PM - Jonny Gomes none-out, two-run Home Run (2) to left-center scored Yoenis Cespedes. Kurt Suzuki is due up.
Royals 2, Athletics 3 Bot 4, 0 OutsApr 11 4:54 PM - Billy Butler one-out, solo Home Run (2) to left. Jeff Francoeur is due up.
Royals 2, Athletics 1 Top 4, 1 OutApr 11 4:41 PM - Alex Gordon singled to center scoring Brayan Pena. Runner on first with two outs and Alcides Escobar due up.
Royals 1, Athletics 1 Top 3, 2 OutsApr 11 4:17 PM - Yoenis Cespedes stole third. On the play, Brayan Pena's throwing error scored Yoenis Cespedes. None on with one out and Kurt Suzuki at the plate.
Royals 0, Athletics 1 Bot 2, 1 OutApr 11 4:08 PM - KANSAS CITY: 0
OAKLAND: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Apr 11 3:39 PM
Related News
- Elephant Rumblings: Post-Christmas lull at full throttle Dec 26
- Royals Rumblings - News for December 26, 2023 Dec 26
- Royals Rundown: Recapping moves, MJ Melendez update, and love/hate new MLB rules? Dec 25
- Twas The Night Before Christmas... Dec 24
- Elephant Rumblings: Luis Morales a prospect to watch in 2024 Dec 24
- 2023 Athletics Season in Review: Lawrence Butler Dec 23
- The Royals got me what I wanted for Christmas Dec 23
- Weekend Rumblings - News for December 23, 2023 Dec 23
- Elephant Rumblings: Giants Strike Out in Free Agency Once Again Dec 23
- 2023 Athletics Season in Review: Esteury Ruiz Dec 22
- Elephant Rumblings: MLB approves 2024 rule changes Dec 22
- Royals Review Roundtable: The free-spending Royals Dec 22