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Royals roll past Phillies

Jun 9, 2007 - 6:41 AM KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) -- Returning from a weak-hitting road trip, the Kansas City Royals found their offense for an inning and defeated the Philadelphia Phillies, 8-4, on Friday.

Hosting the Phillies for the first time since the 1980 World Series, Kansas City tied a season high with six runs in the second inning, highlighted by a pair of two-run homers by Mark Grudzielanek and Mike Sweeney.

Kansas City came into the game having scored more than four runs in just one of its previous 14 games while being outscored, 80-36, in that span.

"We're definitely not scoring runs like we can," Grudzielanek said, "Which is a surprise with the kind of guys we have here."

Scott Elarton (2-2) was the beneficiary of the unusual offensive outburst, surviving five innings despite giving up three homers. The righthander allowed four runs, six hits and one walk while striking out three.

"The big thing was the momentum change," Elarton said. "We were three runs behind and then we got six and we were three runs ahead. That's a big change, but I still have to make fewer mistakes. I made three critical mistakes and they made me pay for all three."

Four relievers bridged the way to Octavio Dotel, who recorded the final two outs of the game for his third save of the season.

"I feel like I'm getting back to where I need to, throwing the way I need to," Dotel said. "Tonight was a good night. I felt comfortable, but this game's crazy. Sometimes when I feel comfortable, I'm way too confident. A one-run lead is different - I can not make a mistake."

The Royals success came against one of the steadiest interleague pitchers, as Freddy Garcia (1-5) entered the game with a 19-5 record and a 2.34 ERA in 31 career interleague starts. However, the righthander didn't get out of the second inning as Kansas City batted around to take a 6-3 lead.

After Jason LaRue's one-out double and Tony Pena's infield hit, David DeJesus slapped a two-out RBI double just inside the first base bag to cut the lead to 3-2.

"Everybody did their job," DeJesus said. "The bottom of the lineup got on base and I saw a curveball and I just wanted to keep it fair. Then 'Grudz' and Sweeney hit the big home runs."

Grudzielanek drove a ball high off the left field foul pole to give the Royals the lead. Mark Teahen walked ahead of Sweeney's homer into the left field bullpen.

"It was nice to get a break, finally," Grudzielanek said. "I was just looking for a ball up, for something to drive and he tried to come inside with a changeup, I think.

Garcia allowed six runs, seven hits and two walks while striking out one in 1 2/3 innings - his shortest outing since August 1, 2003.

"I faced (Garcia) last year and there's definitely something wrong," Grudzielanek said. "He's definitely lost some velocity. When he was with Seattle he was filthy and he's not quite as filthy as he has been."

After the game the Phillies announced that Garcia has shoulder soreness and will see the team doctor when they return home following Sunday's game.

"His velocity wasn't up the way it has been," DeJesus said in comparing Garcia to previous outings. "And he's had a sharper curveball than tonight. But we had some good at-bats and jumped on him early."

Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel said he has been concerned about Garcia for some time.

"I've thought something was wrong with him ever since the season started," he said. "I followed him down the tunnel and asked him about it and that's when he told me it was sore. I told him I do not want someone who is hurt pitching. If you're hurt, I want to know it."

"Monday I'll check it out and see what's going on with my shoulder," Garcia said. "I've got to stop pitching. I don't want to pitch the way I've been pitching if it is not 100 percent in my shoulder. The last couple of outings, I don't feel the way I want to feel. Right now, with how they hit me, I can not pitch that way."

Ryan Howard blasted a two-run homer to spot the Phillies a 2-0 lead in the first and Greg Dobbs added a solo shot in the second before the Royals' six-run eruption. Rod Barajas' solo homer in the fifth capped Philadelphia's scoring.

Kansas City added a pair of runs in the seventh inning as LaRue, Pena and Joey Gathright pieced together consecutive hits. The Royals pounded out a season-high 16 hits.

The Royals snapped a seven-game home losing streak while the Phillies' six-game road winning streak was snapped. Kansas City has won 13 of its last 19 interleague games.

"Everybody contributed tonight," Royals Manager Buddy Bell said. "It's nice because it's something we haven't had lately. 'Grudz' got us going and Sweeney gave us separation. The middle of our lineup, Mike especially, gave us something tonight and that makes it easier for the bookends of the lineup to do something."