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Royals hope power surge continues in opener with Rockies

May 13, 2014 - 3:11 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Owner of the fewest home runs in the majors, the Kansas City Royals got some power from a pair of unlikely sources to earn a series split over the weekend.

The Royals hope for another surge on Tuesday evening when they kick off a nine-game homestand that begins with two straight contests against the Colorado Rockies.

Kansas City has connected on just 16 home runs this season, just two more than the Chicago White Sox's Jose Abreu, and Mike Moustakas is the club's current leader with four homers.

The Royals, though, got two big home runs from Alcides Escobar and Johnny Giavotella in Sunday's 9-7 win over the Seattle Mariners to earn a split of the four-game set.

Escobar connected on a grand slam for the shortstop's second homer of the season and 20th of his career, while Giavotella smacked a three-run shot for the fourth longball of his career.

"You don't really expect your shortstop and second baseman to hit grand slams and three-run homers, but there's a lot of good signs out there," said Royals manager Ned Yost.

Though he will take as much as he can get tonight, James Shields didn't need much run support in his last outing and will try to secure a second straight victory tonight for the Royals.

The right-hander logged seven scoreless innings to beat the San Diego Padres 8-0 on Wednesday, scattering seven hits and two walks while striking out four.

It was an excellent rebound effort from Shields, who had been tagged for eight runs (7 earned) and 12 hits over 6 1/3 frames of an 8-2 setback to Detroit in his previous start.

The 32-year-old stands 4-3 with a 2.70 earned run average this season and will face the Rockies for the second time in his career. The first meeting came back on June 15, 2007 in Colorado while with Tampa Bay, and Shields suffered a loss for giving up five runs, six hits and two homers over six innings.

Colorado is looking to bounce back tonight following a 4-1 setback to the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. It gave the Rockies a setback in three of their last four as well as the club's first series loss since dropping two of three to San Francisco on April 12-14.

With left-hander Jorge De La Rosa having his start pushed back to Friday due to lower back spasms, Franklin Morales will move up to start this opener for Colorado.

Morales has allowed 13 runs over his last three outings, going 1-1 in that span. The 28-year-old lefty is coming off a 5-0 loss to Texas on Thursday after giving up five runs (4 earned) on six hits and three walks in six-plus innings.

Now 3-2 with a 5.18 ERA on the year, Morales will make his first career start versus the Royals and fifth appearance. He has posted a 3.60 ERA in the four previous relief outings without a decision.

The Rockies have won four of their last six versus the Royals, winning three- game sets in both 2010 in Kansas City and 2011 at home.