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Royals seeking third straight win

Apr 15, 2008 - 12:42 PM Kansas City (8-5) at Seattle (6-8) 6:40 pm EDT

SEATTLE (Ticker) - The Kansas City Royals hope to build off a pair of impressive pitching performances when they meet the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday in the finale of a two-game series.

Brian Bannister and Zack Greinke both did their parts to keep the Royals' bullpen fresh as the righthanders pitched complete games on Sunday and Monday, respectively.

Greinke tossed his third career complete game as the Royals posted a 5-1 triumph over the Mariners in the first game of the series.

Greinke, who threw just 107 pitches in his first complete game since 2005, allowed one run and five hits with a walk and four strikeouts.

John Bale (0-2, 5.84 ERA) will take the mound in this one, hoping to bounce back from a pair of shaky outings.

Bale pitched six innings, surrendering four runs on eight hits and a walk with three strikeouts in a 6-1 setback to the New York Yankees on Thursday.

Billy Butler, who has hit safely in all 13 games this season, led off the second inning Monday with his first home run of the season.

Miguel Batista (0-2, 6.00) will try to contain Butler and the rest of the Royals' offense. The Dominican righthander did pick up a save in his first appearance but is yet to record a win in two starts.

Batista allowed four runs and eight hits with three walks and four strikeouts over six frames in Thursday's 7-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.