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Athletics complete sweep of Royals

Apr 21, 2008 - 2:04 AM By Michael Duca PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) - Rob Bowen and Jack Hannahan had key hits in a five-run fourth inning, and Dana Eveland limited Kansas City to three hits over 5 2/3 innings as the Oakland Athletics completed a three-game sweep over the Kansas City Royals with 7-1 win Sunday. All seven of Oakland's runs came with two outs. "That was the theme of the whole series here," said Bowen. We faced some great pitchers, and the first time through the order, especially today, we didn't do much, but when they were most vulnerable, we took advantage of it. You saw it all series. When a guy got down, we made sure they stayed down." Bowen, Oakland 's backup catcher, made only his second start and appearance of the season a productive one.

His soft liner to center scored Bobby Crosby with the go-ahead run in the fourth. He added a line drive single to right in the fifth that plated Oakland 's sixth run and chased Royals starter Luke Hochevar.

"Any time you go in there, you can't try to do too much," Bowen said. Especially when you are not playing a whole lot. It's tough to step in there and hit against big league pitching."

Hannahan, playing third for the A's while Eric Chavez rehabs from a pair of off-season surgeries, stroked a 3-2 hanging changeup for an opposite field double to drive in a pair and extend Oakland 's lead to 4-1.

"Any time you get a power sinkerballer on the mound," said Hannahan, "you have to be patient, and take what you can get. Take advantage of the strikes, and not the ones down below the zone." Hochevar (0-1), picked first overall in the 2006 draft out of Tennessee, was making his 2008 debut and facing Oakland for the first time.

He cruised through the first 12 hitters, allowing only a hit and a walk, but retired just four of the next 14 he faced.

Five straight Athletics hit safely with two outs in the fourth. The former Tennessee Volunteer struck out the first two hitters in the fifth, but a double to Ryan Sweeney and walk to Chris Denorfia set up Bowen's second at-bat.

"The one thing I look back on is, I probably should have knocked somebody down, come in hard, and get them uncomfortable," Hochevar said. "After they rattled off a couple of hits, they got comfortable. That's my job, to establish the plate, make them uncomfortable and take back the plate. "

Eveland (2-1), coming off a 4 2/3 inning defeat at Chicago , had some command issues, as he walked four and threw 95 pitchers while facing only 22 hitters. He pitched well enough in his first-ever outing against the Royals, who scored their run off Eveland on a double-play ball.

"I feel like I threw better in spring than my last two outings," Eveland said. "I don't think I threw great today by any means. Four walks is unacceptable. I like to pound the strike zone and get quick outs. To get to 100 pitches in six innings doesn't work for me. I have to be a lot better than that, and I know I'm capable of being a lot better than that.

"I feel like my stuff is good enough to where they are not going to be able to put it into play hard. When I'm throwing strikes and avoiding walks, I don't have to worry about the big inning. I might give up a long ball, but I should be able to do damage control better than the average guy."

When Eveland allowed a pair of two-out base runners in the sixth, Andrew Brown came in and retired the next four hitters, and seven of eight. Brown has not allowed an earned run in nine appearances (12.0 IP) this season.

Brown and Santiago Casilla continued a recent string of Oakland bullpen success. A's relievers have a 1.21 ERA with eight hits, three earned runs, five walks and 16 strikeouts over their past seven games.

It was the A's first home sweep of Kansas City since May 21-23, 2004, and the first sweep suffered by the Royals this year. Kansas City has an off-day before they host Cleveland Tuesday.

"We started the road trip off pretty good," said Royals manager Trey Hillman. "You don't envision going 2-5, but that's what happened. It's good timing (the day off). There's not a guy in here happy about the way we finished this road trip."