Article author:
Reuters
Kansas City Royals will return home after the most successful road trip of the season and play against one of the three teams that played on that trip.
Royals will host Auckland A on Friday night with the opener of the three-game series.
Kansas City welcomes Zack Greinke (0-4, 5.05 ERA) from the 10-day injured list, and A sends Cole Irvin (2-4, 3.14 ERA) to the mound.
Royals has reached 5-4 on recent trips to San Francisco, Oakland, Anaheim and California. They lost two of the three to the Giants before joining the series with the A and the Angels. The biggest factor seemed to be the starting pitcher.
In the nine games of this trip, the Kansas City starter achieved 3.42 ERA (18 runs in 47 1/3 innings). They gave up 36 hits and hit 47. The biggest negative was that only two starters completed 6 innings.
But manager Mike Matheny believes he sees some of his youthful rotation promises.
"I think there's an element for that here too," Massenny said of the staff, referring to the young pitching that led the Atlanta Braves to 14 division titles from 1991 to 2005.
"I think they are pulling each other because we all wear the same color, but dig deeper and they make each other better by pushing each other.
Greinke tries to add to that hot streak. He's been out with right flexor tension since May 30. Before he goes to IL It was clear that something was bothering him.
In the first six starts, he allowed less than three runs and threw at least five innings. At those starts, he posted a 2.67 ERA, hit 10 and walked only 3. But at his last 4 starts, the ERA was 9.50, 15 strikeouts, Seven walks and five home runs were allowed.
He started two minor league rehab in Triple A Omaha. On Saturday's second start, he started. He threw 7 innings, allowed 3 runs, 6 hits including 1 home run, 1 walk. He hit 4. He said there should be no limit.
Greinke is 11-3, always scoring 2.76 ERA with 24 appearances (19 starts) against A.
A will play Friday in three consecutive losses. They won three of the 19 games in June. Even if Frankie Montas throws a jewel, they are Thursday. Lost to Mariners 2-1. He had no hits and no runs until 72/3 innings.
Irvine was 1-1 with 1.40 ERA in three career starts with Kansas City.
In his final start, he allowed the Royals of Auckland only 3 hits and 1 run in 6 1/3 innings, but he lost because A was closed 2-0.
"I haven't been able to put together innings and strikeouts in the last four or five games," said manager Mark Kotzei. "Our pitching was really good on the other end. To win the game, we need to score points. Unfortunately, again, the attack can't get on the rhythm. I couldn't gain momentum. I couldn't put together the hits. "
– Field-level media
