Brian Bannister left in the sixth inning with what he described as shoulder tightness. Trailing 2-1 in the seventh, the bullpen got rocked for five runs and lose for the second day in a row to Oakland 5-2. That was the Royals’ fifth loss in a row.
The west coast was not nice to the Royals who went 0-5 between LA and Oakland, but twice on this trip, it was pitchers from Missouri who did them in. Last Saturday, Joe Saunders who grew up in the Bootheel beat Zack Greinke 1-0. Then last night, it was Josh Outman, an All-American pitcher from Central Missouri who outpitched Bannister for his first win of the season.
Outman went six innings allowing one run on three hits and two walks to go along with four strikeouts. The Royals bats have really been silent during this losing streak. In the six wins the Royals had prior to this road trip they scored 40 runs. In the five losses, the Royals have managed just nine. That’s going to be the norm for this Royals’ club. You’ll see streaks where they get red hot and then you’ll see days when the bats are silent.
As far as Bannister, he said he has experienced shoulder tightness like this in the past and has always been able to bounce back and doesn’t expect to miss his next start. Through the first five innings, Bannister was on. He allowed just two hits and had three strikeouts.
In the sixth, he began to labor where he allowed three hits and a walk including a double by Jason Giambi. After walking Matt Holliday, that is when Bannister pulled himself from the game. Horacio Ramirez got the final out.
In the seventh, things unraveled. The A’s scored five unearned runs. After an error by Mark Teahen at third loaded the bases, Jamey Wright hit Kurt Suzuki with a pitch. Then after two outs, Holliday singled in another run and Jack Cust doubled in three off Wright to blow the game open.
