Johnny Cueto and the Royals are hoping he can work out of this new slump (photo/MLB)

Johnny Cueto and the Royals are hoping he can work out of this new slump (photo/MLB)

Johnny Cueto has not been the starting pitcher that Ned Yost and the Kansas City Royals expected when they traded for him just prior to the July 31st deadline.  Cueto lost for the fourth time in a row and the Royals were swept by the Chicago White Sox in a 7-5 win on Sunday.

Cueto was pulled after three innings where he allowed seven hits and five earned runs.  The first five White Sox hitters reached base and Cueto was down 3-0 before he could record an out.

“I’m going to look at video and continue to work,” Cueto said through a translator. “There’s nothing I can do about today and about the last three starts. I’m not frustrated at all. Just a little disappointed that I haven’t been able to help the team the way I’m supposed to help this club.”

The White Sox got to Cueto for five runs over three innings and led 6-1 before the Royals rallied with two in the sixth and two in the seventh.  The last time Cueto lost four decisions in a row was all the way back in 2009 for the Reds, when he lost six in a row during a eight-start stretch from August to September. That was four a Reds team that was 14-games under .500.