Royals Bullpen Blows Opener

After struggling with a horrible bullpen all last season, this was the last way the Royals wanted to lose their opener. Reliever Jerry Spradlin served up a two-out, ninth-inning home run to Toronto’s Tony Batista, and the Blue Jays beat the Royals 5-4. The finish spoiled a thrilling Kansas City comeback. Trailing 4-0, the Royals scored 2 runs in the 7th, and 2 in the 9th to tie the game. Gregg Zaun tied it with a two-run single with two outs in the 9th inning. But after retiring the first two in the bottom of the ninth, Spradlin hung a breaking pitch, and Batista hit his second homer of the game. Shannon Stewart also homered twice for the Jays. Chris Fussell did give Kansas City three scoreless innings of relief. Kansas City starter Jeff Suppan allowed four runs, on three home runs, in five innings. The same teams meet tonight. Jay Witasick will start for the Royals against Roy Halladay.