The Royals seem to continue to invent ways to give up runs this season and the latest patent winner is outfielder Esteban German. With one out in the sixth inning, the Royals outfielder allowed two Oakland runs to score when a fly ball hit him in the face. That was part of a six-run rally that helped the A’s beat the Royals 13-6.
The inning featured another unusual scoring opportunity. Royals’ reliever Luke Hudson hit Oakland catcher Jason Kendall with a pitch with the bases loaded to snap a 5-5 tie. Hudson (0-3), who didn’t retire any of the four batters he faced, was charged with four runs and the loss. But Hudson wasn’t the only Royals pitcher with control problems. Starter Scott Elarton and reliever Ambiorix Burgos also hit batters.
Perhaps most discouraging for the Royals was the fact that the six-run inning came just after Mark Teahen erased a 5-2 deficit with a game-tying, three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth.
The top of the A’s lineup killed the Royals, as Mark Kotsay, Nick Swisher and Eric Chavez were a combined 6-for-13 with 10 RBI’s, two homers and six runs scored.
The Royals have lost 12 in a row to Oakland at Kauffman Stadium.