Royals’ manager Trey Hillman’s gamble paid off, electing to stick with scheduled starting pitcher Zach Greinke despite a steady rain all night. Greinke delivered an eight inning shut out performance as the Royals beat the Yankees 4-0.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi elected to run out a string of relievers and not start Ian Kennedy. Girardi’s thought was that if there was a long rain delay, he could then warm up Kennedy and have him go. Hillman took his chance and went with Greinke who used the cold, wet weather to his advantage and attacked a depleted Yankees’ lineup.
The Royals hitters were made aware of Girardi’s decision right before game time and it took the Royals awhile to adjust, but got going in the 5th. John Buck hit his first home run of the year. Then Tony Pena tried to lay a bunt down toward third, but was thrown out. Then leadoff hitter Joey Gathright tried it and beat it out for a single. Then he stole second. Mark Grudzielanek walked and it looked like the Royals may have run themselves out of the inning when Gathright was caught trying to steal third, but Jose Guillen singled in Grudzielanek for his 4th RBI of the year.
Then in the sixth, the first three hitters go on base as Alex Gordon walked, Ross Gload doubled in Gordon and would later score himself.
Greinke is now 2-0 on the year with a 0.60 ERA. Greinke talks about the conditions and attacking the Yankees lineup with Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada out of the lineup.
Download/listen to Zach Greinke (MP3)
