You know it had to happen at some point. Royals’ starting pitcher Zack Greinke would lose a good. It happened Saturday night against the Angels…barely. Greinke gave up one run, but didn’t get any support as the Royals lose for the second game in a row, this time a 1-0 final.
Greinke was pitched by Joe Saunders. In eight innings, Greinke gave up just four hits and one run, the first he had allowed in 16 innings. He struck out five and walked none in his fourth complete game. His ERA is still just 0.51, but Saunders got his first career shutout, giving up five hits.
Gary Matthews Jr. doubled to right field, took third on Erick Aybar’s sacrifice bunt and crossed the plate on Chone Figgins’ sacrifice fly. It was only the third earned run charged against Greinke in 48 innings this season.
Three of the four hits off Greinke were doubles. Kendry Morales put one into the right-field corner in the second and Aybar bounced one down the right-field line in the sixth. The fourth hit was Morales’ lined single to right in the seventh.
The Royals best chance to score came in the 5 th inning after a leadoff walk to Billy Butler, followed by an Alberto Callaspo single, but they were left stranded. Saunders needed just 101 pitches to get through the game.