The Royals took a 6-2 lead into the 7th and had a 6-4 lead into the 8 th , but the Angels battered the Royals’ bullpen again scoring five runs in the 8th to win 9-6. In that inning that Royals used four pitchers.
John Bale gave up a double. Ramon Colon gave up a two run homer Mike Napoli, then walked the next batter. Jamey Wright walked two guys to load the bases. With the score tied, manager Trey Hillman went to Joakim Soria who gave up a double that scored two and and sac fly to score the fifth run.
Brian Bannister went 6.2 innings allowing four runs and was in line for the win. The Royals have lost nine in a row, but in the first six games out of the All-Star break, the Royals have led in every game, but the bullpen has let that lead get away.
The Royals are putting runs on the board. They rapped out 11 hits and strung together hits in the second and fifth innings when they built a 5-2 lead. Bannister went 6.2 innings and gave up eight hits while striking out five and not walking a batter. The four runs he gave up came on two, two run shots; one from Maicer Izturis in the third and the other from Howie Kendrick in the seventh.