John Bale’s two run throwing error capped a day full of miscues for the Royals as they lose 8-5 in Oakland. Zack Greinke named AL pitcher of the week, Dayton Moore’s contracted extended, and Trey Hillman leaves the team.
The Royals jumped out to a 4-0 lead thanks to a three run first inning keyed by a two run single by Alberto Callaspo and a solo home run from David DeJesus in the second. The Royals gave up the lead when Oakland scored five runs in the third inning.
Oakland scored two runs and had two outs before Luke Hochevar fell apart. He gave up a walk, a single, triple and another single and just like that the lead disappeared.
Callaspo tied the game up with a triple in the fifth, but when Hochevar ran into trouble in the sixth it was John Bale who couldn’t bail him out. Bale came in with two runners on walked the bases loaded with one out. He then got former Cardinal Adam Kennedy to hit the ball back to him. What would have been an easy 1-2-3 double play turned into a two run throwing error. Bale decided to try to throw to second to start the double play. When his infielders were surprised to see him turn around, Bale tried to hold up his throw and instead threw it about 20 feet wide of second base right into the ground.
Bonehead highlight .
Zack Greinke was named the American League pitcher of the week. After his 15 strikeout performance against Cleveland and then his one hitter on Sunday, this was a no-brainer.
General Manager Dayton Moore has had his contract extended through 2014. A good move. He’s brought in some good players despite the season they’ve had, there is a good nucleus of players with a solid starting rotation, a closer in Joakim Soria and guys like Billy Butler and Mark Teahen who are proving they can play at the major league level.
Manager Trey Hillman left the team following the death the of his father-in-law.