Royals starter Gil Meche came out of Monday’s game with a stiff right shoulder but he doesn’t think it’s anything else other than stiffness. Meche pitched the first three innings of a 9-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox and gave up three runs on four hits before cutting his outing short.
Meche said there is no pain so he’s not worried, but it has to be a concern because he says he can’t get a feel for his breaking ball and Meche admitted the tightness in his shoulder could be contributing to his ineffectiveness. After the game Meche said, “I don’t have a feel for my breaking ball too much. I keep saying that every time I pitch and I keep thinking it’s going to turn the corner but I just kind of have some shoulder stiffness. It’s nothing serious.”
Meche is scheduled to have two more Cactus League starts before pitching the season’s second game on April 7 at Kansas City. The Royals got to Jake Peavy for seven runs in the first three innings, including a four run fourth that was sparked by David DeJesus’ first home run of the spring.
Willie Bloomquist went 2 for 4 to raise his spring average to .556. Billy Butler had two hits to raise his average .361.