GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: KANSAS CITY (19-35) at TAMPA BAY (22-29)

AL: KANSAS CITY (19-35) at TAMPA BAY (22-29)

<h3>Royals try to end road woes vs. Devil Rays</h3>

<div class="pre">Kansas City (19-35) at Tampa Bay (22-29) 7:10 pm EDT</div>

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) - It's been nearly three yearssince the Kansas City Royals have won at Tropicana Field. It'sbeen over a week since they've won a game at all.

The Royals look to end a seven-game losing streak when they facethe Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Friday.

Kansas City, which has not won since May 23, will put its hopesin Brian Bannister (0-3, 4.54 ERA). The righthander also aimsto record his first victory as a Royal. He allowed a season-highfour runs and eight hits in a 9-1 loss to Seattle on Saturday.

The 26-year old Bannister, who was acquired from the New YorkMets in the offseason, is seeking his first win since April 16,2006.

The Royals, who have won six of their last eight road games,also have to find a way to win on the road vs. the Devil Rays.They have dropped seven straight and 11 of 13 here since thebeginning of the 2004 season. Kansas City's last victory herewas on September 22, 2004.

Scott Kazmir (3-2, 3.95) takes the mound for the Devil Rayslooking for his second straight win. The lefthander allowedfour runs and eight hits in seven innings while striking outseven to beat the Chicago White Sox, 11-5, on Sunday.

However, he is 0-2 with a 2.68 ERA in his last 10 starts at homeand hasn't won at Tropicana since defeating the Boston Red Soxon July 3. Kazmir is 1-0 with a 6.35 ERA in three startsagainst the Royals.

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY AT TAMPA BAY -- LINEUPS

KANSAS CITY TAMPA BAY
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Esteban German LF .274 2 12 Elijah Dukes CF .223 10 19
Mark Grudzielanek 2B .270 2 18 B.J. Upton 2B .325 8 29
Mark Teahen CF .286 5 26 Carl Crawford LF .302 5 30
Mike Sweeney DH .236 6 23 Greg Norton DH .176 0 1
Emil Brown RF .200 1 15 Carlos Pena 1B .300 10 28
Ryan Shealy 1B .230 2 13 Delmon Young RF .253 6 27
Alex Gordon 3B .185 3 8 Akinori Iwamura 3B .364 1 5
Tony Pena Jr SS .265 0 12 Shawn Riggans C .125 0 2
Jason Larue C .113 1 3 Brendan Harris SS .309 3 14

Brian Bannister RHP (0-3, 4.54) Scott Kazmir LHP (3-2, 3.95)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY
WARMUPS: KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER (0-3, 4.54)
TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR (3-2, 3.95)

UMPIRES: HP - ED HICKOX
1B - C.B. BUCKNOR
2B - JOE WEST
3B - ED RAPUANO

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY
STARTING BATS: KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER AND JASON LARUE
TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR AND SHAWN RIGGANS

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: E GERMAN (.274, 2 HR, 12 RBI)
M GRUDZIELA (.270, 2 HR, 18 RBI)
M TEAHEN (.286, 5 HR, 26 RBI)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
KANSAS CITY 0 0 0 0
TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER
TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: E DUKES (.223, 10 HR, 19 RBI)
B UPTON (.325, 8 HR, 29 RBI)
C CRAWFORD (.302, 5 HR, 30 RBI)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (0) VS TAMPA BAY (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E German lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
M Grudzielanek 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
M Teahen cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .284
M Sweeney dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236
E Brown rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
R Shealy 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230
A Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .185
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
J LaRue c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .113

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E Dukes cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .223
B Upton 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .325
C Crawford lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
G Norton dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .176
C Pena 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
D Young rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
A Iwamura 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .364
S Riggans c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125
B Harris ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 0 -- 0
TAMPA BAY - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bannister 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.54

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
S Kazmir 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.90

Pitches-strikes: S Kazmir 14-8. Ground balls-fly balls: S Kazmir 2-0. Batters
faced: S Kazmir 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Hickox. 1B--C.B. Bucknor. 2B--Joe West. 3B--Ed Rapuano.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY
CONFIRMED STARTERS: KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER
TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
KANSAS CITY 0 0 0 0
TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER
TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: M SWEENEY (.236, 6 HR, 23 RBI)
E BROWN (.200, 1 HR, 15 RBI)
R SHEALY (.230, 2 HR, 13 RBI)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (0) VS TAMPA BAY (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E German lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
M Grudzielanek 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
M Teahen cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .284
M Sweeney dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236
E Brown rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
R Shealy 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230
A Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .185
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
J LaRue c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .113

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E Dukes cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .221
B Upton 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
G Norton dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .176
C Pena 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
D Young rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
A Iwamura 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .364
S Riggans c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125
B Harris ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 0 -- 0
TAMPA BAY - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bannister 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.41

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
S Kazmir 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.90

Pitches-strikes: B Bannister 12-8; S Kazmir 14-8. Ground balls-fly balls: B
Bannister 2-1; S Kazmir 2-0. Batters faced: B Bannister 3; S Kazmir 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Hickox. 1B--C.B. Bucknor. 2B--Joe West. 3B--Ed Rapuano.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
WILD PITCH BY SCOTT KAZMIR ALLOWED MIKE SWEENEY TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 1
TAMPA BAY 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: E BROWN (.200, 0-FOR-0)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY TONY PENA JR SCORED EMIL BROWN.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, T PENA JR ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 2
TAMPA BAY 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: J LARUE (.113, 1 HR, 3 RBI)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL KANSAS CITY AT TAMPA BAY
NOTE: KANSAS CITY SHORTSTOP TONY PENA JR. EXTENDED HIS
HITTING STREAK TO 10 GAMES WITH A SINGLE IN THE SECOND INNING.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY ESTEBAN GERMAN SCORED TONY PENA JR.
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, E GERMAN ON FIRST, J LARUE ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 3
TAMPA BAY 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: M GRUDZIELANEK (.268, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
KANSAS CITY 0 3 3 4 0
TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 1 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER
TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: G NORTON (.176, 0 HR, 1 RBI)
C PENA (.300, 10 HR, 28 RBI)
D YOUNG (.253, 6 HR, 27 RBI)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (3) VS TAMPA BAY (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E German lf 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .278
M Grudzielanek 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .267
M Teahen cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .284
M Sweeney dh 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .241
E Brown rf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .200
R Shealy 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .228
A Gordon 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .183
T Pena Jr ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .269
J LaRue c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .130

Totals 10 3 4 2 1 3 4

BATTING: 3B - M Sweeney (1, S Kazmir). RBI - T Pena Jr (13), E German (13).
2-out RBI - T Pena Jr, E German. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M
Grudzielanek 1. Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: SB - E Brown (6, 2nd base off S Kazmir/S Riggans).


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E Dukes cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .221
B Upton 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
G Norton dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .176
C Pena 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
D Young rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
A Iwamura 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .364
S Riggans c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125
B Harris ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: E - S Riggans (2, throw).


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 03 -- 3
TAMPA BAY - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bannister 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.41

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
S Kazmir 2 4 3 3 1 3 0 4.24

WP - S Kazmir. Pitches-strikes: B Bannister 12-8; S Kazmir 47-29. Ground
balls-fly balls: B Bannister 2-1; S Kazmir 3-0. Batters faced: B Bannister 3; S
Kazmir 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Hickox. 1B--C.B. Bucknor. 2B--Joe West. 3B--Ed Rapuano.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
KANSAS CITY 0 3 3 4 0
TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 0 1 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER
TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: M TEAHEN (.284, 0-FOR-1)
M SWEENEY (.241, 1-FOR-1)
E BROWN (.200, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (3) VS TAMPA BAY (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E German lf 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .278
M Grudzielanek 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .267
M Teahen cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .284
M Sweeney dh 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .241
E Brown rf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .200
R Shealy 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .228
A Gordon 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .183
T Pena Jr ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .269
J LaRue c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .130

Totals 10 3 4 2 1 3 4

BATTING: 3B - M Sweeney (1, S Kazmir). RBI - T Pena Jr (13), E German (13).
2-out RBI - T Pena Jr, E German. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M
Grudzielanek 1. Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: SB - E Brown (6, 2nd base off S Kazmir/S Riggans).


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E Dukes cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .221
B Upton 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
G Norton dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .167
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .298
D Young rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .251
A Iwamura 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .364
S Riggans c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125
B Harris ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 3 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: E - S Riggans (2, throw).


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 03 -- 3
TAMPA BAY - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bannister 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 4.29

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
S Kazmir 2 4 3 3 1 3 0 4.24

WP - S Kazmir. Pitches-strikes: B Bannister 23-17; S Kazmir 47-29. Ground
balls-fly balls: B Bannister 2-1; S Kazmir 3-0. Batters faced: B Bannister 6; S
Kazmir 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Hickox. 1B--C.B. Bucknor. 2B--Joe West. 3B--Ed Rapuano.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
KANSAS CITY 0 3 0 3 5 0
TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 0 1 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER
TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: A IWAMURA (.364, 1 HR, 5 RBI)
S RIGGANS (.125, 0 HR, 2 RBI)
B HARRIS (.309, 3 HR, 14 RBI)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (3) VS TAMPA BAY (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E German lf 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .278
M Grudzielanek 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .267
M Teahen cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .283
M Sweeney dh 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 .245
E Brown rf 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 .198
R Shealy 1b 2 0 0 0 0 2 2 .225
A Gordon 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .183
T Pena Jr ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .269
J LaRue c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .130

Totals 14 3 5 2 1 4 6

BATTING: 3B - M Sweeney (1, S Kazmir). RBI - T Pena Jr (13), E German (13).
2-out RBI - T Pena Jr, E German. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M
Grudzielanek 1. Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: SB - E Brown (6, 2nd base off S Kazmir/S Riggans).


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E Dukes cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .221
B Upton 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
G Norton dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .167
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .298
D Young rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .251
A Iwamura 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .364
S Riggans c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125
B Harris ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 3 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: E - S Riggans (2, throw).


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 030 -- 3
TAMPA BAY - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bannister 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 4.29

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
S Kazmir 3 5 3 3 1 4 0 4.17

WP - S Kazmir. Pitches-strikes: B Bannister 23-17; S Kazmir 57-38. Ground
balls-fly balls: B Bannister 2-1; S Kazmir 4-1. Batters faced: B Bannister 6; S
Kazmir 15.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Hickox. 1B--C.B. Bucknor. 2B--Joe West. 3B--Ed Rapuano.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
KANSAS CITY 0 3 0 3 5 0
TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 0 1 1 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER
TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: A GORDON (.183, 0-FOR-1)
T PENA JR (.269, 1-FOR-1, RBI)
J LARUE (.130, 1-FOR-1)</div>