GAME THREAD: AL: TAMPA BAY (34-51) at KANSAS CITY (36-50)

AL: TAMPA BAY (34-51) at KANSAS CITY (36-50)

<h3>Meche takes hill as two of AL's worst face off</h3>



Tampa Bay (34-51) at Kansas City (36-50) 7:10 pm EDT

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) -- Two of the American League'sworst teams take the field as the Kansas City Royals continue tohost the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the second game of athree-game series on Saturday.

The last place Devil Rays snapped their 11-game losing streak -the longest skid in the majors' - with a 6-5 win over the lastplace Royals in the opener on Friday.

Gil Meche take the mound for Kansas City hoping to even theseries up. Meche (5-6, 3.26 ERA) is the Royals' lonerepresentative in Tuesday's All-Star game and is unbeaten in hislast five starts.

Last Saturday Meche limited his former team - the SeattleMariners - to two runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings but didnot received a decision in the Royals' 3-2 win.

Meche will be opposed by rookie Andy Sonnanstine (1-3, 5.63),who is winless since beating Florida on June 10. Therighthander allowed three runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 inning ina 10-2 loss to Cleveland last Saturday.

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

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

TAMPA BAY KANSAS CITY
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Akinori Iwamura 3B .297 3 12 David Dejesus CF .284 5 31
Carl Crawford LF .288 6 51 Esteban German 2B .276 2 27
Brendan Harris SS .308 8 38 Mark Teahen RF .285 5 43
Carlos Pena 1B .287 19 50 Ross Gload 1B .252 2 20
Ty Wigginton 2B .272 13 42 Alex Gordon 3B .235 6 25
Greg Norton DH .188 2 6 Billy Butler DH .273 2 12
Delmon Young CF .280 9 47 John Buck C .245 15 29
Jonny Gomes RF .254 6 17 Joey Gathright LF .328 0 8
Dioner Navarro C .181 1 12 Tony Pena Jr SS .275 1 22

Andy Sonnanstine RHP (1-3, 5.63) Gil Meche RHP (5-6, 3.26)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY
WARMUPS: TAM - ANDY SONNANSTINE (1-3, 5.63)
KAN - GIL MECHE (5-6, 3.26)

UMPIRES: HP - JAMES HOYE
1B - SCOTT BARRY
2B - PHIL CUZZI
3B - TOM HALLION

WEATHER: 91 Degrees, clear
WIND: 4 mph, swirling</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY
STARTING BATS: TAM - ANDY SONNANSTINE AND DIONER NAVARRO
KAN - GIL MECHE AND JOHN BUCK

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: A IWAMURA (.297, 3 HR, 12 RBI)
C CRAWFORD (.288, 6 HR, 51 RBI)
B HARRIS (.308, 8 HR, 38 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - ANDY SONNANSTINE
KAN - GIL MECHE

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: D DEJESUS (.284, 5 HR, 31 RBI)
E GERMAN (.276, 2 HR, 27 RBI)
M TEAHEN (.285, 5 HR, 43 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

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

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .296
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
B Harris ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .286
T Wigginton 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
G Norton dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .188
D Young cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
J Gomes rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .181

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 2 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
E German 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
M Teahen rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
R Gload 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
A Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
B Butler dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245
J Gathright lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .328
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


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

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
A Sonnanstine 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.63

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
G Meche 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.23

Pitches-strikes: G Meche 15-10. Ground balls-fly balls: G Meche 0-1. Batters
faced: G Meche 4.

UMPIRES: HP--James Hoye. 1B--Scott Barry. 2B--Phil Cuzzi. 3B--Tom Hallion.

Weather: 90 degrees, clear. Wind: 12 mph, swirling.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY
CONFIRMED STARTERS: TAM - ANDY SONNANSTINE
KAN - GIL MECHE</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - ANDY SONNANSTINE
KAN - GIL MECHE

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: T WIGGINTON (.272, 13 HR, 42 RBI)
G NORTON (.188, 2 HR, 6 RBI)
D YOUNG (.280, 9 HR, 47 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

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

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .296
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
B Harris ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .286
T Wigginton 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
G Norton dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .188
D Young cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
J Gomes rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .181

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 2 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (D Navarro-B Harris).


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
E German 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .276
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .284
R Gload 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
A Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
B Butler dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245
J Gathright lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .328
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275

Totals 2 0 0 0 1 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

BASERUNNING: CS - E German (4, 2nd base by A Sonnanstine/D Navarro).


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

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
A Sonnanstine 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 5.49

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
G Meche 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.23

Pitches-strikes: A Sonnanstine 19-10; G Meche 15-10. Ground balls-fly balls:
A Sonnanstine 1-0; G Meche 0-1. Batters faced: A Sonnanstine 3; G Meche 4.

UMPIRES: HP--James Hoye. 1B--Scott Barry. 2B--Phil Cuzzi. 3B--Tom Hallion.

Weather: 90 degrees, clear. Wind: 12 mph, swirling.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - ANDY SONNANSTINE
KAN - GIL MECHE

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: R GLOAD (.252, 2 HR, 20 RBI)
A GORDON (.235, 6 HR, 25 RBI)
B BUTLER (.273, 2 HR, 12 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

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

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .296
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
B Harris ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .286
T Wigginton 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
G Norton dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .185
D Young cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .279
J Gomes rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .181

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 3 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (D Navarro-B Harris).


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
E German 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .276
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .284
R Gload 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
A Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
B Butler dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245
J Gathright lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .328
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275

Totals 2 0 0 0 1 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

BASERUNNING: CS - E German (4, 2nd base by A Sonnanstine/D Navarro).


----------------------------------------------------
TAMPA BAY - 00 -- 0
KANSAS CITY - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
A Sonnanstine 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 5.49

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
G Meche 2 1 0 0 0 3 0 3.20

Pitches-strikes: A Sonnanstine 19-10; G Meche 29-19. Ground balls-fly balls:
A Sonnanstine 1-0; G Meche 1-2. Batters faced: A Sonnanstine 3; G Meche 7.

UMPIRES: HP--James Hoye. 1B--Scott Barry. 2B--Phil Cuzzi. 3B--Tom Hallion.

Weather: 90 degrees, clear. Wind: 12 mph, swirling.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - ANDY SONNANSTINE
KAN - GIL MECHE

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: J GOMES (.254, 6 HR, 17 RBI)
D NAVARRO (.181, 1 HR, 12 RBI)
A IWAMURA (.296, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

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

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .296
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
B Harris ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .286
T Wigginton 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
G Norton dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .185
D Young cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .279
J Gomes rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .181

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 3 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (D Navarro-B Harris).


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
E German 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .276
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .284
R Gload 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .250
A Gordon 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234
B Butler dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245
J Gathright lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .328
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275

Totals 5 0 0 0 1 2 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

BASERUNNING: CS - E German (4, 2nd base by A Sonnanstine/D Navarro).


----------------------------------------------------
TAMPA BAY - 00 -- 0
KANSAS CITY - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
A Sonnanstine 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 5.36

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
G Meche 2 1 0 0 0 3 0 3.20

Pitches-strikes: A Sonnanstine 29-19; G Meche 29-19. Ground balls-fly balls:
A Sonnanstine 2-1; G Meche 1-2. Batters faced: A Sonnanstine 6; G Meche 7.

UMPIRES: HP--James Hoye. 1B--Scott Barry. 2B--Phil Cuzzi. 3B--Tom Hallion.

Weather: 90 degrees, clear. Wind: 12 mph, swirling.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - ANDY SONNANSTINE
KAN - GIL MECHE

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: J BUCK (.245, 15 HR, 29 RBI)
J GATHRIGHT (.328, 0 HR, 8 RBI)
T PENA JR (.275, 1 HR, 22 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

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

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .294
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
B Harris ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .286
T Wigginton 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
G Norton dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .185
D Young cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .279
J Gomes rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
D Navarro c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .180

Totals 10 0 1 0 0 4 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (D Navarro-B Harris).


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
E German 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .276
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .284
R Gload 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .250
A Gordon 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234
B Butler dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245
J Gathright lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .328
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275

Totals 5 0 0 0 1 2 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

BASERUNNING: CS - E German (4, 2nd base by A Sonnanstine/D Navarro).


----------------------------------------------------
TAMPA BAY - 000 -- 0
KANSAS CITY - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
A Sonnanstine 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 5.36

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
G Meche 3 1 0 0 0 4 0 3.18

Pitches-strikes: A Sonnanstine 29-19; G Meche 39-27. Ground balls-fly balls:
A Sonnanstine 2-1; G Meche 2-3. Batters faced: A Sonnanstine 6; G Meche 10.

UMPIRES: HP--James Hoye. 1B--Scott Barry. 2B--Phil Cuzzi. 3B--Tom Hallion.

Weather: 90 degrees, clear. Wind: 12 mph, swirling.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY TONY PENA JR SCORED JOHN BUCK.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TAMPA BAY 0
KANSAS CITY 1 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: D DEJESUS (.283, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - ANDY SONNANSTINE
KAN - GIL MECHE

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: C CRAWFORD (.287, 0-FOR-1)
B HARRIS (.311, 1-FOR-1)
C PENA (.286, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">TAMPA BAY (0) VS KANSAS CITY (1) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .294
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
B Harris ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .286
T Wigginton 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
G Norton dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .185
D Young cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .279
J Gomes rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
D Navarro c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .180

Totals 10 0 1 0 0 4 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (D Navarro-B Harris).


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
E German 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .276
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .284
R Gload 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .250
A Gordon 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234
B Butler dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
J Buck c 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .249
J Gathright lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .328
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .275

Totals 7 1 1 1 1 2 1

BATTING: 2B - J Buck (12, A Sonnanstine). S - J Gathright. SF - T Pena Jr. RBI
- T Pena Jr (23). Team LOB - 0.

BASERUNNING: CS - E German (4, 2nd base by A Sonnanstine/D Navarro).


----------------------------------------------------
TAMPA BAY - 000 -- 0
KANSAS CITY - 001 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
A Sonnanstine 3 1 1 1 1 2 0 5.44

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
G Meche 3 1 0 0 0 4 0 3.18

Pitches-strikes: A Sonnanstine 37-24; G Meche 39-27. Ground balls-fly balls:
A Sonnanstine 3-3; G Meche 2-3. Batters faced: A Sonnanstine 10; G Meche 10.

UMPIRES: HP--James Hoye. 1B--Scott Barry. 2B--Phil Cuzzi. 3B--Tom Hallion.

Weather: 90 degrees, clear. Wind: 12 mph, swirling.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY - SCORING UPDATE
BASES LOADED WALK TO GREG NORTON SCORED CARL CRAWFORD.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, G NORTON ON FIRST, T WIGGINTON ON SECOND, C
PENA ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TAMPA BAY 1
KANSAS CITY 1 TOP, 4TH

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: D YOUNG (.279, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY DELMON YOUNG SCORED CARLOS PENA.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, D YOUNG ON FIRST, G NORTON ON SECOND, T
WIGGINTON ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TAMPA BAY 2
KANSAS CITY 1 TOP, 4TH

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: J GOMES (.252, 0-FOR-1)</div>