1. Call them dust; they’ve been swept: The Royals know how to do two things well: get swept and get shut out. They accomplished both in Wednesday’s 4-0 loss to the White Sox. After beating the White Sox twice earlier this season, Chicago’s pitching shut them down in the three-game set. KC scored only 1 run in the entire series, among the most pitiful offensive performances we’ve ever seen. This is the third series in a row that the Royals have been swept, including to the Devil Rays last weekend. They fell to an MLB-worst 2-12 on the year, while the White Sox took the division lead at 10-5.
2. Complete game madness strikes Atlanta: The Braves got yet another complete game yesterday, this one from Tim Hudson. This was the Braves’ second CG in a row and their 3rd in a span of five days. Hudson finished with 3 hits allowed and 1 earned run in the 2-1 game. Andruw Jones was again the difference for the Braves, hitting a homer for the fourth game in a row. While much has been said (and deservedly so) about Albert Pujols’ stellar season so far, Jones can almost match his numbers. He has 8 homers and a league-leading 23 RBIs on the year. The victory gave the Braves a much-needed overall series win against the Mets.
3. Indians lose at their own game: The Indians have won this year mainly because of a hard-hitting offense that leads the majors in runs. Nothing changed on Wednesday, when the team had 14 hits and 9 runs. But the Orioles hitters were even better–they put up 18 on the scoreboard. Every batter who started for Baltimore got at least 2 hits and 1 run. Everyone in the lineup had an RBI except leadoff man Brian Roberts. And Ramon Hernandez, Corey Patterson, and Jay Gibbons all homered in the victory. Indians starter Jake Westbrook was the main victim, with 12 hits and 9 runs allowed in less than 5 innings of work. The Orioles improved to a surprising 9-7 record on the year, while the Indians fell to second place in the AL Central at 9-6.
4. He’s pitching like it’s 2001: If the AL Cy Young was awarded today, it would go to Curt Shilling. He picked up his 4th win yesterday against Tampa Bay, good for first in the AL. Now he needs four more wins to get to 200 on his illustrious career. Shilling’s ERA dropped to 1.61, and he has been an invaluable part of the Sox’s major league best 11 wins. Boston rolled over Tampa, 9-1.
5. D-rays need some ‘more cowbell’: Among the millions of things the Devil Rays need to become a contender, owner Stuart Sternberg believes one is ‘more cowbell‘. He announced plans to show the legendary Saturday Night Live skit during games to pump up all three people in the stands at Tropicana Field. “I’m hoping this becomes the fans’ signature,” Sternberg said. We hope winning becomes the team’s signature.
