|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
| |  | |
| Sweeney |
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Mike Sweeney isn't looking to lead the
AL in home runs, just doubles.
Sweeney hit his major league-leading 22nd double in a four-run
seventh inning Tuesday night as the Kansas City Royals beat the
Tampa Bay Devil Rays 6-2.
With the score 2-all, Luis Ordaz doubled leading off the
seventh, Carlos Beltran singled to chase Paul Wilson (1-5) and Rey
Sanchez singled in a run off Dan Wheeler.
After a balk, Sweeney doubled to make it 5-2. Eight of Sweeney's
past nine hits are doubles, and he leads the AL with 29 extra-base
hits.
"For me to be successful, it's not to go out and try to hit 30
home runs, but hit doubles in every at-bat," Sweeney said. "If I
do that, I think I will be successful. This park is good to hit
doubles."
Sweeney, who scored on a single by Dee Brown, has hit safely in
22 of 25 games and has raised his average from .111 to .301.
"The way the season started, personally, was a nightmare, and
as a team it's still a nightmare," Sweeney said. "Today was very
encouraging."
The victory was only the fourth in 14 games for the last-place
Royals. Brown singled home Sweeney with Kansas City's
final run.
Wilson allowed four runs and 11 hits in six-plus innings. Kansas
City starter Brian Meadows gave up two runs -- one earned -- and nine
hits in six-plus innings.
"I'll take that all day long," Meadows said. "I'm happy with
that. Nine hits in six innings is a lot of hits, but they were
spread out and that was the key."
Neither Wilson or Meadows walked a hitter.
"I threw strikes," Wilson said. "I concentrated on throwing
strikes down low. I threw a good changeup."
The game marked the return to Kauffman Stadium of new Tampa Bay
manager Hal McRae, who managed the Royals from 1991-94.
"I feel like we let one get away," McRae said. "It kind of
unraveled in the seventh. The opportunities that hurt was the ones
where you don't need a base hit to score and don't score."
Jose Santiago (2-1) failed to hold a 2-1 lead in the seventh
when, with runners on first and second, Felix Martinez sacrificed
and first baseman Dave McCarty made a throwing error.
Kansas City has just six saves in 15 opportunities.
A.J. Hinch's sacrifice fly put Kansas City ahead in the second
and McCarty, making a rare start against a right-hander because of
injuries to Mark Quinn and Joe Randa, homered in the fourth.
Fred McGriff, who leads Tampa Bay with 13 multihit games, had an
RBI single in the sixth.
Kansas City turned two double plays behind Meadows, raising its
league-leading total to 46.
Game notes
Russ Johnson left in the sixth with tightness in his right
quadriceps after going from first to third on McGriff's single. He
will likely be placed on the disabled list Wednesday. ... The
Royals removed RHP Mac Suzuki from the rotation after he went only
two innings in a Sunday start against Minnesota. RHP Blake Stein
takes Suzuki's spot in the rotation and will start Friday against
Boston. ... Quinn was unable to play for the Royals because of a
scratched eye. He was unable to put in his contact lens. ... Randa
sat out his second straight game with soreness in his lower back
but hopes to play Wednesday. ... Martinez is 6-for-44 (.136) in his
past 15 games, dropping his average from .320 to .252.
 Send this story to a friend
| |
RECAPS
Baltimore 11
Detroit 3
Kansas City 6
Tampa Bay 2
Boston 5
Minnesota 2
Cleveland 8
Texas 6
Toronto 9
Anaheim 3
Oakland 3
NY Yankees 2
Seattle 4
Chi. White Sox 3
Arizona 5
Cincinnati 1
San Francisco 7
Florida 4
Montreal 2
Los Angeles 0
Milwaukee 14
Philadelphia 10
St. Louis 8
Pittsburgh 3
NY Mets 1
San Diego 0
Atlanta 5
Colorado 3
Houston 9
Chicago Cubs 7
|
