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CHC@PIT: Bedard hurls six scoreless frames

The Royals' Luke Hochevar would like to find some of the consistency Pirates lefty Eric Bedard has enjoyed most of the season when the two teams begin a three-game Interleague series Friday at PNC Park.

Hochevar's inconsistencies continue to mystify and frustrate the Royals after 11 starts this season, in which he has compiled a 3-6 record with a 6.63 ERA.

Hochevar is coming off a 9-3 loss to the A's last Saturday when he made it through 4 2/3 innings and was charged with six runs on five hits and three walks.

Hochevar now stands 0-7 in his career against the A's.

"We constantly think about Luke Hochevar and what we need to do to get him to be consistently successful," Royals manager Ned Yost said on Wednesday. "We think that we need to get him to focus more on his core pitches. If he can do that, we think that's going to be the difference in him getting over the hump."

Asked if Hochevar was in danger of losing his rotation spot, Yost was definitive in his response.

"No. I mean, this is a guy we count on," he said. "I mean we count on him, [Felipe] Paulino and [Bruce] Chen to lead our staff and he's got all the attributes to do it.

"He's competitive, he's strong, he's got great stuff. We just have to find a way to get him consistent."

Hochevar owned up to his failure against the A's.

"The fact of the matter is, I didn't get it done," Hochevar said. "We scored enough runs to win and we got it done in other places, and it just falls on me."

Bedard has the same 3-6 record as Hochevar, but has pitched better and more consistently with a 3.72 ERA in 11 starts.

Bedard did have a rough time in his last outing Saturday against the Brewers.

Bedard pitched 3 2/3 innings, giving up five hits and five earned runs in a no-decision, as the Pirates lost 5-1.

"Every starting pitcher is gonna have a sideways game," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "That was his so far this season. The curve wasn't in play at all. The overall command, just below average across the board."

Bedard acknowledged he was lacking command of his pitches.

"Timely pitches, I couldn't get," Bedard said, "Then I hung some at the wrong time and they took advantage of them."

Royals: Hosmer to play outfield
• In order to keep DH Billy Butler in the lineup during the Interleague series, the Royals will use first baseman Eric Hosmer in right field, moving Jeff Francoeur to center and play Butler at first.

Hosmer last played the outfield for four innings during Spring Training in Arizona.

"I played two innings in Arizona the one game and two innings in San Diego and other than that, I haven't been in there in a game," Hosmer said. "I've been taking live reads off BP and getting some early work done."

Pirates: Bucs continue to roll
• Pittsburgh heads into a 15-game stretch against American League opponents coming off of four straight series victories against National League Central foes. The Pirates are 9-3 in their last 12 games, with five of those victories coming in one-run games.

• Detroit took two of three against the Pirates in May, which gave the team an 82-132 all-time record in Interleague play. However, things have been looking up against American League opponents at home, as Pittsburgh has gone 8-3 in its last 11 games at PNC Park.

"We're playing good ball, we're battling," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said after losing to Johnny Cueto and the Reds on Wednesday. "It's not like you lose it all when you get shut down by a good pitcher."

• The Bucs rebounded and won the series' rubber match to take two of three from the NL Central-leading Reds on the road before Interleague play.

Worth noting
• Hosmer, a rookie sensation last year, was hitting .220 with seven home runs and 29 RBIs entering Friday. He was 1-for-3 in the Royals' 4-2 loss to the Twins on Wednesday.

• The Pirates are 8-7 all-time against the Royals.

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