NewsDavies looks to keep KC in win column
Kansas City (19-17) vs. Baltimore (15-21), 6:10 p.m. CT
By Dick Kaegel / MLB.com
05/16/09 3:50 AM ET
KANSAS CITY -- Now that Zack Greinke has ended the Royals' six-game losing streak, it falls to Kyle Davies to extend this into a winning streak. Davies, who'll start on Saturday night against the Orioles, was encouraged by his last start in which he gave up just one run in six innings in Anaheim, a game that the bullpen let slip away to the Angels, 4-3, on Sunday. He plans more of the same approach. "I'm going to throw strikes, be very aggressive and build on the positives I had last time and keep it very simple," Davies said. Davies is making his fifth start at home, where he has recorded all of his decisions. Opponents have hit .349 against him at Kauffman, where his ERA is 8.27. On the road, he's been more effective, with a 1.89 ERA and a .145 opponents' average. That start at Anaheim was significant for him. "I kind of turned the tide. I had a couple bad ones in a row where I didn't throw the ball very well," he said. "Last time was six innings and one run, but I thought I threw the ball even better than that. Even into the seventh inning, I was making good pitches." He departed after giving up a leadoff single in the seventh. Davies has pitched against the Orioles twice in his career, going 1-0 with a 10.80 ERA. The victory came when he was with the Braves, the bulk of that ERA from last season's start for the Royals. Davies was nailed for seven runs in four innings, but the Royals came back to win, 10-7, on July 3 in Baltimore. He'll probably want to approach Aubrey Huff very carefully. Huff whacked two homers and a double off Davies in three at-bats in last year's game. This is a giveaway night, with the first 20,000 fans receiving a model of the renovated "new K" And Greinke will receive the various awards won in his 5-0 April -- American League and Royals Pitcher of the Month and MLB Clutch Performer of the Month. Pitching matchupKC: RHP Kyle Davies (2-1, 5.22 ERA)
Davies held a 3-1 lead when he was relieved in the seventh inning on Sunday in Anaheim, but the Angels rallied to win. Trying to bounce back from a poor start, Davies was satisfied with his outing. He felt he had much better rhythm and tempo and avoided too much nitpicking. Davies said he tried to throw every pitch for a strike except when he got ahead in the count 0-2 or 1-2, then tried to bounce pitches. Davies has appeared against the Orioles twice in his career, going 1-0 with a 10.80 ERA. BAL: LHP Rich Hill (0-0, -.-- ERA)
Hill, who was placed on the disabled list with a strained left elbow on March 29, is eager to pick up where he left off in Spring Training. With Mark Hendrickson being sent to the bullpen, it's an opportunity for Hill to help solidify the rotation. He went 1-0 for the Cubs in five starts last year and was 11-8 in 2007, when he started 32 games and worked 195 innings with a 3.92 ERA. Crown points
Johanna Koskinen, founder of the Hepatitis C HIV Ministry Outreach, was in the Buck O'Neil Legacy Seat on Friday night. She is working with Maurice Hines, brother of late actor Gregory Hines, to open the Hines House of Hope in Missouri to support people affected by Hepatitis C and liver disease. ... Aaron Hartsock of Class A Wilmington is tied for the Carolina League lead with seven saves and has an 0.61 ERA. Double-A Northwest Arkansas' Chris Hayes got his first save and has a 0.78 ERA. ... Hall of Famer George Brett celebrated his 56th birthday on Friday. ... When Sidney Ponson faced the Orioles, his longtime club, on Thursday night he completed the circuit -- he's now faced every club in the Majors. His most wins are against the Twins (11-4); his worst mark is 0-8 against the Indians. ... Eddie Rodriguez, the Royals' special assignments coach, subbed Friday night for first-base coach Rusty Kuntz, who was attending his son's high school graduation. ... Left-hander John Bale, on rehab with Arkansas, pitched a hitless and scoreless inning on Friday night against Springfield. He threw 12 pitches, eight strikes. Tickets
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• Sunday: Royals (Luke Hochevar, 0-1, 36.00) vs. Orioles (Koji Uehara, 2-3, 4.01), 1:10 p.m. CT
• Monday: Off-day
• Tuesday: Royals (Brian Bannister, 3-1, 1.80) vs. Indians (Cliff Lee, 2-5, 3.00), 7:10 p.m. CT
Dick Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
