The Kansas City Royals again proved the ability to come back from a deficit in the late innings, but today it wasn't enough as they fell just shy, losing 10-9 today to the Colorado Rockies. Kansas City falls to 5-2, while Colorado improved their record to 4-3.
Royals starter Vin Mazzaro threw 50 pitches in just two innings of work, allowing four runs on five hits. The Rockies started with three runs on four consecutive hits in the first inning. Carlos Gonzalez and Jason Giambi lead the Rockies hitters on the day, as Gonzalez was 3-for-3 with an RBI, while Giambi was 2-for-3 with 2 RBI.
Colorado starter Esmil Rogers was just as shaky at the onset as he gave up four Royals runs on four hits in three innings pitched. Leading the Royals batting was again Melky Cabrera as he went 2-for-3 and raised his spring average to .462. While it is nice to see Cabrera doing well, unfortunately it also lessens the chance Kansas City fans will see Lorenzo Cain with the big league club for the season opener at Kauffman Stadium on March 31st. Cain was 1-for-2 on the day and is batting .500, but he will have to continue to shine if he is to separate himself from Cabrera.
Kila Ka`ahuie was the other Royals player with multiple hits on the day, going 2-for-2 after he subbed in for Billy Butler at first base. He also hit a ninth inning home run off Rockies pitcher Bruce Billings, though it still left Kansas City one run behind. The home run was Kila's second so far in spring training.
Outside of Mazzaro and Everett Teaford, the Royals pitching actually wasn't as bad as you may think when you see they allowed ten runs. Teaford pitched one and one-third innings and gave up five runs on seven hits, ballooning his ERA to 38.57 this spring. Otherwise, Will Smith, Chris Dwyer, Brandon Sisk, and Kanekoa Texeira combined to give up just two hits and no ones over five and two-thirds innings.
Franklin Morales received the win for Colorado, and Billings took the save. Teaford was charged with the loss for Kansas City.
The Royals will take on the Chicago White Sox tomorrow, and Luke Hochevar will be on the mound. This will be the second start for Hochevar as he started when the Royals took on San Diego. Mike Montgomery, Greg Holland, Blake Wood, and Aaron Crow are also scheduled to pitch tomorrow as well.