Posted on 08/21/2005 8:58:28 AM PDT by RoyalsFan
OAKLAND -- It took right-hander Mike Wood 92 pitches to do it but he got through five innings and gave the Oakland Athletics just one run. And that's all they got as the Royals ended their 19-game skid with a 2-1 victory over the A's on Saturday night. But it proved to be a struggle.
"It was a battle the first three innings. I think I threw 70 pitches, then I settled down the next two. We had to have quick innings and then the bullpen took it over," Wood said.
After Wood was relieved by left-hander Andrew Sisco, trouble developed. An Eric Chavez double and two subsequent walks loaded the bases with one out. But right-hander Ambiorix Burgos bailed out Sisco, fanning Nick Swisher and getting Mark Ellis on to ground out to shortstop Angel Berroa.
Burgos' fastball was blistering.
"Didn't he hit 99 [mph] tonight?" catcher Paul Phillips said.
That he did.
Burgos survived two walks in a scoreless seventh, then gave way to lefty Jeremy Affeldt.
In the A's eighth, Bobby Kielty lashed a one-out double. Swisher hit a hard liner that center fielder Chip Ambres reached up and caught rather shakily.
"I was frozen out there," Ambres said. "It just started rising at the last minute and I was just able to catch it."
Using some stalling tactics, Royals manager Buddy Bell bought some time for closer Mike MacDougal to get loose quickly.
"I thought I was going to get the next batter, then they stalled and brought me in," MacDougal said.
He struck out Ellis to end the eighth. Then he retired the A's 1-2-3 hitters in order. Facing Bobby Crosby, he got ahead 0-2, then bounced a pitch about five feet in front of home plate.
"I was hoping he'd fish for it," MacDougal said. "I buried it a little too far. A foot further, he might go for it."
No matter, Crosby grounded to Berroa and the bullpen had prevailed.
"They did just as good a job as I did," Wood said. "They kept the game close for four innings. Nobody was hitting today."
In fact, the Royals got only four hits. That was the first time they'd won with so few hits since May 19, 2004, when they had four hits and won at Texas, 5-3.
"That was a good game," MacDougal said. "Maybe it'll get us back on a roll."
Royals ping!
We've won 2 now! I almost feel sorry for Oakland for losing to the Royals! LOL!
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