Royals at Athletics
The Kansas City
Royals’ hot bats were completely baffled by a relatively unknown starter on
Monday night, so they’ll look to get back on track against the Oakland Athletics.
A’s lefty Tommy Milone threw eight scoreless innings in a 1-0 victory in the
series opener, as the Royals went without a hit for the final six innings.
Kansas City, which
features a ton of young talent in the lineup, has already been shut out twice
this season. The first time came in the season opener, when Angels starter
Jered Weaver silenced the bats in a 5-0 loss. Leadoff man Alex Gordon had the
night off, but he struck out as a pinch hitter in the ninth to fall to 0-for-14
this season. Oakland rookie Yoenis Cespedes went hitless in three at-bats after
homering in three straight games.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, Fox
Sports Kansas City, CSNCA (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals LH Danny Duffy (2011: 4-8,
5.64 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Graham Godfrey (2011: 1-2, 3.96 ERA)
Duffy, a highly
regarded prospect who struggled mightily in his first season, hopes to cut down
on his control issues in 2012. The 23-year-old lefty had 51 walks in 105 1/3
innings last season, but he recorded 20 strikeouts to just four walks in 21
innings during the spring.
Godfrey has never
faced the Royals, but he made five appearances — four starts — as a rookie for
the A’s last season. The 27-year-old earned a spot in the rotation after
posting a 3.09 ERA over his final three starts of the spring.
WALK-OFFS:
1. Oakland is
batting just .225 as a team in its first five games.
2. Duffy’s first
major-league victory came at Oakland Coliseum on June 14, 2011.
3. Cespedes has
struck out nine times in five games.