Tampa Bay (14-23) at Kansas City (9-27)
Currently: - Game info: 7:10 pm EDT Sat May 14, 2005
- TV: WPXM
It’s been all downhill for Runelvys Hernandez and the Kansas City Royals since an opening day win in Detroit.
The right-hander will try to end a personal five-game losing streak when the majors’ worst team resumes its four-game series with the visiting Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Hernandez made a brilliant return from elbow surgery on April 6, giving up one run and five hits over seven innings in a 7-2 victory over the Tigers. But the 27-year-old right-hander and his teammates haven’t had much to celebrate over the last five weeks.
Hernandez has lost five straight decisions and is winless in his last six starts, while the Royals have sunk to the bottom of the AL Central, resulting in the resignation of manager Tony Pena.
Hernandez had yielded at least four runs in five straight outings before limiting Toronto to two runs and five hits over five innings in Monday’s 6-1 loss. Making matters worse, he was forced to leave the game after being struck by a line drive off the right arm in the fifth.
“I felt OK. I wanted to keep going, but the ball hit me pretty good,” Hernandez said.
The Royals won Thursday’s series opener 7-5 in interim manager Bob Schaefer’s debut, but lost 3-2 on Friday as Alex Gonzalez lifted the Devil Rays with a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning.
Tampa Bay posted just its second road win of the season, and first since April 19 in New York.
Team Comparison
| Team | Record | Standings | Away/Home | Streak | L10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay | 67-95 | 5th East | Away 27-54 | Lost 4 | 4-6 |
| Kansas City | 56-106 | 5th Central | Home 34-47 | Lost 1 | 4-6 |
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