Mon Jun 23 10:35:29 2008

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Royals try to continue NL dominance vs. Rockies

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(Sports Network) - The Kansas City Royals have struggled against the American League this season, but have had little trouble with the National League. The club will try to improve on its impressive interleague record this year in the opener of a three-game series with the reigning NL champion Colorado Rockies tonight at Kauffman Stadium.

The Royals have won seven of their last eight games, all against the NL, and are 9-3 versus the Senior Circuit this year. After having a five-game win streak halted on Friday against the Giants, Kansas City rebounded to take two of three from San Francisco.

The club pulled off an impressive comeback on Sunday in an 11-10 victory. The Royals trailed 6-0 after the top of the third before plating three runs. The Giants seemed to put things away again with a four-run fifth that extended their lead to seven runs, but the Royals plated two runs in the home portion of the frame right before a five-run sixth.

Ross Gload, Alberto Callaspo and David DeJesus each had run-scoring singles in frame before Mike Aviles tied things with a two-run double. Joey Gathright then singled home a run in the seventh inning to account for the final score. Joakim Soria sealed the victory in the ninth with his 20th save of the season.

DeJesus had two hits, scored twice and drove in two runs to extend his hitting streak to eight games. He is hitting .394 (13-for-33) over his streak with 10 RBI.

Kansas City began a nine-game road trip with its series against San Francisco and is 15-19 as the host this year.

Brian Bannister starts for the Royals and is 2-0 over his last five starts. He is coming off a win over St. Louis on Wednesday, as he gave up two runs on nine hits over seven innings. The right-hander also didn't walk a batter for a second straight start and has issued just 20 free passes in 91 2/3 innings.

Bannister is 6-6 with a 4.81 earned run average this year, but has also excelled at home. In eight starts at Kauffman Stadium this year, the 27-year- old is 4-2 with a 2.80 ERA and opposing hitters are batting just .221 off him.

Bannister made his first career start against Colorado last year, getting a no-decision on May 20 after allowing three runs in five innings.

Colorado counters with Jeff Francis, who is 2-1 with a 2.88 ERA over his last four starts after winning just once in his first 11 outings this year. Francis, who won 17 games last year, improved to 3-6 with a 5.22 ERA on the season after defeating Cleveland on Wednesday. The lefty held the Indians to two runs (1 earned) on five hits without a walk over six innings.

The 27-year-old is 1-0 with a 1.88 ERA in two career starts against Kansas City, having defeated them at home in 2005. Francis is also 6-2 over his last 11 interleague starts.

Colorado has been playing well as of late, but dropped two of three to the Mets over the weekend. Still, Sunday's 3-1 setback was just the club's third in nine games.

Yorvit Torrealba's solo homer accounted for the offense for the Rockies, who are just 12-25 on the road this season but have won four of their last five as the visitor. Colorado is also an impressive 7-2 against the AL this season.

Jeff Baker had a hit in Sunday's loss to run his hitting streak to a career- best eight games. Baker is batting .375 (12-32) with 11 runs scored, four homers and seven RBI during his stretch. Brad Hawpe, meanwhile, walked all four times he came to the plate on Sunday to keep his hitting streak intact at eight straight games.

Colorado should have Clint Barmes available for tonight's game after activating the infielder from the 15-day disabled list following Sunday's loss. Barmes missed the last 28 games with a sprained right knee and is hitting .343 with five home runs and 20 runs batted in through 39 games this season.

The Royals took two of three versus the Rockies in Colorado last year and is 4-5 all-time in Denver. The two clubs have never met in Kansas City.