If only getting a split against the Kansas City Royals wasn't bad enough in yesterday's double header, tonight was even worse as the Royals almost effortlessly pounded the Boston Red Sox further into oblivion. Vicente Romo (6-3, 3.93 ERA) was blitzed for 5 runs before getting knocked out in the second inning. Rookie pitchers Ed Phillips and John Curtis got tagged for six runs combined as the Royals banged out 16 hits and 11 runs. Meanwhile Royals starter Al Fitzmorris tossed a complete game 6 hitter, holding the Sox to just 3 runs. It all added up to an embarrassing 11-3 loss to the Royals at Fenway Park.
The Royals attacked immediately in the top of the first as Pat Kelly doubled down the left field line to start. Kelly moved to second on a wild pitch and Cookie Rojas popped up to third. Amos Otis grounded out to short to score Kelly but Lou Piniella walked. Ed Kirkpatrick got a base hit in the hole at second and Bob Oliver got a base hit to center to score Piniella. Paul Schaal doubled to center to score Kirkpatrick but Oliver was thrown at home to end the inning with the Royals up 3-0.
Fitzmorris got the ball in the bottom of the first and Mike Andrews belted his 12th home run of the season to begin the inning. Reggie Smith popped up to short but Carl Yastrzemski walked. Tony Conigliaro singled to center but Rico Petrocelli flied out to center. Billy Conigliaro forced his brother at second to end the inning with the Sox down 3-1.
The Royals finished off Romo in the top of the second as Rich Severson took strike three to start. Fitzmorris grounded back to the mound but Kelly walked. Rojas hit a routine grounder to John Kennedy who picked the ball up and heaved it over his head for an error. Otis singled to left to score Kelly and chase Romo from the game. He'd be charged with 5 runs in just 1 2/3 innings. Ed Phillips came in and Piniella greeted him with a base hit to center to score Rojas. Kirkpatrick was retired on a nubber in front of the plate to end the inning with the Royals up 5-1.
John Kennedy struck out swinging to start the bottom of the second before Jerry Moses grounded out to short. Phillips grounded out to third to end the inning.
The Royals struck again in the top of the third as Oliver struck out swinging to start. Schaal doubled to left but Severson took strike three. Fitzmorris then stroked a base hit to left to score Schaal. Kelly struck out swinging to end the inning with the Royals up 6-1.
Andrews flied out to center to start the bottom of the third before Smith did the same. Yaz grounded out to third to end the inning.
Rojas doubled to left to start the top of the fourth before Otis took strike three. Piniella grounded out to third and Kirkpatrick grounded out to first to end the inning. Tony C struck out swinging to start the bottom of the fourth but Petrocelli ripped a base hit to left. Billy C grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Oliver grounded out to third to start the top of the fifth but Schaal singled to left. Severson doubled to center to score Schaal and chase Phillips from the game. Chuck Hartenstein came in to pitch and Fitzmorris moved Severson to third with a fly ball to right. Kelly walked but was thrown out at second trying to steal to end the inning with the Royals up 7-1.
Kennedy grounded out to third to start the bottom of the fifth and Moses popped up to third. Defying all logic, Sox manager Eddie Kasko brought in pitcher Gary Peters to pinch hit for Hartenstein. Peters grounded out to first to end the inning. Did Dick Schofield fall asleep in the dugout?
John Curtis came in to pitch the top of the sixth and Rojas grounded back to the mound to start. Otis took strike three and Piniella grounded out to short to end the inning. Andrews popped up to first in foul territory to start the bottom of the sixth before Smith grounded out to first. Yaz grounded out to second to end the inning.
Kirkpatrick walked to start the top of the seventh before Oliver forced him at second. Schaal singled to center and both runners moved over on a grounder to short by Severson. Fitzmorris flied out to center to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the seventh as Tony C belted his 21st home run of the season to cut the lead. Petrocelli walked but Billy C grounded into a double play. Kennedy grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox down 7-2.
The Royals poured it on in the top of the eighth as Kelly lined out to right to start. Kennedy booted a grounder by Rojas for an error and Otis got a base hit to center. Piniella singled to left and Kirkpatrick hit a grand slam all the way into the Grand Canyon to increase the lead. That was it for Curtis as Gary Wagner came in to pitch. Oliver got a base hit to left but Schaal flied out to center. Severson lined out to left to end the inning with the Royals ahead 11-2.
Jackie Hernandez took over for Rojas to begin the bottom of the eighth and Moses got a base hit to left. For whatever reason with the game out of reach, NOW Kasko pinch hit Wagner with Dick Schofield. Moses moved to second a on a grounder to third before Andrews flied out to right. Smith doubled to right to score Moses and took third on the error by Kelly. Yaz grounded out to first to end the inning with the Sox down 11-3.
Sparky Lyle came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Fitzmorris walked to start. Kelly took strike three and Hernandez grounded into a double play to end the inning. Fitzmorris returned to finish the bottom of the ninth and Tony C popped up to second to start. Hernandez booted a grounder by Petrocelli for an error but for the third time all game, Billy C grounded into a double play to end the game. The Royals had won it 11-3.
Jackass of The Night is Vicente Romo. He got rocked for 5 runs in just 1 2/3 innings to put the game out of reach early.
The Good:
Tony Conigliaro was 2 for 4 with a home run.
Rico Petrocelli was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Jerry Moses was 1 for 3 with a run scored.
Chuck Hartenstein tossed 2/3 of a scoreless inning.
Gary Wagner tossed 2/3 of a scoreless inning.
Sparky Lyle pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Billy Conigliaro was 0 for 4 with 3 double plays.
John Kennedy was 0 for 3 with a strikeout and 2 errors.
Gary Peters was 0 for 1 at the plate
Dick Schofield was 0 for 1 at the plate.
Ed Phillips allowed 2 runs in 2 2/3 innings and was 0 for 1 at the plate.
John Curtis allowed 4 runs in 2 1/3 innings.
The Ugly:
Mike Andrews was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a home run.
Reggie Smith was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.
Carl Yastrzemski was 0 for 3 with a walk.
Final Thoughts:
Getting killed by the terrible Royals is a microcosm of this lost season. The Sox can never get good pitching or hitting when it matters. Romo and the bullpen got annihilated by a lowly Royals team and Al Fitzmorris held the offense in check. All the Sox can do is play out the string at this point because the Baltimore Orioles are on a mission to avenge last year's World Series loss to the New York Mets. Its a shame the Sox just couldn't get Jim Lonborg healthy and the other starters were good but not great. It all added up to a lost season with just 49 games remaining. The loss dropped the Sox to 57-56, 14.5 games behind the Orioles for first place in the AL East. The Sox continue the homestand by welcoming in the Minnesota Twins for a four game set. Ray Culp (12-10) takes on Bill Zepp of the Twins tomorrow night at 6:30 PM at Fenway Park.
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