Royals ride Costa's shot to victory
KANSAS CITY -- These days hardly anything can go wrong for the Royals.
Shane Costa hit his first Major League home run in the fifth inning Tuesday night and it held up for a 3-2 Interleague victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Kauffman Stadium.
For a club that regularly twisted in the wind early this season, the arrival of manager Buddy Bell has provided a welcome gulp of fresh air. Bell's record is 9-4 since he took over, already more victories than Tony Pena saw in 33 games. The Royals were 8-25 when he resigned.
What's different now?
"We're winning," veteran Matt Stairs said with a smile. "Good hitting, timely pitching -- good management. The team is playing with a lot of confidence."
They've won three straight. Bell's tenure began with four straight wins.
Royals starter Runelvys Hernandez and the Dodgers' Jeff Weaver were locked 2-2 when Costa led off the fifth. First, he tried to bunt for a hit but Antonio Perez let the ball roll and it curled foul just before reaching third base.
"I thought maybe he'd field it -- who knows?" Costa said. "I end up hitting a home run so it's a good thing."
Costa, on a full count, pounded a high slider from Weaver just over the right center-field wall. Costa wasn't sure it would make it.
"I didn't," he said. "I was hoping it was going out."
There was probably an extra measure of satisfaction, too, for him in the victory over the Dodgers. He's from Visalia, Calif.
"I was a Giants fan growing up," he said.
All the runs were the result of homers. Hee-Seop Choi connected down the right-field line in the Dodgers' first inning -- his seventh homer in his last four games and 13th of the season.
The Royals came right back as Angel Berroa singled and David DeJesus pounded a home run to right-center field off Weaver.
"He got it up in the zone and I put a good swing on it," DeJesus said. "The wind was blowing pretty good to right field tonight, so maybe that helped."
J.D. Drew tied it up with a homer to center field in the third.
Then Costa teed off. He also had two singles for a perfect night, going 3-for-3.
"He's a smart kid," Bell said. "He works hard. He prepares. He does a lot outside of batting practice."
The rookie is hitting .421 in his eight games. Bell also has a couple of other hot-hitting corner outfielders in Emil Brown and Terrence Long.
"We're probably going to have to figure out some kind of rotation," Bell said. "I don't know how we're going to do that. I'm just going to enjoy this and think about that tomorrow."
Bell was asked if he remembered his first Major League homer. He sure did -- it was off Baltimore's Eddie Watt in Cleveland and was a grand slam.
Roller Costa
Dodgers at Royals, June 14
Rookie Shane Costa, batting .421 since getting called up from Double-A Wichita, went 3-for-3 and slugged the first home run of his Major League career. A look at his plate appearances Tuesday:
Inn. Count Result
2nd 0-1, 1 Out Single
5th 3-2, 0 Out Solo home run
7th 0-0, 0 Out Single
Costa had five homers for the Wranglers this season and 13 home runs in 714 career Minor League at-bats.
"He hung a slider, I think. Costa's was longer," Bell said. "I think mine was down the line."
With the lead in hand, Hernandez was taken out after six innings and 92 pitches. He gave up eight hits but no walks. Now, could the bullpen hang on?
Why, sure. It's just the way things are going these days for the resurgent Royals.
Jeremy Affeldt worked a perfect seventh and, after walking Drew to start the eighth, Ambiorix Burgos was summoned. He hit a batter but also got three strikeouts.
Mike MacDougal survived a leadoff single by Jason Phillips in the ninth with shortstop Berroa snagging a hard-to-handle chopper and gunning a low throw to first baseman Mike Sweeney to end the game.
Sweeney, back after a five-game absence (rib-cage strain), narrowly missed a home run in the fourth as he slammed a double off the left-field wall.
"I thought he looked good -- free and easy," Bell said. "It's good to have him in the middle of the lineup."
Yes, everything is going well for the Royals.
"Let's not get too happy," Stairs cautioned. "We've got 22 wins."
OK. But for now, enjoy.
Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/
Shane Costa hit his first Major League home run in the fifth inning Tuesday night and it held up for a 3-2 Interleague victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Kauffman Stadium.
For a club that regularly twisted in the wind early this season, the arrival of manager Buddy Bell has provided a welcome gulp of fresh air. Bell's record is 9-4 since he took over, already more victories than Tony Pena saw in 33 games. The Royals were 8-25 when he resigned.
What's different now?
"We're winning," veteran Matt Stairs said with a smile. "Good hitting, timely pitching -- good management. The team is playing with a lot of confidence."
They've won three straight. Bell's tenure began with four straight wins.
Royals starter Runelvys Hernandez and the Dodgers' Jeff Weaver were locked 2-2 when Costa led off the fifth. First, he tried to bunt for a hit but Antonio Perez let the ball roll and it curled foul just before reaching third base.
"I thought maybe he'd field it -- who knows?" Costa said. "I end up hitting a home run so it's a good thing."
Costa, on a full count, pounded a high slider from Weaver just over the right center-field wall. Costa wasn't sure it would make it.
"I didn't," he said. "I was hoping it was going out."
There was probably an extra measure of satisfaction, too, for him in the victory over the Dodgers. He's from Visalia, Calif.
"I was a Giants fan growing up," he said.
All the runs were the result of homers. Hee-Seop Choi connected down the right-field line in the Dodgers' first inning -- his seventh homer in his last four games and 13th of the season.
The Royals came right back as Angel Berroa singled and David DeJesus pounded a home run to right-center field off Weaver.
"He got it up in the zone and I put a good swing on it," DeJesus said. "The wind was blowing pretty good to right field tonight, so maybe that helped."
J.D. Drew tied it up with a homer to center field in the third.
Then Costa teed off. He also had two singles for a perfect night, going 3-for-3.
"He's a smart kid," Bell said. "He works hard. He prepares. He does a lot outside of batting practice."
The rookie is hitting .421 in his eight games. Bell also has a couple of other hot-hitting corner outfielders in Emil Brown and Terrence Long.
"We're probably going to have to figure out some kind of rotation," Bell said. "I don't know how we're going to do that. I'm just going to enjoy this and think about that tomorrow."
Bell was asked if he remembered his first Major League homer. He sure did -- it was off Baltimore's Eddie Watt in Cleveland and was a grand slam.
Roller Costa
Dodgers at Royals, June 14
Rookie Shane Costa, batting .421 since getting called up from Double-A Wichita, went 3-for-3 and slugged the first home run of his Major League career. A look at his plate appearances Tuesday:
Inn. Count Result
2nd 0-1, 1 Out Single
5th 3-2, 0 Out Solo home run
7th 0-0, 0 Out Single
Costa had five homers for the Wranglers this season and 13 home runs in 714 career Minor League at-bats.
"He hung a slider, I think. Costa's was longer," Bell said. "I think mine was down the line."
With the lead in hand, Hernandez was taken out after six innings and 92 pitches. He gave up eight hits but no walks. Now, could the bullpen hang on?
Why, sure. It's just the way things are going these days for the resurgent Royals.
Jeremy Affeldt worked a perfect seventh and, after walking Drew to start the eighth, Ambiorix Burgos was summoned. He hit a batter but also got three strikeouts.
Mike MacDougal survived a leadoff single by Jason Phillips in the ninth with shortstop Berroa snagging a hard-to-handle chopper and gunning a low throw to first baseman Mike Sweeney to end the game.
Sweeney, back after a five-game absence (rib-cage strain), narrowly missed a home run in the fourth as he slammed a double off the left-field wall.
"I thought he looked good -- free and easy," Bell said. "It's good to have him in the middle of the lineup."
Yes, everything is going well for the Royals.
"Let's not get too happy," Stairs cautioned. "We've got 22 wins."
OK. But for now, enjoy.
Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/
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