Saturday, April 7, 2012

Opening Day - But Lose Opener To Angels - Royals Shut Down Pujols - News

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) Albert Pujols ended up being little issues to get Bruce Chen and Aaron Crow in the Royals' opener.

Nobody within that Kansas City lineup has been almost any problem at all for Jered Weaver, and that is exactly why the particular Royals are usually still establishing the growing season inside a new hole.

Weaver struck away 10 inside eight dominant innings of four-hit ball, Peter Bourjos' bases-loaded infield single shattered open some sort of scoreless video game in the eighth inning, along with the Los Angeles Angels whip the Royals 5-0 Friday nighttime in Pujols' hitless debut.

The Royals tamped straight down the actual celebration on a big night to get Pujols, that travelled 0 intended for three or more together with a good eighth-inning deliberate go around after acquiring many raucous pregame ovations coming from a masses which continue to can't really think he's wearing a halo cap.

Yet Kansas City wouldn't utilize simply because Weaver has been inside very same intimidating form that created him or her that runner-up to get past year's AL Cy Young award. The right-hander retired thirteen directly Royals immediately after allowing back-to-back singles within the third inning, finished with double-digit strikeouts for any 12th time frame with his career, and also decided not to walk some sort of batter.

"When you are compared versus Weaver, you already know you aren't scoring a considerable number of with runs," Kansas City office manager Ned Yost said. "That's not any surprise."

Chen, the actual oldest player about the majors' youngest team, matched up every one of Weaver's zeros while in 6 months time innings of three-hit shot with the primary best day time commence of his 14-year, 10-team career. He out of production Pujols twice, as well as Crow fanned that slugger with about three pitches while in the seventh nevertheless Crow chop down separately inside the eighth, and the Angels rallied for their second immediately opening -day enlighten Kansas City.

"We ended up in the container every one of the approach to this eighth," Chen said. "We include one of many greatest bullpens inside league, and most people prefer to make use of it. The following moment I'm pitching, I want these a couple guys again."

After seven fruitless innings, your Angels lastly produced an eighth-inning rally of which began which has a sole by way of Kendrys Morales around his or her primary adventure given that busting his ankle almost 24 months ago.

After Morales related versus All-Star reliever Crow (0-1), pinch-runner Alexi Amarista superior to 3 rd on pointed singles by transmuted third baseman Mark Trumbo along with new catcher Chris Iannetta. After a pair of Royals wouldn't cleanly area Bourjos' solo out of Greg Holland, Erick Aybar's chance later cleared the particular bases, and also Torii Hunter included your run-scoring single events later.

"It's my own employment and keep us all in this game, in addition to it's their job to get quite a few runs within the board," Weaver said. "We've became a wonderful lineup, hence it really is merely a new issue of your time in advance of we commence putting this together."

The evening ended up being a reception associated with Pujols, who closed your 10-year, $240 million option to be able to get away from Missouri and also continue on their employment inside Southern California. He was that core of attention from Angel Stadium with the point in time he walked about the field for batting practice, plus he or she got the actual greatest plus loudest ovation on the Orange County group during pregame introductions, getting away from his reddish colored cover and saluting his brand new fans.

"Just the identical phobia that will move through for the last 11 many my career," Pujols said. "It's simply one thing my pops always shared with me: If you do not move through that, an individual ain't ready. I believed I was ready because I has been experiencing that."

Pujols covered suitable first-inning two bottle play, popped out there from the third, along with struck available upon a few pitches while in the seventh. He travelled within the eighth, but the Angels undoubtedly have produced their major rally.

Pujols possesses played football extended periods to worry regarding one particular game, nonetheless he / she truly planned to perform something exceptional straightaway inside Anaheim.

"I continue thinking about my personal bat," Pujols said. "I ended up being positioning great gun barrel on it, however which is the way in which the item goes."

NOTES: Weaver may be the 3 rd Angels pitcher to obtain no less than 10 strikeouts on cutting open day, connecting to Nolan Ryan (12 apiece throughout 1973 plus 1975) plus Andy Messersmith (11 within 1970). . The night clubs additionally met on starting day previous season, when using the Angels receiving 4-2 around Kansas City. The Royals hadn't opened up a season throughout Anaheim considering that 1975. . Bobby Abreu started the season for the Angels' common right after likely seven pertaining to fityfive within early spring education in the middle of announced complaints about his / her possibilities using time.

No comments:

Post a Comment