OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - The Kings of Kauffman: The 2011 Kansas City Royals

CTSoxFan · 07-03-2011, 12:10 AM

Jeff Francis pitches against the Angels on Opening Day.

Francis falters, Royals come up short on Opening Day
By Tom Avery
Staff Writer

KANSAS CITY -- Jeff Francis settled down and retired the last Angels batters that he faced on Thursday afternoon, but by then it was too late.

Kansas City's opening day starter gave up seven earned runs over the first five innings of his first start with his new team, putting the Royals in a hole that couldn't come back from.

The Royals comeback attempt fell short as they lost the first game of the year, 11-8 to the Los Angeles Angels in front of 37,770 fans at Kauffman Stadium.

Francis (0-1, 10.50 ERA) struck out four in his Royals debut. Kansas City was trailing 7-2 when Francis departed and the next pitcher, Kanekoa Texiera, didn't fare any better than his predecessor. Texiera gave up a grand slam to Angels second baseman Maicier Izturis, scoring Alberto Callapso, Vernon Wells and Howie Kendrick to put the Royals down 11-2 after 7 1/2 innings.

Kansas City attempted to mount a comeback against Los Angeles starter Jered Weaver (1-0, ) in the bottom of the seventh. A single by Alices Escobar started off the inning. After Weaver got Chris Getz and Mitch Maier, Escobar scored on a Matt Treanor single. The two-out rally was on from there. Melky Cabrera doubled, Mike Aviles singled to score Treanor, Billy Butler singled and Jeff Francouer, who had already homered earlier in the game, drove in both Aviles and Cabrera, knocking Weaver from the game.

The Angels brought in Jordan Walden, who promptly gave up an RBI-single to Alex Gordon, but then got Escobar to ground-out to end the inning.

The Royals could not cut into the three-run deficit in the final two innings.

Key stats:Jeff Francouer was 3-for-5 with a home run and 2 RBI. Alex Gordon was 1-for-3 with 3 RBI. ... Reliever Sean O'Sullivan pitched two scoreless innings allowing two hits. ... Starter Jeff Francis gave up five hits in the first inning and four hits in the third inning, allowing 3 runs to score in the first and 4 in the fourth. He didn't allow a single hit or run in any other inning.

07-03-2011, 12:10 AM	#3
CTSoxFan Major Leagues Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 493	March 31, 2011: Game 1 - Royals vs. Angels Jeff Francis pitches against the Angels on Opening Day. Francis falters, Royals come up short on Opening Day By Tom Avery Staff Writer KANSAS CITY -- Jeff Francis settled down and retired the last Angels batters that he faced on Thursday afternoon, but by then it was too late. Kansas City's opening day starter gave up seven earned runs over the first five innings of his first start with his new team, putting the Royals in a hole that couldn't come back from. The Royals comeback attempt fell short as they lost the first game of the year, 11-8 to the Los Angeles Angels in front of 37,770 fans at Kauffman Stadium. Francis (0-1, 10.50 ERA) struck out four in his Royals debut. Kansas City was trailing 7-2 when Francis departed and the next pitcher, Kanekoa Texiera, didn't fare any better than his predecessor. Texiera gave up a grand slam to Angels second baseman Maicier Izturis, scoring Alberto Callapso, Vernon Wells and Howie Kendrick to put the Royals down 11-2 after 7 1/2 innings. Kansas City attempted to mount a comeback against Los Angeles starter Jered Weaver (1-0, ) in the bottom of the seventh. A single by Alices Escobar started off the inning. After Weaver got Chris Getz and Mitch Maier, Escobar scored on a Matt Treanor single. The two-out rally was on from there. Melky Cabrera doubled, Mike Aviles singled to score Treanor, Billy Butler singled and Jeff Francouer, who had already homered earlier in the game, drove in both Aviles and Cabrera, knocking Weaver from the game. The Angels brought in Jordan Walden, who promptly gave up an RBI-single to Alex Gordon, but then got Escobar to ground-out to end the inning. The Royals could not cut into the three-run deficit in the final two innings. Key stats:Jeff Francouer was 3-for-5 with a home run and 2 RBI. Alex Gordon was 1-for-3 with 3 RBI. ... Reliever Sean O'Sullivan pitched two scoreless innings allowing two hits. ... Starter Jeff Francis gave up five hits in the first inning and four hits in the third inning, allowing 3 runs to score in the first and 4 in the fourth. He didn't allow a single hit or run in any other inning. __________________