8B
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MLB
THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2009
Cleveland Indians' Victor Martinez hits a single off Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Brian Bannister in the sixth inning of a game Wednesday in Cleveland. Bannister pitched six scoreless innings.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Royals defeat Indians, 2-0
Brian Bannister pitched six scoreless innings following call up
ASSOCIATED PRESS
CLEVELAND — Brian Bannister was excited to be back in the major leagues — and even more delighted his first start came in Cleveland.
Bannister (1-0) and two relievers outpitched reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee, and the Kansas City Royals beat the Indians 2-0 Wednesday night.
"I just seem to have a feel for this team and do like to pitch in this ballpark," said Bannister after improving to 3-0 with a 1.44 ERA in four career starts at Progressive Field.
Lee (1-3) allowed two runs and nine hits over eight innings, but matched his loss total of last season. A year ago, the left-hander went 5-0 against the Royals on the way to a 22-3 record and 2.54 ERA.
He didn't get his third loss until Sept. 23 at Boston.
Bannister (1-0), recalled from Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday, improved to 4-1 with a 1.62 ERA overall against the Indians. He allowed four hits and walked only one against a team that came in leading the majors with 76 bases on balls in 14 games.
"I wanted to get ahead in the count because they're drawing a lot of walks." Bannister said. "I was able to get a couple of groundballs when I needed them and the guys played good defense behind me."
Jamey Wright worked two scoreless innings and Joakim Soria pitched the ninth for his fifth save. Soria hadn't worked in a game since saving a 4-2 win over the Indians on April 13.
The right-hander walked Johnny
Peralta with one out and yielded a ground single to center by Shin- Soo Choo. Kelly Shoppach then lined the first pitch to the warning track in left, where David Dejesus made a stumbling catch, hanging on to the ball despite his spikes catching in the wet ground.
"I saw David go back and thought everything was OK," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "Let's say I felt a lot better when I saw the ball in his glove. He made a good plav."
Both runners moved up on a passed ball by Miguel Olivo before Soria threw a called third strike on the inside corner past Trevor Crowe to end it.
"It's tough to sit on a curveball when a guy is throwing 92-93 (mph)." Crowe said. "He's very tough."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kansas City Royals right fielder Willie Bloomquist makes a running catch to rob the Cleveland Indians' Travis Hafner of a hit in the sixth inning of the Royals' 2-0 victory Wednesday night.
THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS