The Royals' streak of playing on 20 consecutive days will end with an off-day Monday after three games at Anaheim.
Manager Trey Hillman is not planning on skipping anybody in the rotation, however, with the off-day. Not even to keep ace righty Zack Greinke, who is 6-0 with a 0.40 ERA in his first six starts, working every fifth day in his normal routine. "We're planning on just keeping everybody in the same order and it gives everybody an extra day, a day of rest," Hillman said. "We're not there yet, but once we get to finishing up the 20 games in a row that certainly gives us an opportunity with a couple of off days on Mondays the following two weeks."
The Royals will have an off-day Monday before opening a series Tuesday in Oakland. They also have an off-day May 18, in the middle of a seven-game homestand against the Orioles and Indians.
"We'll let these guys have a little bit of a recovery time with an extra day," Hillman said. "We'll manipulate the rotation as needed, but that's our plan for right now."
Greinke will attempt to go 7-0 when he makes his first career start Saturday night at Anaheim. He did pitch 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief, June 26, 2007 at Anaheim. Greinke will not pitch again until Friday (May 15) against the Orioles in Kauffman Stadium.
ANGELS 4, ROYALS 1: It was ruled an inside-the-park homer, but Jose Guillen should have caught Howie Kendrick's fly ball down the right-field line. Guillen overran the ball, which flicked off the top of his glove. By the time Guillen chased it down, Kendrick had circled the bases, ruled a two-run homer. The Royals managed just four hits. Billy Butler had half of them and their only RBI, a double in the sixth to score David DeJesus. RHP Gil Meche took the loss, giving up four runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out seven and walking three.
