--RHP Zack Greinke became the first pitcher in the majors with six victories and lowered his earned run average to 0.40 with a complete-game shutout of the White Sox. Greinke joins RHP Bret Saberhagen (1987) and Jose Lima (2003) as the only Royals pitchers to win their first six decisions. Lima won seven in 2003. Greinke struck out 10 and walked none, the fourth time in his career he has logged double-figure strikeouts with no walks.
--Did manager Trey Hillman think about taking out RHP Zack Greinke after eight scoreless innings? "No, I'd like to stick around here for a little while," Hillman said. "I was afraid if I got somebody up, they'd run me off. I really didn't have any reservations (of staying with Zack). Even if they found a way to hit a couple of holes, I really felt like at that point and time his stuff was as good or better than anybody we had out in the bullpen. I just kept evaluating his stuff. Mac (pitching coach Bob McClure) does, too. We didn't even have anything to talk about. I didn't really even think about getting anybody up." --SS Tony Pena Jr. was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a fractured hamate bone in his left hand. Pena injured the hand while fouling off a pitch in the 10th inning Saturday. He remained in the game and swung one-handed in the 11th inning.
--The Royals purchased the contract of INF Luis Hernandez from Class AAA to take the roster spot of Pena. Hernandez was hitting .292 in 20 games in the Pacific Coast League. Hernandez hit .231 in 23 games in spring training as a non-roster invitee. Hernandez hit .264 in 66 games with Baltimore the past two seasons.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We could see last year they (the Royals) made a lot of progress and they're better this year. When (RHP Zack) Greinke pitches, they are as good as any team in baseball." -- Tigers manager Jim Leyland.
BY THE NUMBERS: 1-for-13 -- C John Buck on throwing out base runners this season after throwing out just seven of 65 in 2008.
