--2B Mark Grudzielanek, who had missed the previous four games with soreness in his lower back, returned to the lineup Friday.
--LF David DeJesus went 3-for-5, extending his hitting streak to 12 games. He is 21-for-49 (.429) in the streak. It is his second 12-game hitting streak of the season. --The Royals' six-game winning streak is their longest since starting the 2003 season 9-0.
--3B Alex Gordon's four-RBI game matched his career high and was his first at Kauffman Stadium. The other two were Sept. 3, 2007, at Texas and June 26, 2007, at Los Angeles. Gordon has five homers in his past 16 games.
--The Royals' 13-3 record against National League clubs matches the Twins for the best interleague record.
--LHP Jimmy Gobble has pitched just once in the past 17 days.
BY THE NUMBERS: .174 -- Batting average by Royals pitchers in interleague games, through June 22.
.159 -- batting averages by SS Tony Pena Jr. and IF Esteban German, through June 22.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I don't go up there trying to impress anybody. I just go up there trying to play the game the right way and play hard and hopefully everything works out for the best. Sometime you have a short window of opportunity. Sometimes people don't get an opportunity. I'm just fortunate enough to get a little opportunity right now and I am trying to make the most of my time." -- Rookie SS Mike Aviles.
