--SS Mike Aviles, a rookie of the year candidate with a .330 batting average, got a scare Sunday when he was struck in the right hand by an Armando Galarraga pitch while swinging in the seventh inning. Aviles went down with pain and was replaced by Tony Pena Jr. X-rays, however, were negative -- no break -- but he has a contusion of his right index finger.
--LHP John Bale, who is in his second rehab stint with Class AAA Omaha, continues to struggle. He gave up four runs in the first inning Saturday night in a loss at Iowa. Bale permitted four runs on four hits, including a home run and a walk in two innings, while striking out one. In 10 rehab games with Omaha, Bale is 0-3 with a 10.80 ERA. --LHP Jimmy Gobble, who is also rehabbing with Class AAA Omaha, worked one scoreless inning Saturday against Iowa. He walked one, struck out one and did not give up a hit. Gobble is 1-1 with a 5.65 ERA in eight rehab appearances with Omaha.
--The Royals' marketing department is in a slump. It has scheduled a Tony Pena Jr. Bobblehead Night on Sept. 6. Pena is hitting .168 and lost his starting shortstop job to rookie Mike Aviles in June. In April, the Royals' marketing department had a Billy Butler jersey night, but he was sent to the minors in May.
--DH Billy Butler hit two home runs off Tigers LHP Kenny Rogers on Saturday. Royals 2B Mark Grudzielanek was the previous player to hit two homers off Rogers in the same game, May 23, 2006 at Kauffman Stadium. It was Butler's first multi-homer game.
BY THE NUMBERS: 7-20 -- Royals' record in August; that is the fourth time in five years the Royals have lost 18 or more games in the dog days of August.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's an unfortunate situation. It really is. Jose has got to remain focused to what happens on the baseball field. It is certainly inappropriate to engage in any conversation with the fans during a game. You need to ignore it and respond in a way that doesn't draw attention to yourself. We'll just continue to work with Jose about managing what he says and how he responds." -- General manager Dayton Moore, on OF Jose Guillen having to be restrained from going after a taunting fan.
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