Royals' fans have been waiting for this game and it happened in the series opener at Texas.  Jose Guillen busted out, at least for one game, going 2 for 5 with his third home run of the year and five RBI as the Royals beat the Texas Rangers 9-5. 

The nine runs were the most the Royals have scored this season.  Mark Grudzielanek returned from five games off with a back ailment and banged three doubles and a single. Mark Teahen ripped a two-run triple in the eighth inning to seal the win and finished with three RBIs.

Royals' starter Brett Tomko was knocked out in the fourth inning after surrendering five runs, but the bullpen was able to shut down the Rangers.

Four relievers were brought into the mix with Ron Mahay getting the win relieving Tomko, Jimmy Gobble, Ramon Ramirez and Joakim Soria, all combined for 5 2/3 scoreless innings.

Bannister outpitches Liriano as Royals beat Twins 5-1

NO SWEEP FOR THE TWINS (AGAIN)

Looks like the twins are a pretty good team, I can't wait for the Royals, White Sox matchup, I will have to look at the schedule for this one

Here are ther Standings Thus Far, Still I say B+ start. Looks like Meche needs to get it together, which I am sure he will, so far Bannister has been the standout, and we all figure Meche.

Last year Meche was the hard luck loser, this year he has had some control issues and Bannister has so far proven that he can keep control, and pitch out of Jams, when Meche can do this, they both can win 20 games.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)--Brian Bannister threw his second career complete game and outpitched Francisco Liriano, who was making his first start since 2006, and the Kansas City Royals snapped a three-game skid with a 5-1 victory Sunday over the Minnesota Twins.

Liriano, an All-Star as a rookie sensation in 2006, gave up six hits, walked five and struck out four in his first major league appearance since undergoing Tommy John surgery 17 months ago. The big left-hander went 4 2-3 innings and gave up four runs. He threw 90 pitches, 51 for strikes.

Bannister (3-0) gave up only three hits, walking one and striking out three. In three starts covering 21 innings, the second-year right-hander has allowed only two earned runs for an ERA of 0.86

.

Royals 5, Twins 1

The Royals head for a matchup in Seattle, Lets Go POWDERBLUE

Just one of those games, Why is it so hard for the Royals against Andy. I kind of had a feeling beforehand about this matchup.

The Royals have alot to prove this weekend with the Twins in town, they need to avenge their losses to the Twins, series that they lost only a week ago.

Again, not a bad start that we can take the tigers, and take the series still from the yanks. Now the nemise is the twins.

Let's see if the starting pitching can stay solid this weekend. It should not be a fun game for the twin, the royals, or the fans due to the weather.

In other news, Guillen's, Mitchells report is over, with his sentence being commuted, lets see if he turns to fire now with a new personna, and something like this being behind him.

This is an important series and should establish a little bit of dominance early in the season. Here in Kansas city, We are still very skeptical about all these wins, but hopeful, we are that.

Good luck tonight guys

						1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9				R		H		E
				NYY (4-5)		0		0		0		0		0		0		0		0		0				0		7		0
				KC (6-2)		0		0		0		0		2		2		0		0		X				4		8		0
			W: Z. Greinke (2-0, 0.60); L: K. Farnsworth (0-1, 5.06); SV: J. Gobble (1) HR: KC: J. Buck (1).

KANSAS CITY -- There was joy in Mudville. Mighty KC did not strike out.

Zack Greinke and the Kansas City Royals slogged through mud and rain to dunk the New York Yankees, 4-0, on Wednesday night, as 19,007 fans huddled under umbrellas, plastic gear and the overhangs at Kauffman Stadium.

Greinke held the Yankees to six hits in eight innings, and the Royals' hot start reached 6-2.

In the constant rain, there were mud-caked uniforms, soggy gloves and heavy footing. Yet the game, and Greinke, kept grinding on, inning after inning.

"The field was in bad shape, but we were playing in it like that already, and it wasn't like it was that much worse than the inning before," Greinke said.

The threat of rain prompted Yankees manager Joe Girardi to scratch Ian Kennedy as his starting pitcher. Instead, he decided to start the game with relievers and use Kennedy after a rain delay, if there was one.

Royals manager Trey Hillman was informed about the pitching change about 10 minutes before game time and told his players in the dugout.

"I didn't see any panic in anyone -- I understood why Joe chose to go that way with the weather situation tonight," Hillman said.

Despite the gloomy weather forecast, he decided to stay with Greinke.

"From a managerial standpoint, you sit there and ask yourself if you did the right thing, and you really don't know until a few hours later," Hillman said. "I'm glad we stuck with our starter, and Zack pitched outstanding."

Not that it was easy.

Rain began falling in the second inning, and radar reports looked ominous. In fact, the steady rain never stopped, and the grounds crew kept pouring a drying compound onto infield puddles.

Brian Bruney started for the Yankees and worked two innings. Then came Billy Traber for one inning. Kyle Farnsworth followed him and gave up a booming blast in the fifth.

John Buck peered through the raindrops and drove Farnsworth's first pitch of the inning over the left-center-field wall. It banged into the back wall of the waterfall and plopped, appropriately, into the pool. The drive was estimated at 439 feet.

"It's tough to see, so if you get a pitch, jump on it," Buck said. "That was my approach today. He came after me, and luckily, I made good contact."

The Royals sloshed on. Joey Gathright put down a bunt single, and Mark Grudzielanek walked. Gathright was a muddy out trying to steal third base, but Mark Teahen walked and Jose Guillen lined an RBI single for a 2-0 lead.

The hit was only the fifth in 32 at-bats for the slumping Guillen.

In the sixth, with rain still falling but no delay in effect, Girardi summoned the sidetracked Kennedy to the mound. He immediately gave up two runs as Alex Gordon walked, Ross Gload pounded an RBI double, Buck singled and Tony Pena hit a run-scoring groundout.

Greinke got tougher as he went along. Through eight innings, he had thrown 107 pitches and was willing to finish up.

"I believe he could have probably finished the game, but I just don't think it's the prudent thing to do in your second start in these conditions," Hillman said.

Out of the bullpen came Yasuhiko Yabuta, the Japanese import. He got an out, but Alex Rodriguez lined a single off the glove of Pena, the shortstop, and countryman Hideki Matsui walked.

With lefty slugger Jason Giambi holding a bat, Hillman waved for lefty Jimmy Gobble.

"In that situation, coming in to face Giambi, I knew I had to put a slider in a good spot because he can beat you with one pitch, or at least get the game a lot closer," Gobble said.

The strategy worked perfectly, as Giambi hit a towering infield popout. Gobble struck out Jose Molina, and he had a save.

So the Royals stood at 6-2 in the American League Central.

"Did the White Sox win tonight?" Billy Butler asked.

The answer was no.

"That means we're in sole possession of first place," Butler with a beaming smile.

Yep, somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout. It's right here in Mudville.

The question remains, I personally am not waiting for the other foot to drop, But after last nights victory over the Yankees, what do I believe.

1. The Royals are playing very well

2. Pitching is the key

3. Grienke looks good

4. Pitching has been fabulous

5. In case there is any doubt, pitching is the key.

So we have established that pitching is a key component. I believe that sucess breeds success. It will be interesting and kind of a nail biter when John Bale, matches up with Andy Petite.

Middel relief is doing an EXCELLENT job so far for powder blue, Thus the Royals atop the division 6-2.

I imagine that they are going to drop this one, however they are showing some promise and even occasional power, with the likes of Buck nailing one out of the park in not so great conditions at the old "K" last night.

I gotta get me some tickets.................................................

Go Blue, see you on T.V. tonight

Yes, still early in the season, and finally the season opener, The KC Royals looked good again today, Stealing, and striking out the Yanks, Leo Nunez comes in, after Mahay, and makes the Yankees look sad at the plate.

On a chilly nasty, almost fall like season opener the Royals played some small ball in order to regain themselves.

The only worry for me, is the inconsistency of Guillen, Pena Jr, and John Buck, which is not getting off to good starts.

Guillen had his opps, but didnt come through

Joakim Soria comes in in the 9th inning, Flys out Melky,Flys out Damon, and with the fans on there feet, Cabrera, grounds to German,

In front of a capacity,renovated Royals stadium, The Royals hung in there ground it out and wins

All pitchers combined struck out a total of 11 hitters, including A-Rod 4 times, Not bad I say.

So Yes, All in All, off to a great start for the Royals, sitting at 5-2, and winning 5-2 today, there is not a town that would not be proud of there team.

Billy Butler, what can you say. He is going to be such a big name in Kansas City, what is he now 375 ? maybe more.

Butler is going to be a perennial favorite of the Royals, very soon, with a great start. He wore that Twins astro turf out in center field, with 2 doubles and a single. All this and he has the power to hit at least 40 over the fence.

Butler is going to be the future hero of the Royals, for a long time to come.

Today we reintroduced ourselves to Dennis Reyes, although I don't think there is any particular love loss, as a former Royal, its good to see him still pitching.

Royals were ahead 3-1 going into the bottom of the 9th, and Soria came in after Gobble, and Nunez shut them down in the 8th.

Up comes Morneau, and down on strikes,  Next Delmon Young sees the pitcher whiff him for the 2nd strikeout, the Jason Kubel makes it 3 strikeouts, strik out the side.

Again, nice job for the pitching staff. Soria, whiffs the side, and the bullpen is doing a wonderful job, again.

Royals come home 4-2. What a great job

A win today cancelled out the 3 game sweep. I am personally glad to see them win this rubber game

OK, back to reality, Meche was not so sharp today, and yesterday, Bale couldnt keep it. The royals sink back to 3-2. No, I am not concerned but I hope to see a victory quick. Of course living in KC, you have alot of doubt when they drop a couple. But it could be worse.

No worries yet, I hope.

Are the Royals good enough to be the Tigers and win the 3 game sweep, Yep, they are. Although upon observation of these games. it looks like Detroit has 9 individuals, they are tight, and they are caught up in pure slump. Now this won't last long, but now the Royals are atop the division.

It says alot that we even got out of there with 1 win, but all three really makes for excitement here in Kansas city.

The Royals have the jump start that they needed and the pitching has been really solid averaging less than 3 runs per game.

Good Stuff Guys

DETROIT (AP)--The Kansas City Royals were supposed to provide a perfect launching pad for the Detroit Tigers highly touted offense.

The Royals pitchers did not cooperate, and the Tigers failed to launch.Zack Greinke had another outstanding pitching performance for Kansas City, allowing one run in seven innings as the Royals finished off a season-opening sweep with a 4-1 win on Thursday.

The Tigers and their $138.7 million payroll managed five runs in the series, including just one in the final 21 innings.

"We stunk," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "We look like we're just going up there and giving at-bats away without any purpose. The manager's responsible for the preparation and the performance of the club, and right now, we don't look very prepared.

"We just look like dead."

Detroit is hitting .206 with 24 strikeouts in three games.

The Royals put away the tigers, and Kenny Rogers, and start the season off in good fashion. MLB.TV and major league baseball had this game BLACKED OUT in Kansas city, even thought the game was in Detroit. It was unfortunate,

Here is the Wrap

This win, and I know we are so fresh in the season, is the ticket for K.C. Fans, the reason I say this is that we have been the perennial loser for so long in April. This April, should be a great start on a long awaited comeback for the team that oh so needs it.

Here is the story

DETROIT -- Brian Bannister came up with the perfect thing to give the powerful lineup boasted by the Detroit Tigers.

Nothing.

Bannister pitched seven shutout innings against the Tigers on Wednesday and the Royals' bullpen finished up in a three-hit, 4-0 victory as 32,348 fans watched at sunny Comerica Park.

Leo Nunez and Joakim Soria each tossed a scoreless inning to give the Royals a second straight win over the highly-hyped Tigers. This is the first time since 2003 that the Royals have started the season with two wins. Maybe it's an omen: that '03 club won its first nine games and spent much of the season in first place.

All three Tigers hits were singles by leadoff batter Edgar Renteria. Which means that Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Guillen, Gary Sheffield and Co. had exactly zero.

"As a staff now, we know they have a lot of expectations, and we want to put a lot of pressure on them early in the season and just establish that we can play with them," Bannister said.

OK, then, that's been established.

Bannister gave up two of Renteria's singles, one to lead off the first inning and one to start the fourth. Neither hit led to anything. In fact, Bannister issued no walks and faced just 22 batters in his seven innings -- one over the minimum.

Bannister said his approach was pretty simple.

"I have good control, and I try and just mix it up," he said. "Pitch in, pitch out, pitch hard, pitch soft. Just pitch out there. It's hard to see on TV sometimes, but I'm really changing a lot of stuff each time."

Certainly there was virtually nothing on which to fault him.

"He got a couple out over the plate and got some foul balls on those that actually helped him out in the count a couple of times," manager Trey Hillman said. "They weren't able to square it up.

"Mr. Renteria had a good day, obviously, but other than that, Banny was in control and did a great job."

So too, for a while, did Tigers starter Kenny Rogers.

The Royals kept folding against The Gambler. For three innings, he held them helpless, nine up and nine down.

Joey Gathright finally got an infield single to open the fourth, but the game remained scoreless through the fifth.

Three doubles in the Royals' sixth changed that. Mark Grudzielanek doubled down the right-field line. After a second out, Jose Guillen doubled inside the left-field line, notching his first hit and his first RBI as a Royal.

Billy Butler belted another double to deep center and Guillen came home for a 2-0 lead.

"When you can drive in runs with two outs, you're going to be a pretty dad-gummed good team," Butler said.

In fact, all four runs scored after two were out.

The Royals added two runs in the eighth against reliever Zach Miner. Gathright led off with a double, Grudzielanek walked and, after two strikeouts, Butler and Teahen each had an RBI single.

Butler was out in a rundown after rounding second base, but the Royals were up, 4-0.

This was Bannister's day.

"When big league pitchers make big league pitches, they get people out," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland. "He made more big league pitches today."

Rogers was equally impressed.

"He was great," Rogers said. "Our lineup's very good, but he pitched fantastic. Outpitched me by far. He's fun to watch. ... He pitches. He doesn't throw. He's out there moving the ball around quite a bit and changing speeds. That's what it takes."

Bannister really didn't expect to go out for the eighth inning after throwing 85 pitches, 53 of them strikes.

"We haven't gone that far yet in Spring Training yet or anything, and I have so much confidence in our bullpen," he said. "Noonie threw great the other day and so did Soria, and it's fun to just hand the ball to those guys and just have them finish it for you."

The victory comes on top of Monday's 11-inning, 5-4 victory in which Gil Meche, Brett Tomko, Nunez and Soria combined to harness the menacing lineup.

"Our pitching's been unbelievable the first two games," Butler said. "Banny threw unbelievable. I was just sitting there impressed with every pitch he threw. I mean that's a big pick-me-up when we don't do anything for him in the first five."

Hillman is already 2-0 in his new venue, managing in the U.S. after all those years in Japan. He's beaten the mighty Tigers twice. The Royals are two games over .500 for the first time since April 11, 2004, when they were 4-2.

Pretty easy, huh, skip?

"No, it's definitely not the time to get cocky," Hillman said. "Actually it's just the reverse. It's time to stay humble. We've got to face a very good pitcher and a very good lineup again tomorrow."

Here are the #s of the 4-0 win

Well, this Dejesus thing isn't going away, looks like my favorite, Gaithright might get some playing time. I like to see David get better quick but if they are ordering MRI's, It may be he may be out a couple weeks. I beleive David to be so critical to the sucess of the franchise, let see if Try Hillman wil change the batting lineup for leadoff, or just "Plug" Gaithright into the #1 Spot.....Which I don't know if that is a good Idea, or not. But I bet that this will be the case.

Gonna miss the game, but will go ahead and DVR it. Good luck tonight Royals

Here is the article from KC Royals.com

DETROIT -- Center fielder David DeJesus left for Kansas City on Tuesday morning to have an MRI on his left ankle.

"It's sore," DeJesus said, "but we'll see."

DeJesus left the Royals' hotel in Birmingham, Mich., with general manager Dayton Moore, who was returning home on the open date. DeJesus was to rejoin the team before Wednesday afternoon's game against the Tigers.

"He'll have it evaluated and we'll see where we stand," manager Trey Hillman said. "I don't think it's anything to be overly concerned about. Nothing showed on the X-rays."

DeJesus aggravated a previous injury in the second inning of Monday's 11-inning, 5-4 victory over Detroit. He was turning to chase Carlos Guillen's double when he felt pain. When his turn to bat came in the third inning, Joey Gathright pinch-hit for him and took over in center field.

The original injury came on March 24, in a Spring Training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. At first it was reported that he injured his right ankle, but it was his left that twisted as he accelerated out of the batter's box.

In other injury news, Hillman said that X-rays of second baseman Mark Grudzielanek's left hand were negative. Grudzielanek was struck on the hand by a Justin Verlander pitch in the fourth inning.

"There was a little bit of swelling there," Hillman said.

Grudzielanek stayed in the game until the 10th inning and made a couple of outstanding plays despite the discomfort.

"It's great to have that kind of a guy on your team, a veteran that refuses to come out," Hillman said. "He didn't even want to come out of the game when I took him out."

Grudzielanek was replaced by pinch-runner Esteban German after getting a third single in the 10th. Grudzielanek was on base all five times he batted, once on an error.

Most of the Royals took Tuesday off. John Bale, who will be the starting pitcher on Friday night at Minnesota, was to throw a bullpen session caught by Miguel Olivo. Reliever Yasuhiko Yabuta was to play catch and test his right leg, which was bruised when he was hit by a line drive last weekend