Zack Grienke didn’t need much run support today as he posted very impressive numbers against a good team cornered by the broom. Over the 7 innings of service that Grienke pitched today, those Cardinals of St. Loius could only put up 2 Hits, 1 Run, and Struck Out 7. It was another one of those performances that all Royals fans (and Grienke fans alike) are learning to expect from this incredible arm. The Cardinals just never stood a chance today, and saw the series go to the Royals, in the form of a sweep, by the score of 4-1.
The game was knotted at zero going into the 4th inning, when the Royals started the scoring off the bat of Grudzielanek, who hit an RBI double. He was then drove in by Mark Teahen, making the score 2-0. The Cardinals got their only run in the bottom of the inning off the bat of Ankiel, who hit a nice shot into the cheap seats, with no one on. This made it 2-1 going into the 5th inning, but that was all the runs that the Cardinals would score today. Teahen hit an insurance home run in the top of the 9th inning with 1 man on, giving the club a 4-1 lead, and that is where it would stay.
This win solidified the sweep of the Cardinals, and seems to have given the team a well needed boost. They are playing good baseball right now, winning by a small margin in every game this series, which is just what Hillman and the coaching staff likes to see. Hopefully they can continue this winning way and try to make a move in the Central.
They are headed home next to host the San Francisco Giants, continuing inter-league play. Let’s just hope that the team packed that dominating pitching that they found on the road, brining it home to show the Royals faithful. The season is long from over, and this sweep could be just what it takes to turn things around.