Royals can't top Angels

In a three games series against the Angels this weekend the Royals lost every single game.

The Royals completed the hat-trick, losing 1-4, 0-1 and 3-4.

Coming into the series with the Angels the Royals were on a six game winning streak. They were flying high and surely did not think they would lose more than one game.

What made the losses more amazing was, all three games were started by the Royals' top three starters. The game Friday was started by Gil Meche, the game on Saturday by Zack Greinke and the game on Sunday by Kyle Davies.

This may be the only time this year that the Royals lose three consecutive games when these three are pitching at the top of the rotation.

The outing by Meche on Friday was not terrible but was not what the Royals are used to seeing. Meche pitched only 5 2/3 innings and gave up four earned runs but did strike out seven. The four runs given up by Meche were the only of the game. Yet the Royals could not get the bats alive giving Meche only one run of help on four hits.

Saturday was a sure victory. Zack Greinke was on the mound and spirits were surely high. Greinke was not as sharp as we have known him to be this year. He found himself in far too many three-ball counts. Still, Greinke managed to pitch a complete game giving up only one run on four hits.

Sadly the Royals gave Greinke no run support and he was tagged with his first loss of the season in a 0-1 loss.

On Sunday the Royals' bats seemed to come alive once again. They scored three runs on ten hits. Kyle Davies contributed nicely by pitching six innings and giving up only one run.

The Royals took a three-to-one lead into the bottom of the seventh and lost it, giving up three runs.

In the top of the ninth, still down 3-4, all hope was not lost when Miguel Olivo drove a ball to deep left-center field.

It was not meant to be. Torii Hunter made a leaping catch and robbed Butler of a game tying home run that saved the game.

What do the Royals have to do to beat the Angels?

Coming into the series with the Angels the Royals had played 17 straight days. Exhaustion, mental or physical may have played a part in the lack of run production.

To top it all off the Royals closer Joakim Soria has been put on the 15-day disabled list.