Royals did what good teams do: Beat up on a bad team

Everybody loves the big pitching matchups — your ace faces their ace — but those games are toss-ups, and either team could win. Then there are the games you should win and can’t afford to lose; not if you’re going to put together a winning record. This was a game the Royals should have won and did. Beating up on bad teams is what good teams do.

Former Royals broadcaster Fred White dies at 76

Fred White, who teamed with Denny Matthews as the Royals’ primary broadcast team from 1973 to 1998, died Wednesday of complications from melanoma. His death came one day after he officially retired from the Royals following a 40-year association with the club. He was 76.

Happy birthday, George! Royals great Brett turns 60

Hall of Famer George Brett, who turned 60 on Wednesday, played his entire 21-year baseball career with the Royals, and he's still very much involved with the team. The Royals drafted him in 1971, he hit .390 in 1980, had a little trouble with pine tar in 1983, won the World Series in 1985 and was inducted into the Hall in 1999.

What the Royals' Guthrie accomplished against Angels

Going into the Angels game, Royals pitcher Jeremy Guthrie had a string of 18 starts without a loss — but that was snapped Tuesday night as the Royals fell 6-2. But he did throw seven innings. When a starting pitcher does not have his best stuff but hangs in there and finds a way to give his team innings, he may not help his team win that night, but he gives them a better shot at winning the next night.

Lorenzo Cain gets a look as the Royals’ leadoff hitter

The latest lineup tweak Tuesday by Royals manager Ned Yost positioned Lorenzo Cain at the top of the order for the first time this season. “On days when (Jarrod) Dyson doesn’t play, I’ve got to have a No. 1 hitter,” Yost said. “For me right now, Cain is as good as anybody to give a look at.”

Judging the Royals: Beating up on a scuffling opponent

On Monday night, the Royals slapped around a team that is currently 14-24 with a .368 winning percentage. The pitcher they beat, Joe Blanton, woke up this morning with an 0-7 record and a 6.46 ERA. I’m not writing this to belittle Monday's win — far from it. That was just the kind of game the Royals need to win to get where they want to go. But the Royals may not have done anything more to improve their performance than playing a worse team.

Freese hits slam, Brewers lose 7-6 to Cardinals

The first inning had been the Milwaukee Brewers' strongest suit all season. This time, the St. Louis Cardinals turned the tables and put them in a hole just large enough that six RBIs from Aramis Ramirez left them short.