Posted on Sat, Jun. 20, 2009 10:15 PM
Royals notebook: Davies optioned to minors; Tejeda activated from disabled list
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Struggling right-hander Kyle Davies lost his spot in the Royals’ rotation Saturday morning when he was optioned to Class AAA Omaha to clear roster space for the return of reliever Robinson Tejeda from the disabled list.
The move comes one day after Davies allowed eight runs and nine hits in just 2 2/3 innings in a 10-5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals at Kauffman Stadium. Davies dropped to 3-7 and saw his ERA climb to 5.76.
“He’s just got to command the ball better,” manager Trey Hillman said. “It’s just two of his last 12 starts that he won games. A lot of things factor into that, obviously. But he’s been centering pitches in dangerous areas.”
Hillman said the Royals will take advantage of an open date Monday to avoid replacing Davies in the rotation until next Saturday in Pittsburgh.
Possible replacements include right-hander Sidney Ponson, currently on a rehab assignment at Omaha, and left-hander Bruce Chen, who pitched a three-hit shutout Friday for the O-Royals in a 4-0 victory at Albuquerque.
Ponson, 32, is scheduled for 40-45 pitches today in his second rehab start in his recovery from a strained right elbow that forced him to the disabled list after a May 29 outing against Chicago.
“Health-wise, he’s fine,” Hillman said. “He’s throwing the ball well.”
Ponson was 1-5 with a 7.27 ERA in 11 games, including six starts, prior to his injury.
Chen, 32, appears the more-likely choice because his work schedule positions him to slide into Davies’ spot on normal rest. He is 4-2 with a 3.38 ERA in 12 games at Omaha and has pitched shutouts in three of his last four starts.
“His name did come up,” Hillman said. “We’re watching his progress closely. He’s put up really good numbers, and he’s certainly in the mix for consideration.”
Davies, 25, opened the season with three strong starts but is just 1-6 with a 6.30 ERA in his last nine games.
Missed opportunity
The Royals didn’t have many opportunities against Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter, but they wasted a leadoff triple by Mark Teahen in the third inning.
The Cardinals led just 1-0 when Teahen sent a liner past right fielder Ryan Ludwick for the Royals’ 26th triple of the season — tops in the majors.
And then, stinko.
Miguel Olivo struck out. Mitch Maier hit a weak grounder to second that forced Teahen to hold. And David DeJesus hit a weak grounder to first for the final out.
“You’ve got to cash in,” Hillman said. “That’s the bottom line. You’ve got to get the key hits when you have baserunners.”
Updating Aviles
Shortstop Mike Aviles, the club’s player of the year in 2008, is scheduled to begin rehab activities this week on his strained right elbow and forearm at the club’s year-round complex in Surprise, Ariz.
That follows a three-week shutdown period following his June 2 examination by Dr. Lewis Yocum in Los Angeles.
Aviles didn’t acknowledge the injury, which surfaced in spring training, until mid-May. He was batting just .183 when placed on the disabled list following the May 23 game in St. Louis.
Etc.
•Cardinals manager Tony La Russa now has 2,499 career victories. That ranks third on baseball’s all-time list behind Connie Mack (3,831) and John McGraw (2,763).
•The Cardinals are already assured of winning a series at Kauffman Stadium for the seventh time in eight years.
•Saturday’s crowd of 38,769 was the Royals’ seventh sellout of the season and marked their 11th crowd of more than 30,000. They only had eight crowds of 30,000 or more in 2008.
•Albert Pujols has 12 career homers against the Royals, including 10 in 26 games at Kauffman Stadium.
Posted on Sat, Jun. 20, 2009 10:15 PM
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