CLEVELAND | However slender the chance for David DeJesus to win a Gold Glove — no full-time left fielder has done so in the American League since Rickey Henderson in 1981 — he continues to climb the Royals’ career and single-season charts for outfield assists.DeJesus got two more assists Friday night when the Royals extended their winning streak to five games with a 2-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians in 12 innings at Progressive Field.Both assists came on throws to the plate and each prevented the Indians from claiming a walk-off victory.“Doing that, it’s definitely cool,” he said. “It’s a momentum changer. I like it when the other team reacts, ‘Aw, man.’ It’s fun.”DeJesus entered Saturday with a career-high 13 assists, which tied Baltimore’s Nick Markakis for second in the AL among outfielders behind the 15 by Boston’s Jason Bay.“In a real short period of time,” manager Trey Hillman said, “David has become an exceptional left fielder.”The 13 assists also place DeJesus in a tie for eighth place on the Royals’ all-time list for a single season. Jermaine Dye set the record with 17 in 1999, one year before winning the Royals’ last outfielder Gold Glove. Mark Teahen matched Dye’s total in 2007.Others ahead of DeJesus: Carlos Beltran (twice), Amos Otis, Al Cowens and Willie Wilson. The only left fielder in the group is Wilson, who had 14 assists in 1981 — but three of those came as a center fielder.DeJesus’ two assists Friday moved him into sixth place on the club’s career list with 43 — one ahead of Lou Piniella, two ahead of Bo Jackson and just one behind Dye.Bannister doneBrian Bannister will join rotation mate Gil Meche on the sideline for the rest of the season after a follow-up examination in New York confirmed significant loss of range in his right shoulder due to fatigue. “This was stressing my shoulder considerably,” Bannister said. “No surgery is necessary, and I will begin a stretching and strengthening program (this) morning. “I expect to be on a normal timeline for spring training next year.” Bannister characterized the diagnosis as “good news.” He finishes the season at 7-12 with a 4.73 ERA in 26 starts. The shoulder derailed what once shaped up as a fine season. Bannister was 7-7 with a 3.59 ERA through his first 20 starts before going 0-5 with a 9.29 ERA in his final six starts.•Meche played catch prior to Saturday’s game, which marked his first on-field throwing workout since shoulder inflammation knocked him out of the rotation following a rocky Aug. 29 start in Seattle. •Reliever Juan Cruz is scheduled to test his recovery from a strained shoulder by throwing breaking balls today in a bullpen workout. He hasn’t pitched since Aug. 5 but, barring any setbacks, is on track to be activated in a week to 10 days.Teahen scratched Mark Teahen was a late scratch from the lineup as the starting third baseman because of muscle spasms in his lower back. “I was taking ground balls (in pregame drills),” he said, “when it spasmed up. I’ll take some (medication) tonight, and we’ll see how it is (today).”Greinke’s Final FourZack Greinke is tentatively scheduled to start every fifth game for the remainder of the season, Hillman said. That provides Greinke with four more opportunities to burnish his Cy Young Award credentials.Greinke settled for a no-decision Friday despite limiting the Indians to one run in seven innings. It marked the sixth time this season that he failed to get a victory despite allowing fewer than two runs.Assuming no changes, Greinke will start next Thursday afternoon in Detroit, Aug. 22 against Boston at Kauffman Stadium, Aug. 27 in the home finale against Minnesota at Kauffman Stadium and Oct. 3 at Minnesota. Minor playoffs Class A Wilmington must head back today to Lynchburg for a decisive fifth game after Saturday’s 5-2 loss at home in the Carolina League North Division finals. Mike Moustakas drove in both of the Blue Rocks’ runs. Tonight’s winner meets Salem in the best-of-five finals.•Class A Burlington beat Cedar Rapids 3-2 for a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three Midwest League Western Division finals. Shawn Griffin’s two-run single capped a three-run fifth.

Posted on Sat, Sep. 12, 2009 10:15 PM

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Royals notebook: DeJesus moving up club charts for outfield assists

By BOB DUTTON

The Kansas City Star

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DeJesus got two more assists Friday night when the Royals extended their winning streak to five games with a 2-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians in 12 innings at Progressive Field.

Both assists came on throws to the plate and each prevented the Indians from claiming a walk-off victory.

“Doing that, it’s definitely cool,” he said. “It’s a momentum changer. I like it when the other team reacts, ‘Aw, man.’ It’s fun.”

DeJesus entered Saturday with a career-high 13 assists, which tied Baltimore’s Nick Markakis for second in the AL among outfielders behind the 15 by Boston’s Jason Bay.

“In a real short period of time,” manager Trey Hillman said, “David has become an exceptional left fielder.”

The 13 assists also place DeJesus in a tie for eighth place on the Royals’ all-time list for a single season. Jermaine Dye set the record with 17 in 1999, one year before winning the Royals’ last outfielder Gold Glove. Mark Teahen matched Dye’s total in 2007.

Others ahead of DeJesus: Carlos Beltran (twice), Amos Otis, Al Cowens and Willie Wilson. The only left fielder in the group is Wilson, who had 14 assists in 1981 — but three of those came as a center fielder.

DeJesus’ two assists Friday moved him into sixth place on the club’s career list with 43 — one ahead of Lou Piniella, two ahead of Bo Jackson and just one behind Dye.

Bannister done

Brian Bannister will join rotation mate Gil Meche on the sideline for the rest of the season after a follow-up examination in New York confirmed significant loss of range in his right shoulder due to fatigue.

“This was stressing my shoulder considerably,” Bannister said. “No surgery is necessary, and I will begin a stretching and strengthening program (this) morning.

“I expect to be on a normal timeline for spring training next year.”

Bannister characterized the diagnosis as “good news.” He finishes the season at 7-12 with a 4.73 ERA in 26 starts.

The shoulder derailed what once shaped up as a fine season. Bannister was 7-7 with a 3.59 ERA through his first 20 starts before going 0-5 with a 9.29 ERA in his final six starts.

•Meche played catch prior to Saturday’s game, which marked his first on-field throwing workout since shoulder inflammation knocked him out of the rotation following a rocky Aug. 29 start in Seattle.

•Reliever Juan Cruz is scheduled to test his recovery from a strained shoulder by throwing breaking balls today in a bullpen workout. He hasn’t pitched since Aug. 5 but, barring any setbacks, is on track to be activated in a week to 10 days.

Teahen scratched

Mark Teahen was a late scratch from the lineup as the starting third baseman because of muscle spasms in his lower back.

“I was taking ground balls (in pregame drills),” he said, “when it spasmed up. I’ll take some (medication) tonight, and we’ll see how it is (today).”

Greinke’s Final Four

Zack Greinke is tentatively scheduled to start every fifth game for the remainder of the season, Hillman said. That provides Greinke with four more opportunities to burnish his Cy Young Award credentials.

Greinke settled for a no-decision Friday despite limiting the Indians to one run in seven innings.

It marked the sixth time this season that he failed to get a victory despite allowing fewer than two runs.

Assuming no changes, Greinke will start next Thursday afternoon in Detroit, Aug. 22 against Boston at Kauffman Stadium, Aug. 27 in the home finale against Minnesota at Kauffman Stadium and Oct. 3 at Minnesota.

Minor playoffs

Class A Wilmington must head back today to Lynchburg for a decisive fifth game after Saturday’s 5-2 loss at home in the Carolina League North Division finals.

Mike Moustakas drove in both of the Blue Rocks’ runs. Tonight’s winner meets Salem in the best-of-five finals.

•Class A Burlington beat Cedar Rapids 3-2 for a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three Midwest League Western Division finals. Shawn Griffin’s two-run single capped a three-run fifth.

Posted on Sat, Sep. 12, 2009 10:15 PM

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