Royals notebook: Grudzielanek sidelined by sore back
By BOB DUTTON
The Kansas City Star
An ailing back kept second baseman Mark Grudzielanek out of the Royals’ lineup for the second straight game Monday — and could keep him on the bench for an extended period.
“He’s just got some irritation in the lower back,” manager Trey Hillman said before Monday’s 8-4 victory over Colorado. “We’ve got to be careful with it. It isn’t anything new.
“We could have forced the issue (Sunday) and played him. Actually, it’s a little more tender (Monday). So he’ll stay inside and get treatment.”
Grudzielanek, 37, has a history of lower-back problems in recent years. It is uncertain what triggered this renewed irritation, but indications suggest he might not return to action before Friday’s game against the Cardinals.
Mike Aviles shifted from shortstop, as he did Sunday, to fill Grudzielanek’s vacancy at second base. Tony Peña made a second straight start at shortstop.
Peralta returns
Monday brought another bullpen shuffle when Jeff Fulchino was optioned to Class AAA Omaha and replaced by veteran Joel Peralta.
Fulchino, 28, allowed seven runs and nine hits in six innings over five appearances since arriving June 7 from Omaha to replace a struggling Peralta. Fulchino allowed four runs and seven hits in three innings Sunday in an 11-10 victory over the Giants.
“It was a situation not necessarily of being disappointed with Fulchino,” Hillman said, “other than (not) being able to get the ball in the strike zone (Sunday). Overall, we’re pretty pleased with what he did.
“It’s just the simple need that we have as far as making sure we’re protected for this series — and specifically for (Monday’s) game. We’ve gone through the bullpen quite a bit.”
Peralta, 32, was 0-2 with a 5.64 ERA in 18 games before his demotion.
Peralta pitched 8 2/3 scoreless innings in six appearances at Omaha with 13 strikeouts.
No revenge factor
Royals reliever Ramon Ramirez harbors no ill feelings at being traded by the Rockies late in spring training. Colorado eventually got lefty Jorge De La Rosa as the player to be determined later in the deal.
“I’ve got a lot of friends over there,” Ramirez said.
Even so, he admitted it was special Monday when he closed out an 8-4 victory over his old club.
The Royals have no regrets over the trade. Ramirez has become one of their top setup relievers, compiling a 3.00 ERA and nine holds in 35 appearances.
De La Rosa is scheduled to start tonight’s game. He is 2-3 with a 5.22 ERA in 10 games for the Rockies.
Butler watch
Billy Butler is batting .351 with a .427 on-base percentage and a 1.015 OPS through 25 games at Omaha since his May 29 demotion.
“He’s doing everything that we wanted him to do,” general manager Dayton Moore agreed. “We’ll get him up here when we can. But it’s not something that, probably, is going to happen (today) or the next day.”
Why not?
“That’s a fair question,” Moore said. “It’s ultimately my responsibility to find an opportunity for him.”
Etc.
•The Cardinals say veteran left-hander Mark Mulder could make his first big-league start since August in this weekend’s series at Kauffman Stadium. He is recovering from a second rotator-cuff surgery.
•After Colorado played for the first time Monday at Kauffman Stadium, Atlanta becomes the only major-league franchise never to play in Kansas City. The Royals have played in every NL city except Washington.
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