Royals notebook: Grudzielanek gets 2,000th hit
By DAVID BOYCE
The Kansas City Star
When Mark Grudzielanek retires from baseball and has time to reflect on his days as a major-leaguer, July 12, 2008, will always hold a special spot.
Grudzielanek collected his 2,000th career hit in Saturday’s game, a 5-4 Royals victory.
Inside the Royals’ clubhouse, teammates honored the 38-year-old Grudzielanek with champagne, a cake and other mementos celebrating his 2,000 career hits.
“An ending like that, I don’t know how you can forget that,” Grudzielanek said. “I don’t know how you forget anyways.
“It’s very personal and very special to me.”
Grudzielanek wasted little time getting the two hits he needed to reach 2,000. He got a two-out, RBI single in the first and led off the third with a line-drive single to center field.
When the milestone hit came at 7:03 p.m. against Seattle lefty Jarrod Washburn, Grudzielanek got a little emotional as he tipped his hat to a standing ovation with fireworks blasting overhead.
“I tried to hold my emotions, but it was tough,” Grudzielanek said. “The fans were great.”
Grudzielanek became the 18th active player with 2,000 hits and the 251st in major-league history. He also became the sixth player to collect his 2,000th hit in a Royals uniform.
Ready for a break
The minute Royals third baseman Alex Gordon leaves Kauffman Stadium after today’s game, he will be able to focus on the few days he gets to be with his family in Nebraska and not dwell on baseball.
“I’m very excited for it,” Gordon said. “I have big plans and I’m looking forward to spending time with the fam.”
And that’s probably the healthiest attitude Gordon can take for this time in July.
The grind of the season appears to be taking on a toll on Gordon. He is eight for 44 for a .182 average in 11 games in July. And this comes on the heels of 21 for 98 in June for a .214 average.
“It’s baseball,” Gordon said. “You come to the plate to hit, but sometimes it doesn’t happen. It’s part of baseball. You have highs and lows and you just got to battle through them.”
The offensive struggles lately have wiped away some of the solid start by Gordon. He ended May batting .281. In May, whenever Gordon’s average slipped into the .270s, he quickly got the average back in the .280s.
Leo Nuñez update
Unless relief pitcher Leo Nuñez has a setback in the next week, he should return to the Royals from the disabled list after the All-Star break.
At Class AAA Omaha, Nuñez has made three appearances and has allowed three hits and one run in three innings. He has struck out three and walked one.
“Yes. He has thrown very well,” said J.J. Picollo, assistant general manager of scouting and player development.
To reach David Boyce, sports reporter for The Star, send e-mail to dboyce@kcstar.com
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