| REGISTER TO WIN | |
 |
Luke Hochevar rushed to cover home after a wild pitch let Nick Markakis score Baltimore’s first run.
Three hits Wednesday could have signaled a resurgence for slump-ridden outfielder José Guillen. Instead, his season took another disappointing turn because of a pain in the neck.
Guillen wasn’t in the starting lineup Thursday when the Royals opened a four-game series against the Baltimore Orioles because of a sore neck — what manager Trey Hillman termed an electric shock; and what is commonly referred to as a stinger.
“It was real bad,” Guillen said. “It went from my shoulder down my arm, and my hand started tingling.”
Guillen said the pain occurred on the swing that produced a single in the fourth inning. Infielder Alberto Callaspo replaced Guillen in left field on Wednesday and started Thursday’s game.
Hillman said Guillen took some swings during the game in the batting cages behind the dugout and could be available for tonight’s game.
Guillen didn’t play Tuesday after a one-for-22 skid dropped his average to .165. He worked instead with hitting coach Mike Barnett on adjustments to his swing. The result Wednesday was two doubles and a single in three at-bats before leaving the game.
“A little of it had to do with his setup and how he was getting into a launch position,” Hillman said. “That got rectified (Wednesday) night and, unfortunately, he came out of the game because of an electric shock.”
Callaspo in left
Callaspo spent 20 extra minutes getting individual outfield instruction before batting practice. He played the final four innings Wednesday in left field but wasn’t involved in any defensive plays beyond throwing one single back to the infield.
“He moves really easily for a guy who is a below-average runner,” Hillman said. “He gets real good reads and jumps on the ball.”
Callaspo had played only shortstop and second base this season before Wednesday, but he spent 10 games in the outfield last year for Arizona, including seven starts in right field. He handled 15 outfield chances without incident and even had one assist.
Tellingly, perhaps, Hillman opted for Callaspo rather than put Joey Gathright in center and shift David DeJesus from center to left. Callaspo carried a club-leading .341 average into the game with 14 hits in 41 at-bats. He also had six walks for a .426 on-base percentage.
Idol watching
Want to do your own “American Idol” judging without having Simon, Paula, Randy and Ryan as a filter? Tonight is your chance.
David Cook of Blue Springs will complete a full day of activities in the Kansas City area by throwing out the ceremonial first pitch and singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the seventh-inning stretch of tonight’s game against the Orioles at Kauffman Stadium.
Cook, 25, is one this year’s three remaining Idol finalists. He once worked in the Stadium Club at the K.
Orioles make move
Freddie Bynum started at shortstop for Baltimore after being activated from the disabled list. The Orioles cleared roster space by optioning infielder Eider Torres to Class AAA Norfolk.
Bynum went two for four and had eight assists in his first game of the season. He underwent arthroscopic surgery in March to repair torn cartilage in his right knee.
Minor details
Lefty Rowdy Hardy continues to struggle at Class AA Northwest Arkansas. His ERA jumped to 6.16 after he gave up seven runs and 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings Wednesday in an 8-1 loss to Springfield.
“He’s got to pitch (inside),” Naturals manager Brian Poldberg told The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas. “And when he doesn’t pitch in, they start leaning over the plate. There are some things he has to do, and when he does them, he does well.”
Hardy is 0-3 after being picked last season as the organization’s minor-league pitcher of the year. He was 15-5 last season with a 2.48 ERA in 26 games at Class A Wilmington.
Etc.
•The Royals’ three hits matched a season low. They also had three in two previous games.
•Nick Markakis’ three-run homer in the third inning was the Orioles’ first three-run homer of the year.
Join the discussion
Share your observations and experiences about news. Lively, open debate is the goal, but please refrain from personal attacks or comments that are racist, vulgar or otherwise inappropriate. If you see an inappropriate comment, please click the "Report as violation" link to notify a KansasCity.com editor. Thanks for your feedback.