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When Royals second baseman Mark Grudzielanek collects his 2,000th hit, he’s going to make sure he keeps the ball.
Grudzielanek is not sure where the balls are from his 1,000th and 1,500th hits.
But the next big milestone means a lot to Grudzielanek, 38, who needs just two more hits for 2,000 after going zero for three in Friday night’s game.
“I’m going to make sure I grab my 2,000th hit, that’s for sure,” Grudzielanek said. “Not many people have done it. To be in the game as long as I have, and the success I’ve had over the years, it’s definitely an awesome accomplishment.”
Grudzielanek’s first hit came May 4, 1995, in Montreal — a 10th-inning double against the Mets’ Mike Remlinger.
To reach 2,000 major-league hits a player needs to be consistent every year, and that describes Grudzielanek perfectly. He has hit everywhere he’s been.
And that certainly has been the case in his 2 1/2 seasons with the Royals, batting .297 in 2006, .302 in 2007 and .311 so far this season.
“I think it is tremendous not only for him as a professional, but it’s a bright spot for the Kansas City Royals,” manager Trey Hillman said of Grudzielanek approaching 2,000 hits.
“We are not where we want to be in the race; hopefully that will improve. But in the meantime, we’ve got something pretty cool happening to one of our veteran players, and that’s a good thing.”
Inside the park
Outfielder Mark Teahen hit his second inside-the-park home run of the season Thursday night and became just the 33rd major-leaguer to hit more than one in a season.
Teahen said he can’t remember ever hitting one at any level before this season. But he gave a humorous explanation for suddenly looking like the second coming of Willie Wilson.
“I’ve got some speed, and I like to show it off,” Teahen said.
Teahen admits there is more excitement with an inside-the-park home run as opposed to one leaving the yard.
“But I will take them any way I can get them,” he said.
Pitcher picked up
The Royals moved to bolster their pitching depth Friday afternoon by claiming left-hander Josh Newman on outright waivers from the Colorado Rockies.
Newman, 26, will report to Class AAA Omaha from Class AAA Colorado Springs. He had a 9.35 ERA in eight relief appearances earlier this season with the Rockies.
The Royals cleared space on their 40-man organizational roster by recalling right-hander Ryan Braun from Omaha and immediately placing him on the 60-day disabled list.
Braun, 27, has not pitched this season and underwent reconstructive elbow surgery April 22. He made 35 big-league appearances in 2006-07 and compiled a 2-1 record and 6.66 ERA.
Newman is 16-9 with a 3.12 ERA in 150 career minor-league appearances over five seasons. He was 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA this season in 20 games for Colorado Springs.
Yabuta watch
Reliever Yasuhiko Yabuta has made five appearances for Omaha and is 1-1 with a 3.85 ERA.
In 12 1/3 innings, Yabuta has given up 13 hits and five runs while striking out seven and walking four.
He is 1-3 with a 5.46 ERA in 26 games with the Royals this season.
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