Kirk Rueter Loses Second One-Run Effort July 25, 1997
Edmonton (AP)--There's no question the southpaw Kirk Rueter received a warm welcome from the players when he moved to Montreal... only the bats haven't been showing it. Rueter wasted another valiant effort yesterday--giving up 1 run in 6 solid innings--because the Royals couldn't send anyone home.
In three starts for Montreal this season, Rueter has gone 0-2. In the last two starts, though, Rueter has only given up 2 runs, in a total of 13 innings. That's an ERA of 1.38. His first loss was against Greg Maddux, currently the best pitcher in the EL. Yesterday afternoon's loss ended a six game series against their basement-dwelling division rivals, the Edmonton Oil Kings. Again, Rueter showed coinfidence in his start, and again the Royals failed to score a run.
Kirk Rueter managed to keep the score tied at 0-0 all the way until the sixth inning. Amazingly, Rickey Henderson's sacrifice fly to deep center field in the 6th inning turned out to be the winning run. He didn't hit it well, but the wind managed to blow it out far enough and Tim Salmon managed to avoid an Lankford's strong throw to home plate. The sixth inning started off with a walk to Tim Salmon. Todd Hundley came up next and pounded a fastball past the second baseman, sending Salmon to third. Rickey Henderson, up next, sent the winning run home. Rueter gave up only 5 hits in 7 innings. Beeler shutout the Kings in the 7th and 8th, but the Royals offense failed to capitalize.
Bonilla was one only batter to get multiple hits in the game, but he botched an opportunity when he was caught stealing third. That was thought to be the turning point of the game when the Royals failed to produce on their only opportunity of the match. "I gave Bobby the green light on the play because I figured we would have to do something drastic to win the game," commened the manager. "I can't stay I can blame Bo--Hundley was quick to read the play and he made us look silly."
Tonight the Royals will start a 3-game series against the Hartford Whalers at home.
