Royals’ play upsets manager

The Blue Jays outscored the Royals 23-4 in the series and extended Kansas City’s losing streak to eight going into a three-game series with the Twins.

Associated Press

Last update: May 27, 2008 - 7:22 AM

TORONTO – These days, the Kansas City Royals can’t even keep track of the outs.

Shaun Marcum won for the first time in four starts, Gregg Zaun hit a two-run homer, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat Kansas City 7-2 on Monday and completed their first four-game sweep of the Royals.

"We’re not very good right now," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "We haven’t been able to put the pitching and the offense together. We haven’t been able to make the offensive adjustments."

Toronto outscored the Royals 23-4 in the series and extended Kansas City’s losing streak to eight, the Royals’ longest since Sept. 17-26, 2006. The Royals have been swept in consecutive four-game series for the first time in team history. Kansas City completed a season-long 11-game trip and headed home to play the Twins in a three-game series beginning today.

Hillman was especially disappointed his team lost track of outs in the eighth. Reliever Joakim Soria lingered near second base with shortstop Tony Pena and second baseman Mark Grudzielanek after an inning-ending double play before the trio led the team off the field.

"That’s very, very disturbing," Hillman said. "That’s a lack of focus, a lack of intensity, and that’s where we are right now."

Hillman held a pregame meeting and canceled batting practice, but neither measure worked for Kansas City, which has scored 16 runs during its slide — half in an 11-8 loss at Boston.

"We’ve got to come together as a team," outfielder David DeJesus said. "It’s easy for everyone to start going their own ways, not caring about anything, but we’ve got to come together. Hopefully, once we get home, we’ll come back and start fresh.

"We can’t worry about this eight. We’ve just got to worry about tomorrow."

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