Putrid. Rancid. Dead on arrival. Flaccid. Worthless. Revolting. Meek. Impotent. Disgusting. Fetid. Unspeakably, unwatchably, unfathomably bad. Embarrassing.
Any of those would aptly describe the play of the Royals "offense" tonight.
Facing the mercurial Mizzou alum Kyle Gibson, the Royals offense didn't even sputter. The Royals haplessly flailed at Gibson's offerings for seven innings, managing a pair of singles and a pair of walks while whiffing seven times. It took Gibson just 95 pitches to complete his seven frames, thanks in large part to an unrestrained and impatient approach by the Royals' batsmen.
The last two innings were slightly less reprehensible, and the Royals even *gasp* plated a run in the ninth off of Twins closer Glen Perkins. Omar Infante doubled to lead off the ninth. Eric Hosmer promptly drove him in. But even with the heart of the order coming to the plate, the Royals were unable to push a second run across the plate and send an already interminable game into extra innings.
Royals' ace Medium Game James Shields got worked over by a patient Twins offense. It took Shields 124 pitches to finish six innings. He ceded two runs--one of which was earned, but both of which were definitely his fault--but it seemed that he was always working deep into counts and was constantly having to worry about baserunners, as the Twins reached base ten times against Shields.
The unearned run was Danny Santana, who advanced to second on an errant pick-off throw after a lead-off bunt single in the third. Eventually the similarly boring Twins advanced Santana to third on a comebacker off Shields that was converted into an out and then he was sacrificed in on a Josh Willingham sac fly to center. Brian Dozier drove in the second Twins' run in the fifth.
To dwell any further on such an uninteresting game would be a waste. Sort of like bothering to watch tonight's game in the first place. Or investing any energy into this team with the current front office in place and seemingly entrenched.