Royals offense continues to disappoint in 2-1 loss to Athletics

It's Groundhog Day for the Kansas City Royals against the Oakland Athletics, as the team wasted a second strong pitching performance with another miserable offensive effort.

Kansas City jumped on the scoreboard first with a two-out rally in the top of the half first inning. Alex Gordon smacked a two-out double, and Billy Butler drove him in with a single to rightfield.

That would be the end of the runs scored for the Royals, but the team had a chance to blow the game wide open in the top of the second against Tommy Milone. Salvador Perez hit a leadoff single to start then inning. Milone then issued walks to Mike Moustakas and Jeff Francoeur to load the bases.

With the bases load and nobody out, Elliot Johnson swung at the first pitch he saw and promptly popped out. Lorenzo Cain and Alcides Escobar fared no better, as Cain struck out looking and Escobar stuck out swinging.

The Royals offense floundered for most of the game after the second. Perez and Butler had multi-hit games, while Gordon was the only Kansas City hitter to collect a hit. Milone was able to toss six innings despite throwing 63 pitches in the first two innings.

Ervin Santana did not have his best stuff tonight, but still managed to give the Royals a great start. Santana tossed seven innings, allowing two runs on four hits. The starter struck out five, but did walk three batters.

Oakland scored their two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Eric Sogard smacked a leadoff double, then advanced to third on a wild pitch/passed ball. Coco Crisp then drew a walk, and was followed by a Jed Lowrie sacrifice fly. Brandon Moss hit a two-out triple following a Yoenis Cespedes flyout, plating Crisp to give the Athletics the lead and the win.

The Royals are now 20-19 on the season. The team will send Luis Mendoza to the mound tomorrow against A.J. Griffin in an effort to avoid the sweep.