New York @ Kansas City preview
Kauffman Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 12, 2010 ) NY Yankees 4, Kansas City 3
Most pitchers do not relish facing the high-powered offense of the New York Yankees. Kyle Davies does not fall into that category.
Davies looks to remain perfect against the Yankees tonight when the Kansas City Royals attempt to halt their five-game losing streak.
Despite posting a 6.00 ERA, Davies is 2-0 in three career starts vs. New York. The right-hander has just one win in his last 12 outings, with that victory coming at Yankee Stadium on July 24, when he allowed four runs and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings of a 7-4 triumph.
While Davies has had success against the Yankees, he hasn't had much at home this season. In nine outings at Kauffman Stadium, the 26-year-old is just 1-4 with a 5.07 ERA. The lone win came when he yielded just one hit over six scoreless innings vs. Seattle in a 3-1 victory on April 26.
Curtis Granderson showed signs of breaking out of his funk on Thursday, going 2-for-3 with an RBI in the Yankees' 4-3 triumph. This does not bode well for Davies, whom Granderson has touched for six hits - including two home runs - and five RBIs in 18 career at-bats.
Kansas City scored two runs in the ninth inning Thursday and had the tying run at third but lost for the fourth time in five meetings with New York this year. The Royals, who have lost seven of eight and are 8-19 since the All-Star break, have scored just 20 runs over their last 10 contests.
CC Sabathia pitched 8 2/3 solid innings and Austin Kearns belted his first home run since being acquired on July 30 by New York, which recorded its 34th victory on the road in 2010, one behind Tampa Bay for the major league lead. The Yankees improved to 61-0 when leading after eight innings and have won 32 of their last 43 meetings with the Royals.
New York tries for its fifth win in seven games behind Dustin Moseley, who will be making his fourth start in place of the injured Andy Pettitte. Moseley is 2-1 with a 3.66 ERA over his first three outings.
On Sunday night, he performed admirably on national television, allowing two runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings of the Yankees' 7-2 triumph over Boston.
Moseley owns a 1.86 ERA in four career appearances against Kansas City, all in relief. The 28-year-old tossed 4 2/3 scoreless frames in a 7-4 loss to the Royals on July 24.
In his only road start this season, Moseley gave up just one run and four hits in six innings en route to an 11-4 victory at Cleveland.
Each of the Yankees' last four games has been decided by one run, with New York winning twice.