Baseball Guru
08-14-2003, 06:00 AM
By NOAH TRISTER
Associated Press Writer
August 14, 2003, 3:54 AM EDT
Kevin Appier is back home -- and right in the middle of an unexpected pennant race.
Appier pitched six innings of three-hit ball in an emotional return to Kansas City as the Royals beat the New York Yankees 11-0 on Wednesday night.
Once the ace of the Royals' staff, Appier was traded in 1999. But after being released by Anaheim last month, he returned to Kansas City, where he has maintained his home.
He helped the Royals win a home series against New York for the first time since 1993, and gave his new team a 1 1/2-game lead over the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central.
"Every win is huge," Appier said, "but coming back here and being able to help these guys in a pennant race -- it feels really good. It feels tremendous."
The Royals took two of three from the Yankees, who before this week hadn't lost in Kansas City since 2000. Wednesday's loss was New York's most lopsided of the season.
"This means we can play with anybody," Royals manager Tony Pena said.
In other AL games, it was: Boston 7, Oakland 3; Anaheim 2, Chicago 1; Cleveland 5, Minnesota 0 in 14 innings; Seattle 13, Toronto 6; Texas 7, Detroit 3; and Tampa Bay 6, Baltimore 5 in 10 innings.
Brent Mayne had four hits and two RBIs and Mike Sweeney had four RBIs for the Royals, who jumped on New York starter Jeff Weaver (6-9).
Weaver allowed nine runs and 13 hits in 6 1-3 innings, walking two and striking out five.
Asked what was most frustrating about his performance, Weaver said, "Being on a new team and with a new organization and not being able to succeed right away and show everybody around you what you're capable of doing."
That wasn't a problem for Appier -- perhaps because his "new" team is actually quite familiar.
"Over the years (Appier) has learned to pitch," Sweeney said. "His velocity has decreased but his intelligence has increased. To hold the Yankees to three hits over six innings is amazing. I think Ape feels at home here."
To make sure Appier (8-8) got a curtain call, manager Tony Pena let him warm up for the seventh before going out to the mound and bringing in Jeremy Affeldt. The crowd of nearly 35,596 stood and cheered.
"It was an incredibly generous ovation," Appier said. "I genuinely appreciate it. That's Tony. It made me feel really good."
Associated Press Writer
August 14, 2003, 3:54 AM EDT
Kevin Appier is back home -- and right in the middle of an unexpected pennant race.
Appier pitched six innings of three-hit ball in an emotional return to Kansas City as the Royals beat the New York Yankees 11-0 on Wednesday night.
Once the ace of the Royals' staff, Appier was traded in 1999. But after being released by Anaheim last month, he returned to Kansas City, where he has maintained his home.
He helped the Royals win a home series against New York for the first time since 1993, and gave his new team a 1 1/2-game lead over the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central.
"Every win is huge," Appier said, "but coming back here and being able to help these guys in a pennant race -- it feels really good. It feels tremendous."
The Royals took two of three from the Yankees, who before this week hadn't lost in Kansas City since 2000. Wednesday's loss was New York's most lopsided of the season.
"This means we can play with anybody," Royals manager Tony Pena said.
In other AL games, it was: Boston 7, Oakland 3; Anaheim 2, Chicago 1; Cleveland 5, Minnesota 0 in 14 innings; Seattle 13, Toronto 6; Texas 7, Detroit 3; and Tampa Bay 6, Baltimore 5 in 10 innings.
Brent Mayne had four hits and two RBIs and Mike Sweeney had four RBIs for the Royals, who jumped on New York starter Jeff Weaver (6-9).
Weaver allowed nine runs and 13 hits in 6 1-3 innings, walking two and striking out five.
Asked what was most frustrating about his performance, Weaver said, "Being on a new team and with a new organization and not being able to succeed right away and show everybody around you what you're capable of doing."
That wasn't a problem for Appier -- perhaps because his "new" team is actually quite familiar.
"Over the years (Appier) has learned to pitch," Sweeney said. "His velocity has decreased but his intelligence has increased. To hold the Yankees to three hits over six innings is amazing. I think Ape feels at home here."
To make sure Appier (8-8) got a curtain call, manager Tony Pena let him warm up for the seventh before going out to the mound and bringing in Jeremy Affeldt. The crowd of nearly 35,596 stood and cheered.
"It was an incredibly generous ovation," Appier said. "I genuinely appreciate it. That's Tony. It made me feel really good."