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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, April 30, 2009

Royals' Greinke now 5-0

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Kansas City's Zack Greinke allowed two runs over seven innings in an 11-3 victory over Toronto.

BEN MARGOT | Associated Press

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Zack Greinke talked last winter about a pitcher reaching that perfect blend, where physical ability exactly matches mental ability.

So with a 5-0 record after five starts and a microscopic ERA, is he there?

"I'm trying to get to that," he said. "But not yet."

The Kansas City right-hander is close, though. He gave up an earned run for the first time in 43 innings, but Billy Butler backed him up with two homers last night and the Kansas City Royals pounded 11 extra-base hits in an 11-3 rout of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Vernon Wells' RBI single with two outs in the first produced the first earned run off Greinke (5-0) since last September, a span of six starts. After throwing complete games his two previous starts, Greinke went seven innings, allowing five hits and two runs with two walks and eight strikeouts. He leads the AL with 44 strikeouts.

His ERA climbed from 0.00 to 0.50.

"Usually, two outs, anyone on base, I feel like I could finish it," Greinke said. "But I threw some pitches right where I wanted to and Vernon Wells, I usually consider him a guy who would chase a good slider. But he did a great job. I guess he just said, 'I'm going to let any fastball go by me and I'm just hitting a straight slider,' and he won the game out of that."

Butler, hitting .193 when the game began, was 4 for 5 with two homers, a double, four RBIs and four runs scored. He homered, doubled and homered in three at-bats off left-hander Brian Tallet (1-1), who was charged with 10 runs on 11 hits in four-plus innings.

"I really didn't do anything different," Butler said. "I've been hitting the ball hard lately and it just hasn't been working out. But it's a long season and it always evens out. I've got to keep it going, but still enjoy tonight. It felt awesome. I picked up some guys who have been picking me up."

YANKEES 8, TIGERS 6:

Nick Swisher hit two homers and Joba Chamberlain (1-0) gave up a run in seven innings to lead visiting New York. Swisher hit a three-run homer in a seven-run fourth and added a solo shot in the fifth, giving him a team-high seven home runs.

RED SOX 6, INDIANS 5:

Jonathan Van Every hit his first major league home run in the 10th inning to cap visiting Boston's comeback win. Van Every, who played in the Indians' minor league system from 2000-07, hit a 1-1 pitch from Jensen Lewis (2-3) to center with two outs.

TWINS 8, RAYS 3:

Nick Blackburn breezed through seven innings, and host Minnesota roughed up Scott Kazmir from the start. Blackburn (2-1) gave up two runs and eight hits, and Justin Morneau had three hits. Kazmir (3-2) lasted just four innings, the second rough outing in his last three starts.

ANGELS 3, ORIOLES 2:

Torii Hunter and Kendry Morales hit consecutive homers off Koji Uehara (2-2) in the seventh inning and Shane Loux earned his first win since 2003 as visiting Los Angeles swept the two-game series. Loux (1-2) gave up one run and five hits in six-plus innings for his first victory since Sept. 24, 2003, with Detroit.

WHITE SOX 6, MARINERS 3:

Carlos Quentin and Jermaine Dye hit consecutive home runs in the seventh inning, leading host Chicago over Seattle. A.J. Pierzynski also homered as the White Sox rallied from a 3-1 deficit and avoided what would have been their first losing April since 2001.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

REDS 3, ASTROS 0:

Edinson Volquez (3-2) ended the longest current streak of domination in the majors by allowing only one hit through eight innings, leading host Cincinnati over Houston. The Astros had won their last 11 games at Great American Ball Park since late in the 2007 season, the best such streak in franchise history.

NATIONALS 4, PHILLIES 1:

Scott Olsen pitched into the sixth inning and visiting Washington snapped Philadelphia's five-game winning streak. Olsen (1-3) allowed one run and six hits, striking out six. Shane Victorino, a St. Anthony alum from Maui, homered for the Phillies. Brewers 1, Pirates 0: Yovani Gallardo struck out a career-high 11 and homered in the seventh inning as host Milwaukee got its 15th straight win over the Pirates. Gallardo (3-1) didn't allow a runner until Andy LaRoche doubled with two outs in the fifth, giving up a total of two hits and a walk in eight innings.

MARLINS 4, METS 3:

Cody Ross hit a two-run single off J.J. Putz in the eighth inning, Jorge Cantu cracked his third homer in two games and visiting Florida beat New York. Putz (1-2) entered in the eighth and walked his first two batters before Ronny Paulino's sacrifice advanced both runners. Ross then lined a single up the middle.

GIANTS 9, DODGERS 4:

Tim Lincecum allowed six hits and struck out eight while pitching into the eighth inning, and Bengie Molina drove in four runs for host San Francisco. Molina had a homer, a two-run triple and an RBI single among San Francisco's 15 hits Lincecum (2-1) didn't allow a run in the first seven innings.

ROCKIES 7, PADRES 5:

Aaron Cook pitched seven strong innings for his first win of the season, and Todd Helton and Chris Iannetta each drove in three runs as host Colorado beat San Diego. Cook (1-1) allowed three runs and five hits and struck out three in beating the Padres for the 12th time in 16 decisions.

CARDINALS 5, BRAVES 3:

Adam Wainwright overcame five walks and drove in a run during a four-run fifth inning for visiting St. Louis. Wainwright (3-0) allowed seven hits and three runs with two strikeouts in six innings.

DIAMONDBACKS 10, CUBS 0:

Doug Davis allowed two hits over seven innings while Chad Tracy and Justin Upton each drove in three runs for host Arizona. Davis (2-3) struck out seven, walked three and hit a batter.