Royals down A’s to snap losing streak at 19 games

By Thena MacArthur

OAKLAND (Reuters) – Mike Wood and four relievers combined
on a six-hitter as the Kansas City Royals ended their 19-game
losing streak with a 2-1 win over the Oakland Athletics on
Saturday night.

It was the longest losing streak in the major leagues in 17
years and a club record for the Royals, who also avoided
setting another club record by ending their road losing streak
at 12 games, tying the previous franchise record.

The Royals came within two games of tying the AL record for
most consecutive losses held by the 1988 Baltimore Orioles, who
lost their first 21 games that season.

The Royals poured out of their dugout at the final out as
they celebrated their first win in almost a month against the
A’s, the AL wild card leaders who are battling the Los Angeles
Angels for first place in the AL West.

“I’m very proud of this team,” Royals manager Buddy Bell
told reporters after the game.

“The media has scrutinized this team, but they handled it
with a lot of character and a lot of class.

“It was awfully hard, but I’m proud of how we handled it.”

Kansas City has the worst record in the majors at 39-82,
but they managed to beat one of the best pitchers in baseball
in Barry Zito.

Emil Brown had an RBI double and Matt Stairs drove in
another run with a groundout in the fourth inning to give the
Royals their first win since July 27.

Wood (4-4) allowed just one run on four hits with four
strikeouts and two walks in five innings for the win. Four
relievers finished up, including Mike MacDougal, who got the
last four outs for his 16th save.

Zito (11-10) went seven innings and took the loss, allowing
two runs on four hits with five strikeouts and three walks.

Don Johnson had two hits for the A’s, who managed six hits
off three Kansas City pitchers.