Los Angeles Angels and Kansas City Royals Baseball League Live Streaming Online American Radio Commentary Audio with Review, Schedule, Stats, Biography, News May 31, 2011. Review: Torii Hunter continues to relish his matchups against the Kansas City Royals.
His latest performance cost Joakim Soria his job as closer.
Hunter homered twice in a 10-8 win Monday, including a go-ahead, two-run shot off Soria in the ninth to reach 1,000 RBIs.
"I had no idea," the 35-year-old said with a big grin. "They said, 'You got 1,000.' I said, 'Damn! I'm old!' But it's an honor. It shows I stayed healthy and I did what I had to do."
Four of Hunter's eight home runs this season have come against the Royals, who he used to face regularly with Minnesota until signing with the Angels (29-27) in 2008. He has eight home runs in his last 11 games versus Kansas City and 30 in his career -- the most against any opponent.
Hunter is batting .372 with four homers and 12 RBIs in the last 11 games overall. The Angels are 7-4 during that stretch.
For Soria, his third blown save this week and career-high fifth this season led manager Ned Yost to announce he would use rookie Aaron Crow, who has a 1.33 ERA in 22 appearances, as his closer "for the time being."
"We've gotten to a point where we'll back Jack off," Yost said. "We'll give him a break, with a sense of getting him back to the closer's role, but getting him in situations where maybe he can throw multiple innings in less pressure situations."
Soria is 3-3 with a 6.55 ERA in 23 appearances this season.
The Royals (23-30) have lost three straight, eight of nine and 13 of 16. Their bullpen is 1-6 with a 4.31 ERA over the last nine games.
The Angels, who opened the season by losing three of four in Kansas City, will try to keep things going when they hand the ball to Joel Pineiro (2-1, 3.15). The right-hander will be trying for the fourth time to earn his 100th win.
Pineiro gave up four runs and 11 hits over 6 1/3 innings for the second straight start Thursday in a 4-3 loss to Oakland.
He is 5-4 with a 3.82 ERA in 14 appearances -- 10 starts -- against the Royals.
Kansas City will counter with Jeff Francis (1-5, 4.52), who is going for his first win against the Angels.
Francis gave up five runs and nine hits in six innings of a 6-5, 12-inning loss to Baltimore on Thursday. He had thrown 16 consecutive scoreless innings before giving up a home run in the second.
The left-hander was sharp against the Angels on April 1, allowing a solo home run in seven innings of a 2-1 victory. He hasn't received a decision in three career starts against Los Angeles despite posting a 2.70 ERA.
Hunter is 1 for 5 with a double and Bobby Abreu is 0 for 12 with eight strikeouts against Francis.
His latest performance cost Joakim Soria his job as closer.
8:10 PM ET, May 31, 2011
Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Coming off a late-inning rally, Hunter and the Los Angeles Angels will go for their third straight win when they continue their series against the Royals on Tuesday night.
Hunter homered twice in a 10-8 win Monday, including a go-ahead, two-run shot off Soria in the ninth to reach 1,000 RBIs.
"I had no idea," the 35-year-old said with a big grin. "They said, 'You got 1,000.' I said, 'Damn! I'm old!' But it's an honor. It shows I stayed healthy and I did what I had to do."
Four of Hunter's eight home runs this season have come against the Royals, who he used to face regularly with Minnesota until signing with the Angels (29-27) in 2008. He has eight home runs in his last 11 games versus Kansas City and 30 in his career -- the most against any opponent.
Hunter is batting .372 with four homers and 12 RBIs in the last 11 games overall. The Angels are 7-4 during that stretch.
For Soria, his third blown save this week and career-high fifth this season led manager Ned Yost to announce he would use rookie Aaron Crow, who has a 1.33 ERA in 22 appearances, as his closer "for the time being."
"We've gotten to a point where we'll back Jack off," Yost said. "We'll give him a break, with a sense of getting him back to the closer's role, but getting him in situations where maybe he can throw multiple innings in less pressure situations."
Soria is 3-3 with a 6.55 ERA in 23 appearances this season.
The Royals (23-30) have lost three straight, eight of nine and 13 of 16. Their bullpen is 1-6 with a 4.31 ERA over the last nine games.
The Angels, who opened the season by losing three of four in Kansas City, will try to keep things going when they hand the ball to Joel Pineiro (2-1, 3.15). The right-hander will be trying for the fourth time to earn his 100th win.
Pineiro gave up four runs and 11 hits over 6 1/3 innings for the second straight start Thursday in a 4-3 loss to Oakland.
He is 5-4 with a 3.82 ERA in 14 appearances -- 10 starts -- against the Royals.
Kansas City will counter with Jeff Francis (1-5, 4.52), who is going for his first win against the Angels.
Francis gave up five runs and nine hits in six innings of a 6-5, 12-inning loss to Baltimore on Thursday. He had thrown 16 consecutive scoreless innings before giving up a home run in the second.
The left-hander was sharp against the Angels on April 1, allowing a solo home run in seven innings of a 2-1 victory. He hasn't received a decision in three career starts against Los Angeles despite posting a 2.70 ERA.
Hunter is 1 for 5 with a double and Bobby Abreu is 0 for 12 with eight strikeouts against Francis.