The KC Royals designated SEVEN players for assignment on Tuesday. Yup, you read it right, seven.

First, it was catcher Adam Moore, who was a September callup in 2012 and caught Jake Odorizzi while he was up.

Then it was the slew of six that followed.

Brayan Pena was the one that shocked me the most. He had done well in his tenure with the Royals and proved to be a solid hitter and back up catcher. Now I’m curious as to who will back up Salvador Perez in 2013. Will it be Brett Hayes, who hasn’t done much of anything as a back up with the Marlins? The Royals avoided arbitration with Hayes and he signed a $600,000 contract.

They designated pitchers Vin Mazzaro, Chris Volstad, and Ryan Verdugo. They had just picked up Volstad off waivers. Mazzaro had the infamous 12 run game in 2011. Verdugo came over with Jonathan Sanchez last spring from the SF Giants.

First baseman/DH Clint Robinson along with speedy outfielder Derrick Robinson was also designated. Both Robinson’s are interesting cases. Clint had the chance to take over for either Billy Butler or Eric Hosmer if either were traded. He has always hit and if he does clear waivers, he will be eligible for the Rule V draft. Derrick had a solid 2012 season and has always been a stolen base threat. He just struggles with reaching first base.

It is expected that Pena and Volstad will be non tendered, as both are eligible for arbitration. The others could go in the Rule V draft.

So what did the Royals do with all that free roster space? They filled it immediately. They added players that they may have lost in the upcoming Rule V draft.

They added lefty John Lamb, who is coming back from Tommy John surgery, along with fellow lefty Mike Montgomery (who I would have left unprotected and let another team deal with his inconsistencies).

Other left-handed pitchers that the Royals added to their 40 man roster are Donnie Joseph (who they received from Cincinnati for Jonathan Broxton), Chris Dwyer (who had a disastrous 2012), and Justin Marks (who pitched well in the Arizona Fall League and was one of only a few Royals pitchers in the upper levels to pitch well).

The lone right-handed pitcher they protected was Juan Gutierrez, who is dominating in winter ball. They also did not add any position players.

All of those moves filled the Royals roster. They now have 25 pitchers on their roster, but just two catchers.

The KC Royals continued their winning ways as they held on to beat the worst team in the American League, the Cleveland Indians. The Royals won 6-3.

The game got a little testy late, as three batters were hit and there is bad blood between the two teams, even if Jonathan Sanchez is no longer a Royal. And yes, Shin-Soo Choo was hit yet again.

Anyway, to the scoring.

The Royals got on the board first against Indians starter Justin Masterson. Brayan Pena drove in a run in the 2nd inning with a single and two batters later, Irving Falu drove in another run with a single. Unfortunately, Falu was thrown out trying to stretch it to a double.

Luis Mendoza had base runners in every inning, but escaped one jam after another. The Indians left the bases loaded in the very first inning.

He gave up a run in the top of the third, as Michael Brantley delivered a two out RBI single. However, the Royals got the run right back on Mike Moustakas‘ sac fly.

Moose would drive in another run in the 5th inning on a ground out with the bases loaded. That was the only run the Royals would score in that inning.

Mendoza‘s night ended after allowing a leadoff single to Ezequiel Carrera in the 7th inning. Lefty Tim Collins entered and hit Choo. After recording the next two outs (a lefty and a switch-hitter), Collins allowed a two-run single to another switch-hitter, Carlos Santana, to cut the Royals lead to 4-3.

The Royals tacked on two runs in the bottom of the 8th inning. Eric Hosmer drove in one with a sac fly and Pena followed with an RBI double. That brought the game’s final hit batter, David Lough, following the Royals‘ final hit of the game.

Despite pitching what seems like every game, closer Greg Holland retired the Indians in order in the top of the 9th inning. He needed just seven pitches (six strikes) to get through the middle of the Indians order.

The Royals offense got some production from two guys who don’t play very much: Pena and Falu. The two both collected two hits each and combined to score two runs and drive in three.

*I wonder when Ned Yost is going to use some of those guys from Triple-A Omaha that were called up when the Pacific Coast League championship ended. It would be nice to see Nate Adcock or Tommy Hottovy get some work instead of the same relievers every night.

The KC Royals salvaged the series at home against Texas, 7-6 in ten innings. There were three games that lasted ten innings in Major League Baseball on Sunday (as of me writing this).

It was a sloppy game, as the two teams combined for five errors. In the bottom of the 10th inning, Billy Butler led off with a walk against Rangers reliever Michael Kirkman. Eric Hosmer pinch-ran and moved to second base on a fielding error by Rangers shortstop Alberto Gonzalez. A throwing error on Jeff Francoeur’s ground ball by rookie third baseman Mike Olt allowed Hosmer to score the winning run.

Francoeur homered in the crazy 4th inning. The Rangers, who trailed 2-0 heading into the inning, led 5-2 when they were done batting.

Adrian Beltre drove in the first run with a single. With two on and nobody out, Butler (yes he was playing first base) threw the ball away on a ground ball, allowing another run to score. Olt drove in the go ahead run with a sac fly and Elvis Andrus (who would get hurt later) drove in two more with a triple.

All of that Rangers offense came against Royals starter Luke Hochevar. He allowed five runs (one earned) on four hits and a walk over six innings.

Butler made up for his error with a two out RBI single in the 5th inning before Brayan Pena gave the Royals a 6-5 lead with a six inning two-run homerun.

Michael Young tied the game up in the 7th inning with an RBI double, but a strong relay throw home got Andrus at the plate (where he injured his shoulder). That came against reliever Aaron Crow.

Greg Holland picked up the win after pitching two shaky innings of relief (three hits and two walks).

*Following the win, the Royals designated Yuniesky Betancourt for assignment. He wanted more playing time, but manager Ned Yost liked the play of Chris Getz more at second base. Infielder Tony Abreu was called up from Triple-A, where he was hitting .322.

After an awful homestand (3-7), the KC Royals headed out west to begin a series against the LA Angels. With the game tied at 3-3 and Greg Holland on the mound, the Angels scored three runs to take the lead in the bottom of the 8th inning. Pinch-hitter Kendrys Morales cleared the bases with a single with two outs. Scott Downs set down the Royals in order in the 9th inning for the 6-3 victory.

That 8th inning against Holland actually started with two outs and nobody on base. Aaron Crow entered with two men on base, but struck out Torii Hunter to end the inning.

Up until that point, there was a nice pitcher’s duel going between lefties Bruce Chen and CJ Wilson.

Both offenses broke through for two runs in the third inning. Alex Gordon drove in the first run with an RBI single. Two batters later, Lorenzo Cain drove in the Royals second run on a sac fly. It should have been a two run-homerun but Angels centerfielder Peter Bourjos leaped at the wall and brought the homer back.

Mike Trout was in the middle of the Angels scoring. He led off the 3rd inning with a single and moved to third base on Hunter‘s double. Albert Pujols drove in the Angels first run with an RBI ground out. With two outs, Howie Kendrick drove in the second run to tie the game.

The game would stay tied until the bottom of the 6th inning when Maicer Izturis delivered a one out RBI single. That hit ended Chen‘s night (5.1IP, 5H, 3R, 2BB, 3K).

The Royals would tie the game in the top of the 7th inning on Brayan Pena‘s RBI single.

*Will Smith will get another shot to stick in the rotation, as he will face the team that traded him away on Tuesday night.

It was another less than six inning performance for KC Royals starter Jonathan Sanchez in their 4-2 loss in Detroit. Sanchez threw 101 pitches in just 5.2 innings.

The Tigers took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the 3rd inning on a Quintin Berry two-run triple. That was their third hit of the inning. It could have been worse for Sanchez, but he got both Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder to ground out to end the inning.

The Royals tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the 5th inning. With two outs and Mike Moustakas on second base, Brayan Pena drove him in with a double. Jason Bourgeois followed with an RBI single. That was the first jam that Tigers starter Drew Smyly was in. The only base runner that had reached prior to Moose‘s ground rule double was Billy Butler, who singled to leadoff the second inning.

Delmon Young hit a two-run homerun to break the 2-2 tie in the bottom of the 6th inning.

The Tigers had plenty of chances, as they collected nine hits and four walks, but went just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

Smyly was dominant in his second start against the Royals (first since April). He allowed two runs on six hits and no walks over six innings. He struck out ten. Smyly struck out the side in the 2nd and 4th innings. He struck out at least one batter in ever inning but the 5th.

Maybe the Royals can get their offense going on Saturday against Doug Fister?

*For more on the Tigers, check out Motown Lowdown.

For the second straight night, the KC Royals walked off against the Milwaukee Brewers. On Thursday night, pinch-hitter Brayan Pena delivered the two-run walk-off single against Brewers closer John Axford (well the winning run scored on the throw). It is Axford’s second straight blown save. The Royals completed the three-game home sweep.

It was a bit of a strange bottom of the 9th inning. Mitch Maier, who took the place of the ejected Jeff Francoeur, reached base via a wild pitch after a strikeout. Mike Moustakas grounded out, moving Maier to second base. After Axford struck out Alcides Escobar, he walked Jarrod Dyson. Pena took the third pitch (a 97mph fastball) into left field for the game winner. If Axford doesn’t throw the wild pitch on the Maier strikeout, the Brewers would have won. So the Royals had some luck on their side tonight.

The Royals two other runs came via Eric Hosmer‘s 8th homerun of the season in the 6th inning.

Luke Hochevar looked good pitching for the first time in a long time. He allowed three single runs (though one scored after he exited) on six hits and a walk over 7.1 innings. He struck out five. Two of the runs came via solo homeruns. He threw 87 pitches, 62 for strikes.

Lefty Tim Collins picked up his second victory in two days.

Next up for the Royals, another road trip. They head to St. Louis to play the reigning World Series champions for three games this weekend.

*After Francoeur was ejected in the 2nd inning, many joked that he should join the crowd in the right field seats for Frenchy Quarter Night.

**Manager Ned Yost was ejected later in the game (the fourth inning).

One night after the Minnesota Twins offense battered the KC Royals pitching, starter Bruce Chen completely shut down the Twins. The Royals won 1-0.

Brayan Pena‘s RBI single in the bottom of the 2nd inning held up.

Chen allowed just four hits over seven innings. He struck out five and did not walk a batter. He threw just 88 pitches, 62 for strikes.

He didn’t give up his first hit until the 3rd inning, but then he picked Brian Dozier off first base. Which was good, considering he gave up another single. Dozier collected a double in the 5th inning. If it wasn’t for the Twins rookie, Chen would have had a two-hitter.

Reliever Greg Holland was dominant in the 8th inning, as he struck out the side. The one batter that reached, reached via Alcides Escobar’s throwing error.

Then it got dicey in the 9th inning with closer Jonathan Broxton on the mound. Josh Willingham delivered a one out double. Justin Morneau then worked a walk. However Broxton recovered to get Ryan Doumit and Trevor Plouffe to fly out to end the game. Broxton picked up his 14th save of the season.

Nate Adcock

Yesterday it was Luke Hochevar. Today was Nate Adcock. The difference being that the KC Royals won on Sunday, but lost on Memorial Day. A five-run 3rd inning chased Adcock from the game and the first-place Cleveland Indians held on for the 8-5 win.

The Royals took a 2-0 lead against Josh Tomlin in the top of the 2nd inning on Eric Hosmer‘s two-run homerun.

Then the 3rd inning happened for Adcock. Lonnie Chisenhall, who was just promoted from Triple-A before the game, hit a solo homerun to lead off the inning. Luke Carlin followed with a single (he has been forced into duty behind the plate with injuries to the top two catchers on the Indians depth chart). After getting an out, Adcock allowed a single to Shin-Soo Choo and walked Michael Brantley to load the bases.

That brought up Jason Kipnis, who drove in two runs with a single. Jose Lopez followed with an RBI infield single and Casey Kotchman followed with an RBI single. That was all for Adcock.

In came Luis Mendoza and he got out of the inning without anymore damage. The Indians batted around.

The Royals got back into the game in the 5th inning. Brayan Pena hit a solo homerun with one out. Jarrod Dyson followed with a triple and scored on Kipnis’ throwing error.

Kipnis made up for his error with a single, a stolen base, and scored on Lopez’ RBI single.

Tomlin was done after five innings in his return from the DL (5IP, 4H, 4R, 2BB, 4K).

The Royals cut the deficit again, this time to 6-5 in the 7th inning when Dyson singled, stole second base, and scored on Alcides Escobar‘s RBI single.

However the Indians came right back again with two runs in the bottom of the 7th inning. It could have been worse, as the Indians collected four hits and Irving Falu made an error.

Chris Perez blew through the Royals in the 9th inning to record his 17th save of the season. His celebration made me laugh, as he pumped his fist after getting the out at first base, he almost fell down.

*The series continues on Tuesday as rookie Will Smith will make his second career start against the Indians Justin Masterson. The series finishes up on Wednesday afternoon as Bruce Chen faces Jeanmar Gomez.

After suffering through a 12-game losing streak, the KC Royals are now on a winning streak. They have won two in a row, as they took their three-game series at Cleveland. Thursday afternoon they won 4-2.

• The Royals received a solid starting performance from Luis Mendoza. He allowed two runs on four hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out three while throwing 70 pitches (42 for strikes).

• They had a big inning. In the 5th inning against Indians starter Josh Tomlin (and the game tied at 1-1), the Royals put together five singles, three straight by Jeff Francoeur, Mike Moustakas, and Brayan Pena, to score three runs and take a 4-1 lead.

• The bullpen was stellar again. Tim Collins entered the game in the 6th inning with the bases loaded. He allowed a sac fly to Travis Hafner but did not allow another run in two innings. Aaron Crow followed with a scoreless inning (though he walked two). Jonathan Broxton picked up his second save, though it go a little dicey. The Indians had runners at first and second base with two outs, but Broxton got Asdrubal Cabrera to fly out to end the game.

The Royals had ten hits and scored four runs. Alex Gordon, Billy Butler, Moose, and Pena each had two hits. They were just 4-for-13 with runners in scoring position. Once Tomlin was gone, the Royals only had three baserunners over the final 4.1 innings.

*There was an announced attendance of just 9,229 in Cleveland.

**The Royals head to Minnesota for a three-game set beginning Friday night. A series win would get the Royals out of last place in the American League Central.

It was a tough week for the big league KC Royals, as they are currently in the midst of a four-game losing streak. Overall, they won just one game last week.

Triple-A Omaha swept their home series against Round Rock, but have now lost 2-of-3 at Albuquerque (they finish up the series this afternoon). Overall, the Storm Chasers are 8-3 (they won six in a row).

Double-A NW Arkansas lost 2-of-3 at San Antonio before opening up at home against Corpus Christi (when they lost 2-of-3). Overall, the Naturals are 3-6.

High-A Wilmington lost 2-of-3 at Carolina before finally opening up at home. They lost 2-of-3 to Frederick. The Blue Rocks are 3-6.

Low-A Kane County began the week by losing 2-of-3 at home to Beloit. However, they went out on the road and won 3-of-4 at Burlington. Overall, the Cougars are 6-4.

So who is taking home a weekly award?

Hitter of the Week:

Majors: Yuniesky Betancourt has made the most of his playing time at second base. Last week, he went 5-for-12 with a homerun and a double.

Honorable mention: Brayan Pena (5-for-13 with two doubles and two runs scored) and Mike Moustakas (7-for-20 with five doubles, four runs scored, and five RBIs).

Minors: Jorge Bonifacio, Kane County. Over the past week, Bonifacio had five 2-hit games. He went 12-for-28 in his last seven games. He also had six RBIs. Overall, he has a 9-game hitting streak and is hitting .417.

Honorable mention: Clint Robinson, Omaha (10-for-30 with two homeruns and three RBIs) and Anthony Seratelli, Omaha (8-for-18 with two homeruns and eight RBIs).

Pitcher of the Week:

Majors: Everett Teaford hadn’t pitched all season until getting into Friday’s home opener when starter Luke Hochevar took a line drive off his ankle in the 4th inning (and Hochevar had already been lit up). All Teaford did was pitch four shutout innings. He allowed just one hit.

Minors: Aaron Brooks, Kane County. Brooks went 2-0 this week over two starts. In his second start of the season (Tuesday at home against Beloit), he pitched five shutout innings. Brooks allowed just three hits and two walks while striking out three.

Honorable mention: Jason Adam, Wilmington. Adam pitched the Blue Rocks home opener and was dominant. In five shutout innings, he allowed just four hits and no walks while striking out seven.