NewsDiNardo ready to forget latest start
Minnesota (80-73) at Kansas City (63-91), 6:10 p.m. CT
By Dick Kaegel / MLB.com
09/26/09 12:35 AM ET
KANSAS CITY -- Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid might have liked it, but the raindrops that kept falling on Lenny DiNardo's head didn't make for very good pitching last Monday night at Kauffman Stadium."I'm just putting the last start out of my head," DiNardo said. "The conditions were miserable and really, really hard to pitch in and throw strikes in. I'm sure any pitcher would say the same thing. That many walks isn't normal for a big league ballgame."
DiNardo went five innings for the Royals but walked six while dealing with the slippery baseball. There were a total of 18 walks in the game, and reliever Jamey Wright even launched a pitch that seemed closer to the Red Sox dugout than the plate as Kansas City slogged to a 12-9 victory.
This outing on Saturday night against the Twins will be his fourth start since being called up from a successful 10-6 season for Triple-A Omaha.
DiNardo's first two starts were better than the rain-soaked effort, and he's put himself in position for a shot at the Royals' rotation next spring.
"That's all I can ask for right now -- a chance," DiNardo said. "As far as next year, who knows? I'm sure they're going to bring some people in and let some people go and give an opportunity to a certain number of guys in the spring. Hopefully, I'll be one of the guys [who gets a shot]."
The 30-year-old left-hander previously pitched for the Red Sox and was part of the A's rotation for most of 2007.
"I like him a lot," said manager Trey Hillman. "I like him because he's left-handed, I love his work ethic, I like that he can get in and away from right-handers and the fact that he's not afraid to throw the changeup and has pretty good command with it. I've never been a huge [radar] gun guy, I know how [his stuff] plays out. But he's got a little extra in the tank, and it's deceptive because of the motion and the quick arm."
DiNardo, signed as a Minor League free agent last winter, came to the last Spring Training as a non-roster pitcher and was assigned to Omaha. Doggedly, he worked to win his way back to the Majors.
"I'm the type of guy, whether it's A-ball or the over-30 league, I'm going to try to get people out. That's how I'm wired," DiNardo said. "Some days are better than others. But I'm never going to go out there and, just because I'm in a lower level, lollygag and just throw it right down the middle. That's not the way I'm set up, I guess."
At that moment, DiNardo was seated in front of his locker in the Royals' clubhouse near guys like Gil Meche and Joakim Soria.
"I'm enjoying every minute of it," DiNardo said. "Whether I'm taking a shower in that huge shower in there or sitting in this comfy chair, every part of it is worth being here. They call it the big leagues for a reason; they call it the Minor Leagues for a reason."
The first 20,000 fans on Saturday night will receive a George Brett figurine, last of a four-piece collectible set. The box holding the figurine, though, says Brett played "second base." Oops.
Pitching matchupKC: LHP Lenny DiNardo (0-1, 8.22 ERA)
This will be DiNardo's fourth start since being called up from Triple-A Omaha. In his last outing, he bulled his way through five innings and 116 pitches, most in his Major League career. The Royals stuck with him to save the bullpen even though the Red Sox scored eight runs on 10 hits against him. In rainy conditions, DiNardo issued six walks but, after all that, the Royals rallied to win the game. He's faced the Twins twice in his career, posting an 0-1 record but a 2.08 ERA. MIN: RHP Scott Baker (13-9, 4.43 ERA)
One rough inning Sunday against Detroit was all it took for Baker to pick up his second loss in his past three starts. Baker gave up three runs to the Tigers in the fifth inning, and he and the Twins were unable to complete a series sweep. Baker left after 4 2/3 innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits while picking up five strikeouts. In two starts this season against the Royals, Baker is 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA. He hasn't faced Kansas City since June 30. He picked up the win while allowing one run in that game. Crown points
Right fielder Mark Teahen was scratched from the lineup Friday because of lower back tightness. He was also suffering from a cold. Left fielder David DeJesus was not in the lineup because he was ill with flu-like symptoms. He came out of Thursday night's game early because he wasn't feeling well. ... Left-hander Dusty Hughes threw without discomfort in his left elbow Friday and could be ready for bullpen duty by Sunday, although he won't get another start. He came out of his only start early because of discomfort last Saturday night at Chicago. The Royals have been operating without a lefty in the bullpen since Bruce Chen was injured eight days ago at Detroit. ... Hillman again said it's "extremely doubtful" that Kyle Davies will pitch again this season, so Anthony Lerew will start on Tuesday night at New York. ... Bob Motley, a founder of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, on Friday night was in the Buck O'Neil Legacy Seat -- named for another museum founder. Motley is believed to be the only living umpire from the Negro Leagues. Tickets
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• KCSP 610 Up next
• Sunday: Twins (Francisco Liriano, 5-12, 5.75) at Royals (Zack Greinke, 15-8, 2.08), 1:10 p.m. CT
• Monday: Royals (Luke Hochevar, 7-11, 5.98) at Yankees (Chad Gaudin, 5-10, 4.78), 6:05 p.m. CT
• Tuesday: Royals (Anthony Lerew, 0-1, 3.86) at Yankees (A.J. Burnett, 12-9, 4.19), 6:05 p.m. CT
Dick Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
