With 30 games complete, there are ominous signs for the Kansas City Royals this season. The latest setback was a 9-4 loss against the Detroit Tigers Sunday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium.
When the stadium gates opened, more than 22,000 fans filed in for Sunday’s series finale against the Tigers, the American League Central Division leaders and the team the Royals hope to challenge. But the Tigers pounded a total of 42 hits in the series and outscored the Royals, 26-8, in the three games.
“Everything they hit found holes,” said Royals designated hitter Billy Butler. “They hit a lot of balls hard, so we’ll catch them later in the year.”
Butler hit his first homer of the year on Friday night, a rare display of power by the Royals hitters. They’re ranked last in the American League in homers.
More alarming is a repeating trend from a year ago. Something general manager Dayton Moore wants to avoid as he remembers 2013.
“Last year in the six months, we had five winning months,” said Moore prior to spring training. “We had a disastrous May. We didn’t make the playoffs.”
So far in May, the Royals are 0-4.
