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GAME LOG
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- On Turn Back the Clock night, the Kansas
City Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates provided an old-time pitchers'
duel.
Mac Suzuki came within one out of his first career shutout
before Mike Sweeney won it for Kansas City with an RBI single in
the 12th inning as the Royals beat Pittsburgh 2-1 on Saturday.
"It was one of the better ones we've seen all year," Kansas
City manager Tony Muser said. "I'd like to see more of them. It's
very exciting baseball. In a low-scoring game, the little things
mean so much.
"When you see quality pitching, it makes the baseball fan
search. There are a thousand little things going on out there that
are key to a baseball game. I said to myself in the 10th inning,
'We've got the best baseball game going on tonight."'
Damon hit an infield single off Jose Silva (4-2) to lead off the
12th for Kansas City. After a sacrifice bunt by Luis Ordaz, Sweeney
singled to center to give Kansas City its 10th walk-off win.
Ricky Bottalico (5-1) pitched two scoreless innings to get the
win.
"I don't have much to say about it," Pittsburgh manager Gene
Lamont said. "Both starters were fine, the relievers were, too.
There's were just a little better, but I was happy with mine,
too."
Suzuki, making his ninth career start, allowed one run and nine
hits in 8 2-3 innings. He retired the first two men in the ninth
before Kevin Young singled, stole second and scored on Adrian
Brown's single to center. Suzuki struck out seven and walked one.
"I'm not disappointed," Suzuki said. "I wish I could have
done better. Just one more out and I would have had my first
shutout. But I didn't disappoint myself."
Muser didn't regret leaving Sasaki in for the ninth inning. "That's probably the best ballgame I've seen him pitch," Muser
said. "I know his pitch count was high (132 pitches), but he
earned the right to stay out there. He did a great job. He made one
mistake, hanging a split-finger fastball, and that was the last
pitch he made. That's four in a row for him."
The teams wore 1945 replica jerseys of their cities' Negro
League teams.
Warren Morris had a career high five hits for Pittsburgh, which
stranded 13 runners. Kansas City left 12 on base. The Royals scored in the fourth inning when Jermaine Dye drew a
one-out walk off Kris Benson and advanced to second on Carlos
Beltran's groundout. Joe Randa followed with an RBI single to left.
Suzuki kept the Pirates off-balance all night, allowing only one
runner in the first eight inning to advance as far as third base.
Young singled with one out in the second, stole second and advanced
to third on a throwing error by catcher Gregg Zaun.
But Suzuki struck out Adrian Brown and Mike Benjamin to end that
threat.
Benson retired the first eight batters he faced before Rey
Sanchez drilled a single to center. Benson retired the Royals in
order in the first, second and fifth innings. He allowed only five
hits in eight innings.
Game notes
Dave McCarty went 0-for-5 for Kansas City, snapping his
12-game hitting streak. ... The Royals are 19-7 at home, the best
home record in the American League. ... Kevin Young became the
first Pirates player this season to steal two bases in a game. ...
Neither team had an extra-base hit. The Pirates had at least one in
their first 58 games. ... The Royals are 5-0 in extra innings at
home, 7-1 overall. They are 9-1 in one-run games at Kauffman
Stadium, 13-6 overall.
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Baseball Scoreboard
Pittsburgh Clubhouse
Kansas City Clubhouse
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